IG Europe review 2026

In the main currency pair EUR/USD, IG quotes a spread from 0.6 pips. In practice the typical spread is above this best figure, which is why we do not award the top level. IG trades forex, index and commodity CFDs commission-free, with the costs sitting entirely in the spread. That removes the double charge of a tight spread plus commission per standard lot that is usual at competitors. On the financing costs for overnight positions, IG is transparent but not cheap: on index and share CFDs the broker charges a mark-up of 2.5 percentage points on the relevant reference rate. The specific rates can be viewed per instrument in the trading platform, and the calculation method is publicly documented. An inactivity fee that applies after 24 months without trading activity should also be noted. Scoring (22/30): For the spread from 0.6 pips with typically higher values we award 9 out of 12 points. The pure spread model with no commission earns the full 8 points. The financing costs are published but, at a 2.5 percentage point mark-up, are above the market average – for that there are 5 out of 10 points.

IG Europe GmbH has its own BaFin permit and is additionally supervised by the Deutsche Bundesbank. German supervisory law therefore applies directly and not just via the European passport of a foreign home country – the ideal case for investors, because complaints and claims can be enforced domestically. Client money is held separately from company assets in trust accounts and money market funds. In addition, the Entschädigungseinrichtung der Wertpapierhandelsunternehmen applies, covering 90 percent of claims up to a maximum of €20,000. Negative balance protection for retail clients and the ESMA-compliant leverage limits of a maximum of 1:30 on major currency pairs are implemented, as is the mandatory loss-rate disclosure: IG states that 72 percent of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs, and does so prominently on its website. Scoring (28/32): The BaFin permit brings 10 points, segregated client money plus the compensation scheme 8 points, and negative balance protection and ESMA leverage 6 points. For the loss-rate criterion, it is not the publication alone that counts but its level: 72 percent falls in the up-to-75-percent band and gives 4 out of 8 points. The full score would only be given at 65 percent or less.

IG is one of the broadest providers on the market: over 17,000 markets are available. All four asset classes relevant to us are covered – currencies, indices, commodities and shares – supplemented by bonds, cryptocurrencies and options. A genuine difference from pure CFD houses: IG additionally offers trading in genuine shares and ETFs, with no ongoing depot fee. Investors can therefore combine short-term leveraged trading and long-term wealth building with one provider rather than running two accounts. Scoring (14/14): With over 17,000 underlying assets, IG is well above the threshold of 5,000 and receives 5 points. All four asset classes give a further 5 points, and the additional trading of genuine shares and ETFs the full 4 points.

IG provides its own web interface, MetaTrader 4, the professional charting software ProRealTime and mobile apps for iOS and Android. ProRealTime costs €30 a month, a fee that is refunded from four executed trades a month. That covers both beginners and technically minded traders. On execution quality, IG goes further than most competitors: the broker maintains its own best-execution page with slippage statistics and puts figures there, among other things, of 2.2 million points of positive slippage, or €19.8 million, passed on to customers. The charting includes extensive indicators, drawing tools and price alerts. Scoring (16/16): Its own platform plus MetaTrader 4, ProRealTime and app earn the full 6 points. For the named execution model with published statistics there are 6 points, and for the extensive analysis tools 4 points.

German-language customer service can be reached on 0800 181 8831 Monday to Friday from 8:30 am to 8:00 pm, and also by email. For an internationally positioned broker, a German landline number with fixed service hours is not a given. The demo account is unlimited in time and comes with €30,000 in virtual funds, so strategies can be tested without time pressure. The IG Academy brings together structured learning content, German-language webinars and in-person seminars – from a basic course to topics such as risk management. Scoring (8/8): A German-language hotline and email support bring 4 points, the unlimited demo account 2 points, and the structured training offer with regular German-language webinars the last 2 points.