Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
CapTrader vs IG
CapTrader vs IG: the differences
| Compare |  CapTrader |  IG |
|---|---|---|
| Stock trade fee | $2 | £0 |
| Account fee | $0 | €0 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, CFDs, Options, Futures, Crypto, Bonds, Funds | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, CFDs, Options, Futures, Crypto, Spread betting |
| Platforms | Trader Workstation TWS, CapTrader Desktop, Trading App | Mobile trading, L2 Dealer, ProRealTime, MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, TradingView |
| Minimum deposit | $2,000 | Not confirmed |
| Inactivity fee | $0 | Not confirmed |
| Regulators | Not confirmed | Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin), SIPC |
| Investor protection | Not confirmed | EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 |
| Retail accounts that lose money | Not confirmed | 69% |
| Options contract fee | €2 | Not confirmed |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Free withdrawal, bank transfer deposits | Not confirmed |
| Interest on cash | Not confirmed | 2.5% |
We earn a commission when you sign up through links on this site. Partner status can affect where a brand appears in our rankings.
Key differences
- IG scores higher overall: 9.5 vs 8.9.
- Markets: only CapTrader offers Bonds, Funds.
- Markets: only IG offers Spread betting.
- Platforms: only CapTrader offers Trader Workstation TWS, CapTrader Desktop, Trading App.
- Platforms: only IG offers Mobile trading, L2 Dealer, ProRealTime.
- Pricing model: only CapTrader offers Low fees.
- Pricing model: only IG offers Commission free.
Our verdict on each
CapTrader
CapTrader suits experienced traders who want stocks, forex, CFDs, options, futures, crypto, bonds and funds under one roof with no account or inactivity fee. The catch is the entry size: a minimum deposit of $2,000 puts it out of reach for a small first account.
IG
IG suits traders who want shares, ETFs, forex, contracts for difference, options, futures, crypto and spread betting under a single roof, with an account fee of €0 and cash interest of 2.5% on uninvested balances. Share dealing runs commission-free, while the retail loss rate is 69%.
Score breakdown
| Area | CapTrader | IG |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.7Account fee and inactivity fee of $0 and $0 set against a $2,000 entry and $2 a trade. | 9.3Higher |
| Offer | 9.2 | 9.6HigherCommission-free share dealing, a stock trade fee of £0, an account fee of €0 and cash interest of 2.5%. |
| Trust | Not confirmed | 9.5 |
Licences and countries
| Country | CapTrader | IG |
|---|---|---|
| Germany | Not confirmed | Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) MiCA CASP 213800HFC5G4V293BN91 |
| United States | Not confirmed | SIPC SIPC member 71021 |
How they place
| Ranking | CapTrader | IG |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 17 of 490 | 39 of 490 |
| Forex brokers | 7 of 147 | 15 of 147 |
| Low-spread forex brokers | 7 of 145 | 13 of 145 |
| CFD brokers | 7 of 122 | 12 of 122 |
| Options trading platforms | 3 of 103 | 11 of 103 |
| Futures trading platforms | 4 of 83 | 11 of 83 |
What we checked
CapTrader
- captrader.com: 7 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- brokerchooser.com: 4 facts, checked September 26, 2026
IG
- ig.com: 8 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- esma.europa.eu: 4 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | CapTrader | IG |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Demo account, Mobile app, Fractional shares | Demo account, Mobile app, Fractional shares |
| Pricing model | Low fees | Commission free |
| Legal entity | Not confirmed | IG Europe GmbH |
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | Germany |
| Support channels | Help centre | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | CapTrader | IG | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $2,000highest quarter | Not confirmed | $10 |
| Inactivity fee | $0at the median | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Retail accounts that lose money | Not confirmed | 69%below the median | 70.375% |
| Interest on cash | Not confirmed | 2.5%below the median | 3% |
Median across 99 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
CapTrader
Pros
- A single account covers stocks, etfs and forex, so instruments do not need splitting across brokers.
- Platform choice of Trader Workstation TWS, CapTrader Desktop and Trading App covers desktop terminals and mobile trading.
