Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
EBC Financial Group vs IG
Where EBC Financial Group and IG differ
| Compare |  EBC Financial Group |  IG |
|---|---|---|
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, CFDs, Crypto | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, CFDs, Options, Futures, Crypto, Spread bettingCovers more |
| Regulators | Financial Conduct Authority | Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin), SIPC |
| Investor protection | FSCS up to GBP 85,000 | EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 |
| Platforms | MT4, MT5, EBC mobile app | Mobile trading, L2 Dealer, ProRealTime, MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, TradingView |
| Minimum deposit | $50 | Not confirmed |
| Stock trade fee | Not confirmed | £0 |
| Account fee | Not confirmed | €0 |
| Retail accounts that lose money | Not confirmed | 69% |
| Maximum retail leverage | 1:500 | Not confirmed |
| Interest on cash | Not confirmed | 2.5% |
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Key differences
- IG scores higher overall: 9.5 vs 9.0.
- Regulators: only EBC Financial Group offers Financial Conduct Authority.
- Regulators: only IG offers Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin), SIPC.
- IG is licensed in 1 more country.
- Markets: only IG offers Options, Futures, Spread betting.
- Platforms: only EBC Financial Group offers MT4, MT5, EBC mobile app.
- Platforms: only IG offers Mobile trading, L2 Dealer, ProRealTime.
- Features: only EBC Financial Group offers Copy trading.
- Features: only IG offers Fractional shares.
Our verdict on each
EBC Financial Group
EBC Financial Group suits UK traders who want a single account covering forex, CFDs, stocks, ETFs and crypto, held with a firm authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority.
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 | EBC Financial Group | IG |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.7Entry amount of $50 against $0 at CFI and $5 at Vantage, with retail leverage up to 1:500. | 9.3Higher |
| Offer | 9.4 | 9.6HigherCommission-free share dealing, a stock trade fee of £0, an account fee of €0 and cash interest of 2.5%. |
| Trust | 9.1 | 9.5Higher |
Where they rank in our lists
| Ranking | EBC Financial Group | IG |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 16 of 490 | 39 of 490 |
| Forex brokers | 6 of 147 | 15 of 147 |
| Low-spread forex brokers | 6 of 145 | 13 of 145 |
| CFD brokers | 6 of 122 | 12 of 122 |
Availability and regulation
| Country | EBC Financial Group | IG |
|---|---|---|
| Germany | Not confirmed | Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) MiCA CASP 213800HFC5G4V293BN91 |
| United Kingdom | Financial Conduct Authority 927552 | Not confirmed |
| United States | Not confirmed | SIPC SIPC member 71021 |
Side by side, item by item
| Markets | EBC Financial Group | IG |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Forex | Yes | Yes |
| CFDs | Yes | Yes |
| Options | No | Yes |
| Futures | No | Yes |
| Crypto | Yes | Yes |
| Spread betting | No | Yes |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | EBC Financial Group | IG |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Demo account, Copy trading, Mobile app | Demo account, Mobile app, Fractional shares |
| Pricing model | Not confirmed | Commission free |
| Legal entity | EBC Financial Group (UK) Ltd | IG Europe GmbH |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom | Germany |
| Founded | 1994 | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | EBC Financial Group | IG | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $50above the median | Not confirmed | $10 |
| Stock trade fee | Not confirmed | £0at the median | £0 |
| Account fee | Not confirmed | €0at the median | €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
EBC Financial Group
Pros
- Regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority under licence 927552
- One account covers stocks, etfs and forex without needing a second firm
- Platforms in MT4, MT5 and EBC mobile app cover both MetaTrader terminals plus the EBC mobile app
Cons
- Retail leverage runs to 1:500, so a modest balance can be lost quickly
- The entry amount of $50 is above $0 at CFI and $5 at Vantage
- Bonds, funds and futures are not among its stocks, etfs and forex
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
EBC Financial Group
Who it suits
- UK residents who want an account with a firm authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority
- Traders who want forex, CFDs and crypto handled in the same place
- Copy trading users, since demo account, copy trading and mobile app lists it
Who should look elsewhere
- CFI, whose minimum deposit is $0, if you want a smaller starting balance
- Vantage, at $5, is another option for a lighter entry
- eToro, whose markets reach stocks, etfs and forex, for anyone also wanting bonds, funds or futures
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
EBC Financial Group
How much do I need to deposit to start?+
The minimum deposit is $50. For comparison, CFI lists $0 and Vantage lists $5, and the median minimum deposit across brands on the site is €4.64. That sits at the higher end of the field, so check it against the balance you intend to hold.
Is my money protected if something goes wrong?+
Yes. EBC Financial Group is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and holds licence 927552. Eligible deposits are covered to the limit stated in the FSCS up to GBP 85,000 scheme, and that protection sits with the regulated entity rather than the brand name.
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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