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) - 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 and XTB both give traders access to forex as CFDs or spot contracts, along with exchange traded securities on both U.S. and international markets. Each broker also offers cryptocurrency CFDs, but only IG lets clients buy actual, delivered crypto. Neither platform supports copy trading. When it comes to market choice, IG has the wider selection, with 19,537 tradeable symbols and 97 forex pairs, compared with XTB’s 10,900 symbols and 71 forex pairs.
In ForexBrokers.com’s Range of Investments category, both IG and XTB earn 5 stars, showing that each broker offers a strong mix of products for most traders. That said, IG is ranked higher overall for range of investments, placing #4 out of 36 brokers, while XTB comes in at #14. For buyers who want more markets and a larger product list, IG has the edge, while XTB still provides a broad enough lineup for many everyday investors.
| Feature |
IG
|
XTB
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 19537 | 10900 |
| 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 give traders a solid set of platform options, including free demo accounts, their own in-house platforms, Windows desktop downloads, and web-based trading. Each broker also lets you place trades directly from charts. Neither broker offers copy trading, so if that feature matters to you, you will need to look elsewhere. For platform choice, IG has an edge because it also supports MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, while XTB does not.
When it comes to overall trading tools, both brokers are well suited to active traders, but IG comes out ahead in the rankings. IG earns 5 stars for Trading Platforms and Tools and is ranked #1 out of 36 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, while XTB is rated 4.5 stars and ranked #9. In plain terms, both are good choices, but IG offers a wider range of platform access and a slightly stronger toolkit overall.
| 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 mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, and each app includes stock and forex price alerts, trendline drawing, and auto-saving for chart drawings. That means both brokers give traders useful tools for monitoring the market and managing charts on the go. IG also stands out because its watchlists sync between the mobile app and the online account, so any changes update across both places. XTB does not offer this watchlist syncing feature.
When it comes to charting, XTB offers more technical studies in its mobile app, with 39 compared with IG’s 33. Even so, IG comes out ahead overall in mobile trading app quality, with a 5-star rating and a #1 ranking out of 36 brokers from ForexBrokers.com. XTB still performs well, earning 4.5 stars and placing #8, making both apps solid choices, but IG has the edge for the strongest all-around mobile experience.
| 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.
When it comes to market research, both IG and XTB give traders plenty of useful tools. Each broker offers daily market commentary, top-tier forex news from sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones, a sentiment tool showing long and short position ratios, and an economic calendar with key global events. Both also earn 5 out of 5 stars for Research from ForexBrokers.com, showing that each provides a strong research experience for active traders.
IG, however, has the edge overall. It includes Autochartist, TipRanks research, and Acuity Trading tools such as Signal Centre, while XTB does not offer these extras. As a result, IG ranks #2 out of 36 brokers for Research on ForexBrokers.com, compared with XTB at #9. For traders who want a wider range of research features and more third-party insights, IG stands out as the stronger choice.
| 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 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
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 96 |
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| Research |
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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 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 | 10900 | |
| 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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