IG Group
Retail CFDs started here. IG is listed in London, regulated in depth, and no rival covers more markets.
Fact sheet
What kind of broker is it?
Since 1974, IG has been in the business it helped invent: CFD trading for retail clients. Its shares trade on the London Stock Exchange under the ticker IGG. Four tier-1 regulators oversee its main entities: the FCA in the UK, BaFin in Germany, ASIC in Australia and MAS in Singapore. The product list runs past 17,000 tradeable instruments, a breadth few in the industry match. For platforms you can pick IG's own web and mobile software, MT4, ProRealTime if you want advanced charts, or L2 Dealer for direct market access when dealing in shares.
Where the points come from
These points measure fit, not rank. When a broker gets 5.0 for something, we judged it by the demands of its own category and did not compare it with every other broker.
The good and the not so good
In its favour
- Decades of history and an LSE listing
- Top-tier regulators in 10+ jurisdictions
- In the UK, the FSCS covers clients up to £85,000
- 17,000+ markets; options, bonds and ETFs are on the list
- L2 Dealer gives share traders DMA
- Advanced charting through ProRealTime
Against it
- ECN brokers beat its forex spreads, which are upper-middle tier
- Charges more for inactivity than competitors do
- Newer brokers tend to open accounts faster
- Little on offer for copy or social trading
Is it right for you?
It suits traders who think long term, whether retail or professional, and who rank strong regulation, a mature platform and broad access above everything else. If you live in the UK or the EU, this is the 'safe default'.
Trading CFDs means trading with leverage, and losing money is a real and high risk. Check that this broker may legally serve residents of your country before you deposit. Its full risk warning is on its official website.