Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of IG vs StoneX Trading, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Between 51% and 89% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
IG and StoneX Trading are both publicly traded brokers with a top ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 99 out of 99, which places each firm in the highly trusted category. IG was founded in 1974 and is also a bank, while StoneX Trading was founded in 1983 and is not a bank.
From a regulatory standpoint, IG holds 8 Tier-1 licenses and 2 Tier-2 licenses, while StoneX Trading holds 7 Tier-1 licenses and 1 Tier-2 license. Since Tier-1 licenses are considered highly trusted and Tier-2 licenses are considered trusted, both brokers show strong oversight, with IG holding a slight edge in the number of licenses.
| Feature |
IG
|
StoneX Trading
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1974 | 1983 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank | Yes | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 8 | 7 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
IG has the edge on commissions and fees for many active traders, thanks to competitive pricing on its Forex Direct DMA account and volume-based rebates for qualifying clients. Its main forex pricing is close to the industry average, with an average EUR/USD spread of 0.62 pips in July 2023 and an estimated all-in cost of 0.82 pips after commission. IG also offers CFD spreads that were slightly better than average during its main trading session, and higher-volume traders may qualify for meaningful rebates that can lower costs even further. IG is rated 5 stars and ranked #7 out of 36 brokers for commissions and fees by ForexBrokers.com.
StoneX Trading’s commissions and fees are generally in line with the industry average, but its pricing is not quite as low as the best brokers in this category. Its CFD account showed an average EUR/USD spread of 0.74 pips in July 2023, which is fair but still a bit higher than IG’s main pricing. StoneX also offers active trader rebates for eligible professional clients, including tiered discounts in the U.K. and Australia, which can help reduce costs for frequent traders. StoneX Trading is rated 4.5 stars and ranked #16 out of 36 brokers for commissions and fees by ForexBrokers.com.
Overall, IG is the stronger choice for traders focused on lower costs, especially those who trade forex often or in larger volumes. StoneX Trading remains a solid option with pricing that is competitive for the market, but it does not match IG’s combination of tighter spreads, more flexible execution choices, and stronger active trader pricing.
| Feature |
IG
|
StoneX Trading
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £1 | £100.00 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Spread-only account | 0.91 | 1.4 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | 0.82 | 0.9 |
| Non-wire bank transfer (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
When comparing IG vs StoneX Trading for range of investments, IG offers the wider choice overall. IG lists 19,537 tradeable symbols and 97 forex pairs, compared with StoneX Trading’s 13,500 symbols and 66 forex pairs. Both brokers support forex trading as either a CFD or spot contract, and both offer cryptocurrency CFDs.
IG also stands out for access to exchange traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges, plus the ability to buy actual cryptocurrency. StoneX Trading does not offer exchange traded securities on U.S. or international exchanges, but it does support copy trading, which IG does not. Even so, both brokers earn 5 stars for range of investments, with IG ranked #4 and StoneX Trading ranked #8 out of 36 brokers by ForexBrokers.com.
| Feature |
IG
|
StoneX Trading
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 19537 | 13500 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 97 | 66 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | No |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | Yes | No |
| Cryptocurrency (CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Disclaimers | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). |
Dive deeper: Best Copy Trading Platforms.
IG and StoneX Trading both give traders a wide mix of platform choices, including a free demo account, a proprietary platform, a web-based platform, a Windows desktop download, and support for MetaTrader 4. Both also let users trade directly from charts. IG goes a step further by offering MetaTrader 5, while StoneX Trading does not. StoneX Trading, on the other hand, offers copy trading, which IG does not. For traders who want to test ideas before putting real money at risk, both brokers provide simulated trading.
When it comes to trading platforms and tools, IG has the edge overall. It is rated 5 out of 5 stars in this category and ranks #1 out of 36 brokers at ForexBrokers.com. StoneX Trading is also highly rated at 4.5 stars, but it ranks #11 out of 36. In short, both brokers offer a solid set of platform features, but IG is the stronger pick for traders who want the highest-rated platform experience, while StoneX Trading may appeal more to those interested in copy trading.
| Feature |
IG
|
StoneX Trading
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 33 | 88 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
IG and StoneX Trading both make it easy to trade from a phone, since each offers iPhone and Android apps, price alerts, and watchlists that sync with the web platform. Both apps also let users draw trendlines on charts and automatically save those drawings, which is helpful for keeping track of analysis across devices. For everyday mobile use, the two brokers cover the core features most traders look for.
