IG broker scan
Regulation, real cost, withdrawal friction and red flags to check before you deposit. London, UK · founded 1974.
Availability varies by country and entity (not offered in US, BE, CA, ZA, RU, IR, KP, SY, CU, SD) — confirm before opening an account.
Research profile — we don't have a tracked partner link for IG yet. Verify availability and regulation directly before depositing.
Compare alternativesWe earn a commission if you open an account through our links — at no extra cost to you. It does not change our rankings. How we make money.
IG has broad market coverage and a stronger regulatory profile than many CFD brokers, but it offers leveraged CFDs, where most retail accounts lose money, and some clients may be onboarded through an offshore entity with weaker protection. Before depositing, verify the exact legal entity, product access and withdrawal terms that apply to you — and it's worth comparing alternatives before you decide.
- you prioritise regulation
- you trade forex or CFDs
- you care about cost transparency
- you want clearer withdrawal terms
- you want to own spot crypto, not crypto CFDs
- you're unsure which legal entity would apply to you
- you're outside its stronger-regulated regions
- you want non-CFD / direct investing only
- Founded
- 1974
- HQ
- London, UK
- Min deposit
- $250
- Withdrawal
- 1–3 days (method-dependent)
Research-based summary — informational only, not financial advice and not a safety guarantee. Verify directly before depositing.
Last updated August 2026·Spreads, fees and withdrawal times are typical/indicative and change with account type and market conditions — verify current terms with the broker before you deposit.·How we score
Eight signals, scored the same way
High confidence
Watch the all-in cost
Medium typical payouts
IG Platform, ProRealTime
medium-risk product mix
Clearly disclosed
Complaints & track record
Varies by country
Regulation snapshot
| Regulation confidence | High (90/100) |
| Regulators | ASIC — Australia, licence 220440 (Tier 1)Pending — verifychecked 2026-08-25 FINMA — Switzerland, registration pending verification (Tier 1)Verified on registerchecked 2026-08-25 MAS — Singapore, registration pending verification (Tier 1)Verified on registerchecked 2026-08-25 BMA — Bermuda, registration pending verification (Tier 3)Verified on registerchecked 2026-08-25 |
| Segregated client fundsSegregated fundsClient money held in bank accounts kept separate from the broker's own funds, so it isn't used to run the business and is easier to return if the firm fails. | Yes |
| Compensation scheme | FSCS up to £85,000 (UK clients) |
| Negative-balance protectionNegative-balance protectionA safeguard that stops your account going below zero, so you can't end up owing the broker more than you deposited. Mandatory for retail clients in some regions. | Yes, for retail clients where required/applicable by region |
IG uses at least one offshore entity. The licence that protects your money is the one in your client agreement — not necessarily the headline badge. Check which entity onboards you.
- 2025-06 · FSCA (South Africa): IG closed its onshore South African business (IG Markets South Africa, FSP 41393) in 2025, per industry reports citing the FSCA. Background: the FSCA declined IG's 2019 application for authorisation as an OTC derivative provider; IG contested the position and operated under a temporary exemption (existing clients only) from 2021 until the closure. A business outcome, not a fine — verify current status with the FSCA. official source
- 2023-06 · FCA (United Kingdom): FCA clone-firm warning about 'ICT Market 24', an unauthorised operation impersonating the genuine FCA-authorised IG Markets Limited (FRN 195355) — a warning about impersonators, not an action against IG. An earlier clone ('Wig Markets') was flagged in 2018/2020. official source
Neutral, sourced notes only — not an accusation. We show documented regulatory history where we have an official source.
Source: our licence-evidence log — status shown per licenceVerify these licences on the official regulator register before depositing — how to check.
Most withdrawal delays are verification delays — how to tell a lawful check from a stall.
Which entity could apply to you?
IG may onboard you through a different legal entity depending on your country — which can change your regulator and protection. Decode the entity that may apply before you deposit.
