⚡ IG Group in a nutshell
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Founded 1974 — the original spread betting firm. IG invented financial spread betting in 1974 and has 50 years of continuous operation. A market pioneer with a spotless regulatory record.
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Tax-free spread betting in the UK. UK clients can access tax-free profits via spread betting on IG's full range of 18,000+ instruments — stocks, indices, forex, commodities, crypto and more.
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18,000+ markets — most comprehensive range. IG offers more tradeable instruments than any other major retail broker — including hard-to-find international stocks and niche commodities.
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DMA access for shares. IG's Direct Market Access (DMA) option routes orders directly to exchange — better for large orders and execution transparency.
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IG Academy — best educational content. IG Academy provides structured trading courses from beginner to advanced, with live webinars and trading setups. Widely rated as the best retail trader education.
⚠️ What to watch out for
- ⚠ £12/month inactivity fee after 2 years without trading (longer window but significant)
- ⚠ £250 minimum deposit higher than many competitors
- ⚠ Weekend spread widening on major indices and forex
- ⚠ CFD and spread bet trading carries significant risk — 70% of IG retail clients lose money
- ⚠ DMA shares charged separately — different fee structure from CFD accounts
WhichBrokr Category Ratings
Overview
IG Group was founded in 1974 in London by Stuart Wheeler, who invented financial spread betting. Listed on the London Stock Exchange (ticker: IGG), IG serves 300,000+ clients globally across spread betting, CFDs and DMA share trading. The company is regulated by the FCA, ASIC, BaFin, MAS and several other Tier-1 authorities, and has the most comprehensive product offering of any retail trading platform with 18,000+ instruments.
For UK clients, IG's spread betting service offers tax-free profits — gains from spread betting are exempt from Capital Gains Tax and Income Tax in the UK. This is IG's key differentiator over other platforms. Combined with DMA access for those who want direct exchange execution, IG caters to serious traders who want institutional-quality access through a retail interface.
IG Academy is widely considered the best educational resource in retail trading — structured courses, live webinars and a comprehensive knowledge base. The platform quality is high, with excellent charting via ProRealTime (premium feature). The main limitations are the £250 minimum deposit, the 2-year inactivity fee, and pricing that is not the tightest in the market for cost-sensitive traders.
Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
- 50 years of operation — most established retail trading firm
- Tax-free spread betting (UK) — profits exempt from CGT and income tax
- 18,000+ instruments — most comprehensive range available
- DMA share access — direct exchange routing for better fills
- IG Academy — best educational content in retail trading
- Listed on London Stock Exchange — high financial transparency
- ProRealTime integration — professional charting suite
- Regulated by FCA, ASIC, BaFin, MAS and more
❌ Cons
- £250 minimum deposit — higher than most competitors
- £12/month inactivity fee after 2 years without trading
- Spreads not the tightest — Pepperstone and CMC often cheaper for FX
- ProRealTime charting costs £30/month (free if you place 4+ trades/month)
- 70% of retail clients lose money — complex products
- Weekend/out-of-hours spreads widen significantly
🔍 Broker Audit Report
A structured assessment across 5 pillars — regulation, tax/legal, costs, features and platform accessibility. Updated July 2026.
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1. Legal Entity & Capital Protection
IG's 50-year track record and regulatory profile
Licensed Entity
IG Markets Limited (FCA, UK) · IG Group Holdings plc (listed LSE: IGG) · Separate regulated entities in AU, DE, SG and other jurisdictions.
Regulators
FCA (UK) · ASIC (AU) · BaFin (DE) · MAS (SG) · FINMA (CH) · FSCA (SA) · FMA (NZ)
Client Protection
UK: FSCS up to £85,000. EU: ICF up to €20,000. ASIC regulated (AU). Client funds held in tier-1 UK banks, segregated from IG's operational funds.
Financial Strength
IG Group Holdings plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange with a market cap of ~£4 billion (2026). Quarterly financial reporting provides full transparency.
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2. Tax — Spread Betting in the UK
IG's tax advantage for UK traders
Spread Betting (UK)
✅ Tax-free profits Spread betting gains are exempt from Capital Gains Tax and Income Tax in the UK. This is IG's primary tax advantage. Losses are not tax-deductible.
DMA Shares Tax
DMA share trades are subject to normal CGT treatment. Stamp Duty (0.5%) applies on UK share purchases via DMA. Use spread betting for tax-free exposure to UK equities.
Reporting
Annual statements and full trade history available. IG provides a CGT calculation tool for non-spread-bet accounts.
ISA / SIPP
❌ Not available IG does not offer ISA or SIPP wrappers. For ISA investing, use Hargreaves Lansdown, AJ Bell or Freetrade alongside IG for trading.
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3. Total Cost of Ownership
IG's spread-based pricing model
Spread Betting / CFD Spreads
FTSE 100: 1 point. Wall Street: 1.6 points. EUR/USD: 0.6 pips. Gold: 0.3 pts. Competitive for index trading; slightly behind Pepperstone on FX.
DMA Shares
0.1% commission (min £10) for UK shares via DMA. US shares: 2 cents/share (min $15). Lower spreads than CFD route for large orders.
