IG Group Review 2026
The institution of CFD brokers. Best instrument depth.
The oldest broker on this list. Founded in 1974, LSE listed, and regulated in every major jurisdiction. Best instrument count at 17,000+. Premium positioning, no minimum deposit.
What's on the menu
IG Group has been serving since 1974, with the kitchen based in London, UK. Its shares trade publicly under the ticker LSE:IGG. The order book runs deep: 17,000 CFD instruments spanning forex, indices, commodities and crypto. Beyond the CFD menu, you can also own real shares outright.
MetaTrader comes plated on every account type. There is no copy-trading option here.
| Founded | 1974 |
| Headquarters | London, UK |
| Instruments | 17,000+ |
| Platforms | IG Platform, MT4, ProRealTime |
| MetaTrader | Yes, MT4 and MT5 |
| Copy trading | No |
| Real stocks | Yes |
Kitchen inspection: is IG Group safe?
FCA-regulated brokers must keep client funds in accounts segregated from company funds, provide negative balance protection, and contribute to the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS), which covers up to £85,000 per client if the broker becomes insolvent.
| Regulator | Licence | Entity |
|---|---|---|
| FCA | 195355 ✓ | IG Markets Ltd |
| ASIC | 220440 ✓ | IG Markets Ltd (AU) |
| BaFin | 149169 ✓ | IG Europe GmbH |
| FSCA | 41393 ✓ | IG Markets South Africa Ltd |
| MAS | 200510021K ✓ | IG Asia Pte Ltd |
| JFSA | 関東財務局長(金商)第2526号 ✓ | IG Securities Ltd |
| CFTC | 0509630 ✓ | IG US LLC |
Want to inspect the kitchen yourself? Pull up register.fca.org.uk and look up the FCA licence. The listing lays out the entity name, its authorisation status and the full list of what it is cleared to do. A minute, tops.
Ready to open an account?
IG Group - FCA regulated, min deposit None, 17,000+ instruments.
Ingredient costs: IG Group spreads
Here is what the raw ingredients cost on a standard IG Group account. Spreads breathe with the market and with your account tier; step up to an ECN or raw-spread table and the spread shrinks, but a per-trade commission joins the bill.
| EUR/USD | 0.6 pips |
| GBP/USD | 0.9 pips |
| USD/JPY | 0.7 pips |
| Gold (XAU/USD) | 30c/oz |
| S&P 500 | 0.4pt |
That EUR/USD figure of 0.6 pips is a fair price to pay on a commission-free account.
The bill: IG Group withdrawal fee and timing
Cost to take money out: None. IG does not charge withdrawal fees for standard bank transfers.
How long it takes: Same day to 3 business days. IG processes withdrawals quickly. Card withdrawals are usually same day.
No cash leaves the till until your identity checks out. If your proof of ID and address are not yet filed and cleared, the payout waits; once you are fully verified, cash-outs follow the timings shown above.
The cover charge by entity
The opening deposit at IG Group depends on which entity seats your country. Offshore branches tend to set a smaller cover charge, but you dine with a thinner layer of regulatory protection.
| Entity | Regulator | Min deposit | Max leverage (forex) |
|---|---|---|---|
| IG Markets Ltd | FCA 195355 | None | 1:30 |
| IG Markets Ltd (AU) | ASIC 220440 | None | 1:30 |
| IG Europe GmbH | BaFin 149169 | None | 1:30 |
| IG Markets South Africa Ltd | FSCA 41393 | None | 1:400 |
| IG Asia Pte Ltd | MAS 200510021K | None | 1:20 |
| IG Securities Ltd | JFSA 関東財務局長(金商)第2526号 | None | 1:25 |
| IG US LLC | CFTC 0509630 | None | 1:50 |
IG Group vs CMC Markets
| IG Group | CMC Markets | |
|---|---|---|
| Primary regulator | FCA 195355 | FCA 173730 |
| Min deposit | None | None |
| EUR/USD spread | 0.6 pips | 0.5 pips |
| MetaTrader | Yes | Yes |
| Instruments | 17,000+ | 12,000+ |
| Copy trading | No | No |
| Withdrawal fee | None | None |
Both kitchens hold real licences, so neither is a bad table. Pull up a chair at IG Group if you value MetaTrader and running algorithms. CMC Markets plates up better for anyone who leans on leaner spreads.
The licences, line by line
| FCA | 195355, IG Markets Ltd |
| ASIC | 220440, IG Markets Ltd (AU) |
| BaFin | 149169, IG Europe GmbH |
| FSCA | 41393, IG Markets South Africa Ltd |
| MAS | 200510021K, IG Asia Pte Ltd |
| JFSA | 関東財務局長(金商)第2526号, IG Securities Ltd |
| CFTC | 0509630, IG US LLC |
Under ESMA house rules, retail traders in the EU and UK are served leverage no higher than 1:30 on the major forex pairs.
What tastes good, what leaves a bad aftertaste
Cooked well
- FCA regulated since 1974
- LSE listed (IGG)
- 17,000+ instruments
- MT4 available
- Real stocks and ETFs
- US clients accepted
Sent back
- Complex fee structure for shares
- No copy trading
- Inactivity fee GBP 12 after 2 months
Compare IG Group before you commit
4.4/5 rating - FCA regulated - min deposit None
The verdict
Nothing on the plate here is fake: IG Group is a genuine, regulated broker, and FCA licence 195355 checks out on the public register. The table is set best for traders who want MetaTrader served on a regulated platform. We rate it 4.4 out of 5.
Other tables worth a look
If IG Group is not quite to your taste, these regulated kitchens are worth comparing:
Frequently asked questions
Is IG Group safe?
FCA-regulated brokers must keep client funds in accounts segregated from company funds, provide negative balance protection, and contribute to the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS), which covers up to £85,000 per client if the broker becomes insolvent. The kitchen holds FCA licence 195355, and you can confirm it for yourself on the official register.
What is the IG Group minimum deposit?
The cover charge is None at the main regulated entity. Offshore branches may plate it differently, so check the entity table above for the full spread.
What is the IG Group EUR/USD spread?
On a standard IG Group account the EUR/USD ingredient runs about 0.6 pips. It moves with the market; an ECN or raw table trims the spread in exchange for a per-trade commission.
How long does IG Group take to process withdrawals?
Same day to 3 business days. IG processes withdrawals quickly. Card withdrawals are usually same day.
Does IG Group charge withdrawal fees?
None. IG does not charge withdrawal fees for standard bank transfers.
Does IG Group have MetaTrader?
Yes. Both MT4 and MT5 are on the menu across every account type, so automated strategies, custom indicators and expert advisors are all on the table.