Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of IG vs XTB, 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.
When comparing IG and XTB, two well-known online brokers, trust and regulatory information are key factors to consider. Founded in 1974, IG stands out with a top-tier Trust Score of 99 out of 99 from ForexBrokers.com, reflecting its position as a highly trusted broker. It maintains this reputation with 8 Tier-1 licenses, which are seen as highly reliable. Added to this, IG is a publicly traded company and also operates as a bank, elements that contribute to its robust regulatory standing.
XTB, established in 2002, shares some similarities but also has notable differences in its regulatory profile. It is also publicly traded and holds 2 Tier-1 licenses, fostering a respected reputation with a Trust Score of 96 out of 99—still significantly strong but slightly lower than IG. Although not a bank, XTB's 2 Tier-2 licenses further underpin its credibility in the trading community. Both brokers offer solid regulatory credentials, though IG's additional features may provide an added sense of security for some investors.
| Feature |
IG
|
XTB
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1974 | 2002 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank | Yes | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 8 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 2 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 2 |
IG earns 5 stars and ranks #7 of 63 for Commissions and Fees, while XTB earns 4.5 stars and ranks #13 of 63. In simple terms, IG tends to offer lower potential costs for frequent or high-volume traders, especially if you use its direct market access (Forex Direct) pricing. XTB’s pricing is generally in line with the industry average and straightforward for most retail traders, with the option to trim costs via volume-based rebates.
IG’s Forex Direct account averaged 0.62 pips on EUR/USD in July 2023, with an all-in cost around 0.82 pips once commission is included. Commissions are tiered, from about $60 per million for lower volumes to $10 per million per side at very high volumes. On its spread-only CFD account, typical EUR/USD spreads were about 0.69 pips during main hours (whole-month average 0.98 pips), and IG also offers active-trader rebates for eligible professionals in the EU that can reduce costs by 10% to 20%—bringing effective pricing as low as roughly 0.60 pips at the top tier.
XTB’s Standard (spread-only) account averaged about 1.0 pip on EUR/USD in Q4 2023. Its commission-based Professional account is being phased out and generally limited to elective professional clients in the U.K. and Europe, so most traders will default to the Standard account, which has a 250 base-currency minimum deposit. For high-volume clients, XTB’s Lower Spread Group rebates 5% to 30% of the spread once you meet monthly lot thresholds, which can bring costs down meaningfully, though IG’s DMA and pro-level rebates can still be more attractive for very large traders.
| Feature |
IG
|
XTB
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £1 | $0 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.91 | 0.92 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.82 | 0.92 |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
IG vs XTB: both brokers let you trade forex as CFDs or spot, and both provide exchange-traded shares on U.S. markets (such as Apple) and on international exchanges (such as Vodafone). The biggest difference is scale. IG lists 19,537 tradeable symbols and 97 forex pairs, while XTB offers 7,184 symbols and 71 forex pairs. Crypto access also differs—both support cryptocurrency CFDs, but only IG lets you buy actual crypto; XTB does not. Neither broker offers copy trading.
In testing by ForexBrokers.com, each broker earned 5 stars for Range of Investments, yet IG ranked #4 out of 63 brokers and XTB ranked #14. If you want the widest selection and the option to own crypto directly, IG has the edge. If you’re happy with a large lineup that includes global stocks and crypto CFDs, XTB is a solid alternative.
| Feature |
IG
|
XTB
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 19537 | 7184 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 97 | 71 |
| 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 XTB both tick key boxes for platform access and ease of use. Each offers a free demo account for practice, proprietary trading platforms, Windows desktop software, and web-based platforms you can use in your browser. You can place trades straight from the chart with either broker, and both provide a range of technical indicators and customizable watchlists. Neither IG nor XTB supports copy trading.
