Interactive Brokers and IG are top online brokers offering many platforms and assets. Interactive Brokers is a top choice for professional traders as it has many premium tools. It has top-tier licenses from the FCA and SEC. Interactive Brokers offers a premium trading experience with excellent tools and platforms. We recommend it for experienced traders based outside of the United States.
IG offers well-designed and easy-to-customize trading platforms. It has a straightforward deposit and withdrawal process and impressive educational materials. IG has top-tier licenses from the FCA and BaFin. We recommend it for new traders because of its comprehensive learning and research tools.
Both online brokers have advantages and disadvantages. This article discusses the differences between Interactive Brokers and IG.
| Broker Name | Interactive Brokers | IG |
| Year Founded | 1978 | 1974 |
| Regulation | SEC (USA), FCA (UK) | FCA, BaFin |
| Tradable Assets | Stock, ETF, Forex, Fund, Bond, Options, Futures, CFD, Crypto, Warrants, Structured Products | Forex, CFDs |
| Min Deposit | $0 | $0 |
| Min Trade | $0 | |
| Platforms | Traders Workstation (TWS) | Web, Desktop, Mobile |
| Deposit | You can open account without deposit | Free of charge |
| Withdrawals | Free of charge for the first withdrawal in calendar month | Free of charge |
Top findings from the Interactive Brokers vs. IG review:
- Interactive Brokers offers professional tools and platforms for experienced traders.
- IG has many reliable learning tools and easy-to-understand platforms.
- Both brokers offer a proprietary platform, an active trader discount, and a demo account.
We recommend Interactive Brokers for non-US-based traders looking for professional platforms. IG is a better choice for beginners as it has many educational resources and analysis tools.
Overall Rating
| Feature | Interactive Brokers | IG |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 4.5 | 5 |
| Commissions & Fees | 4.5 | 5 |
| Offering of Investments | 5 | 5 |
| Platforms & Tools | 4.5 | 5 |
| Mobile Trading | 4 | 5 |
| Research | 4.5 | 5 |
| Education | 4 | 5 |
| Trust Score | 94 | 99 |
| Winner | YES | |
| 66% of retail CFD accounts lose money | 70% of retail CFD accounts lose money |
Level of experience
Interactive Brokers offers access to many professional tools. It has Paper Trading, webinars, and articles. Interactive Brokers has a premium proprietary platform and excellent research tools. It is a top choice for experienced traders, as its platforms are challenging for beginners to learn.
IG offers a leading web platform with useful educational and research tools. It has a virtual trading account and many learning resources, including training videos. IG has user-friendly and advanced research tools. We recommend it for traders of all levels of experience, especially beginners.
Fees
The initial deposit fee at Interactive Brokers is $0, while at IG is £250. Both brokers offer an active trader discount.
Assets
Interactive Brokers has 105 forex currency pairs, while IG has 104 available pairs. IG provides access to 19537 CFDs, while Interactive Brokers has 7400 available CFDs.
Trading platform
The Interactive Brokers trading platforms are an excellent choice for professionals. These come with reliable tools, a massive asset offering, and market research capabilities. Its mobile app offers access to professional charting tools. The web and desktop platforms focus on professional traders.
IG has some of the leading trading platforms for both new and experienced traders. It offers a web and mobile platform with a straightforward design and secure authentication. IG has an excellent learning center with webinars, trading videos, and forex education. We recommend it for inexperienced traders.
Banking services
Banking services are essential for an excellent online trading experience. IG has many funding options, including bank transfers, credit/debit cards, and PayPal. Interactive Brokers offers bank transfers as its funding solution.
Final verdict
Interactive Brokers and IG are the top online brokers. Both have strengths and weaknesses, depending on your needs and trading skills. We recommend Interactive Brokers for professionals because of its premium tools. IG is a better fit for new traders as it offers user-friendly platforms and educational materials.
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Methodology
The mission of Business24-7 is to provide comprehensive, unbiased ratings and reviews of online providers. User experience, the mobile experience, customer service, costs and fees, security, the quality of trade executions, the products available on their platforms are all part of our six-month evaluation of a providers’s platform. The rating scale was based on thousands of data points that have been weighted into the scoring system.
Providers were also required to fill out a multi-point survey regarding every aspect of their platform. In-person demonstrations and evaluations were provided by the majority of the online providers we reviewed.
Stefan Grasic, along with our team of industry experts, conducted our reviews and developed this methodology for ranking what form is used in online investing.
Business24-7 maintains high editorial standards and provides the best advice and recommendations. The products and companies that we review may compensate us when you click on the links on this website. Click below to find out more about our review process and methodology.
Disclosure
All trading involves risk. More than 80% of investors lose in spread bet and CFD trading. As these complex instruments allow for the use of leverage, there is a high risk of losing more money than you have deposited. Before attempting to participate in spread bets and CFDs, consider how well you understand them and if you can afford to lose your money.
