Axi vs IG Index

Axi or IG Index – which is better for UK traders 2025? Compare Axi and IG Index in this detailed breakdown of their platforms, features and fees.

Axi vs IG Index Comparison Table 2025
Axi IG Index
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3.7
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4.7
Axi is ranked #27 among CFD brokers. IG Index is ranked #7 among CFD brokers.
Review
Review
Founded in 2007, Axi is a forex and CFD broker operating under multiple regulations. Over the years, it has enhanced the trading experience by broadening its stock offerings, upgrading the Axi Academy, and launching a proprietary copy trading app. Founded in 1974, IG is a part of IG Group Holdings Plc, a publicly listed brokerage (LSE: IGG). The company provides spread betting, CFD, and forex trading, offering access to over 17,000 markets. Its platforms and investing apps are notably user-friendly. Over the past 50 years, IG has consistently been an industry leader, excelling in all essential areas for traders.
72.4% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider 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.
Pros
  • Axi provides an excellent MT4 experience, enhanced by the NextGen plug-in for sophisticated order management and analytics, with low execution latency around 30ms.
  • Axi Academy offers a wealth of educational resources, from free eBooks and video tutorials to interactive quizzes. These are particularly beneficial for novice traders.
  • Based on our tests, Axi's new trading app is highly intuitive. It offers practical filtering options to align strategies with individual risk preferences.
  • Experienced traders are invited to join the Axi Select funded trader programme via the broker's international branch. This scheme offers up to $1 million in capital with the benefit of a 90% profit share.
  • IG stands out with its extensive range of instruments, offering stocks, forex, indices, commodities, and cryptocurrencies. Additionally, it has recently introduced US-listed futures and options, along with an AI Index. These options enhance opportunities for diversification in trading.
  • The web-based platform supports traders at every level, offering advanced charting tools and real-time market data vital for trading. Additionally, IG now includes TradingView integration.
  • The IG app provides an excellent mobile trading experience with an intuitive design, earning it the Runner Up position in our 'Best Trading App' award.
  • As a seasoned broker, IG adheres to stringent regulatory standards across various regions, ensuring significant trust.
  • IG provides a wide range of professional and engaging educational materials, such as webinars, articles, and analyses, tailored for traders.
  • The ProRealTime advanced charting platform remains free, provided traders meet modest monthly activity requirements.
Cons
  • Axi lags by solely providing MT4, while competitors have upgraded to MT5, cTrader, TradingView, and bespoke platforms, delivering a smoother user experience with enhanced tools.
  • Even with the expansion of stock CFDs in the US, UK, and EU markets, its range still falls short compared to companies like BlackBull, which provide thousands of equities for varied trading opportunities.
  • Axi retains our confidence. However, recent issues with ASIC and FMA require it to maintain a secure environment and comply with licensing standards.
  • Although Axi delivers excellent performance, its support is not available 24/7. This unavailability can be inconvenient for traders operating in different time zones or requiring help beyond regular trading hours.
  • Beginners may find IG's fees complicated, as they vary depending on the trades or services. This could cause confusion and unexpected costs.
  • In the UK and EU, negative balance protection is available. However, US clients lack account protection and guaranteed stop losses.
  • IG has ended its swap-free account, diminishing its attractiveness to Islamic traders.
  • Based on tests, stock and CFD spreads remain less competitive than the lowest-cost brokers, such as CMC Markets.
  • IG imposes a monthly inactivity fee of $12 after two years, discouraging occasional traders.
Awards
  • Best Forex Provider 2023 – Online Money Awards
  • Best MT4 Provider UK 2022 – International Business Magazine Awards
  • Best CFD Provider 2022 – Shares Awards
  • Best CFD Provider 2021 – Shares Awards
  • Most Transparent Forex Broker (Middle East) 2021 - Global Forex Awards
  • Best EMEA Region Broker 2020 - ADVFN International Financial Awards
  • Best Customer Service 2022 - Online Money Awards
  • Best Spread Betting Provider 2022 - Online Money Awards
  • Best Platform for the Active Trader 2022 - ADVFN International Financial Awards
  • Best Multi Platform Provider 2022 - ADVFN International Financial Awards
  • Best Finance App 2022 - ADVFN International Financial Awards
FCA Regulated
Yes Yes
Instruments
CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, Crypto CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, ETFs, Futures, Options, Crypto, Spread Betting
Demo Account
Yes Yes
Minimum Deposit
$0 $0
Payment Methods
Minimum Trade
0.01 Lots 0.01 Lots
Regulator
FCA, ASIC, FMA, DFSA, SVGFSA FCA, ASIC, NFA, CFTC, DFSA, BaFin, MAS, FSCA, FINMA, CONSOB, AFM
Mobile Apps
iOS & Android iOS & Android
Trading App
Axi's app offers a seamless trading experience, combining essential tools for active global market trading in one place. Enhanced with bug fixes and improved speed, it now includes push notifications, custom watchlists, and educational videos, all within an impressive user-friendly interface. IG provides an excellent trading app. As a mobile trading pioneer, it has evolved over the years into a top-tier app. Expect swift responses, an intuitive interface, comprehensive charting, and dependable performance. Additionally, it includes guaranteed stops, a crucial risk management feature absent in many apps we've evaluated.
