PU Prime vs IG Index

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

PU Prime vs IG Index Comparison Table 2025
PU Prime IG Index
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4.2
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4.7
PU Prime is ranked #52 among CFD brokers. IG Index is ranked #7 among CFD brokers.
Pacific Union Prime, regulated by the FSCA and offshore authorities, is a multi-asset broker providing competitive fees and direct market access. It offers trading in forex, commodities, stocks, bonds, and indices. Traders can utilise the widely-used MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, as well as a bespoke mobile app. Fees differ by account type: the Standard account has no commission, with spreads starting from 1.9 pips, while the Prime account charges $7 commission per lot with spreads from 0.4 pips. 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.
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
  • Industry-acclaimed MT4 and MT5 platforms, along with their mobile applications.
  • A strong selection of nearly 1,000 instruments spans six asset classes.
  • The Prime account offers competitive fees, featuring spreads as low as 0.4 and a £7 commission.
  • Safeguards clients by keeping their funds separate and ensuring they cannot go into debt.
  • PU Social app with features for trading emulation.
  • Practice account with simulated capital.
  • Swap-free Islamic account
  • Multilingual customer service
  • 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
  • No primary regulatory supervision.
  • For withdrawals below $100, there's a relatively steep minimum charge of $40 including a handling fee.
  • Standard account spreads are average.
  • 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 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
No

List of FCA Regulated Brokers

Yes
Instruments
Forex, Commodities, Cryptocurrencies, Stocks, Indices CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, ETFs, Futures, Options, Crypto, Spread Betting
Bonus
100% cashback up to $10,000
Demo Account
Yes Yes
Minimum Deposit
$50 $0
Payment Methods
Minimum Trade
0.01 Lots 0.01 Lots
Regulator
ASIC (Australian Securities and Investments Commission), FSA (Financial Services Authority of Seychelles), FSCA (Financial Sector Conduct Authority), SVGFSA (Financial Services Authority St Vincent & The Grenadines) FCA, ASIC, NFA, CFTC, DFSA, BaFin, MAS, FSCA, FINMA, CONSOB, AFM
Mobile Apps
iOS & Android iOS & Android
Trading App
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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4.7
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4.6
Android App Rating
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3.5
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4
Margin Trading
Yes Yes
Margin Rate
2.5%
MetaTrader 4
Yes Yes
MetaTrader 5
Yes No
cTrader
No No
AlgoTrader
No No
OmniTrader
No No
TradingView
No Yes
Autochartist
No Yes
eSignal
No No
Trading Central
No Yes
STP Account
Yes No
ECN Account
Yes No
DMA Account
No Yes
MAM Account
No No
PAMM Account
No No
LAMM Account
No No
Demat Account
No No
AI / Machine Learning
No No
Robo Advisor
No Yes
Negative Balance Protection
No Yes
Market Maker
No Yes
P2P Trading
No No
Spot Trading
No Yes
Auto Trading
Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader, build your own on ProRealTime
Copy Trading
Yes No
Copy Trading Platform
PU Social allows clients to replicate the strategies and positions of professional traders. The app, accessible on both iOS and Android platforms, features a social trading network with thousands of traders.
Social Trading
Yes No
Trade Signals
None Yes
VPS Hosting
No Yes
Tournaments
No No
Demo Competitions
No No
Ethical Investing
No Yes
Custodial Account
No No
Guaranteed Stop Loss
No Yes
Inactivity Fee
$12
Islamic Account
Yes No
Account Currencies
  • USD
  • EUR
  • GBP
  • CAD
  • AUD
  • NZD
  • JPY
  • HKD
  • SGD
  • USD
  • EUR
  • GBP
  • CAD
  • AUD
  • JPY
  • ZAR
  • SEK
  • DKK
  • CHF
  • HKD
  • SGD
Commodities
  • Oil
  • Gold
  • Copper
  • Silver
  • Corn
  • Cocoa
  • Coffee
  • Cotton
  • Natural Gas
  • Orange Juice
  • Soybeans
  • Sugar
  • Wheat
  • 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
PU Prime provides CFD trading across a wide range of shares, indices, commodities, bonds, and cryptocurrencies. Leverage options differ depending on the asset, while spreads can range from nearly zero to several hundred pips, varying by instrument and account type. Trading for stocks, indices, commodities, and bonds takes place on the renowned MT4 platform. 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
1:500 1:30 (Retail), 1:222 (Pro)
FTSE Spread
Not Available 1.0
GBPUSD Spread<
From 0.5 pips 0.9
Oil Spread
From 1.6 pips 2.8
Stocks Spread
Variable 0.02
Forex
PU Prime offers trading on over 40 forex pairs using the MT4 and MT5 platforms, with flexible leverage reaching up to 1:500. Prime accounts feature spreads starting close to zero, accompanied by a $7 commission per lot. Alternatively, traders can opt for a Standard account, which has no commission but offers wider spreads. 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
800+ 80+
GBPUSD Spread
From 0.5 pips 0.9
EURUSD Spread
From 0.2 pips 0.8
EURGBP Spread
From 0.4 pips 0.9
Currency Indices
  • USD
Cryptocurrency
Pacific Union provides leveraged trading on cryptocurrencies against the US Dollar with competitive, real-time spreads. Traders have the advantage of utilising advanced software to examine crypto markets. 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 0.7 pips Variable
Coins
  • BTC
  • BCH
  • ETH
  • LTC
  • EOS
  • XLM
  • 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
PU Prime IG Index
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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