Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of IG vs Trade Nation, 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.
Founded in 1974, IG stands as a veteran in the online brokerage field and is publicly traded, adding another layer of transparency and credibility. It also operates as a bank, setting it apart from many of its competitors. IG holds an impressive 8 Tier-1 licenses and 2 Tier-2 licenses. This strong regulatory backing contributes to its ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 99 out of 99, categorizing it as a highly trusted broker. This extensive regulatory compliance ensures a dependable and secure trading environment for users looking for an established choice in the market.
In comparison, Trade Nation, which entered the scene in 2014, isn't publicly traded nor operates as a bank. It holds 2 Tier-1 licenses and 1 Tier-2 license, reflecting its commitment to regulatory standards. With a respectable Trust Score of 85 out of 99 from ForexBrokers.com, Trade Nation is considered a trusted broker, providing a reliable trading experience. Despite having a shorter history and a smaller regulatory portfolio than IG, Trade Nation still offers trustworthy services suitable for traders seeking an alternative broker.
| Feature |
IG
|
Trade Nation
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1974 | 2014 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | Yes | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 8 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 2 |
IG and Trade Nation both offer compelling options for those looking to make effective trades regarding commissions and fees, each bringing unique advantages to potential customers. IG, with its vast resources, excels in scalable execution methods, supporting large orders while providing competitive pricing for active traders, particularly through its Forex Direct accounts. Although it isn't a discount broker, IG shines with spreads averaging 0.62 pips and an all-in cost of 0.82 pips, considering a minor commission. Moreover, IG's active trader rebates grant professionals a chance to lower trading costs significantly, with spread rebates reaching up to 20% for high-volume traders. IG's global stature allows it to support diverse trading needs effectively, earning it a five-star rating and an eighth-place rank for commissions and fees by ForexBrokers.com.
On the other hand, Trade Nation distinguishes itself with its fixed-spread pricing, offering simplicity and predictability across various trading symbols. By using a fixed spread of 0.6 pips for the EUR/USD pair, Trade Nation provides straightforward pricing with no hidden calculations needed, except during brief daily rollover periods. It offers three main account types, ensuring traders can choose the best fit for their needs. Of these, the TN Trader account stands out with the lowest all-in costs, making Trade Nation a favorable choice for those prioritizing clarity in their trading expenses. This approach has garnered Trade Nation a five-star rating and a seventh-place ranking among 62 brokers reviewed by ForexBrokers.com.
Both brokers provide excellent value depending on the trading style and needs—IG with its dynamic execution and trader rebates, and Trade Nation with its transparent, fixed-spread pricing. Regardless of your choice, both IG and Trade Nation maintain a competitive edge, each securing a top spot with five-star ratings for their efficient commission and fees structures. Whether you prioritize execution flexibility or straightforward pricing, these brokers stand as strong candidates in the financial trading landscape.
| Feature |
IG
|
Trade Nation
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £250.00 | $0 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.98 | 0.6 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.82 | 0.6 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
When comparing IG to Trade Nation in terms of their range of investments, IG clearly stands out with a more extensive offering. IG provides a staggering 19,537 tradeable symbols, vastly surpassing Trade Nation's 1,000. Both platforms allow forex trading as a CFD or spot contract, but IG offers a more comprehensive selection with 97 tradeable forex pairs compared to Trade Nation's 46. Additionally, IG allows users to purchase exchange-traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges, enabling clients to buy shares in companies like Apple and Vodafone. In contrast, Trade Nation does not provide this opportunity.
Trade Nation, however, has an edge with its copy trading feature, which is not available with IG. Both brokers offer cryptocurrency derivatives, yet neither allows the purchase of actual (delivered) cryptocurrencies. With a top-notch rating of 5 stars, IG is celebrated for its range of investments, ranking 4th out of 62 brokers on ForexBrokers.com. Meanwhile, Trade Nation garners a 3.5-star rating and ranks 38th. Overall, IG provides a more extensive and versatile range of investments, making it a superior choice for those seeking diverse trading options.
| Feature |
IG
|
Trade Nation
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 19537 | 1000 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 97 | 46 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | No | 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.
Both IG and Trade Nation provide comprehensive trading platforms, but they cater to slightly different needs. IG offers a wide array of tools, enabling users to trade directly from stock charts and customize watchlists with up to five columns. IG's platform is highly rated, with a stellar 5-star rating for its trading platforms and tools category and an impressive ranking of #2 out of 62 brokers by ForexBrokers.com. They offer a proprietary platform alongside MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and provide various trading options across Windows and web-based platforms. However, IG lacks in areas such as copy trading, MetaTrader 5 (MT5), and social trading integrations like ZuluTrade and DupliTrade.