- Trading costs read plainly: $2 a stock trade and €2 an options contract.
Cons
- Minimum deposit of $2,000 ranks 197 of 213 on our data, against $0 at CFI and $5 at Vantage.
- Stock trade fee of $2 ranks 124 of 161, while eToro charges $0 a trade.
- Support runs on help centre only, with no phone or chat channel listed.
IG
Pros
- Markets list stocks, etfs and forex, so shares, ETFs, forex, contracts for difference, options, futures, crypto and spread betting sit together.
- Regulated by Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) and SIPC, with client protection of EU ICS up to EUR 20,000.
- Platform choice runs Mobile trading, L2 Dealer and ProRealTime.
Cons
- Retail accounts that lose money come to 69%.
- The commission-free model in commission free applies to share dealing, and it does not extend to trading costs on forex, contracts for difference, options or futures.
- Accounts sit with IG Europe GmbH in Germany, so compensation stops at EU ICS up to EUR 20,000.
Who each suits
CapTrader
Who it suits
- Traders running a mixed book of stocks, etfs and forex rather than one narrow market.
- Anyone who dislikes dormant account charges, with an inactivity fee of $0.
- Desktop users who prefer the Trader Workstation TWS or CapTrader Desktop over a simple app.
Who should look elsewhere
- Small first-time accounts: CFI starts at $0 and Vantage at $5, well below CapTrader's $2,000.
- Cost-first stock buyers: eToro charges $0 a trade against CapTrader's $2.
IG
Who it suits
- Traders who want stocks, etfs and forex reachable from the same account rather than several platforms.
- Share buyers who want dealing on a commission-free basis, since commission free covers their trades.
- EU clients who weight regulation and compensation, given Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) and SIPC and EU ICS up to EUR 20,000.
Who should look elsewhere
- Buyers who want a platform built around share dealing and crypto alone should compare CFI, whose stocks, etfs and forex is a shorter, simpler list.
- Investors priced in dollars rather than euros should weigh eToro, where the stock trade fee is $0.
- Anyone weighing only the account charge should know Vantage lists $0, so IG's €0 is not the only way to hold an account cheaply.
Questions about each
CapTrader
What is the minimum deposit?+
The minimum deposit is $2,000, which is the main hurdle for a first account. On our data that places CapTrader at 197 of 213. CFI takes $0 and Vantage $5, so a smaller start is easy elsewhere.
Are there account or inactivity fees?+
Neither applies. The account fee is $0 and the inactivity fee is $0, so leaving money untouched does not trigger a charge. CapTrader ranks 1 of 138 on account fee and 1 of 56 on inactivity fee.
IG
What does it cost to trade shares with IG?+
Share dealing runs on a commission-free model, with a stock trade fee of £0 and an account fee of €0. Those are the two figures that matter for holding and trading, and both sit at the floor of the site tables. Trading costs on forex, contracts for difference, options and futures are quoted apart from share dealing.
Who regulates IG and is my money protected?+
The regulators are Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) and SIPC, and the licences listed are MiCA CASP 213800HFC5G4V293BN91 and SIPC member 71021. Client protection in the EU is EU ICS up to EUR 20,000, so a claim against the firm is covered only up to that ceiling. Any balance above the cap is your own exposure.
Other options to compare
Other matchups
- IG vs Nexo
- CapTrader vs CFI
- CapTrader vs Markets.com
- CapTrader vs Exness
- CapTrader vs Angel One
- CapTrader vs Interactive Brokers
- CapTrader vs Fidelity
- CapTrader vs Webull
- CapTrader vs Topstep
- CapTrader vs Wealthsimple
- CapTrader vs FXTM
- CapTrader vs Fyers
- CapTrader vs Ally Bank
- CapTrader vs ActivTrades
- CapTrader vs XTB
- CapTrader vs NAGA
- IG vs eToro
- CapTrader vs Robinhood
- CapTrader vs S Broker
- IG vs EBC Financial Group
- CapTrader vs Kraken