A London-listed group founded in 1974, with separately licensed companies in the UK, EU, Switzerland, Australia, Singapore, Japan, the US, the UAE and South Africa. Which company you join, and your protection, depends on where you live.
Facts last checked 20 October 2026. Always confirm on the regulator’s register. How we review brokers
Get an email when IG's licence or key facts change.
Key facts
Founded
1974
Headquarters
London, United Kingdom
Minimum deposit
$250
Max. retail leverage
1:30 on major pairs (UK, EU, Australia)
Cheapest cost per lot
Not yet checked
Regulators
FCA (United Kingdom), FCA (United Kingdom), BaFin (European Union), FINMA (Switzerland), ASIC (Australia), FMA (New Zealand) (New Zealand), MAS (Singapore), JFSA (Japan), CFTC / NFA (United States), DFSA (Dubai (DIFC), UAE), FSCA (South Africa)
Platforms
IG web platform, Mobile app, MetaTrader 4, ProRealTime, L2 Dealer, TradingView
✓FSCS up to £85,000 (UK); EdW 90% of a claim up to €20,000 (IG Europe); esisuisse up to CHF 100,000 (Switzerland); none in Australia, Singapore, South Africa or the UAEWhat this means
Regulation and entities
Your protection depends on which company holds your account, and that depends on where you live. Each row is one licensed company. What regulation means
Before you deposit: search the licence number on the register, then check that the website and phone number listed there match the ones you are using. How to check a licence
Websites
Official websites
✓ig.com
✓www.ig.com
Type the address yourself or use a bookmark. Check it matches the website listed for the firm on the regulator’s register.
Watch out for look-alike sites
We have not recorded any look-alike sites for IG. That does not mean none exist.
A clone firm copies a real broker’s name, licence number and branding to take deposits. The register shows the genuine firm, so the surest check is the contact details: if the website, email or phone number you were given is not the one on the register, treat it as a clone. Check a broker step by step
Accounts and costs
Account types and costs not yet checked.
Cost per lot = typical EUR/USD spread × $10 + round-turn commission, for one standard lot (100,000 units) in busy hours. Swap and other fees are extra. Trading costs explained
Leverage and margin
Leverage lets you open a position bigger than your deposit, so losses grow as fast as gains. The caps below are the most IG allows; you can always use less.
50% (UK and EU retail close-out rule)When your equity falls to 50% (UK and EU retail close-out rule) of your used margin, the platform starts closing your trades, usually the biggest loser first, until the level recovers.
UK, EU and Swiss companies authorised by strict regulators, with client money segregated and a compensation scheme in each
Negative balance protection for UK and EU retail clients
No inactivity, account or card-deposit fees on the UK trading account
Very wide market range, including spread betting for UK clients
Watch out for
Says IG International Limited (for clients outside IG's local offices) is licensed by the Bermuda Monetary Authority; we could not confirm it on the BMA register on 2026-10-20 because the BMA website was unavailable.
The Australian IG trading account does not have negative balance protection; only the limited risk account caps losses
IG publishes minimum spreads, not typical spreads, so the real cost depends on market conditions
Minimum deposit varies by region: £250 in the UK, €300 in the EU, CHF 2,500 in Switzerland
Overview
IG was founded in London in 1974 and its parent, IG Group Holdings plc, is listed on the London Stock Exchange. It offers spread betting (UK only), CFDs, share dealing and options across more than 17,000 markets. The group is split into separate companies, each licensed in its own country, so the rules that protect you depend on which one you join.
Regulation and safety
We checked every IG licence below on the regulator’s own register on 20 October 2026. UK clients join IG Markets Ltd (FCA 195355) for CFDs or IG Index Ltd (FCA 114059) for spread betting. EU and EEA clients join IG Europe GmbH, supervised by BaFin. Swiss clients join IG Bank S.A., a FINMA-licensed bank. Australians join IG Australia Pty Ltd (AFSL 515106), which also holds a New Zealand derivatives issuer licence. IG Asia holds a MAS licence, IG Securities is registered in Japan, IG US LLC is an NFA member for US forex, IG Limited is licensed by the DFSA and IG Markets South Africa is an approved OTC derivative provider with the FSCA.
IG says clients outside these regions may be placed with IG International Limited in Bermuda. We could not confirm its licence because the Bermuda Monetary Authority’s website was down when we checked. Our guide to forex broker regulation explains what each layer of protection covers.
Costs
IG’s cost is mainly the spread. UK minimum spreads are 0.6 points on EUR/USD, 0.9 on GBP/USD and 0.7 on USD/JPY. IG does not publish typical spreads, so compare the live quote with the minimum before you trade. There is no inactivity fee on the UK account. The trading costs guide shows how spreads and overnight funding add up.
Platforms and tools
IG’s own web platform and apps sit alongside MetaTrader 4, ProRealTime, L2 Dealer and TradingView. See MT4 vs MT5 if you plan to use MetaTrader.
Deposits and withdrawals
UK clients can pay in by debit card, credit card, bank transfer or PayPal, with no fee from IG. Fees differ in other regions: card payments cost 2.3% in Australia, for example.
Who it may suit
The account set-up fits traders who want a long-established group with strict-tier licences in their own country, and UK traders who want spread betting. Start on the demo account and check which IG company your agreement names.
How to open an account
The steps as we checked them. Never deposit until you have confirmed the licence.
Check which company you will join
UK residents join IG Markets Ltd or IG Index Ltd (FCA), EU and EEA residents IG Europe GmbH (BaFin), Swiss residents IG Bank S.A. (FINMA) and Australians IG Australia Pty Ltd (ASIC). The company is named in your client agreement.
Apply online
Give your personal details and answer questions about your trading knowledge and experience. Many applicants are verified electronically; others upload ID.
Fund the account
Pay in by debit card, credit card, bank transfer or PayPal (UK). The UK minimum is £250.
Practise first
Use the free demo account to try the platform and see how margin works before you trade with real money.
What changed on this profile
Profile published. Licences checked on the FCA, BaFin, FINMA, ASIC (AFS licensee data), NZ FSP, MAS, JFSA, NFA BASIC, DFSA and FSCA (OTC derivative provider) registers.
IG: common questions
Is IG regulated?
Yes. IG's UK companies are authorised by the FCA (195355 and 114059), its EU company by BaFin, its Swiss bank by FINMA and its Australian company by ASIC (AFSL 515106), among others. We checked each on the regulator's register on 20 October 2026.
Which IG company will I join?
It depends on where you live: IG Markets Ltd or IG Index Ltd in the UK, IG Europe GmbH in the EU, IG Bank S.A. in Switzerland, IG Australia Pty Ltd in Australia and New Zealand, IG Asia in Singapore, IG Securities in Japan, IG US LLC in the US, IG Limited in the UAE and IG Markets South Africa for South African domestic accounts.
What is the minimum deposit?
£250 in the UK, €300 in the EU, CHF 2,500 in Switzerland, R4,000 in South Africa and $450 in Australia and Singapore, according to IG's international comparison page.
Can I lose more than I deposit?
UK and EU retail clients have negative balance protection, so losses are capped at the money in the account. In Australia the standard IG trading account does not have this protection. Leverage magnifies losses wherever you trade.
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This profile is factual information, not a recommendation or financial advice. Trading leveraged products such as forex and CFDs carries a high risk of losing money rapidly, and most retail accounts lose money. Read the full disclaimer.
