IG is one of the biggest and most established UK based trading platforms offering access to over 17,000 markets.
We rated it one of the best trading software for Mac users and in this review, I take a closer look at what it offers.
Table of Contents
Why IG Is Best For UK Traders
Firstly, it’s important to be aware from the start that IG is predominantly focused on UK based traders.
I’d have no hesitations recommending IG to those based in the UK but those in other regions may not get the full range of services available.
Although IG is available to traders worldwide, its services and protections vary by country due to regulatory restrictions.
Countries that IG operate in include the UK, Europe, Australia, the U.S., Singapore, Japan, South Africa, and more.
However, IG does not provide services in some countries, such as Canada and certain U.S. states.
To check availability in your location, it’s best to visit the IG website or check with their customer support.
Disclaimer: Spread bets and CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 70% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading spread bets and CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how spread bets and CFDs work, and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
IG Overview
Founded in 1974, IG stands for “Investors Gold” and is one of the most established brokers in the UK.
It’s also one of the few brokers that is publicly traded.
This means their revenue and profits are publicly available which is pretty transparent compared to most brokers that don’t have to make this information available.
IG now claims to have over 340,000 clients worldwide with 17 offices across five continents.
IG emphasizes safety by holding client funds in segregated accounts.
Although it’s not the only broker that does this, it’s added peace of mind should anything happen to the company itself.
Below is a summary of the IG platform and everything that it offers.
| IG Features | Details |
|---|
| Account Types | CFD Trading, Spread Betting (UK only), Share Dealing, Smart Portfolio (Managed Accounts) |
| Markets Available | Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, Cryptocurrencies (varies by region) |
| Trading Platforms | IG Web Platform, IG Mobile App, MetaTrader 4 (MT4), ProRealTime (for advanced charting) |
| Minimum Deposit | Trading deposit is £50 minimum in the UK. IG Smart Portfolio account’s need to be above £500 to start investing your funds though. Costs vary by region and account type. |
| Leverage | Available for CFDs and Forex (varies by product and jurisdiction) |
| Demo Account | Yes, with virtual funds for practice |
| Spreads & Commissions | Variable spreads (e.g., Forex from 0.6 pips), share dealing commissions (from $0 in the U.S., varies elsewhere) |
| Overnight Financing | Applies to CFD positions held overnight (rate varies) |
| Deposit Methods | Bank Transfer, Credit/Debit Card, PayPal (varies by region) |
| Withdrawal Fees | No fees for bank transfers, card withdrawals may have limits |
| Regulation | FCA (UK), ASIC (Australia), NFA (U.S.), and other global regulators |
| Customer Support | 24/5 via phone, live chat, email, and help center |
| Security Features | Two-Factor Authentication (2FA), Data Encryption, Segregated Client Funds |
IG Pricing
Like many brokers, IG makes most of its revenue based on the spreads it offers. However, there are various other fees and charges that you should be aware of as summarized below.
| Fee Type | Cost/Charge | Details |
|---|
| Spreads (Forex & CFDs) | From 0.6 pips | Variable, depends on market conditions and asset traded |
| Commission (Shares Trading) | US: $0, UK: from £3, Other: varies | Commission applies to share dealing, varies by region |
| Overnight Financing | Varies | Charged on CFD trades held overnight, based on interbank rate + markup |
| Inactivity Fee | £12 or $18/month | Applied if no activity for 24 months |
| Deposit Fees | Free | No charges for most deposit methods (may vary by provider) |
| Withdrawal Fees | Free | No fees for bank transfers; card withdrawals may have limits |
| Guaranteed Stop-Loss Order (GSLO) Fee | Variable | A premium is charged when placing GSLO, refunded if not triggered |
| ProRealTime Charting Fee | UK £30 fee on the last day of every month. USA and other regions around $40/month | If the spread or commission IG earns on your trading activity is more than £15 a month, fee is waived. |
| Live Price Data Feeds | Varies | Some exchanges charge a fee for real-time market data (e.g., NYSE, LSE) |
| Leverage/Margin Costs | Varies | Depends on the instrument and jurisdiction |
Account Setup and First Impressions
The account registration process is straightforward although like most brokers, you’ll have to submit identification which may take a few days to verify.
I recommend signing-up for an IG demo account to practice trading first with £10,000 in virtual funds.
This doesn’t require any verification and you can be up and trading within seconds. You can then switch from this to a real account if you like the platform.
There is no Mac desktop app but you can access IG via any browser. IG does however offer an emulated version of MT4 that works on a Mac if you like to use MetaTrader.
Once logged-in your IG account, you get a clean and simple dashboard with a workspace in which you can populate with all the markets and assets important to you.
