IG has established itself as one of the most authoritative brokers in the online trading landscape, distinguished by its long history and financial stability. Founded in 1974, the broker serves over 239,000 active clients across more than 17 countries, offering a wide range of financial assets including CFDs, forex, stocks, indices, and commodities. The platform primarily caters to experienced traders and professional investors seeking a complete and professional trading experience.
| ⭐️ Broker Name | IG |
| 📆 Founded | 1974 |
| ⚖️ Regulation | FCA, CONSOB, BaFin, ASIC |
| 💵 Minimum Deposit | 250 EUR |
| 👨💻 Available Platforms | IG Platform, MT4, MT5, ProRealTime, L2 Dealer |
| 📊 Available Assets | 17,000+ financial instruments |
| 🎮 Demo Account | Yes (unlimited) |
| 📈 Maximum Leverage | 1:30 (retail), 1:500 (professional) |
Indice
What is IG
IG was a pioneer in CFD trading, being the first broker to offer these financial instruments in 1974. The company, founded in the United Kingdom, has built a solid reputation based on decades of innovation and reliability in the financial sector.
IG’s main mission is to provide access to global financial markets through cutting-edge technology and professional tools. The platform stands out for its technological robustness and wide range of advanced trading tools, serving both retail and institutional traders.
How IG Works
The IG platform offers a professional trading experience with advanced analysis and risk management tools. The registration process requires thorough verification of identity and trading experience, in line with current regulations. Users can choose between various trading platforms, including the proprietary IG Platform, MetaTrader 4, and ProRealTime.
The distinctive feature is access to Direct Market Access (DMA) for professional traders, allowing them to trade directly on the order book. The platform also offers advanced technical analysis tools, with over 30 drawing tools and 40 technical indicators.
IG Opinions
The trading community’s opinions on IG are generally very positive, with particular appreciation for the quality of order execution and platform stability. Professional users emphasize the effectiveness of advanced analysis tools and the ability to access DMA.
The broker’s financial stability and long history are frequently cited as strengths, along with the quality of multilingual customer service. The most common criticisms concern slightly above-average costs and the initial complexity of the platform for beginners.
About IG the global community particularly appreciates the presence of a dedicated support team and the wide range of educational material in multiple languages.
IG Reviews
From the analysis of user reviews on IG, detailed feedback about the platform experience emerges:
Review #1
“I chose IG for its solidity and professionalism. The platform offers exceptional analysis tools and order execution is impeccable. Technical support is always available and competent. The spreads could be more competitive, but the service quality justifies the costs.”
Review #2
“I’ve been using IG for 5 years mainly for forex and indices trading. Access to DMA and the ability to use ProRealTime for free are significant advantages. The training offered is high-level, although the initial learning curve can be steep.”
IG Features
IG stands out for several advanced features that make it a preferred choice for professional traders.
Direct Market Access (DMA)
IG’s DMA allows professional traders to access the order book directly, offering maximum transparency and control over their operations. This feature enables viewing real-time market depth and placing orders directly in the book, ensuring the best possible execution.
Advanced Technical Analysis
The platform integrates professional technical analysis tools, with over 30 drawing tools and 40 customizable technical indicators. The integration with ProRealTime offers additional advanced analysis capabilities, including strategy backtesting on detailed historical data.
Professional Risk Management
IG offers sophisticated risk management tools, including guaranteed stop losses, trailing stops, and customizable position limits. The dynamic margin system protects capital during high volatility events, while real-time portfolio monitoring enables effective overall risk management.
Market Research and Analysis
IG’s internal team of analysts produces daily market research, fundamental analysis, and forecasts. Clients have access to real-time news, economic calendar, and detailed technical analysis. The service also includes educational webinars and live trading sessions with industry experts.
API Trading
IG offers advanced APIs for automated trading and custom strategy development. The APIs support various programming languages and allow complete automation of trading strategies, with access to real-time market data and order management functionality.
Is IG Safe?
IG’s security is based on solid regulation and decades of experience in the financial sector. The broker is authorized and regulated by:
- FCA (Financial Conduct Authority) in the UK
- CONSOB in Italy
- BaFin in Germany
- ASIC in Australia
Client funds are maintained in segregated accounts at top-tier banks and are protected by deposit guarantee schemes up to £85,000 in the UK. The platform implements advanced security measures, including:
- 256-bit SSL encryption
- Two-factor authentication
- 24/7 transaction monitoring
- Advanced anti-fraud systems
The presence of over 239,000 active clients and £3.1 billion in managed assets further testifies to the broker’s reliability.
Trading Platforms
IG’s suite of trading platforms includes five professional solutions that meet different trading needs. Each platform has been selected and optimized to ensure the best possible trading experience.
- IG Platform is the broker’s proprietary platform, accessible via web browser without download requirements. The modern and intuitive interface allows trading on all available markets with integrated analysis tools and professional charts. The mobile version replicates all web platform functionalities.
- MetaTrader 4 offers a familiar trading environment with powerful forex trading capabilities. The platform supports Expert Advisors for automated trading and includes advanced tools for technical analysis and strategy backtesting.