Meanwhile, Trade Nation shines with its range of 39 drawing tools for charting and more extensive watchlist customization, with 14 fields available. Similar to IG, Trade Nation also provides access to a proprietary platform and MT4 on both Windows and web-based interfaces. A standout feature of Trade Nation is its support for copy trading, which may appeal to those who prefer following experienced traders. Despite these offerings, Trade Nation scores slightly below IG, earning a 4-star rating and ranking #44 according to ForexBrokers.com. Both brokers make simulated trading accounts available, facilitating risk-free exploration of their platforms.
| Feature |
IG
|
Trade Nation
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes |
| 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 | 115 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 20 | 39 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | No |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 5 | 14 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Both IG and Trade Nation offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android devices, making it easy for users to manage their accounts on the go. Their apps provide essential features like price alerts for stocks and forex, ensuring that traders can stay updated on market movements. Both platforms also support watchlist symbol syncing, so any changes you make update seamlessly across the mobile app and online account.
When it comes to charting tools, Trade Nation offers more options with 99 technical studies compared to IG's 33. Both apps allow users to draw trend lines, view multiple time frames, and automatically save chart drawings. For real-time market updates, both brokers provide the ability to create watchlists with live quotes. However, IG has a higher user rating, receiving 5 out of 5 stars in this category, and is ranked as the top mobile trading app by ForexBrokers.com, while Trade Nation holds the 45th position with a 4-star rating.
| Feature |
IG
|
Trade Nation
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 33 | 99 |
| 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.
When comparing the market research offerings of online brokers IG and Trade Nation, both platforms provide daily market commentary and access to forex news from reputable sources like Bloomberg and Reuters. However, IG takes the lead with additional resources from companies such as Autochartist and TipRanks, offering advanced tools for technical analysis and market insights that Trade Nation lacks. While both brokers incorporate sentiment-based trading tools, IG also includes an economic calendar for tracking global economic events, a feature not available with Trade Nation.
IG's superior research tools and resources are reflected in their higher rating and ranking, earning a 5-star rating and securing the 2nd position out of 62 brokers on ForexBrokers.com. In contrast, Trade Nation is rated 3.5 stars, holding the 42nd spot, indicating a more limited scope in research offerings. For traders seeking more comprehensive market tools and insights, IG clearly stands out as the stronger choice.
| Feature |
IG
|
Trade Nation
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | Yes | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | Yes | Yes |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When it comes to educational resources for beginners, IG and Trade Nation offer a variety of materials to help new traders get started. Both brokers provide over ten educational pieces focused on forex or CFDs, including articles, videos, and archived webinars. While they both feature beginner educational videos, IG goes a step further by offering monthly live webinars, which can be an invaluable resource for new traders seeking real-time guidance. Unfortunately, Trade Nation does not provide this benefit. Additionally, IG maintains an archive of recorded webinars that users can search through, offering more flexibility for learners as compared to Trade Nation, which lacks this feature.
IG also excels by delivering a comprehensive investor dictionary and advanced educational videos, making it a great choice for both beginners and experienced traders. Trade Nation matches IG's offerings in these areas but falls short overall due to the lack of webinars and archival resources. This distinction is reflected in the educational rating and rankings; IG holds a 5-star rating and is ranked #1 by ForexBrokers.com, while Trade Nation has a 3.5-star rating and ranks #41. Overall, IG provides a richer array of educational tools, making it more suitable for those seeking a well-rounded learning experience.
| Feature |
IG
|
Trade Nation
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 62 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that IG is better than Trade Nation. IG finished with an overall rank of #1, while Trade Nation finished with an overall rank of #34.
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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Trade Nation
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 85 |
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Both IG and Trade Nation do not offer the option to buy actual delivered cryptocurrency, but they both provide the ability to trade cryptocurrency derivatives.
Comparing online brokers IG and Trade Nation in terms of account funding options, IG supports ACH/SEPA transfers, PayPal, Visa/Mastercard, and bank wires, whereas Trade Nation offers Visa/Mastercard, Skrill, and bank wire options, but not ACH/SEPA transfers or PayPal.
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 | Trade Nation | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IG Review | Trade Nation Review |
| Broker Screenshots | IG | Trade Nation | |
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| Regulation | IG | Trade Nation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 85 | |
| Year Founded | 1974 | 2014 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 8 | 2 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 2 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | IG | Trade Nation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| 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 | No | |
| 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 | No |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | IG | Trade Nation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | IG | Trade Nation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 19537 | 1000 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 97 | 46 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | No | 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 | Trade Nation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.98 | 0.6 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.82 | 0.6 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | IG | Trade Nation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £250.00 | $0 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| 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 | Trade Nation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| 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 | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | IG | Trade Nation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 5 | 14 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 33 | 115 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 20 | 39 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | No | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | No |
| Mobile Trading | IG | Trade Nation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 33 | 99 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | No |
| Research | IG | Trade Nation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No | |
| TipRanks | Yes | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | No |
| Education | IG | Trade Nation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | IG | Trade Nation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Trade Nation Review |
| Overall | IG | Trade Nation | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IG Review | Trade Nation Review |
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