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 |
IG and Trading 212 take different paths on pricing. IG earns 5/5 stars for commissions and fees and ranks #8 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while Trading 212 scores 4/5 stars and ranks #50 out of 63. In practice, IG tends to deliver lower all-in costs for active forex and CFD traders, particularly via its DMA (Forex Direct) pricing, whereas Trading 212’s “zero-commission” model still relies on wider spreads that can make total costs higher.
IG’s Forex Direct (DMA) account averaged 0.62 pips on EUR/USD in July 2023; add the base commission (about 0.2 pips) and the all-in cost comes to roughly 0.82 pips. DMA commissions follow a tiered schedule: about $60 per million for lower volumes, falling to $10 per million per side for very high volumes (over 1.5 yards), with a £1,000 minimum to access DMA. On IG’s spread-only CFD account, typical EUR/USD spreads were about 0.69 pips during the main trading session and 0.98 pips across all sessions globally in July 2023 (IG US averaged 1.18 pips). High-volume, professional clients can also qualify for active-trader rebates of 10%–20% off spreads, which can trim effective costs to around 0.60 pips in the provided example.
Trading 212 offers Invest and CFD accounts (CFD minimum deposit: €10). It advertises zero-commission trading, but you still pay the spread on CFDs and forex. According to its published data, the average EUR/USD spread was 2.7 pips in April 2025—well above the industry average—making Trading 212 comparatively more expensive than IG for forex and CFD trading, even as its spread disclosures improve pricing transparency.
| Feature |
IG
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £250.00 | €1 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.98 | 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 cover a wide range of investments. IG lists 19,537 tradeable symbols, while Trading 212 offers 7,868. For forex, each broker lets you trade currencies as CFDs or spot contracts; IG makes 97 forex pairs available, whereas Trading 212 lists 146 pairs. Both also let you buy exchange-traded stocks and ETFs on U.S. markets (like Apple) and on major international exchanges (such as London-listed shares like Vodafone).
Neither platform provides copy trading. For crypto, IG lets you buy real coins as well as trade crypto via CFDs; Trading 212 limits crypto to CFDs only. In independent reviews of the Range of Investments category from ForexBrokers.com, both earned 5 out of 5 stars, with IG ranked 4th out of 63 brokers and Trading 212 ranked 16th. If you want the largest overall selection, IG stands out; if you focus on the number of forex pairs, Trading 212 has the edge.
| 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 offer free paper trading with virtual demo accounts and easy-to-use proprietary platforms you can access in your browser. If you prefer a downloadable Windows desktop platform, IG has one, while Trading 212 does not. For third-party software, IG supports MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and neither broker supports MetaTrader 5 (MT5). Copy trading isn’t available at either broker. Both platforms let you place trades directly from price charts, which can speed up order entry.
For Trading Platforms and Tools, ForexBrokers.com rates IG at 5 stars and Trading 212 at 4 stars. In the 2024 category rankings, IG places #2 out of 63 brokers, while Trading 212 ranks #20. In short, choose IG if you want MT4 and a Windows desktop option alongside a strong web platform; pick Trading 212 if a clean, web-based platform with a free demo account covers your needs.
| 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) | No | 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.
Comparing IG vs Trading 212 for market research, both brokers deliver forex news from top sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, offer an economic calendar, and include a sentiment tool that shows long vs short positioning. IG goes further with daily market commentary (Trading 212 does not) and adds extra research suites such as Autochartist, TipRanks, and Acuity Trading. Neither broker includes Trading Central.
For research quality, IG earns 5 stars and ranks #2 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while Trading 212 earns 3.5 stars and ranks #45. If you want a deeper set of research tools and frequent insights, IG is the stronger choice. If you just need basic news, calendars, and sentiment, Trading 212 covers the essentials.
| 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.
IG vs Trading 212 for beginner education: IG stands out with ongoing, monthly online webinars that walk you through trading topics in real time, while Trading 212 does not run monthly educational webinars. Both brokers offer at least 10 beginner videos and at least 10 advanced videos, so you’ll find a solid library either way. That said, IG’s live teaching adds structure and guidance that many first-time traders appreciate.
Independent ratings back this up: IG earns 5 stars for Education and ranks #1 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, whereas Trading 212 scores 3.5 stars and ranks #21. Note: the information provided here did not specify whether either broker offers a minimum of 10 forex/CFD-specific pieces. If you prefer scheduled learning and expert-led sessions, IG is the stronger pick; if you’re focused on self-paced videos, both platforms can work.
| 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 #31.
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 (SFC 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 | 0.98 | 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 | £250.00 | €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) | No | 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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