Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
EC Markets vs IG
EC Markets vs IG: the differences
| Compare |  EC Markets |  IG |
|---|---|---|
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, CFDs, Crypto, Metals | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, CFDs, Options, Futures, Crypto, Spread betting |
| 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 | MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, EC Markets App | Mobile trading, L2 Dealer, ProRealTime, MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, TradingView |
| Minimum deposit | $10 | Not confirmed |
| Stock trade fee | Not confirmed | £0 |
| Account fee | Not confirmed | €0 |
| Retail accounts that lose money | Not confirmed | 69% |
| Maximum retail leverage | 1:1000 | 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 9.0.
- Regulators: only IG offers Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin).
- IG is licensed in 1 more country.
- Markets: only EC Markets offers Metals.
- Markets: only IG offers Options, Futures, Spread betting.
- Platforms: only EC Markets offers EC Markets App.
- Platforms: only IG offers Mobile trading, L2 Dealer, ProRealTime.
- Features: only IG offers Demo account, Fractional shares.
Our verdict on each
EC Markets
EC Markets suits active traders who want retail leverage of 1:1000 across forex, CFDs, stocks and crypto in one account. The US entity behind the brand, RB INTERNATIONAL MARKETS (USA) LLC, sits under SIPC up to USD 500,000, so the safety side is easier to check than with an offshore-only broker.
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 | EC Markets | IG |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.0The $10 minimum deposit sits below the €4.64 site median, so the cost of opening an account is low. | 9.3Higher |
| Offer | 9.5 | 9.6HigherCommission-free share dealing, a stock trade fee of £0, an account fee of €0 and cash interest of 2.5%. |
| Trust | 8.6 | 9.5Higher |
Licences and countries
| Country | EC Markets | IG |
|---|---|---|
| United States | SIPC SIPC member 71021 | SIPC SIPC member 71021 |
| Germany | Not confirmed | Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) MiCA CASP 213800HFC5G4V293BN91 |
How they place
| Ranking | EC Markets | IG |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 138 of 471 | 48 of 471 |
| Forex brokers | 58 of 147 | 18 of 147 |
| Low-spread forex brokers | 56 of 145 | 16 of 145 |
| CFD brokers | 47 of 122 | 14 of 122 |
Feature by feature
| Markets | EC Markets | IG |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Forex | Yes | Yes |
| CFDs | Yes | Yes |
| Options | No | Yes |
| Futures | No | Yes |
| Crypto | Yes | Yes |
| Metals | Yes | No |
| Spread betting | No | Yes |
Where these facts come from
EC Markets
- ecmarkets.com: 5 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 | EC Markets | IG |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Mobile app | Demo account, Mobile app, Fractional sharesCovers more |
| Pricing model | Not confirmed | Commission free |
| Legal entity | RB INTERNATIONAL MARKETS (USA) LLC | IG Europe GmbH |
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | Germany |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | EC Markets | IG | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $10below the median | Not confirmed | $25 |
| 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 | 72.05% |
| Interest on cash | Not confirmed | 2.5%below the median | 3% |
Median across 134 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
EC Markets
Pros
- One account spans stocks, etfs and forex, so you are not locked into a single asset class.
- You can trade on MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5 and EC Markets App, with the mobile app listed under mobile app.
Cons
- Retail leverage of 1:1000 magnifies losses, and on the site's forex list 72.13% of retail accounts lose money.
- The $10 entry point sits above CFI's $0 and Vantage's $5, so the cheapest way in is elsewhere.
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
EC Markets
Who it suits
- Active traders who want 1:1000 retail leverage on forex and CFDs
- US-based investors who want protection stated at SIPC up to USD 500,000
- Newcomers who can start at $10 and learn on MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5 and EC Markets App
Who should look elsewhere
- CFI, if you want to open an account with no minimum at $0
- Vantage, if the entry deposit matters more than the market list, since it starts at $5
- eToro, if you trade futures, which its market list stocks, etfs and forex covers
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
EC Markets
What is the minimum deposit at EC Markets?+
The minimum deposit is $10 to fund an account. That sits above the €4.64 site median, so it is a low entry point rather than the lowest one available. Anyone starting small should confirm which account the deposit applies to before adding funds.
Is money held at EC Markets protected?+
Protection is stated as SIPC up to USD 500,000, under the SIPC scheme named in the brand's licences. That figure is the scheme's stated ceiling rather than a promise of returns, and the scheme's own terms set the conditions, so read them before depositing.
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
- EC Markets vs Exness
- EC Markets vs Swissquote
- EC Markets vs VT Markets
- EC Markets vs Hfm Partners
- EC Markets vs Vantage Markets
- EC Markets vs Lightspeed Financial
- EC Markets vs Trade Nation
- EC Markets vs FXCM
- EC Markets vs Saxo
- EC Markets vs LMAX Exchange
- EC Markets vs Stash
- EC Markets vs CFI
- EC Markets vs Alpari
- EC Markets vs Capital.com
- EC Markets vs LiteFinance
- EC Markets vs ActivTrades
- EC Markets vs XTB
- IG vs NAGA
- IG vs eToro
- EC Markets vs Bitpanda
- IG vs Robinhood
- IG vs S Broker
- EC Markets vs Kraken
- IG vs EBC Financial Group
- EC Markets vs Traders Place
- EC Markets vs BlackBull Markets