Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of IG vs Xtrade, 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 the online brokers IG and Xtrade, several key differences emerge regarding their trustworthiness and regulatory standings. IG, established in 1974, boasts a Trust Score of 99 out of 99, reflecting its high level of reliability. As a publicly traded company on a stock exchange and functioning as a bank, IG holds 8 Tier-1 licenses, regarded as highly trustworthy, along with 2 Tier-2 licenses. These credentials signify strong regulatory oversight and provide peace of mind for investors.
On the other hand, Xtrade, founded in 2003, demonstrates an average risk profile with a Trust Score of 74. Unlike IG, Xtrade isn't publicly traded nor does it operate as a bank, which could be factors for potential customers to consider. Although it holds 1 Tier-1 license and 1 Tier-2 license, indicating some level of trustworthiness, these figures are modest compared to IG's extensive licensing. For those prioritizing regulatory assurance, IG stands out as a more trusted choice.
| Feature |
IG
|
Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1974 | 2003 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | Yes | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 8 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
IG and Xtrade differ widely on commissions and fees. IG publishes detailed pricing and multiple ways to trade, earning 5 out of 5 stars and a #8 ranking out of 63 brokers from ForexBrokers.com. Xtrade provides far less fee transparency, earning 2.5 out of 5 stars and ranking #64 out of 63.
IG’s Forex Direct (DMA) pricing averaged 0.62 pips on EUR/USD in July 2023, with an all-in cost around 0.82 pips after commission. Its CFD account averaged 0.69 pips during main trading hours, and 0.98 pips across all sessions globally (IG US: 1.18 pips), with spreads widening to about 1.03 pips in quieter hours. Active traders who qualify as professionals can get spread rebates of 10% at £50 million in monthly forex volume and up to 20% at £300 million—potentially trimming a 0.76-pip spread to about 0.60 pips. The DMA account requires a £1,000 minimum and uses tiered commissions: $60 per $1 million if trading under $100 million a month, dropping to $10 per million per side ($20 round-turn) for $1.5 billion+ in monthly volume.
Xtrade does not provide average spread data, making typical trading costs harder to gauge. Reflecting this limited visibility and its overall fee profile, Xtrade holds a 2.5/5 star rating and is ranked #64 out of 63 brokers for commissions and fees. If tight, clearly published spreads and high-volume discounts matter to you, IG’s pricing structure is the stronger fit.
| Feature |
IG
|
Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £250.00 | $250 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.98 | N/A |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.82 | N/A |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
IG vs Xtrade: IG offers a far wider range of investments, with 19,537 tradeable instruments compared with Xtrade’s 482. Both brokers support forex as CFDs or spot, but IG lists 97 currency pairs while Xtrade has 56. Neither platform offers copy trading.
IG lets clients buy exchange-traded stocks on both U.S. and international exchanges (for example, Apple on Nasdaq and Vodafone in London), whereas Xtrade does not offer exchange-traded shares. For crypto, both support cryptocurrency CFDs, but only IG allows buying actual crypto. In independent ratings for Range of Investments, IG scores 5 stars and ranks #4 out of 63 brokers, while Xtrade earns 3.5 stars and ranks #50.
| Feature |
IG
|
Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 19537 | 482 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 97 | 56 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | No |
| 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 Xtrade both make it easy to practice with a free demo (paper) account and each offers its own in-house trading platform. Both brokers provide a web-based platform and let you place trades directly from charts. Key differences: IG also has a downloadable Windows desktop platform and supports MetaTrader 4 (MT4), while Xtrade does not offer a desktop download and does not support MT4. Neither broker supports MetaTrader 5 (MT5) or copy trading.
