XTB or IG – which is better for UK traders 2026? Compare XTB and IG in this detailed breakdown of their platforms, features and fees.
| XTB | IG |
|---|---|
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| XTB is ranked #2 among CFD brokers. | IG is ranked #5 among CFD brokers. |
| Visit XTB | Visit IG |
| Established in Poland in 2002, XTB caters to over a million clients worldwide. This forex and CFD broker offers a robust regulatory framework, a diverse range of assets, and prioritises trader satisfaction. It provides an intuitive proprietary platform equipped with excellent tools to support aspiring traders. | 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. |
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CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 74% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money |
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 | |
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| Cons | |
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| FCA Regulated | |
| Yes | Yes |
| Instruments | |
| CFDs on shares, Indices, ETFs, Raw Materials, Forex currencies, Real shares, Real ETFs | CFDs (not in US), Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, ETFs, Futures, Options, Crypto, Spread Betting (UK only) |
| Demo Account | |
| Yes | Yes |
| Minimum Deposit | |
| $0 | $0 |
| Payment Methods | |
| Minimum Trade | |
| 0.01 Lots | 0.01 Lots |
| Regulator | |
| FCA, CySEC, KNF, DFSA, FSC, SCA, CMF, Bappebti | CFTC, NFA, FCA, BaFin, ASIC, FINMA, MAS, JFSA, FMA, DFSA, BMA, CONSOB |
| Mobile Apps | |
| iOS & Android | iOS & Android |
| Trading App | |
| Each year, XTB's app impresses with its sleek design and clear interface. It's fast, responsive, and full of practical features like integrated sentiment data, market news, economic calendars, and educational content. The intuitive order panel below the chart simplifies trade execution, including take profit and stop loss settings. | 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 | |
| Android App Rating | |
| Margin Trading | |
| Yes | Yes |
| Margin Rate | |
| 4.5% | 1.0% – 1.5% for Forex, 3.0% – 3.4% for Shares, Indices, and Commodities |
| MetaTrader 4 | |
| No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 | |
| No | 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 | |
| No | 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 | Yes |
| Robo Advisor | |
| No | Yes |
| Negative Balance Protection | |
| Yes | Yes |
| Market Maker | |
| Yes | Yes |
| P2P Trading | |
| No | No |
| Spot Trading | |
| Yes | Yes |
| Auto Trading | |
| Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader, build your own on ProRealTime | |
| Copy Trading | |
| No | No |
| Social Trading | |
| No | No |
| Trade Signals | |
| No | Yes |
| VPS Hosting | |
| No | Yes |
| Tournaments | |
| No | No |
| Demo Competitions | |
| No | No |
| Ethical Investing | |
| Yes | Yes |
| Custodial Account | |
| No | No |
| Guaranteed Stop Loss | |
| No | Yes |
| Inactivity Fee | |
| €/$10 per month after 365 days | $12 |
| Islamic Account | |
| Yes | No |
| Account Currencies | |
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| Commodities | |
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| CFD | |
| XTB provides an extensive range of CFDs, including forex, indices, commodities, stocks, ETFs, and cryptocurrencies, subject to location. EU and UK clients have leverage up to 1:30, whereas global users and pro traders can obtain up to 1:500. XTB excels in offering valuable resources and tutorials for short-term CFD trading strategies. | 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 (Retail), 1:200 (Pro) | 1:30 (Retail), 1:222 (Pro) |
| FTSE Spread | |
| 1.8 | 1.0 |
| GBPUSD Spread< | |
| 1.4 | 0.9 |
| Oil Spread | |
| 0.03 | 2.8 |
| Stocks Spread | |
| 0.2% | 0.02 |
| Forex | |
| XTB offers access to over 70 currency pairs, with competitive spreads averaging about 1 pip for major pairs. Its xStation platform is user-friendly, providing traders with top-tier charting tools, over 30 indicators, and diverse order types to support different strategies and risk management needs. | 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 | |
| 1.4 | 0.9 |
| EURUSD Spread | |
| 1.0 | 0.86 |
| EURGBP Spread | |
| 1.4 | 0.9 |
| Currency Indices | |
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| Cryptocurrency | |
| XTB provides a robust array of over 50 cryptocurrencies, featuring competitive spreads beginning at 0.22% on Bitcoin and leverage up to 1:5. The xStation platform facilitates trading with pairs like ETH/BTC and DSH/BTC. Traders can operate round-the-clock in a secure and transparent cryptocurrency trading environment. | 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 | |
| 0.22% | Variable |
| Coins | |
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| Crypto Lending | |
| No | No |
| Crypto Mining | |
| No | No |
| Crypto Staking | |
| No | No |
| Auto Market Maker | |
| No | No |
| XTB | IG |
| Visit XTB | Visit IG |
| CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 74% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money | 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. |