If you want third‑party platform choice, IG stands out by supporting MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5), while XTB does not support MT4 or MT5. According to ForexBrokers.com, IG earns 5 stars and ranks #1 out of 63 brokers for Trading Platforms and Tools, whereas XTB scores 4.5 stars and ranks #9. In short: choose IG if MetaTrader access and top-rated tools matter most; pick XTB if you prefer its proprietary experience and a highly rated, streamlined setup.
| Feature |
IG
|
XTB
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | No |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | No |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 33 | 39 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
IG and XTB both offer full-featured mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, with handy stock and forex price alerts. Each app supports drawing tools like trendlines and auto-saves your chart annotations. A key difference is watchlists: IG syncs watchlists between mobile and web, so changes carry over automatically, while XTB does not offer watchlist syncing.
For charting, XTB provides 39 built-in technical studies versus IG’s 33, giving indicator-focused traders a slight edge on XTB. That said, IG earns a higher overall score: IG is rated 5 stars and ranked #1 out of 63 brokers for Mobile Trading Apps by ForexBrokers.com, while XTB holds a strong 4.5-star rating and ranks #8. Choose IG if you value seamless watchlist syncing and top-tier app quality; pick XTB if having more indicators on your phone matters most.
| Feature |
IG
|
XTB
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 33 | 39 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
IG and XTB both check the big boxes for market research. Each offers daily market commentary, forex news from top-tier sources such as Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones, a sentiment tool showing the balance of long and short positions, and an economic calendar covering global events. On core research needs, you’ll be well served by either broker.
The key differences come from added research providers. IG includes Autochartist tools, TipRanks insights, and Acuity Trading (Signal Centre), while XTB does not offer these three. Neither broker uses Trading Central. Even though both earn a 5 out of 5 Research rating, ForexBrokers.com ranks IG #2 out of 63 brokers and XTB #9. If you want more built-in third‑party research, IG has the edge; if you prefer a simpler setup with the essentials, XTB still stands out.
| Feature |
IG
|
XTB
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| 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 and XTB both deliver deep education for beginner traders across forex and CFDs. Each broker offers well over 10 learning pieces—think articles, videos, and archived webinars—plus ongoing client webinars at least once a month. If you’re just starting out, you’ll find plenty of step-by-step beginner videos at both brokers, and when you’re ready to progress, each also provides 10+ advanced videos to help you level up.
In terms of quality, both IG and XTB earn 5 out of 5 stars for Education. Looking at industry rankings from ForexBrokers.com (out of 63 brokers), IG places #7 and XTB ranks #11. For beginners, that gives IG a slight edge in overall placement, but XTB is right there with comparable education and a full slate of webinars and videos. Your choice may come down to which platform you prefer, but either broker is a strong pick for learning forex and CFD trading.
| Feature |
IG
|
XTB
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 XTB. IG finished with an overall rank of #1, while XTB finished with an overall rank of #7.
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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XTB
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| Trust Score | 99 | 96 |
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In the IG vs XTB comparison, IG allows investors to buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrency and trade crypto CFDs, while XTB offers cryptocurrency exposure exclusively via CFDs and does not provide direct ownership.
IG vs XTB funding comparison: IG offers ACH/SEPA transfers, PayPal, and bank wire deposits and withdrawals but not Skrill, whereas XTB offers PayPal, Skrill, and bank wire options but does not support ACH/SEPA.
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 | XTB | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 96 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IG Review | XTB Review |
| Broker Screenshots | IG | XTB | |
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| Regulation | IG | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 96 | |
| Year Founded | 1974 | 2002 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 8 | 2 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 2 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 1 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 2 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | IG | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 19537 | 7184 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 97 | 71 | |
| 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 | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.91 | 0.92 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.82 | 0.92 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | IG | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £1 | $0 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | IG | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | No | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | No | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | IG | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 33 | 39 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | IG | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 33 | 39 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | IG | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| 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 | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | IG | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | XTB Review |
| Overall | IG | XTB | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 96 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IG Review | XTB Review |
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