Where IG stands out is in overall mobile app quality and recognition. IG’s app is rated 5 stars for Mobile Trading Apps and ranks #1 out of 36 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, while StoneX Trading is rated 4.5 stars and ranks #9. StoneX Trading does offer more chart studies in its app, with 88 technical studies compared with IG’s 33, so traders who want more charting tools may prefer StoneX Trading, while those who want the highest overall mobile app rating may lean toward IG.
| Feature |
IG
|
StoneX Trading
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 33 | 88 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
IG and StoneX Trading both give traders useful market research tools, including daily market commentary, news from top-tier sources such as Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones, a sentiment tool that shows long-versus-short positioning, and an economic calendar for tracking major global events. Both brokers also provide regular market updates that can help traders stay on top of price drivers and news flow.
Where IG stands out is in the range of extra research tools it offers. IG includes Autochartist, TipRanks, and Acuity Trading tools such as Signal Centre, while StoneX Trading does not offer these. StoneX Trading, however, does provide Trading Central, which IG does not. This broader mix helped IG earn a 5-star Research rating and a #2 ranking out of 36 brokers from ForexBrokers.com, compared with StoneX Trading’s 4.5-star rating and #10 ranking.
| Feature |
IG
|
StoneX Trading
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
| Trading Central | No | Yes |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | Yes | No |
| Acuity Trading | Yes | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
For beginners looking for trading education, both IG and StoneX Trading offer a wide range of helpful learning tools. Each broker provides forex or CFDs education with at least 10 topic-focused resources, monthly online webinars, and at least 10 beginner videos as well as 10 advanced videos for more experienced traders. That means new traders can find lessons on the basics, while still having access to more advanced material as their skills grow.
IG has a slight edge in overall education quality, earning 5 out of 5 stars and ranking #7 out of 36 brokers for the Education category at ForexBrokers.com. StoneX Trading also performs well, with a 4.5-star education rating and a #9 ranking. In simple terms, both brokers are strong choices for learning, but IG stands out a bit more for traders who want the most complete beginner-friendly education.
| Feature |
IG
|
StoneX Trading
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 63 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that IG is better than StoneX Trading. IG finished with an overall rank of #1, while StoneX Trading finished with an overall rank of #8.
IG offers the ultimate comprehensive trading package, featuring excellent trading and research tools, industry-leading education, and an extensive range of tradeable markets.
| Feature |
IG
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StoneX Trading
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 99 |
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IG offers both actual delivered cryptocurrency and cryptocurrency CFDs, while StoneX Trading offers cryptocurrency CFDs only and does not support buying actual delivered cryptocurrency.
IG and StoneX Trading both support ACH/SEPA transfers, PayPal, and bank wires for depositing and withdrawing account funds, while neither broker offers Skrill and neither lists Visa or Mastercard as a funding option.
Please note:
We review each broker’s overall global offering – a “Yes” checkmark in our Compare Tool does not guarantee the availability of any specific features in your country of residence. To verify the availability of any features within your country of residence, please contact the broker directly.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | IG | StoneX Trading | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 99 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IG Review | StoneX Trading Review |
| Broker Screenshots | IG | StoneX Trading | |
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| Regulation | IG | StoneX Trading | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 99 | |
| Year Founded | 1974 | 1983 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 8 | 7 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | IG | StoneX Trading | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (FSA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | Yes | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | IG | StoneX Trading | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or CMA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | IG | StoneX Trading | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 19537 | 13500 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 97 | 66 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | Yes | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Disclaimers | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). |
| Cost | IG | StoneX Trading | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Spread-only account | 0.91 | 1.4 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | 0.82 | 0.9 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | IG | StoneX Trading | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £1 | £100.00 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | IG | StoneX Trading | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | IG | StoneX Trading | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 33 | 88 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | IG | StoneX Trading | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 33 | 88 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | IG | StoneX Trading | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central | No | Yes | |
| TipRanks | Yes | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | IG | StoneX Trading | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | IG | StoneX Trading | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | IG Review | StoneX Trading Review |
| Overall | IG | StoneX Trading | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 99 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IG Review | StoneX Trading Review |
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