Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of IG vs TopFX, 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 TopFX are two online brokers with distinct profiles and regulatory standings. Established in 1974, IG not only enjoys a long-standing presence but is also publicly traded and operates as a bank. It holds an impressive eight Tier-1 licenses, a mark of high trust, along with two Tier-2 licenses. This has earned IG a perfect Trust Score of 99 out of 99 on ForexBrokers.com, indicating a status of being highly trusted by the regulatory community.
In contrast, TopFX, founded in 2010, is neither publicly traded nor a bank. It holds one Tier-1 license but does not possess any Tier-2 licenses. TopFX has a Trust Score of 67 out of 99, categorizing it as a high-risk broker by ForexBrokers.com standards. The differences in regulatory stature between these two brokers highlight the level of trust and assurance each one offers to traders.
| Feature |
IG
|
TopFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1974 | 2010 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | Yes | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 8 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
IG edges out TopFX on pricing for many forex traders. In our testing, IG’s Forex Direct (DMA) account averaged a 0.62‑pip spread on EUR/USD in July 2023, with an estimated all‑in cost of about 0.82 pips after commission. TopFX’s RAW account averaged 0.33 pips in July 2024, and when you add its commission (about 0.55 pips per round turn), the all‑in cost came to roughly 0.88 pips—close to the industry average. For overall value in this category, IG holds a 5/5 stars rating and ranks #8 out of 63 brokers, while TopFX earns 4/5 stars and ranks #41 out of 63.
IG provides multiple ways to trade. On its CFD account, typical EUR/USD spreads during the main session averaged 0.69 pips (July 2023), widening in quieter hours; across all sessions the global average was 0.98 pips (IG US averaged 1.18 pips). High‑volume and professional clients in eligible regions can qualify for 10%–20% spread rebates, and the Forex Direct DMA account uses tiered commissions (minimum deposit £1,000) that can drop for very large monthly volumes—helpful if you trade frequently or place bigger orders.
TopFX keeps it simple with two choices: the spread‑only ZERO account (commission‑free, but wider average spreads of about 1.03 pips on EUR/USD in July 2024) and the commission‑based RAW account (2.75 EUR per side; about 5.50 EUR per round turn per standard lot). Based on its July 2024 data, the RAW account’s all‑in EUR/USD cost was about 0.88 pips. That’s competitive, but IG’s DMA pricing can be a touch sharper for active traders, which helps explain IG’s higher 5/5 rating and #8 ranking versus TopFX’s 4/5 and #41 for commissions and fees.
| Feature |
IG
|
TopFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £250.00 | Depends on payment method |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.98 | 1.03 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.82 | 0.88 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
Comparing the range of investments, IG offers far more markets than TopFX. IG lists 19,537 tradeable symbols and 97 forex pairs, versus TopFX’s 655 symbols and 60 pairs. Both brokers let you trade forex as CFDs or spot. IG also provides exchange-traded securities on U.S. and international exchanges, so you can buy stocks like Apple (AAPL) or Vodafone directly, while TopFX does not offer exchange-traded shares. For crypto, IG allows both direct coin purchases and crypto derivatives, whereas TopFX focuses on crypto derivatives only.
If copy trading matters, TopFX supports it and IG does not. Based on the breadth of products, IG earns 5 stars and ranks #4 out of 63 brokers for Range of Investments on ForexBrokers.com, while TopFX holds 3.5 stars and ranks #47. In short, pick IG if you want access to many markets, share dealing, and actual crypto; choose TopFX if you prefer a simpler lineup with copy trading.
| Feature |
IG
|
TopFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 19537 | 655 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 97 | 60 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | Yes | No |
| Cryptocurrency (Derivative) | 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 TopFX both let you practice with a free demo account. For platforms, IG stands out with an in-house proprietary platform alongside MetaTrader 4, available on both Windows desktop and the web. TopFX does not have its own platform but supports MT4 on Windows and in the browser. Neither broker offers MetaTrader 5. TopFX includes copy trading, while IG does not. Neither supports DupliTrade or ZuluTrade.
