Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
ChoiceTrade vs IG
Where ChoiceTrade and IG differ
| Compare |  ChoiceTrade |  IG |
|---|---|---|
| Stock trade fee | $0 | £0 |
| Account fee | $10 | €0 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Options | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, CFDs, Options, Futures, Crypto, Spread bettingCovers more |
| Regulators | SIPC | Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin), SIPCCovers more |
| Investor protection | SIPC up to USD 500,000 | EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 |
| Platforms | ChoiceTrade Direct Pro, ChoiceTrade Elite, Mobile Apps | Mobile trading, L2 Dealer, ProRealTime, MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, TradingView |
| Minimum deposit | $100 | Not confirmed |
| Retail accounts that lose money | Not confirmed | 69% |
| Options contract fee | $0.40 | Not confirmed |
| Interest on cash | Not confirmed | 2.5% |
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Key differences
- IG scores higher overall: 9.5 vs 8.9.
- Regulators: only IG offers Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin).
- IG is licensed in 1 more country.
- Markets: only IG offers Forex, CFDs, Futures.
- Platforms: only ChoiceTrade offers ChoiceTrade Direct Pro, ChoiceTrade Elite, Mobile Apps.
- Platforms: only IG offers Mobile trading, L2 Dealer, ProRealTime.
- Features: only IG offers Fractional shares.
Our verdict on each
ChoiceTrade
ChoiceTrade runs commission-free stock and ETF dealing, with an account fee of $10 and a minimum deposit of $100. It suits experienced US traders who want a long-standing, SIPC protected broker and do not mind paying to hold the account. Options cost $0.40 per contract.
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 | ChoiceTrade | IG |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.9Trade fee of $0 is the cheapest measure, offset by an account fee of $10 and an options fee of $0.40 per contract | 9.3Higher |
| Offer | 9.0 | 9.6HigherCommission-free share dealing, a stock trade fee of £0, an account fee of €0 and cash interest of 2.5%. |
| Trust | 8.9 | 9.5Higher |
How they place
| Ranking | ChoiceTrade | IG |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 156 of 471 | 48 of 471 |
| Options trading platforms | 55 of 103 | 12 of 103 |
Feature by feature
| Markets | ChoiceTrade | IG |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Forex | No | Yes |
| CFDs | No | Yes |
| Options | Yes | Yes |
| Futures | No | Yes |
| Crypto | No | Yes |
| Spread betting | No | Yes |
Availability and regulation
| Country | ChoiceTrade | IG |
|---|---|---|
| United States | SIPC SIPC member 52511 | SIPC SIPC member 71021 |
| Germany | Not confirmed | Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) MiCA CASP 213800HFC5G4V293BN91 |
What we checked
ChoiceTrade
- choicetrade.com: 12 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- sipc.org: 3 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 | ChoiceTrade | IG |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Demo account, Mobile app | Demo account, Mobile app, Fractional sharesCovers more |
| Pricing model | Commission free | Commission free |
| Audience | Experienced | Not confirmed |
| Legal entity | LETSGOTRADE INC | IG Europe GmbH |
| Headquarters | United States | Germany |
| Founded | 2000 | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Email, Phone | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | ChoiceTrade | IG | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $100above the median | Not confirmed | $25 |
| Retail accounts that lose money | Not confirmed | 69%below the median | 72.05% |
| Options contract fee | $0.40below the median | Not confirmed | $0.625 |
| Interest on cash | Not confirmed | 2.5%below the median | 3% |
Median across 134 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
ChoiceTrade
Pros
- Stock trades carry a fee of $0 and rank first among 161 brands on that measure
- Members of SIPC, with protection of SIPC up to USD 500,000
- Trading platforms include ChoiceTrade Direct Pro, ChoiceTrade Elite and Mobile Apps, so orders can go from desktop to phone
Cons
- An account fee of $10 applies, which ranks 114 of 138 on that measure
- The minimum deposit of $100 ranks 148 of 213
- The audience is listed as experienced traders, so a first account may feel technical
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
ChoiceTrade
Who it suits
- Experienced traders who want commission-free stock and ETF dealing on a US account
- Investors who value SIPC protection and a long operating history
- Anyone who wants demo practice before committing real money
Who should look elsewhere
- eToro, which charges an account fee of $0
- CFI, which takes a minimum deposit of $0
- Vantage, whose minimum deposit is $5
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.
Country by country
| Country | ChoiceTrade | IG |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Yes | No |
Questions about each
ChoiceTrade
What does it cost to trade stocks at ChoiceTrade?+
Stock dealing is commission free, with a trade fee of $0. That is the measure on which the brand ranks 1 of 161, so trading itself adds nothing to the cost of a position.
Is there an account fee or minimum deposit?+
Yes. The account fee is $10 and the minimum deposit is $100. On account fee the brand ranks 114 of 138, so this is where it costs more than cheaper rivals.
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.
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