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 and XM Group are both well-known online brokers with strong trust ratings. IG was founded in 1974 and is publicly traded; XM Group launched in 2009 and is not publicly listed. IG is a bank, while XM Group is not. According to ForexBrokers.com, a score of 90–99 signals “highly trusted.” IG scores 99/99 and XM Group scores 93/99, placing both in the highest trust bracket.
Regulatory coverage also favors IG. IG holds 8 Tier-1 licenses (considered highly trusted by ForexBrokers.com) and 2 Tier-2 licenses (trusted). XM Group holds 4 Tier-1 and 3 Tier-2 licenses. In short, both are highly trusted, but IG offers wider top-tier regulatory oversight.
| 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 | 3 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
IG stands out for its pricing options, especially for active traders and larger orders. While it is not a discount broker, its Forex Direct DMA account can offer tighter pricing than its standard CFD account, with July 2023 EUR/USD spreads averaging 0.62 pips and an estimated all-in cost of about 0.82 pips after commission. IG’s CFD pricing is also competitive, with typical spreads around 0.69 pips during main trading hours, though costs can rise during quieter market periods. IG earns a 5-star rating for commissions and fees and is ranked #7 out of 36 brokers by ForexBrokers.com.
XM Group takes a more mixed approach on fees. Its standard account spreads are considered expensive, and the broker does not publish average spread data for its commission-based XM Zero account, which makes direct cost comparison harder. For traders focused on transparent low-cost pricing, this can be a drawback. XM Group is rated 3.5 stars for commissions and fees and is ranked #34 out of 36 brokers by ForexBrokers.com.
Overall, IG is the stronger choice for commissions and fees, especially for active traders who want better pricing and more account options. XM Group may still appeal to some traders, but based on publicly available cost data, IG offers lower trading costs and a clearer value proposition.
| Feature |
IG
|
XM Group
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £1 | $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.
When it comes to range of investments, IG offers a wider choice than XM Group. IG lists 19,537 tradable symbols and 97 forex pairs, while XM Group offers 1,429 tradable symbols and 55 forex pairs. Both brokers let clients trade forex as either CFDs or spot contracts, and both also provide access to exchange-traded securities on U.S. and international exchanges, so you can buy real shares such as Apple or Vodafone rather than only trading them as derivatives.
There are some key differences beyond that. XM Group offers copy trading, while IG does not. On the crypto side, IG lets clients buy both actual cryptocurrency and crypto CFDs, whereas XM Group offers only crypto CFDs. These differences help explain why IG is rated 5 stars for Range of Investments and ranks #4 out of 36 brokers, compared with XM Group’s 4.5 stars and #19 ranking.
| Feature |
IG
|
XM Group
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 19537 | 1429 |
| 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 give traders access to a free demo account, Windows desktop software, web-based platforms, and the popular MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 tools. Both also let you place trades directly from a chart, which is helpful for active traders who want to react quickly. IG adds its own proprietary platform developed in-house, while XM Group does not offer a proprietary platform.
The biggest difference is copy trading: XM Group offers it, while IG does not. In overall platform and tool ratings, IG comes out ahead with 5 stars and a #1 ranking out of 36 brokers from ForexBrokers.com, compared with XM Group’s 4 stars and #27 ranking. For traders comparing platform choice and ease of use, IG has the edge, while XM Group may appeal more to those who want copy trading alongside the standard platform options.
| 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.
IG and XM Group both make it easy to trade on the go, since each offers iPhone and Android apps, price alerts, and watchlist syncing between the mobile app and your online account. Both apps also let users draw trendlines on stock or forex charts, which is useful for basic technical analysis. For charting tools, IG has a slight edge with 33 technical studies compared with XM Group’s 30.
Where IG pulls ahead is in convenience and overall app quality. Its mobile app auto-saves chart drawings, while XM Group’s does not. IG also earns a 5-star rating for Mobile Trading Apps and ranks #1 out of 36 brokers with ForexBrokers.com, while XM Group is rated 4 stars and ranks #26. For traders who want a more polished mobile experience, IG stands out over XM Group.
| 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.
IG and XM Group both give traders daily market commentary, top-tier forex news from sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones, plus an economic calendar and a sentiment tool that shows how many traders are long or short on a pair or other instrument. Both brokers also earn a 5-star rating for research, but IG is ranked #2 out of 36 brokers for research by ForexBrokers.com, while XM Group is ranked #8.
Where IG pulls ahead is in its extra research tools. IG offers Autochartist, TipRanks market research, and Acuity Trading tools such as Signal Centre, all of which can help traders spot ideas and follow market moves. XM Group, on the other hand, offers Trading Central tools like Technical Analytics, which IG does not. This means both brokers cover the basics well, but IG provides a wider range of third-party research options overall.
| 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.
IG and XM Group both give beginners plenty of ways to learn about forex and CFDs. Each broker offers at least 10 education pieces focused on these markets, plus online client webinars held at least once a month. They also each provide at least 10 beginner trading videos and at least 10 advanced videos, so newer traders and more experienced users can both find useful material. Both brokers earn a 5-star Education rating, which shows that each platform puts real effort into helping clients build trading knowledge.
When it comes to how they rank for education, XM Group has a slight edge over IG. XM Group is ranked #5 out of 36 brokers for Education by ForexBrokers.com, while IG is ranked #7. In simple terms, both are strong choices for learning, but XM Group is placed a bit higher overall for education resources.
| 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 | 3 | |
| 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) | Yes | ||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or CMA 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 | 1429 | |
| 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 | £1 | $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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