Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of IG vs Swissquote, 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 Swissquote are both established online brokers, with IG founded in 1974 and Swissquote in 1996. Both companies are publicly traded and operate as banks, offering clients a high level of credibility and stability. In terms of regulatory trust, IG distinguishes itself by holding 8 Tier-1 licenses, which are the highest level of regulatory approval and indicate a high degree of trust, compared to Swissquote's 5 Tier-1 licenses. Both brokers also hold 2 Tier-2 licenses, signifying they are both considered trusted entities in the financial industry.
Despite differences in the number of licenses, both IG and Swissquote achieve the highest Trust Score of 99 from ForexBrokers.com, reflecting their commitment to maintaining a secure and reliable trading environment. Whether choosing IG or Swissquote, traders can be assured of a high level of trust and security thanks to their comprehensive regulation and history of reliable financial services. This makes them excellent choices for those looking to engage in online trading with confidence.
| Feature |
IG
|
Swissquote
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1974 | 1996 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank | Yes | Yes |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 8 | 5 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 2 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
IG is the better-value pick for most traders on costs, earning 5/5 stars and a #7 of 63 ranking for Commissions and Fees (vs. Swissquote’s 3.5/5 stars and #35 of 63). IG’s pricing suits active traders and larger orders, thanks to multiple execution options and discounts for high volume. Swissquote, while offering the appeal of a Swiss banking group, generally charges more than low-cost rivals and tends to come at a premium across its regional entities.
IG’s spread-only CFD account averaged about 0.69 pips on EUR/USD during main trading hours in July 2023 (0.98 pips across the full day), with IG US averaging 1.18 pips. For high-volume pros, rebates can trim spreads by 10%–20%. The DMA “Forex Direct” account (min. £1,000) averaged 0.62 pips on EUR/USD in July 2023, with a tiered commission starting at $60 per million (about 0.2 pips), putting the all-in cost near 0.82 pips at the base tier—and lower for very large volumes. Spreads can widen during low-liquidity hours, as with most brokers.
Swissquote’s pricing varies by region. In the U.K., the Elite account (min. $10,000) uses a $5 round‑turn commission with tighter spreads, while Standard starts from 1.3 pips and Prime from 0.6 pips (minimums, not averages). In Luxembourg, minimum spreads range from 1.5 pips (Standard; $1,000 deposit) to 0.8 pips (Prime; $50,000). In Switzerland, Standard starts from 1.7 pips ($1,000 deposit), Premium from 1.4 pips ($10,000), and Prime from 1.1 pips ($50,000), with custom pricing negotiable. Overall, IG tends to deliver lower all-in trading costs than Swissquote for forex and CFDs.
| Feature |
IG
|
Swissquote
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | ÂŁ1 | $1000 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.91 | N/A |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.82 | N/A |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | Yes |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
IG and Swissquote both support forex trading as CFDs or spot contracts. IG offers a much broader catalog with 19,537 tradeable symbols and 97 forex pairs, compared with Swissquote’s 472 symbols and 80 pairs. Both let you buy and hold real exchange-traded stocks in the U.S. (think Apple) and on major international exchanges (such as Vodafone in London).
Crypto fans can access both actual cryptocurrencies and crypto CFDs at either broker. Copy trading is available at Swissquote but not at IG. For Range of Investments, both earn 5 stars; among 63 brokers rated by ForexBrokers.com, Swissquote ranks #2 and IG ranks #4. In short, pick IG for the widest market coverage, or Swissquote if you want copy trading with a strong selection across asset classes.
| Feature |
IG
|
Swissquote
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 19537 | 472 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 97 | 80 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | Yes |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | Yes | Yes |
| 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 Swissquote both check key boxes for trading platforms and tools. Each broker offers a free demo (paper) account, an in-house platform, and both Windows desktop and web-based platforms. They also support MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5), and let you place trades directly from charts. A notable difference is copy trading: Swissquote offers it, while IG does not.
