Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of IG vs XM Group, 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, a company founded in 1974, is a well-established online broker that is publicly traded and operates as a bank. This firm boasts an impressive regulatory framework with 8 Tier-1 licenses considered highly trusted, and an additional 2 Tier-2 licenses. With a top-notch Trust Score of 99 out of 99 according to ForexBrokers.com, IG is recognized as a highly trusted broker, reflecting its commitment to safety and transparency in the financial industry.
In contrast, XM Group entered the scene later, in 2009, and is not publicly traded nor operates as a bank. However, it has built a solid reputation with its 4 Tier-1 and 1 Tier-2 licenses, adhering to strong regulatory standards. XM Group has earned a Trust Score of 93 out of 99 from ForexBrokers.com, placing it in the highly trusted category. Despite the differences in their profiles, both IG and XM Group provide secure and reliable trading environments for their clients.
| Feature |
IG
|
XM Group
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1974 | 2009 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | Yes | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 8 | 4 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
IG comes out ahead on price. It earns 5 stars and ranks 7th out of 63 for commissions and fees, while XM Group scores 3.5 stars and ranks 34th. IG isn’t a bargain broker, but its active‑trader pricing and direct market access (Forex Direct) can lower costs meaningfully. By comparison, XM’s standard account spreads are costly, and it does not publish average spreads for its commission‑based XM Zero account, which makes direct cost comparisons harder.
On IG’s spread‑only CFD account, typical spreads averaged 0.69 pips during the main 22‑hour trading window in July 2023; across all sessions, the month‑long average was 0.98 pips (IG US averaged 1.18 pips on EUR/USD). Spreads can widen during thin‑liquidity hours, averaging about 1.03 pips. High‑volume traders who qualify as professionals can also get spread rebates: 10% above £50 million in monthly forex volume, up to 20% above £300 million—an example 0.76‑pip spread could drop to about 0.60 pips.
For deeper discounts, IG’s DMA “Forex Direct” account (L2 Dealer; £1,000 minimum) averaged 0.62 pips on EUR/USD in July 2023 before commission. Add a commission that starts at $60 per million and can fall to $10 per million per side for very large volumes, and the effective all‑in cost can land around 0.82 pips based on that period’s data. XM does not provide comparable average‑spread figures for XM Zero, and its standard account pricing is expensive, which is why its pricing profile trails IG’s in this category.
| Feature |
IG
|
XM Group
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | ÂŁ1 | $5 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.91 | 2 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.82 | N/A |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
IG vs XM Group: For range of investments, IG earns 5 stars and ranks #4 out of 63, while XM Group scores 4.5 stars and ranks #19. IG offers 19,537 tradeable symbols and 97 forex pairs, compared with XM Group’s 1,394 symbols and 55 pairs. Both brokers also provide access to exchange‑traded securities on U.S. markets as well as international exchanges.
Both brokers support forex trading via CFDs or spot (availability can depend on your location). For crypto, IG lets you buy actual coins and trade cryptocurrency CFDs, whereas XM Group offers crypto only as CFDs. Copy trading is available at XM Group but not at IG. If you want the widest choice of markets and more currency pairs, IG stands out; if copy trading matters, XM Group may be the better fit.
| Feature |
IG
|
XM Group
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 19537 | 1394 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 97 | 55 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | Yes |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| 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 XM Group both offer free demo accounts and let you trade on Windows desktop and the web. Each supports MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5), and both allow trading directly from charts. A key difference is that IG provides its own in-house trading platform, while XM Group does not.
For extra features, XM Group offers copy trading, whereas IG does not. According to ForexBrokers.com, IG earns 5 stars and ranks #1 out of 63 brokers for Trading Platforms and Tools, while XM Group earns 4 stars and ranks #27. Choose IG if you want a highly rated in-house platform experience; pick XM Group if copy trading with the MetaTrader suite is your priority.
| Feature |
IG
|
XM Group
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | No |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 33 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Both IG and XM Group deliver full-featured mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android. Each app supports price alerts and watchlist syncing, so changes you make on your phone match your online account. For charting, IG offers 33 technical studies and XM Group offers 30. Both let you draw trendlines, but only IG auto-saves your drawings, which helps you pick up right where you left off.
In third-party reviews, IG leads the pack: ForexBrokers.com rates IG’s mobile trading app 5 stars and ranks it #1 out of 63 brokers. XM Group earns 4 stars and ranks #26. If you want the widest selection of studies and the ease of auto-saved charts, IG has the edge. XM Group remains a capable choice for traders who need core features across iPhone and Android.
| Feature |
IG
|
XM Group
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 33 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
Both IG and XM Group offer rich market research features, including daily market commentary and access to top-tier forex news from sources like Bloomberg and Reuters. While both brokers provide sentiment-based trading tools and economic calendars to keep users informed of global events, their specific research tools differ. IG provides tools from Autochartist and market insights from TipRanks, enhancing its analytical capabilities. XM Group, on the other hand, utilizes Trading Central for in-depth analysis tools, offering a different perspective for traders.
Despite having different specific research tools, both brokers are highly rated for their research offerings, each receiving a perfect 5-star rating. However, IG emerges as a more prominent player in the research category, securing the #2 rank among 63 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com. XM Group, although robust in its offerings with an #8 rank, trails IG slightly in terms of overall research excellence. Whether you're looking for specialized tools or comprehensive news coverage, both IG and XM Group present compelling options for informed trading decisions.
| Feature |
IG
|
XM Group
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
| Trading Central | No | Yes |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | Yes | No |
| Acuity Trading | Yes | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
Comparing IG vs XM Group for beginner education, both brokers make it easy to learn forex and CFD trading. Each runs client webinars at least once a month and provides large video libraries with 10+ beginner lessons plus 10+ advanced videos, so you can start with the basics and steadily move into more advanced topics using a mix of on-demand videos and live sessions.
Both IG and XM Group earn 5 out of 5 stars for Education from ForexBrokers.com. Out of 63 brokers, XM Group ranks #5 for Education and IG ranks #7. In short, beginners will find plenty of helpful learning at either broker, with XM holding a slight edge in the rankings while IG remains a strong choice.
| Feature |
IG
|
XM Group
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| 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 XM Group. IG finished with an overall rank of #1, while XM Group finished with an overall rank of #16.
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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XM Group
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 93 |
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IG vs XM Group: IG lets you buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrency and trade cryptocurrency CFDs, while XM Group offers cryptocurrency CFDs only and does not provide access to buying real (delivered) crypto.
IG vs XM Group: Online broker IG supports ACH/SEPA, PayPal, and bank wire transfers (but not Skrill), whereas XM Group offers bank wire transfers and Skrill (but not ACH/SEPA 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 | XM Group | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 93 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IG Review | XM Group Review |
| Broker Screenshots | IG | XM Group | |
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| Regulation | IG | XM Group | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 93 | |
| Year Founded | 1974 | 2009 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 8 | 4 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | IG | XM Group | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| 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 | 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 | XM Group | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | IG | XM Group | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 19537 | 1394 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 97 | 55 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | Yes | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| 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 | XM Group | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.91 | 2 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.82 | N/A | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | IG | XM Group | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | ÂŁ1 | $5 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | IG | XM Group | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | No | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | IG | XM Group | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 33 | 30 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | IG | XM Group | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | IG | XM Group | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central | No | Yes | |
| TipRanks | Yes | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | IG | XM Group | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | IG | XM Group | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | XM Group Review |
| Overall | IG | XM Group | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 93 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IG Review | XM Group Review |
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