Real cost snapshot
| Typical spreadSpreadThe gap between the buy (ask) and sell (bid) price. It's a core trading cost — tighter spreads are cheaper for you. (EUR/USD) | from 0.6 pips |
| CommissionCommissionA flat per-trade fee, common on raw/ECN accounts that show tighter spreads. Always compare spread + commission together as the all-in cost. | Spread only |
| Minimum deposit | $250 |
| Inactivity fee | £12/month after 24 months of no trading |
| All-in cost index | $$$·· (3/5) |
Last updated August 2026·Spreads are typical published figures, not live quotes; fees can change by account type and region. Costs and charges may vary depending on the jurisdiction. — verify current terms with the broker before you deposit.·How we score
Withdrawal check
| Typical withdrawal speed | 1–3 days (method-dependent) (Medium) |
| Deposit / withdrawal methods | Card, Bank transfer, PayPal |
| Verification | Identity verification (KYC) required before the first withdrawal. |
| Account security | 2FA optional. Login protected; nothing documented at withdrawal.Per IG's own help centre, read 5 Sept 2026, second read. All brokers compared |
Withdrawal rules can vary by entity, country and payment method — and regulated brokers usually return funds to your original deposit method first. Available payment methods may vary depending on your jurisdiction, and depending on the payment method, third-party or bank charges may apply. See how withdrawals work.
Product risk
This reflects the risk of the products offered (e.g. leveraged CFDs) — not the broker's trustworthiness. A lower-risk product label is not an endorsement of the broker.
| Product risk level | Moderate caution |
| CFD / leverage risk | High |
| Max leverage (region-aware) | Varies by entity globally; capped at 30:1 for retail clients in the UK/EU/Australia. |
| Crypto CFDs | Offered via CFDs — you don't own the underlying coins. |
Every entity reports its own figure — compare all 22 we read first-hand.
Products shown are offered as CFDs unless otherwise stated. Crypto CFDs do not provide ownership of the underlying cryptoasset. Product availability varies by region.
Red flags & what to verify
Neutral checks, not accusations. Confirm each one directly before funding an account.
Want to recognise these yourself? Try the broker red-flag detector.
Get the broker deposit checklist.
A plain-English checklist for checking regulation, fees, withdrawal terms, leverage risk and red flags before you fund an account.
Educational checklist only — not investment advice and no trading signals. We store your email to send the checklist; no spam. See our privacy policy.
Alternatives to IG
Other regulated platforms worth scanning side by side, with the single strongest reason each could be a better fit.
Why this fits: Lower cost vs IG. Scan it before you decide.
Why this fits: Lower cost vs IG. Scan it before you decide.
Why this fits: Lower cost vs IG. Scan it before you decide.
We earn a commission if you open an account through our links — at no extra cost to you. It does not change our rankings. How we make money.
IG — common questions
Quick, research-based answers to what people check before depositing. Informational only — verify directly.
Is IG regulated?+
IG holds licences from FCA (United Kingdom), BaFin (Germany), ASIC (Australia), FINMA (Switzerland), MAS (Singapore), DFSA (Dubai), BMA (Bermuda). We have checked 5 of its 9 licence records first-hand against regulator-authored sources; 4 remain pending independent verification. Client funds are held in segregated accounts, with FSCS up to £85,000 (UK clients). Regulation can differ by the entity that onboards you, and some clients are onboarded under an offshore entity with weaker protection. Always confirm the specific licence on the regulator's official register before depositing.
Is IG a scam, or is it legitimate?+
We don't label any broker "safe", but IG is a licensed operator with register-verified tier-1 oversight (FCA, BaFin, FINMA, MAS), not an anonymous one. The bigger risk is clone scams: fraudsters copy real brokers' names and websites. Reach IG only through its official domain, and verify the licence number on the regulator's own register.
Is IG available in my country?+
Availability — and the legal entity that onboards you — varies by country (IG does not accept US, BE, CA, ZA, RU, IR, KP, SY, CU, SD). The entity decides your regulator and protection. Use our entity decoder to see which entity may apply to you, and confirm it during signup.
What does it cost to trade with IG?+
Typical EUR/USD spread is from 0.6 pips (spread-only), with a $250 minimum deposit. Figures are indicative — confirm current pricing for your account type directly.
How long do withdrawals take at IG?+
Typical withdrawal time is 1–3 days (method-dependent). Actual speed depends on your payment method, identity verification (KYC) and the entity that holds your account. Regulated brokers usually return funds to your original deposit method first.
What leverage does IG offer, and is it risky?+
Maximum leverage is around Varies by entity on the global entity, but retail leverage is capped (typically 30:1) in the UK, EU and Australia. Leverage amplifies both gains and losses, and most retail CFD accounts lose money — only trade with money you can afford to lose.
Before you deposit, compare IG against alternatives.
Informational scan — not a safety guarantee and not financial advice. Affiliate link; we may earn a commission, which never changes the scan score. Verify availability, fees and regulation directly before depositing.