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 comes out ahead of XTB on commissions and fees, especially for active and high-volume traders. IG’s pricing is not the cheapest in the market, but it offers competitive forex costs through its Forex Direct DMA account and volume-based rebates. Its average EUR/USD spread on Forex Direct was 0.62 pips in July 2023, with an estimated all-in cost of 0.82 pips after commission. IG also offers spread rebates for qualified traders, which can lower costs further.
XTB keeps pricing simple with a spread-only Standard account and a commission-based Professional account, though the pro option is being phased out in many regions. Its average EUR/USD spread was 1 pip in Q4 2023, which puts it near the industry average but behind IG on overall value. XTB does offer active trader discounts through its Lower Spread Group, with rebates of 5% to 30% for traders who meet higher volume targets, but its fees still tend to trail the best-priced brokers.
Ratings and rankings: IG earns 5 stars and ranks #7 out of 36 for Commissions and Fees. XTB earns 4.5 stars and ranks #13 out of 36. For traders focused on lower trading costs, IG has the stronger edge overall.
| Feature |
IG
|
XTB
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £1 | $0 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Spread-only account | 0.91 | 1.06 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | 0.82 | 1.06 |
| Non-wire bank transfer (Deposit/Withdraw) | 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 and XTB both give traders a wide choice of investments, and each offers forex trading as both CFDs and spot contracts. They also let clients buy real shares on U.S. and international exchanges, and both support buying actual cryptocurrency as well as trading crypto CFDs. Neither broker offers copy trading. In our review, both IG and XTB earned 5 out of 5 stars for Range of Investments.
IG has the larger selection overall, with 19,537 tradeable symbols and 97 forex pairs, compared with XTB’s 10,521 symbols and 71 forex pairs. That wider product list helped IG place higher in the ForexBrokers.com rankings for Range of Investments, where it came in at #4 out of 36 brokers, while XTB ranked #14.
| Feature |
IG
|
XTB
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 19537 | 10521 |
| 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 | Yes |
| 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 give traders a free demo account, so you can practice before using real money. Each broker also has its own in-house platform and a web-based trading platform, and both let you place trades directly from a chart. Where IG stands out is its wider platform choice: it offers a Windows desktop app plus support for MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, while XTB does not offer a desktop download or the MetaTrader platforms. Neither broker offers copy trading.
For trading platforms and tools, IG has the edge overall. It earns 5 out of 5 stars and ranks #1 out of 36 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, compared with XTB’s 4.5 stars and #9 ranking. In simple terms, both brokers cover the basics well, but IG gives more platform options for traders who want extra flexibility and more ways to trade.
| Feature |
IG
|
XTB
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 92 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
IG and XTB both make it easy to trade on the go with iPhone and Android apps, plus stock and forex price alerts and watchlist syncing between the mobile app and online account. Each app also lets you draw trendlines on charts and saves those drawings automatically, which is useful if you switch between devices. In short, both brokers cover the core mobile features most traders want.
Where they differ is in charting depth and overall app ratings. IG offers 33 technical studies in its mobile app, while XTB gives traders 104, making XTB the stronger choice for chart-focused users. Even so, IG earns a 5-star mobile trading app rating and ranks #1 out of 36 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while XTB holds a 4.5-star rating and ranks #8. If you want the highest-rated mobile app overall, IG stands out; if you want more built-in chart studies, XTB has the edge.
| Feature |
IG
|
XTB
|
|---|---|---|
| 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.
When it comes to market research, IG and XTB both give traders daily market commentary, a sentiment tool showing long and short positions, and an economic calendar with key global events. Both brokers also earn top marks for research, with each rated 5 stars. That said, IG has a clear edge in the depth of its research offering.
IG provides forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones, plus extra research tools such as Autochartist, TipRanks, and Acuity Trading’s Signal Centre. XTB does not offer these extras, which leaves its research lineup more limited. This helps explain why IG is ranked #2 for Research by ForexBrokers.com, while XTB sits at #9.
| Feature |
IG
|
XTB
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| 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 give beginners plenty of ways to learn before trading. Each broker offers forex and CFD education with at least 10 learning pieces, plus monthly online webinars, and both have 10 or more beginner videos as well as 10 or more advanced videos for more experienced traders. In short, if you are starting out, either platform gives you a solid mix of articles, videos, and live sessions to help you understand the basics and build confidence.
When it comes to education quality, both IG and XTB are rated 5 stars, but IG has a slightly better ranking in ForexBrokers.com’s Education category, placing #7 out of 36 brokers compared with XTB at #11. That makes IG the stronger choice overall for educational content, though XTB still offers a wide range of beginner-friendly learning tools that can suit new traders well.
| 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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|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 96 |
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Both IG and XTB let you buy actual delivered cryptocurrency as well as trade cryptocurrency CFDs, making each online broker suitable for traders who want flexibility between owning the asset and speculating on price movements.
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 CMA 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 | 10521 | |
| 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 | Yes | |
| 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) - Spread-only account | 0.91 | 1.06 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | 0.82 | 1.06 | |
| 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 (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | IG | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 33 | 92 | |
| 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 | 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 | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| 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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