For platform quality, IG earns 5 stars and ranks #1 out of 63 brokers for Trading Platforms and Tools, while Swissquote scores 4.5 stars and ranks #12, according to ForexBrokers.com. If top-rated tools and overall platform experience are your priority, IG stands out. If you value copy trading alongside MT4/MT5 and solid web and desktop choices, Swissquote is a strong alternative.
| Feature |
IG
|
Swissquote
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 33 | 86 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Both IG and Swissquote offer full-featured mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android. You’ll get price alerts on both, plus the ability to draw trendlines and have your chart drawings auto-saved. IG stands out for syncing watchlists between the mobile app and your online account, so any change you make carries over automatically; Swissquote doesn’t sync watchlists. For charting, IG includes 33 technical studies versus Swissquote’s 30.
In independent testing, IG’s mobile app earned 5 stars and ranked #1 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while Swissquote scored 4.5 stars and ranked #12. If seamless watchlist syncing and a slightly wider indicator set matter to you, IG is the better pick. If you’re already with Swissquote, its app still covers the essentials for trading on the go.
| Feature |
IG
|
Swissquote
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 33 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
IG and Swissquote both deliver daily market commentary, forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones, Autochartist-driven technical and fundamental tools, and a clear economic calendar for upcoming events. Neither broker includes Trading Central in their research lineup.
IG pulls ahead with added research extras: a sentiment tool showing long/short positioning, integration with TipRanks, and additional insights from Acuity Trading (Signal Centre). Swissquote does not offer those three features. Reflecting that gap, IG earns 5 stars and ranks #2 out of 63 brokers for research at ForexBrokers.com, while Swissquote holds 4 stars and ranks #15. If you want broader third‑party research and sentiment data, IG is the stronger choice; if you mainly need dependable daily insights and headline news, Swissquote covers the essentials.
| Feature |
IG
|
Swissquote
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Central | No | No |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | No |
| TipRanks | Yes | No |
| Acuity Trading | Yes | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
IG and Swissquote both make it easy for beginners to start learning, with monthly client webinars and at least 10 introductory videos focused on trading topics, including forex and CFDs. Each broker also offers 10+ advanced videos, giving you room to grow from basic concepts to more complex strategies over time. If you’re just getting started, you’ll find clear, practical content at either broker, from step-by-step videos to live sessions that answer common questions.
That said, IG stands out for overall quality. IG earns 5 stars for Education and ranks #7 out of 63 brokers in the Education category at ForexBrokers.com, while Swissquote holds 4 stars and ranks #19. For learners who want the strongest track record and a deeper library to support long-term skill building, IG edges ahead; Swissquote remains a solid pick for accessible, beginner-friendly learning.
| Feature |
IG
|
Swissquote
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 Swissquote. IG finished with an overall rank of #1, while Swissquote finished with an overall rank of #11.
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
|
Swissquote
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 99 |
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IG vs Swissquote: both online brokers let you buy actual delivered cryptocurrencies and trade cryptocurrency CFDs, offering flexibility to own coins or speculate via derivatives.
IG vs Swissquote: both brokers support ACH/SEPA transfers, PayPal, and bank wires; Swissquote additionally offers Skrill (IG does not), and Visa/Mastercard availability is not specified for either.
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 | Swissquote | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 99 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IG Review | Swissquote Review |
| Broker Screenshots | IG | Swissquote | |
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| Regulation | IG | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 99 | |
| Year Founded | 1974 | 1996 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank | Yes | Yes | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 8 | 5 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 2 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | IG | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| Japan (FSA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | Yes | 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 | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | IG | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 19537 | 472 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 97 | 80 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | Yes | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | Yes | Yes | |
| 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 | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.91 | N/A | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.82 | N/A | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | IG | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | ÂŁ1 | $1000 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | IG | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | IG | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 33 | 86 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | IG | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 33 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | IG | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes | |
| Trading Central | No | No | |
| TipRanks | Yes | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | IG | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | IG | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Swissquote Review |
| Overall | IG | Swissquote | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 99 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IG Review | Swissquote Review |
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