Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of IG vs Trading 212, 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 was founded in 1974 and stands out as a highly trusted online broker, especially in terms of regulatory oversight and business structure. It is publicly traded and operates as a bank, underscoring its credibility in the financial landscape. IG holds an impressive number of regulatory licenses, with eight Tier-1 licenses and two Tier-2 licenses, confirming its strong regulatory standing. With a perfect Trust Score of 99 from ForexBrokers.com, IG offers its clients a sense of security and reliability.
In contrast, Trading 212, established in 2004, is not publicly traded and does not operate as a bank. It holds three Tier-1 licenses, indicating a commendable level of trust, although it lacks Tier-2 licenses. Trading 212 has a Trust Score of 80, placing it in the trusted category according to ForexBrokers.com. While Trading 212 is a trustworthy choice for many investors, it may not provide the same level of regulatory assurance as IG.
| Feature |
IG
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1974 | 2004 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | Yes | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 8 | 3 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
Comparing commissions and fees, IG earns 5/5 stars and ranks #7 out of 63 brokers for this category (ForexBrokers.com), while Trading 212 scores 4/5 stars and ranks #27 out of 63. IG caters well to active and high-volume traders thanks to its Direct Market Access (DMA) “Forex Direct” pricing and volume-based discounts, whereas Trading 212 advertises zero-commission CFD and forex trading but charges the spread, which is the main cost to watch.
IG’s DMA (Forex Direct) spreads on EUR/USD averaged 0.62 pips in July 2023, with an all-in cost around 0.82 pips once commissions are included. For its spread-only CFD account, typical EUR/USD spreads averaged 0.69 pips during the main 22-hour session in July 2023, widening during low-liquidity hours (monthly global average 0.98 pips; IG US averaged 1.18 pips on EUR/USD). Qualified professional clients in the EU can access a three-tier active-trader rebate program that discounts spreads by 10% to 20%; in the example provided, a 20% rebate can bring an all-in cost to roughly 0.60 pips. High-volume DMA traders can see commissions drop as low as $10 per million per side (tier-dependent).
Trading 212’s CFD account charges no commission, but traders pay the spread. The broker has begun publishing average spread data; for April 2025, its average EUR/USD spread was 2.7 pips, which is notably higher than the industry average and less competitive than IG’s pricing for forex and CFDs. Bottom line: IG is the stronger pick for lower spreads and potential volume discounts, while Trading 212 keeps pricing simple but, based on published data, carries wider forex spreads.
| Feature |
IG
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £1 | €1 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.91 | 2.7 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.82 | 2.7 |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | Yes |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
IG and Trading 212 both earn 5-star ratings for range of investments, but they differ in breadth. IG ranks #4 out of 63 brokers and lists 19,537 tradeable symbols, compared with Trading 212’s 7,868 and #15 ranking. Both let you trade forex as CFDs or spot, though their lineups vary: IG offers 97 currency pairs, while Trading 212 provides 146.
For stocks, both brokers let you buy exchange-traded securities in the U.S. and abroad—for example, Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) and Vodafone (VOD-GB, London Stock Exchange). Neither supports copy trading. In crypto, IG lets you buy actual coins as well as trade crypto CFDs; Trading 212 offers crypto via CFDs only. Choose IG if you want the widest overall instrument list and access to delivered crypto, or Trading 212 if having more forex pairs matters most.
| Feature |
IG
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 19537 | 7868 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 97 | 146 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | Yes |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | No |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | Yes | No |
| 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 Trading 212 both provide free paper-trading demo accounts and their own in-house platforms. Each broker offers an easy-to-use web platform and lets you place orders directly from charts. IG also gives you a downloadable Windows desktop platform and supports third-party choices like MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5), while Trading 212 does not offer a Windows desktop app and does not support MT4 or MT5. Neither broker offers copy trading.