iOS App Rating
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3.6
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4.6
Android App Rating
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4.2
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4
Margin Trading
Yes Yes
Margin Rate
2.5%
MetaTrader 4
Yes Yes
MetaTrader 5
No No
cTrader
No No
AlgoTrader
No No
OmniTrader
No No
TradingView
No Yes
Autochartist
Yes Yes
eSignal
No No
Trading Central
No Yes
STP Account
Yes No
ECN Account
No No
DMA Account
No Yes
MAM Account
Yes No
PAMM Account
Yes No
LAMM Account
No No
Demat Account
No No
AI / Machine Learning
No No
Robo Advisor
No Yes
Negative Balance Protection
Yes Yes
Market Maker
No Yes
P2P Trading
No No
Spot Trading
Yes Yes
Auto Trading
Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader, Myfxbook Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader, build your own on ProRealTime
Copy Trading
Yes No
Social Trading
Yes No
Trade Signals
MT4, Autochartist Yes
VPS Hosting
Yes Yes
Tournaments
No No
Demo Competitions
Yes No
Ethical Investing
No Yes
Custodial Account
No No
Guaranteed Stop Loss
No Yes
Inactivity Fee
$10 $12
Islamic Account
Yes No
Account Currencies
  • USD
  • EUR
  • GBP
  • CHF
  • PLN
  • USD
  • EUR
  • GBP
  • CAD
  • AUD
  • JPY
  • ZAR
  • SEK
  • DKK
  • CHF
  • HKD
  • SGD
Commodities
  • Copper
  • Oil
  • Gold
  • Silver
  • Platinum
  • Cocoa
  • Coffee
  • Gasoline
  • Natural Gas
  • Precious Metals
  • Gold
  • Copper
  • Oil
  • Palladium
  • Silver
  • Sugar
  • Coffee
  • Wheat
  • Natural Gas
  • Soybeans
  • Orange Juice
  • Nickel
  • Steel
  • Iron
  • Precious Metals
  • Aluminium
  • Lithium
  • Cannabis
  • Lean Hogs
  • Cattle
CFD
Axi provides an expanding range of CFDs on currencies, shares, indices, commodities, and cryptocurrencies, subject to location. Designed for active traders, it imposes no limits on scalping or algorithmic strategies, offers significant leverage, and ensures rapid execution with latency below 100ms. IG provides over 17,000 CFDs, giving traders more opportunities than most brokers. Investors can trade long or short on key markets such as equities, forex, commodities, and cryptocurrencies. Additionally, customised price alerts and the IG Academy enrich the trading experience.
Leverage
1:30 1:30 (Retail), 1:222 (Pro)
FTSE Spread
1.0 1.0
GBPUSD Spread<
0.6 0.9
Oil Spread
0.03 2.8
Stocks Spread
0.07 0.02
Forex
Axi excels with over 70 currency pairs, outpacing competitors such as AvaTrade, which provides just over 50. Coupled with the enhanced MT4 platform via the NextGen add-on, Axi stands out as a top choice for forex traders. IG provides an extensive selection of over 80 currency pairs through its own web platform, mobile app, or MetaTrader 4. For advanced charting and forex analysis, the ProRealTime software is available. Testing shows forex spreads are competitive, beginning at 0.1 pips on major pairs such as EUR/USD.
Assets
70+ 80+
GBPUSD Spread
0.5 0.9
EURUSD Spread
0.2 0.8
EURGBP Spread
0.5 0.9
Currency Indices
  • USD
Cryptocurrency
Axi offers round-the-clock short-term trading on 30 popular cryptocurrencies paired with fiat currencies, other tokens, and metals. It distinguishes itself with leverage options up to 1:200 for experienced crypto traders, enhancing both potential gains and risks. IG offers a limited range of 11 crypto CFDs, lagging behind leading brokers such as Vantage, which provides access to over 40 tokens. Nonetheless, IG distinguishes itself with its crypto index, tracking the top 10 digital currencies by market capitalisation. This index offers traders a comprehensive method to speculate on the overall value of the crypto market.
Spread
From 0.0 Variable
Coins
  • BCH
  • BNB
  • BTC
  • LTC
  • OMG
  • FTT
  • BTC
  • BCH
  • DOG
  • LTC
  • XLM
  • AAVE
  • COMP
  • LRC
  • MKR
  • SUSHI
  • UNI
  • BAT
  • CRV
  • ENJ
  • LNK
  • MANA
  • MATIC
  • SAND
  • XRP
  • LNK
  • XRP
  • KSM
  • AVAX
  • ETH
  • SOL
  • XTZ
  • ADA
  • DOT
  • EOS
  • BTC
  • BCH
  • LTC
  • ETH
  • ADA
  • DOT
  • DOGE
  • LINK
  • UNI
  • XLM
Crypto Lending
No No
Crypto Mining
No No
Crypto Staking
No No
Auto Market Maker
No No
Axi IG Index
Review
Review
72.4% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider 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.
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