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 offers better value for traders who care about commissions and fees, especially if you trade often or use its Forex Direct DMA setup. Its standard CFD pricing is near the industry average, with typical EUR/USD spreads of 0.69 pips during main trading hours in July 2023, while its commission-based Forex Direct account can bring all-in costs down to about 0.82 pips. Active traders may also qualify for spread rebates, which can lower costs further. IG is rated 5 stars for commissions and fees and is ranked #7 out of 36 brokers by ForexBrokers.com in this category.
Swissquote is usually the pricier choice, and its fees reflect its banking-brand appeal more than low-cost trading. The best pricing is found in its higher-tier accounts, such as the U.K. Elite account with a $5 round-turn commission and tighter spreads, or the Prime accounts in other regions, but even these are not as cheap as many leading forex brokers. Lower-tier accounts can be notably more expensive, with EUR/USD spreads starting around 1.3 to 1.7 pips depending on the entity. Swissquote is rated 3.5 stars for commissions and fees and is ranked #35 out of 36 brokers by ForexBrokers.com.
In simple terms, IG is the stronger pick for lower trading costs, while Swissquote may appeal more to traders who value banking services and are willing to pay more for them. If keeping commissions and spreads down is your main goal, IG has the edge by a wide margin. If you want a Swiss banking connection and can accept higher trading costs, Swissquote may still be worth considering.
| Feature |
IG
|
Swissquote
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £1 | $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 give traders access to forex, U.S. and international exchange-traded securities, and both let clients buy actual cryptocurrency as well as trade crypto CFDs. Each broker also earns a 5-star rating for Range of Investments, showing that both platforms offer a wide choice of markets for everyday investors.
That said, IG has the larger overall selection, with 19,537 tradeable symbols and 97 forex pairs, compared with Swissquote’s 472 symbols and 80 forex pairs. Swissquote does have one extra feature in copy trading, which IG does not offer, and it ranks higher overall for Range of Investments at #2 out of 36 brokers, versus IG at #4.
| 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 give traders a wide range of platform choices, including free demo accounts, proprietary platforms, web-based trading, Windows desktop downloads, and support for MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5. Both also let you trade directly from charts, which can make it easier to place orders while tracking price action. In terms of tools and usability, IG stands out with a 5-star rating for Trading Platforms and Tools and is ranked #1 out of 36 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, while Swissquote earns 4.5 stars and ranks #12.
The main difference is copy trading: Swissquote offers it, while IG does not. For traders who want to follow or mirror other investors, that may be a useful extra feature. Overall, IG and Swissquote are both strong choices for trading platforms and tools, but IG has the edge in expert rankings and ratings, while Swissquote may appeal more to those looking for copy trading alongside a full platform lineup.
| 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.
When comparing IG vs. Swissquote for mobile trading apps, both brokers give you the basics that matter most: iPhone and Android apps, stock and forex price alerts, trendline drawing on charts, and automatic saving of chart drawings. IG also stands out because its watchlists sync between the mobile app and your online account, so changes update in both places. Swissquote does not offer this watchlist syncing feature, which may matter if you like to manage the same lists across devices.
IG also has a small edge in charting tools, offering 33 technical studies in its mobile app compared with Swissquote’s 30. That difference helps IG earn a 5-star rating for Mobile Trading Apps and the #1 rank out of 36 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while Swissquote holds a 4.5-star rating and ranks #12. If you want the stronger all-around mobile trading app, IG comes out ahead, though Swissquote still covers the core tools most traders need.
| 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 give traders daily market commentary, forex news from major outlets like Bloomberg and Reuters, Autochartist tools, and an economic calendar for tracking important global events. Both platforms also make it easy to stay on top of market-moving headlines and planned data releases, which is useful for traders who want regular updates and a clear view of what may affect prices.
IG has the edge in market research overall, though, thanks to extra tools such as sentiment data that shows long and short positioning, TipRanks coverage, and Acuity Trading signals like Signal Centre. This stronger research offering helps explain why IG is rated 5 stars and ranked #2 out of 36 brokers for Research by ForexBrokers.com, while Swissquote is rated 4.5 stars and ranked #15.
| 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.
When it comes to education for beginners, both IG and Swissquote give new traders plenty to work with. Each broker offers forex or CFD learning content with at least 10 education pieces, monthly online client webinars, and a large library of beginner videos as well as advanced videos for more experienced users. That means either platform can be a solid place to start if you want to learn the basics of trading and keep building your skills over time.
IG has the edge overall in education. It earns a 5-star rating for Education and ranks #7 out of 36 brokers in ForexBrokers.com’s Education category, while Swissquote is rated 4.5 stars and ranks #19. In simple terms, Swissquote still offers a strong selection of learning tools, but IG stands out as the better option for traders who want more educational support and a slightly stronger beginner-friendly experience.
| 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
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Swissquote
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 99 |
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| Research |
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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 CMA 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 | £1 | $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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| Research |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 99 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IG Review | Swissquote Review |
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