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Head to head

IG vs Markets4you

IG is licensed by FCA in the United Kingdom; BaFin in the European Union; FINMA in Switzerland; ASIC in Australia; FMA (New Zealand) in New Zealand; MAS in Singapore; JFSA in Japan; CFTC / NFA in the United States; DFSA in Dubai (DIFC), UAE and FSCA in South Africa. Markets4you holds only an offshore registration (British Virgin Islands). The licence that applies to you depends on where you live, so check which company you would contract with before comparing anything else.

Minimum deposits start at $250 at IG and $0 at Markets4you. Both offer negative balance protection and segregated client money.

Facts last checked: IG on 20 October 2026, Markets4you on 20 October 2026.

IG profileMarkets4you profile
Broker 1
Broker 2
Broker 3

Monthly cost uses the account chosen in each slot: cost per lot × your lots. Swap and other fees are extra. The lowest monthly cost is highlighted only as a fact about cost, not as a recommendation.

Broker
IGStrictly regulatedRead the profile
Markets4youOffshore registration onlyRead the profile
Comparing
IGUnited Kingdom
Markets4youBritish Virgin Islands

Overview

Founded
1974
2007
Headquarters
London, United Kingdom
Road Town, British Virgin Islands
Official websites
  • ig.com
  • www.ig.com
  • markets4you.com
Facts last checked
20 October 2026
20 October 2026

Regulation and protection

Company you would contract with
IG Markets Ltd
E-Global Trade & Finance Group, Inc.
Regulator
FCA
United Kingdom
BVI FSC
British Virgin Islands
Regulation level
Strictly regulated
Offshore registration only
Licence number
195355
Check the register
SIBA/L/12/1027
Check the register
Clients this company serves
UK residents (CFDs and share dealing); also international accounts for South African clients
International clients (not residents of the US, Japan, Canada, Russia, Iran, North Korea, Myanmar, Australia or the EEA)
All licences held
  • 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)
  • BVI FSC (British Virgin Islands)
Segregated client money
Yes
Yes
Negative balance protection
Yes
Yes
Compensation scheme
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 UAE
None

Costs

Your monthly cost
No accounts listed
No accounts listed
Cost per lot (EUR/USD)
No accounts listed
No accounts listed
Spread from
No accounts listed
No accounts listed
Typical EUR/USD spread
No accounts listed
No accounts listed
Commission per lot (round turn)
No accounts listed
No accounts listed
Typical GBP/USD spread
Not yet checked
Not yet checked
Typical USD/JPY spread
Not yet checked
Not yet checked
Typical XAU/USD spread
Not yet checked
Not yet checked
Swap-free account
Not yet checked
Yes

Leverage and margin

Maximum retail leverage
1:30 on major pairs (UK, EU, Australia)
Up to 1:4000
Retail leverage by asset class
  • Major currency pairs: 1:30
  • Other currency pairs: 1:20
  • Other commodities and non-major indices: 1:10
  • Share CFDs: 1:5
Not yet checked
Margin call level
Not yet checked
100% on Classic accounts; 50% on Cent accounts
Stop-out level
50% (UK and EU retail close-out rule)
20% on Classic accounts; 10% on Cent accounts

Account

Minimum deposit (this account)
No accounts listed
No accounts listed
Base currencies
No accounts listed
No accounts listed
Execution
No accounts listed
No accounts listed

Platforms and features

Platforms
  • IG web platform
  • Mobile app
  • MetaTrader 4
  • ProRealTime
  • L2 Dealer
  • TradingView
  • MetaTrader 4
  • MetaTrader 5
  • Markets4you mobile app
Markets
17,000+ markets, including 80+ forex pairs, indices, shares, commodities and options
Forex, metals, indices, commodities, shares and cryptocurrency CFDs
Demo account
Yes
Yes
Copy trading
Not yet checked
Yes
Expert advisors (automated trading)
Yes
Yes
News trading allowed
Not yet checked
Not yet checked
Guaranteed stops
Not yet checked
Not yet checked

Deposits and withdrawals

Deposit methods
  • Debit card
  • Credit card
  • Bank transfer
  • PayPal
  • E-wallets
  • Local payment methods
Withdrawal fee
Free by card and bank transfer (UK)
Markets4you says it charges no transfer fee on most methods (marked with an asterisk on its site)
Inactivity fee
None on the UK trading account
Not yet checked

Support

Customer support
24 hours a day from 8am Saturday to 10pm Friday (UK time), by phone, web chat and WhatsApp
24/7 by live chat, messengers and phone

Our notes

Strengths
  • 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
  • No minimum deposit on any account, and cent accounts for very small trade sizes
  • Negative balance protection, and client money held separately from company money
  • Copy trading (Share4you) and PAMM accounts on top of MT4 and MT5
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
  • Only an offshore licence (BVI FSC); no FCA, ASIC, CySEC or similar licence
  • Says Trade4you International holds Mauritius FSC licence GB21026460; we could not confirm it on the FSC Mauritius register on 2026-10-20, because the register blocked our access
  • Leverage up to 1:4000 and stop-outs at 20% (10% on cent accounts) can wipe out an account fast
  • Spreads are published only as "from" figures

Risk warnings

The buttons to a broker’s website above the table are partner links: we may earn a commission if you open an account through them. That never changes the facts shown here. Trading leveraged products such as forex and CFDs carries a high risk of losing money rapidly, and most retail accounts lose money. Each broker’s own warning:

  • IG: 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.
  • Markets4you: Trading complex financial instruments on the Over-the-Counter (OTC) market carries a high level of risk and may not be suitable for all investors. There is a possibility of losing all your invested capital. Increasing your leverage magnifies both potential gains and losses. Past performance is not indicative of future results. The Company does not issue advice, recommendations or opinion in relation to acquiring, holding or disposing of OTC derivatives. All services are provided on an execution only basis. We strongly recommend that you seek independent financial advice to ensure that these products fit your investment objectives and financial situation. Only trade with funds you can afford to lose without affecting your standard of living.

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Other head-to-head pages

Cost per lot is the typical EUR/USD spread in busy hours × $10, plus any round-turn commission, for one standard lot. “Not yet checked” means we have not confirmed that fact yet. This page compares facts; it does not rank the brokers or recommend either. Confirm costs and licences on each broker’s site and the regulator’s public register before opening an account: see how we review brokers and check a broker yourself.

Nothing on this page is financial advice. Read the full disclaimer.

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