For platform quality, IG earns 5 stars and ranks #1 out of 63 brokers for Trading Platforms and Tools at ForexBrokers.com. Trading 212 earns 4 stars and ranks #19. If you want the widest platform choice, including MT4 and MT5 on desktop, IG is the better fit; if you prefer a simple, browser-based experience with a free demo, Trading 212 is a strong option.
| Feature |
IG
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | No |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | No |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | No |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 33 | 54 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
IG and Trading 212 both deliver full-featured mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android. Each app supports price alerts for stocks and forex, synced watchlists that mirror changes between mobile and web, and the ability to draw trendlines on charts with drawings saved automatically. That means you can track markets, manage lists, and keep your chart work intact across devices with either broker.
For charting tools, Trading 212 offers more built-in technical studies (104) than IG (33), which can appeal to indicator-heavy traders. That said, IG’s mobile app earns higher marks overall: it’s rated 5 stars and ranked #1 out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com for Mobile Trading Apps, while Trading 212 holds 4 stars and ranks #17. In short, choose Trading 212 if you want a larger set of indicators, or go with IG if you value a top-rated, highly polished mobile trading experience.
| Feature |
IG
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 33 | 104 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
If research is a priority, IG stands out over Trading 212. IG earns 5 stars and ranks #2 out of 63 brokers for research on ForexBrokers.com, while Trading 212 scores 3.5 stars and ranks #32. That difference shows up in the range of tools, commentary, and third‑party insights each platform offers.
IG provides daily market commentary; Trading 212 does not. Both deliver forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones, and both include an economic calendar and a sentiment tool that shows how many traders are long or short. IG goes further with Autochartist for chart pattern ideas, TipRanks for stock research, and Acuity Trading’s Signal Centre for trade ideas. Trading 212 lacks Autochartist, TipRanks, and Acuity Trading, and neither broker offers Trading Central. If you want frequent updates and more built‑in research, IG is the stronger pick; Trading 212 covers the basics.
| Feature |
IG
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | No |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
| Trading Central | No | No |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | Yes | No |
| Acuity Trading | Yes | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
If you’re comparing IG vs Trading 212 for beginner education, both brokers provide plenty of video lessons. Each has 10+ beginner videos and 10+ advanced videos, so you can move from basics to more advanced trading topics at your own pace. IG also runs client education webinars at least once a month, giving newcomers a chance to learn live and ask questions—something Trading 212 does not currently offer. Their video libraries cover common trading subjects, including forex and CFDs.
In independent testing by ForexBrokers.com, IG’s education earns 5 stars and ranks #7 out of 63 brokers, while Trading 212 scores 3.5 stars and ranks #20. If live webinars and a higher-rated learning experience matter to you, IG is the stronger pick. If you prefer self-guided learning and don’t need webinars, Trading 212 still offers a helpful set of beginner and advanced videos.
| Feature |
IG
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No |
| 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 Trading 212. IG finished with an overall rank of #1, while Trading 212 finished with an overall rank of #25.
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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Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 80 |
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In the IG vs Trading 212 cryptocurrency comparison, IG lets you buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrencies and trade crypto CFDs, while Trading 212 offers only cryptocurrency CFDs and does not support purchasing real coins.
IG vs Trading 212 funding methods: for deposits and withdrawals, both support ACH/SEPA, PayPal, and bank wire transfers, neither supports Skrill, and Visa/Mastercard availability is not specified.
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 | Trading 212 | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 80 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IG Review | Trading 212 Review |
| Broker Screenshots | IG | Trading 212 | |
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| Regulation | IG | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 80 | |
| Year Founded | 1974 | 2004 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 8 | 3 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | IG | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (FSA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | 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 | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 19537 | 7868 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 97 | 146 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | Yes | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | Yes | No | |
| 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 | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.91 | 2.7 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.82 | 2.7 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | IG | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £1 | €1 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | IG | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | No | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | No | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | No | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | IG | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 33 | 54 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | IG | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 33 | 104 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | IG | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | No | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central | No | No | |
| TipRanks | Yes | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | IG | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | IG | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Trading 212 Review |
| Overall | IG | Trading 212 | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 80 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IG Review | Trading 212 Review |
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