On tools, both brokers let you place trades directly from charts. IG lists 20 drawing tools versus 15 at TopFX. Watchlists differ: IG offers 5 columns, while TopFX offers 7. Indicator totals were not specified. Based on this mix, ForexBrokers.com rates IG 5 stars and ranks it #2 of 63 for Trading Platforms and Tools, whereas TopFX earns 4 stars and ranks #46 of 63.
| Feature |
IG
|
TopFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | No |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | No |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 33 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 20 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 5 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
IG and TopFX both deliver full-featured mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android. You get price alerts, real-time watchlists, multiple chart time frames, trendline drawing, and auto-saved chart drawings with either broker. IG adds watchlist syncing between the mobile app and your online account (TopFX does not), and IG includes slightly more technical studies for charting (33 vs. 30). Both let you build watchlists with live quotes.
For overall quality, IG leads: it earns 5 stars and ranks #1 out of 63 brokers for Mobile Trading Apps at ForexBrokers.com, while TopFX holds 4 stars and ranks #52. If you want easier watchlist management across devices and a few extra indicators, IG is the better pick. If you only need the core tools on iPhone or Android, TopFX still covers the basics well.
| Feature |
IG
|
TopFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 33 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
IG stands out for market research, earning 5 stars and ranking #2 out of 63 brokers, while TopFX holds 3 stars and ranks #61. IG publishes daily market commentary, but TopFX does not. Both brokers deliver forex news from top-tier sources (such as Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones), provide Autochartist tools, offer sentiment indicators that show long/short positioning, and include an economic calendar. One notable difference: TopFX adds Trading Central tools, whereas IG does not.
IG also includes TipRanks and Acuity Trading (Signal Centre) for extra analyst insights and trade ideas; TopFX’s access to TipRanks and Acuity Trading is not specified. If you want frequent insights and a wide set of research add-ons, IG is the stronger pick. If Trading Central is your priority and you’re fine without daily commentary, TopFX may fit your needs.
| Feature |
IG
|
TopFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | No |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | Yes |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | Yes | |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
IG clearly leads for beginner-friendly education. It offers at least 10 forex and CFD learning pieces across articles, videos, and archived webinars. You also get live client webinars at least once a month, plus a searchable archive so you can rewatch sessions anytime. IG provides at least 10 beginner videos to help you get started and at least 10 advanced videos for when you’re ready to level up. An investor dictionary with 50+ terms makes jargon easy to understand. That depth earns IG a 5-star Education rating and the #1 spot out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com.
TopFX falls short by comparison for new traders. It does not meet the 10-piece minimum for forex/CFD education, does not host monthly client webinars, and has no searchable webinar archive. It also lacks sets of at least 10 beginner and 10 advanced educational videos, and it does not offer a 50+ term investor dictionary. Reflecting these gaps, TopFX holds a 3-star Education rating and ranks #62 out of 63. If learning resources matter, IG is the better pick for building your trading knowledge.
| Feature |
IG
|
TopFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | No |
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 TopFX. IG finished with an overall rank of #1, while TopFX finished with an overall rank of #62.
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
|
TopFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 67 |
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IG allows users to purchase actual cryptocurrency and also offers cryptocurrency derivatives, while TopFX only provides access to cryptocurrency derivatives.
When comparing online brokers IG and TopFX, both offer PayPal, Visa/Mastercard, and bank wire options for account fund transactions, but differ in that IG provides ACH/SEPA transfers, while TopFX supports Skrill.
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 | TopFX | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 67 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IG Review | TopFX Review |
| Broker Screenshots | IG | TopFX | |
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| Regulation | IG | TopFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 67 | |
| Year Founded | 1974 | 2010 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 8 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | IG | TopFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| 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 | TopFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | IG | TopFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 19537 | 655 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 97 | 60 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | Yes | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (Derivative) | 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 | TopFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.98 | 1.03 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.82 | 0.88 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | IG | TopFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £250.00 | Depends on payment method | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | IG | TopFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | No | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | No | |
| cTrader | No | Yes | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | IG | TopFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 5 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 33 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 20 | 15 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | IG | TopFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 33 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | IG | TopFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | No | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | Yes | |
| TipRanks | Yes | ||
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | IG | TopFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | IG | TopFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/JPY | Yes | Yes | |
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CAD | Yes | Yes | |
| NZD/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| AUD/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| Review | IG Review | TopFX Review |
| Overall | IG | TopFX | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 67 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IG Review | TopFX Review |
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