- MetaTrader 5 expands MT4’s capabilities with additional features for multi-asset trading. It offers additional timeframes and technical indicators, plus advanced tools for fundamental analysis and algorithmic trading.
- ProRealTime is a professional platform that excels in advanced technical analysis. It includes programming functionality for automated strategies, professional backtesting, and multi-screen analysis with customizable indicators.
- L2 Dealer is the institutional platform providing direct market access (DMA). It allows viewing the complete order book, offers customizable order routing, and advanced tools for professional trading.
All platforms stand out for:
- Trading on 17,000+ global markets
- Ultra-fast order execution
- Advanced and customizable charts
- Real-time news
- Professional risk management
- Customizable notifications
Account Types
IG maintains a clear account structure that reflects its focus on quality and professionalism. The broker offers three main account types to meet different investor needs.
The Standard Retail Account represents the platform’s entry point, with a minimum deposit of 250 EUR and complete access to all trading and analysis tools. It includes negative balance protection and limited leverage according to ESMA regulations.
The Professional Account, available for qualified traders according to MiFID II criteria, offers significant advantages such as extended leverage up to 1:500, reduced spreads, and access to Direct Market Access. It requires proven trading experience and solid knowledge of financial markets.
The Demo Account offers a realistic practice environment with unlimited virtual funds, allowing testing of all platform features without risk. It’s completely free and has no expiration date.
Account verification follows a rigorous but efficient KYC process, ensuring maximum security and regulatory compliance.
Available Assets
IG offers one of the most comprehensive ranges of financial instruments in the online trading sector, with access to over 17,000 global markets through a single integrated platform.
The complete catalog includes:
- More than 17,000 stocks from global markets with direct access
- 80 major indices with 24-hour trading
- 80+ forex pairs with competitive spreads
- 40+ commodities including precious metals and energies
- Major cryptocurrencies with secure custody
- Wide selection of ETFs and bonds
- Options and Turbo24 certificates
Market depth and execution quality position IG among the most comprehensive brokers for professional and institutional traders. The ability to access Direct Market Access for stocks and forex represents a significant advantage for the most demanding traders.
Costs and Commissions
IG adopts a transparent and competitive commission structure while maintaining high standards in execution quality. The broker balances contained costs with premium services, offering particularly advantageous conditions for more active traders.
Forex spreads start from 0.6 pips for EUR/USD, with commissions progressively reducing as volumes increase. Stock trading presents competitive commissions starting from 0.10%, while CFDs offer variable spreads based on market conditions.
There are no fees for deposits and withdrawals, but an inactivity fee of 12 EUR monthly is applied after 24 months without operations. Premium services like DMA are available without additional costs for qualified professional accounts.
Deposits and Withdrawals
Financial operations management on IG reflects the broker’s professional approach. Deposits are processed efficiently and securely through a variety of verified payment methods.
Accepted methods:
- International bank transfer
- Major credit and debit cards
- PayPal for quick transactions
Deposits are generally instant with electronic methods, while bank transfers take 2-3 business days. Withdrawals are processed within 1-3 business days, with an efficient verification process ensuring maximum transaction security.
Educational Resources
IG’s educational offering stands out for quality and depth, with a particular focus on professional training. IG Academy represents the heart of the broker’s educational commitment, offering structured content that is constantly updated.
The program includes:
- Advanced trading courses with certification
- Weekly webinars with professional analysts
- Live seminars in major financial centers
- Detailed video tutorials on specific strategies
- Downloadable multilingual training material
- Daily analysis of major markets
The quality and depth of educational material make IG an excellent choice for traders seeking comprehensive professional training.
Customer Service
IG’s customer support operates according to high professional standards, with a multilingual team available 24/5 through various communication channels:
- Live chat with expert operators
- Dedicated phone support in multiple languages
- Email with quick response times
- Comprehensive online help center
Support is provided by trading professionals with direct market experience, ensuring competent and relevant responses. Response times are among the fastest in the industry, averaging a few minutes for live chat and 24 hours for emails.
The service particularly stands out for the quality of technical consultation and the ability to handle complex requests related to professional trading.
Pros and Cons of IG
| 👍 PROS | 👎 CONS |
| Rigorous global regulation | High minimum deposit |
| 17,000+ markets available | CFD trading only on some assets |
| Multiple professional platforms | |
| Wide range of analysis tools | |
| DMA for professional accounts |
Conclusions
IG proves to be one of the most reliable and comprehensive brokers in the market, ideal for experienced traders and investors seeking a professional platform. The wide range of financial instruments and execution quality make it particularly suitable for professional trading.
IG platform perfectly balances advanced functionality and operational stability, although above-average costs may not be optimal for traders with limited budgets. The long history in the sector and rigorous regulation testify to the broker’s reliability.
📌 Especially recommended for experienced traders and professionals seeking a complete platform with access to multiple markets and advanced tools.
FAQ
The minimum deposit to open an account with IG is 250 EUR. This entry threshold reflects the broker’s positioning in the professional segment and ensures adequate capital for effective market operations.
Yes, IG offers a free demo account with unlimited time access. The demo account includes all real platform features, allowing you to test strategies and familiarize yourself with advanced tools without risk.
