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 |
When comparing IG and Trade Nation, you'll find both brokers have their unique strengths in terms of commissions and fees. IG offers various execution methods, including its Forex Direct accounts, which cater to active traders with competitive pricing. On standard Forex Direct accounts, IG’s typical spread was around 0.62 pips in July 2023, with an all-in cost of 0.82 pips after adding a per trade commission of 0.2 pips. IG also provides a three-tier active-trader rebate program for volume traders, offering potential discounts of up to 20% on spreads, further lowering costs for professional traders. The Dynamic Market Access (DMA) account provides robust savings, with variable commission-based pricing that offers an effective spread of 0.82 pips for high-volume traders.
Trade Nation, on the other hand, appeals to traders with its fixed-spread pricing model. For the popular EUR/USD trading pair, Trade Nation maintains a fixed spread of 0.6 pips, though prices can widen during the rollover period to as much as 1.4 pips, resulting in an average closer to 1 pip. The broker offers three main account types, with the TN Trader account on its proprietary platform being notable for offering the lowest spreads when considering all-in costs versus their MetaTrader options. Trade Nation covers competitive grounds without the complexity of variable pricing typical with most competitors, ensuring cost predictability for its users.
Both brokers boast a 5-star rating for their commissions and fees, reflecting their competitive standing in the market. In terms of ranking, Trade Nation edges slightly ahead, holding the #7 spot out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, while IG follows closely at #8. Whether you prefer IG's scalable execution options and DMA account for significant discounts or Trade Nation’s simplicity with fixed spreads, both brokers provide excellent trading conditions tailored for various trading needs.
| 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 the range of investments available at IG and Trade Nation, IG stands out with a significantly broader array of options. IG offers over 19,500 tradeable symbols, a vast selection compared to Trade Nation's 1,000. For forex trading enthusiasts, IG provides 97 tradeable forex pairs, more than doubling Trade Nation's offering of 46 pairs. A notable advantage at IG is the ability to trade exchange-traded securities on U.S. exchanges, like Apple shares, and international exchanges, such as Vodafone, a feature Trade Nation lacks. Additionally, IG allows clients to buy actual cryptocurrencies, another service not offered by Trade Nation, who limits users to trading cryptocurrency derivatives.
While Trade Nation does offer copy trading, a feature IG does not provide, the overall range of investments at IG earns it a 5-star rating, compared to Trade Nation's 3.5 stars. ForexBrokers.com ranks IG at #4 for its range of investments out of 63 brokers, while Trade Nation is positioned at #38. Ultimately, for investors seeking diverse and expansive investment opportunities, IG proves to be the more comprehensive platform.
| 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) | 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.
When comparing the trading platforms and tools between IG and Trade Nation, both brokers offer substantial features to support traders. IG and Trade Nation each provide a simulated trading environment through free virtual demo accounts. Both brokers have developed their own proprietary platforms and offer a Windows-based desktop download trading platform, as well as a web-based option for convenience. However, IG and Trade Nation differ in terms of copy trading; IG does not provide this feature, whereas Trade Nation includes it in their offerings. Additionally, both brokers support MetaTrader 4 but do not offer the more recent MetaTrader 5 update, and neither supports third-party platforms DupliTrade or ZuluTrade.
For charting tools, Trade Nation offers a more extensive selection with 39 drawing tools compared to IG's 20. Notably, IG allows traders to execute trades directly from a stock chart, a feature that Trade Nation lacks. When it comes to organizing and monitoring investments, Trade Nation offers more customization in watch lists with 14 columns compared to IG's 5. Ultimately, IG holds a higher rating of 5 stars for their trading platforms and tools, ranking 2nd out of 63 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com, while Trade Nation maintains a solid 4-star rating, ranked 44th in the same category.
| 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 that are compatible with iPhone and Android devices, making it convenient for users to trade on the go. Each platform provides essential features such as stock or forex price alerts, watchlist symbol syncing which allows for seamless updates between mobile and online accounts, and the ability to draw trendlines on charts. Additionally, both apps support multiple time frames and the functionality to create watchlists with real-time quotes, ensuring users have detailed information at their fingertips. Notably, drawings on stock or forex charts automatically save in both apps, further enhancing the user experience.
When it comes to charting tools, Trade Nation leads with 99 technical studies available, while IG offers 33, indicating a broader range of technical analysis options on Trade Nation. However, IG shines in user satisfaction by receiving a perfect 5-star rating for its mobile trading apps, outperforming Trade Nation, which holds a 4-star rating. According to ForexBrokers.com, IG also ranks as the top choice out of 63 brokers in the mobile trading apps category, whereas Trade Nation is positioned at 45th. Overall, IG might appeal more to those who prioritize top-rated app performance, while Trade Nation could be preferable for traders seeking extensive charting capabilities.
| 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 market research offerings, IG and Trade Nation both provide valuable insights for traders, but with some key differences. IG shines with its diverse range of research tools and resources, scoring a strong 5-star rating for research. It offers daily market commentary and forex news from top sources like Bloomberg and Reuters. IG also includes technical analysis tools from Autochartist, as well as market research from TipRanks. Their offerings are further enhanced by a sentiment-based trading tool and resources from Acuity Trading. IG's comprehensive economic calendar rounds out its extensive research options, contributing to its impressive #2 rank out of 63 brokers in the Research category on ForexBrokers.com.
Trade Nation, while offering solid market research, holds a research rating of 3.5 stars and ranks #42 among 63 brokers when assessed for research. Like IG, Trade Nation provides daily market commentary and access to forex news from respected sources. It also shares a sentiment-based trading tool and resources from Acuity Trading with IG. However, Trade Nation lacks some of the advanced tools available on IG, such as Autochartist and TipRanks, and it does not offer a comprehensive economic calendar. These differences make Trade Nation a viable option, though not as resource-rich as IG for those seeking in-depth market analysis.
| 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 comparing the educational resources available at IG and Trade Nation, both online brokers offer a range of informative materials to help beginners understand forex and CFD trading. Each provides more than 10 pieces such as articles, videos, and archived webinars focused on these subjects. However, IG stands out by offering monthly online educational webinars and a searchable archive of past webinars, which Trade Nation does not provide. Additionally, both brokers have beginner-friendly videos tailored to newcomers in trading, ensuring a comprehensive introduction to essential topics.
Delving deeper into the educational offerings, IG caters to both novices and skilled traders with a library of over 10 advanced videos. It also provides an extensive dictionary of more than 50 investing terms, matching Trade Nation in this aspect. Despite these similarities, IG's resources have earned it a top spot as the best in education according to ForexBrokers.com, with a perfect 5-star rating. In contrast, Trade Nation holds a 3.5-star rating and is ranked 41st out of 63 brokers. This discrepancy suggests IG offers a more enriched educational experience for those looking to deepen their trading knowledge.
| 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 63 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
|
Trade Nation
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 85 |
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IG enables users to purchase actual cryptocurrency as well as trade cryptocurrency derivatives, whereas Trade Nation only offers the option to trade cryptocurrency derivatives without providing access to actual cryptocurrency.
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) | 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 | 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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