You can create multiple workspaces so that you can have separate ones for different markets and trading activity.
Market Access and Variety
IG offers access to over 17,000 markets, including forex, stocks, commodities, indices, ETFs and options.
All of these markets are listed along the left hand side of the workspace. This allows you to diversify your trading portfolio right from the start.
You can add a market such as Forex for example to your workspace to get started.
However, crypto currencies are only available to those with an IG Pro account which requires a minimum trading balance of €500,000.
Selecting one of the markets gives you a clear overview of everything that’s available to be traded and their movements on the markets.
You can add any of these markets to your workspace by clicking on the “Add to workspace” arrow in the top right.
You can create as many workspaces as you like so there’s no need to clutter the screen with too many windows.
You can also add markets to your Watchlists by right-clicking on a market name and adding it to your Watchlist on the left.
IG also offers Smart Portfolios of funds ranging from conservative to aggressive depending on your risk profile.
Costs for these are around 0.7% per year with prices capped on anything above £50,000.
Trading Platforms and Tools
IG offers multiple trading platforms, including integration with MetaTrader 4 (MT4), and a mobile app.
I didn’t try the mobile app but most user reviews are positive about it.
I found the web platform to be user-friendly, with basic charting tools and enough real-time data to make trading decisions on.
You get a news feed along the right-hand side of the workspace which you can expand by clicking on the “News” tab on the left-hand side.
Of course, you can set things like a stop-loss to avoid big losses if the market moves against you.
You can also setup price alerts for when specific lows or highs are reached.
One thing I liked was the “client sentiment” feature which allows you to see how many other IG traders are buying or selling a specific stock or fund at any moment.
One gripe I have though is that there aren’t a great deal of technical analysis tools in IG although many people use specific stock trading apps for this anyway.
There are basic charts that offer candlestick and line views and you can even add your own annotations to them.
Overall however, the number of indicators is quite limited.
There is however a handy stock screener powered by TipRanks which gives you a “Smart Score” based on its performance.
You can also filter by specific criteria such as dividend yield, sector, analyst consensus and even blogger consensus.
If this is too limiting for you though, you can link IG with TradingView which is the best trading software I’ve used on a Mac and offers some of the best charting tools in any software.
Alternatively, if you make more than 3 trades a month you get access to a Pro account which offers ProRealTime data which has better charting tools and historical data comparisons.
You can also pay for this as an add-on service for £30 per month.
Educational Resources
The IG Academy is excellent offering various webinars and step-by-step tutorials for all levels.
You have to sign-up for this separately however as it’s not available from within the main demo account.
The Academy covers all the basics from the fundamentals of the financial markets to orders, execution and leverage.
One nice touch is that IG offers live trading webinars which are free to sign-up to.
These cover various world events and how they may impact the financial markets.
Fees and Commissions
IG’s fee structure is definitely competitive – as long as you’re an active trader.
For UK shares, the standard commission is £8, which reduces to £3 if more than three trades are made in a month.
For frequent traders this is pretty good value although occasional traders might find it expensive.
There’s also a quarterly custody fee of £24 (£96 a year) which is waived with regular trading activity.
Financial Protections
Only UK customers are protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme should anything happen to IG while you have money invested with them.
However, there may be regional protections in place depending on where you live and opened the account (see the table below for more on this).
Customer Support
IG Customer Support is 24/7 with various methods of contact including Live Chat, WhatsApp and Email.
In the UK you can also contact IG by phone on 0800 195 3100 from 9am to 5pm (UK time), Monday to Friday.
IG Integration with TradingView
Even though you can use it in any browser, one downside of IG is the lack of a Mac desktop app.
However, thanks to IG integration with TradingView you can effectively use IG in its desktop app.
Just link TradingView with IG and you can trade directly with your IG broker account from the TradingView Mac desktop app.
Using IG with MT4 on a Mac
An alternative way to use IG on a Mac is via its MetaTrader app.
While this isn’t a native Mac app, it is bundled with emulation software which allows an IG branded version of MetaTrader to run on your Mac.
There are other ways to run MT4 & MT5 on a Mac but IG offers just one simple and convenient workaround.