Non-Trading Fees
Inactivity: £12/month after 24 months without activity. Minimum deposit: £250. No custody fee on share dealing. ProRealTime: £30/month (waived with 4+ trades).
Premium Services
Smart Portfolios: professionally managed ETF portfolios (0.5% p.a. fee). IG Smart Spreads: tighter spreads for qualifying clients.
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4. Asset Catalogue — 18,000+ markets
The broadest range in retail trading
Indices
70+ global indices — including international and sector indices
Stocks (CFD/Spread bet)
12,000+ stocks globally
DMA Shares
Direct access to UK, US, EU, AU stock markets
Commodities
Full range — metals, energy, agriculture, softs
Crypto
20+ crypto CFDs/spread bets
Options
Listed options and OTC options on major markets
Smart Portfolios
Managed ETF portfolios from £500
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5. Platform — web, mobile and ProRealTime
Professional-grade platform options
Web Platform
✅ IG's own web platform — excellent charting, market scanner, economic calendar
Mobile App
✅ iOS 4.4★ / Android 4.2★ — full trading functionality
ProRealTime
✅ Professional charting suite — 100+ indicators, automated trading (PRT strategies). £30/month or free with 4+ trades.
L2 Dealer
✅ Direct market access platform for advanced DMA trading
IG Academy
✅ Best structured trading education in retail — courses, webinars, live setups
MetaTrader 4
✅ MT4 supported alongside IG's own platform
Fees 3.8 / 5
IG's fees are competitive for index and share spread betting but not the tightest for forex. The inactivity fee window is generous (24 months).
| Fee type | IG Group | Market Average |
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| FTSE 100 spread | 1 point | 1–2 points |
| EUR/USD spread | 0.6 pips | 0.6–1.5 pips |
| Gold spread | 0.3 pts | 0.2–0.5 pts |
| DMA UK shares | 0.1% (min £10) | 0.1–0.2% |
| Inactivity fee | £12/month after 2 years | £5–€15/month (12 months typical) |
| ProRealTime | £30/month (waived 4+ trades) | N/A |
| Min deposit | £250 | £0–£200 |
Safety & Regulation 4.5 / 5
| Primary Regulators | FCA, BaFin, FINMA, CFTC, NFA, ASIC, MAS, FSCA, DFSA, JFSA, FMA |
| LSE Listed | IGG — quarterly financial reporting |
| UK client protection | £85,000 FSCS |
| EU client protection | €20,000 ICF |
| Operating since | 1974 |
| Major incidents | None — clean regulatory record |
Products & Asset Catalogue 4.8 / 5
| Markets total | 18,000+ |
| Indices | 70+ |
| Forex | 80+ |
| Stocks (CFD) | 12,000+ |
| Commodities | Wide range |
| Crypto CFDs | 20+ |
| DMA shares | UK, US, EU, AU |
| Options | ✅ Available |
What investors say about IG Group
Community voice — strengths & concerns
Most praised
- 50-year track record creates strong trust — users confident IG will still be operating in 10 years
- Tax-free spread betting praised by UK investors as IG's clearest competitive advantage
- IG Academy rated best educational resource in retail trading
- ProRealTime integration excellent for technical analysts
- 18,000+ markets praised — "only platform that has the niche market I want"
Common complaints
- £250 minimum deposit frustrates new traders with small capital
- £12/month inactivity fee (after 24 months) catches inactive accounts
- ProRealTime cost creates price friction for occasional users
- Spreads not the tightest on FX — traders who prioritize tight spreads use Pepperstone
Based on user reviews on Trustpilot, Reddit, App Store and Google Play ratings. Data collected Jan–Jun 2026.
Verdict
WhichBrokr's Take
IG Group is the definitive choice for UK traders who want tax-free spread betting across the broadest possible range of markets, backed by 50 years of proven reliability. The combination of 18,000+ markets, DMA access, IG Academy education and LSE listing creates a package that no other UK-accessible broker matches.
The £250 minimum and slightly above-average spreads mean Pepperstone or OANDA may be preferable for pure cost optimization. But for breadth, reliability and the UK spread betting tax advantage, IG is the market leader.
Best for: UK spread bettors wanting tax-free gains, traders wanting the widest instrument range, beginners wanting structured education via IG Academy. Not ideal for: Pure cost-focused forex traders, anyone wanting real stock ownership, or low-capital traders blocked by the £250 minimum.
Frequently Asked Questions
| Is IG Group safe? | Yes — IG Group is listed on the London Stock Exchange (IGG), regulated by the FCA and 6+ other Tier-1 authorities. UK clients protected by FSCS up to £85,000. 50 years of clean operation. |
| Is spread betting tax-free in the UK? | Yes — spread betting profits are exempt from Capital Gains Tax and Income Tax in the UK. Losses are not tax-deductible. |
| What is the minimum deposit? | £250 minimum deposit for new accounts. |
| Does IG offer DMA access? | Yes — IG's L2 Dealer platform offers Direct Market Access for shares — orders route directly to exchange rather than through IG as market maker. |
| What is ProRealTime? | ProRealTime is a professional charting platform integrated into IG. It costs £30/month but is waived if you place 4+ qualifying trades per month. |
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18,000+ markets · Spread betting tax-free (UK) · DMA shares · IG Academy
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70% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs.