Forex.com vs IG Index

Forex.com or IG – which is better for UK traders 2026? Compare Forex.com and IG in this detailed breakdown of their platforms, features and fees.

Forex.com vs IG Comparison Table 2026
Forex.com IG
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4.3
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4.8
Forex.com is ranked #14 among CFD brokers. IG is ranked #1 among CFD brokers.
Review
Review
Established in 2001, FOREX.com is a division of StoneX, a global financial entity catering to over a million clients. It is regulated across the US, UK, EU, Australia, and other regions. The broker offers diverse markets beyond forex and delivers competitive pricing on advanced platforms. Established in 1974, IG is a unit of IG Group Holdings Plc, listed on the LSE as IGG. It provides access to over 17,000 markets through intuitive platforms and apps. For half a century, IG has remained an industry leader, excelling in all vital aspects for traders.
Spread bets and CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 69% 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
  • With more than two decades of expertise, strong regulatory governance, and numerous accolades, including a second-place finish in our 'Best Forex Broker' awards, FOREX.com is globally renowned as a reliable trading platform.
  • The in-house Web Trader remains a top-tier platform for budding traders, featuring an elegant design and more than 80 technical indicators for market analysis.
  • FOREX.com provides top-tier forex rates beginning at 0.0 pips, along with attractive cashback rebates up to 15% for dedicated traders.
  • An abundance of educational resources is available, such as tutorials, webinars, and an extensive YouTube channel, designed to enhance your understanding of financial markets.
  • IG excels with its diverse instruments, offering stocks, forex, indices, commodities, and cryptocurrencies. Additionally, it provides US-listed futures, options, and an AI Index, ensuring varied diversification opportunities.
  • IG secured a crypto asset license from the FCA, enabling its return to the UK market. It now offers buying, selling, and storage services for over 55 digital tokens with fees starting at 1.49%, all under FCA regulation.
  • 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
  • FOREX.com's MT4 platform provides around 600 instruments, a notable reduction compared to the more than 5,500 options on its other platforms.
  • US clients are not protected against negative balances, which means you could end up owing more than your initial deposit.
  • Demo accounts are typically limited to 90 days, hindering effective strategy testing.
  • FOREX.com, part of GAIN Capital Group LLC, was fined $700k by the NFA for mismanaging certain client accounts.
  • 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.
  • IG imposes a monthly inactivity fee of $12 to $18 after two years, discouraging occasional investors.
FCA Regulated
Yes Yes
Instruments
Forex, CFDs, Stock CFDs, Indices, Commodities, Futures, Options, Crypto CFDs (not in US), Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, ETFs, Futures, Options, Crypto, Spread Betting (UK only)
Demo Account
Yes Yes
Minimum Deposit
$100 $0
Payment Methods
Minimum Trade
0.01 Lots 0.01 Lots
Regulator
NFA, CFTC, CIRO, FCA, CySEC, ASIC, FSA, MAS, CIMA, CMA-UAE CFTC, NFA, FCA, BaFin, ASIC, FINMA, MAS, JFSA, FMA, DFSA, BMA
Mobile Apps
iOS & Android iOS & Android
Trading App
Alongside the MT4 and Web Trader platforms, the FOREX.com app provides comprehensive trading features in a user-friendly, compact package. With integrated news, analysis, and real-time alerts, it excels on mobile. It surpasses MT4 in mobile charting, offering over 80 indicators and 11 chart types, alongside a more streamlined design. 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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3.8
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4
Margin Trading
Yes Yes
Margin Rate
1.0% – 1.5% for Forex, 3.0% – 3.4% for Shares, Indices, and Commodities
MetaTrader 4
Yes Yes
MetaTrader 5
Yes No
cTrader
No No
AlgoTrader
No No
OmniTrader
No No
TradingView
Yes Yes
Autochartist
No Yes
eSignal
No No
Trading Central
No Yes
STP Account
Yes No
ECN Account
Yes No
DMA Account
Yes Yes
MAM Account
No No
PAMM Account
No No
LAMM Account
No No
Demat Account
No No
AI / Machine Learning
Yes Yes
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 Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader, build your own on ProRealTime
Copy Trading
No No
Social Trading
No No
Trade Signals
Yes
VPS Hosting
Yes Yes
Tournaments
No No
Demo Competitions
No No
Ethical Investing
No Yes
Custodial Account
No No
Guaranteed Stop Loss
No Yes
Inactivity Fee
$15 $12
Islamic Account
Yes No
Account Currencies
  • USD
  • EUR
  • GBP
  • CAD
  • AUD
  • JPY
  • CHF
  • PLN
  • USD
  • EUR
  • GBP
  • CAD
  • AUD
  • JPY
  • ZAR
  • SEK
  • DKK
  • CHF
  • HKD
  • SGD
Commodities
  • Gold
  • Oil
  • Silver
  • Cotton
  • Livestock
  • Soybeans
  • Coffee
  • Natural Gas
  • Sugar
  • Wheat
  • Orange Juice
  • Lean Hogs
  • Cattle
  • Copper
  • Corn
  • 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
With options for both long and short positions on over 5,500 CFDs in forex, stocks, indices, commodities, and cryptocurrencies, FOREX.com stands out. The platform's unique Web Trader delivers an outstanding experience, featuring more than 80 technical indicators and average execution speeds of merely 20 milliseconds, providing an ideal setting for dedicated traders. 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<
1.3 0.9
Oil Spread
2.5 2.8
Stocks Spread
0.14 0.02
Forex
FOREX.com remains a leading FX broker, providing 80 currency pairs with highly competitive fees. EUR/USD spreads can reach as low as 0.0, with a $7 commission per $100k, making it a standout choice. 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
84 80+
GBPUSD Spread
1.3 0.9
EURUSD Spread
1.2 0.86
EURGBP Spread
1.4 0.9
Currency Indices
  • USD
Cryptocurrency
You can trade over 8 cryptocurrencies against USD, EUR, GBP, and AUD with tight spreads, without needing a virtual wallet. Traders can automate their crypto transactions using Expert Advisors (EAs). IG provides an expanding range of over 100 crypto CFDs and digital assets for trading and storage. Distinguished by its crypto index, it monitors the top 10 digital currencies by market cap, offering a comprehensive market speculation approach. In the UK, its crypto options were enhanced by obtaining an FCA digital asset license, allowing regulated trading and investment in popular crypto coins. Additionally, IG has broadened its spot crypto services to Australia, France, and Singapore.
Spread
BTC 1.4%, ETH 2% Variable
Coins
  • BTC
  • BCH
  • ETH
  • LTC
  • XRP
  • BTC
  • ETH
  • SOL
  • XRP
  • BCH
  • ADA
  • TIA
  • LINK
  • EOS
  • HBAR
  • ICP
  • LTC
  • NEAR
  • NEO
  • ONDO
  • PEPE
  • DOT
  • POL
  • SHIB
  • XLM
  • SUI
  • TRX
  • TON
  • UNI
  • DOGE
  • AAVE
  • APT
  • ARB
  • AVAX
  • CRYPTO10
Crypto Lending
No No
Crypto Mining
No No
Crypto Staking
No No
Auto Market Maker
No No
Forex.com IG
Review
Review
Spread bets and CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 69% 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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