Alternatives To IG
IG compares favorably with other brokers as you can see below in a breakdown of how to compares to four other leading brokers worldwide.
| Feature | IG | eToro | Plus500 | CMC Markets | Saxo Bank |
|---|
| Account Types | CFD, Spread Betting (UK), Share Dealing, Managed Portfolios | CFD, Copy Trading, Stocks, ETFs, Crypto | CFD Trading Only | CFD, Spread Betting (UK), Share Trading | CFD, Stocks, ETFs, Bonds, Futures, Options |
| Minimum Deposit | $250 | $50-$200 (varies by region) | $100 | $0 | $2,000 (varies by region) |
| Markets Available | Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, Crypto | Stocks, ETFs, Crypto, Forex, CFDs | Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, Crypto | Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, Crypto | Forex, Stocks, Bonds, ETFs, Futures, Options |
| Trading Platforms | Web, Mobile, MetaTrader 4, ProRealTime | Web, Mobile, CopyTrader App | Web, Mobile, Proprietary Platform | Web, Mobile, MetaTrader 4/5, Pro Platform | Web, Mobile, SaxoTraderGO, SaxoTraderPRO |
| Leverage | Yes (varies by asset & region) | Yes (varies by region) | Yes (varies by asset & region) | Yes (varies by asset & region) | Yes (varies by asset & region) |
| Spreads (Forex) | From 0.6 pips | From 1.0 pips | From 0.6 pips | From 0.7 pips | From 0.4 pips |
| Commission (Stocks) | $0 (US), from £3 (UK) | 1% on stock trades | $0 (built into spread) | From 0.10% per trade | From 0.08% per trade |
| Overnight Fees | Yes, based on interbank rate | Yes, varies | Yes, varies | Yes, varies | Yes, varies |
| Inactivity Fee | $18/month after 24 months inactivity | $10/month after 12 months inactivity | $10/month after 3 months inactivity | $10/month after 12 months inactivity | $100 after 6 months inactivity |
| Deposit Fees | Free | Free | Free | Free | Free |
| Withdrawal Fees | Free | $5 per withdrawal | Free | Free | $0-$50 (depends on method) |
| Regulation | FCA (UK), ASIC (AU), NFA (US), others | FCA (UK), ASIC (AU), CySEC (EU) | FCA (UK), ASIC (AU), CySEC (EU) | FCA (UK), ASIC (AU), MAS (Singapore) | FCA (UK), FINMA (Switzerland), ASIC (AU) |
| Customer Support | 24/5 via phone, chat, email | 24/5 via chat, email | 24/5 via chat, email | 24/5 via phone, chat, email | 24/5 via phone, chat, email |
FAQ
IG Trading Platform FAQ
What is IG?
IG is a UK based online trading platform that offers access to various financial markets, including stocks, forex, indices, and commodities. It provides both CFD (Contract for Difference) trading and direct market access.
How do I open an account with IG?
To open an account, visit the IG website and complete the online registration process. You will need to provide some personal details, verify your identity, and choose an account type (individual, joint, or corporate).
What products can I trade on IG?
IG offers a wide range of trading products, including:
- Forex
- Stocks & Shares
- Indices
- Commodities
- Cryptocurrencies (availability depends on how much you have invested)
Is IG suitable for beginners?
Yes, IG is beginner-friendly, offering some of the best educational resources of any platform, demo accounts, and a simple trading interface. You can practice trading without risk using virtual money before starting with real funds.
What is the minimum deposit for trading on IG?
The minimum deposit varies depending on your account type and country of residence, but it generally starts at around $250 or the equivalent. In the UK it is £50 for trading and £500 to invest in funds.
What platforms can I use to trade with IG?
IG offers trading via its own proprietary platform, along with MetaTrader 4 (MT4) for forex traders. You can also access your account via the IG mobile app.
Are there fees for trading on IG?
IG charges various fees depending on the product and type of trade. These can include spreads, commissions, overnight financing charges (for CFD trades), and potential withdrawal fees.
Is IG regulated?
Yes, IG is regulated by several financial authorities worldwide, including the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC). However, financial guarantees vary by country.
Can I trade on IG using leverage?
Yes, IG offers leverage for certain products, such as CFDs and forex. However, leverage increases both potential profits and risks, so it’s important to understand how it works before using it.
How can I deposit or withdraw funds on IG?
IG supports a variety of deposit and withdrawal methods, including bank transfers, credit/debit cards, and electronic wallets. You’ll have to check your account for specific payment options available in your region.
Does IG offer a demo account?
Yes, IG provides a demo account for new traders to practice without risking real money. This account uses virtual funds, allowing you to explore the platform and test strategies.
What customer support options are available with IG?
IG offers customer support through phone, live chat, and email. Support is available 24/5, and they also have a comprehensive online help center.
Can I trade cryptocurrencies on IG?
Yes, IG offers cryptocurrency trading on selected digital assets like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Litecoin. However in some regions this requires a Pro account and a certain minimum trading balance. Availability will depend on your region’s regulations.
How secure is IG?
Like most brokers, IG uses advanced security measures, including two-factor authentication (2FA) and encryption, to protect your personal and financial information.
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