When it comes to trading platforms and tools, IG earns 5 stars and is ranked #2 out of 63 brokers, while Xtrade scores 3.5 stars and ranks #59. If you want MT4 or a full-featured desktop app, IG is the better fit. If you prefer to keep things simple in the browser and still have a demo account to practice, Xtrade covers the basics—both let you trade right from the chart.
| Feature |
IG
|
Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| 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) | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 33 | N/A |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
IG and Xtrade both offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, but their features differ in ways that matter day to day. IG supports price alerts for stocks and forex, so you can get notified when markets move; Xtrade does not. IG also syncs watchlists between the app and your web account, making it easy to track the same symbols everywhere, while Xtrade does not offer watchlist syncing.
For charting, IG stands out with 33 built-in technical studies, plus the ability to draw trendlines that auto-save on your charts. Xtrade does not provide trendline drawing or auto-save, and the number of technical studies is not available. Reflecting these differences, IG’s mobile app is rated 5 stars and ranks #1 out of 63 brokers for Mobile Trading Apps by ForexBrokers.com, while Xtrade holds a 4-star rating and ranks #54.
| Feature |
IG
|
Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | No |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 33 | N/A |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
Comparing IG vs Xtrade for market research, both brokers deliver the essentials: daily market commentary, an economic calendar, and forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones. Where they diverge is in depth. IG layers on extra tools and third‑party research, including Autochartist, a sentiment tool showing the ratio of long vs short positions, TipRanks insights, and Acuity Trading’s Signal Centre. Xtrade does not offer these additions. Neither broker provides Trading Central.
These differences show up in independent ratings: IG earns 5 stars for Research and ranks #2 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while Xtrade scores 3.5 stars and ranks #53. If you want a fuller toolkit for idea generation and sentiment tracking, IG is the stronger pick; if you only need basic updates and a calendar, Xtrade covers the core needs.
| Feature |
IG
|
Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
| Trading Central | No | No |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | No |
| TipRanks | Yes | No |
| Acuity Trading | Yes | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
IG stands out for beginner education. It runs client webinars at least once a month and offers 10+ beginner videos plus 10+ advanced videos that explain trading concepts in clear, simple terms. That gives new forex and CFD traders plenty of step-by-step learning. According to ForexBrokers.com, IG’s education earns 5 out of 5 stars and ranks #1 out of 63 brokers.
Xtrade’s education is thinner by comparison. It does not host monthly educational webinars and does not provide sets of 10+ beginner or 10+ advanced videos. ForexBrokers.com rates Xtrade’s education 3.5 out of 5 stars and ranks it #46 out of 63. If you’re seeking a structured path to learn forex and CFDs from the ground up, IG is the stronger pick; if you only need a light introduction, Xtrade may be enough.
| Feature |
IG
|
Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
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 Xtrade. IG finished with an overall rank of #1, while Xtrade finished with an overall rank of #60.
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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Xtrade
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|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 74 |
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IG vs Xtrade: For cryptocurrency trading, IG allows investors to buy actual delivered cryptocurrencies and trade crypto CFDs, while Xtrade offers only cryptocurrency CFDs and does not support purchasing real, delivered coins.
IG vs Xtrade: For deposits and withdrawals, IG supports ACH/SEPA, PayPal, and bank wire transfers but not Skrill (Visa/Mastercard not specified), whereas Xtrade does not support ACH/SEPA and its availability of PayPal, Skrill, Visa/Mastercard, and bank wires was not specified.
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 | Xtrade | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 74 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IG Review | Xtrade Review |
| Broker Screenshots | IG | Xtrade | |
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| Regulation | IG | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 74 | |
| Year Founded | 1974 | 2003 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 8 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | IG | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (SFC 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 | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | IG | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 19537 | 482 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 97 | 56 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | No | |
| 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 | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.98 | N/A | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.82 | N/A | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | IG | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £250.00 | $250 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | ||
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | ||
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | ||
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | IG | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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) | No | No | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | IG | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 33 | N/A | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | No |
| Mobile Trading | IG | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 33 | N/A | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | No |
| Research | IG | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | IG | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | IG | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Xtrade Review |
| Overall | IG | Xtrade | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 74 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IG Review | Xtrade Review |
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