Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
FXTM vs IG
What sets them apart
| Compare | FXTM ReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, CFDs, Futures, Crypto, Bonds, Metals | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, CFDs, Options, Futures, Crypto, Spread betting |
| Regulators | FCA, CySEC | Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin), SIPC |
| Investor protection | FSCS up to GBP 85,000 | EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 |
| Retail accounts that lose money | 88% | 69% |
| Platforms | Desktop, Mobile App, MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5 | 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 |
| Inactivity fee | $5 | Not confirmed |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | No deposit fees; withdrawal fees vary by method | Not confirmed |
| Maximum retail leverage | 1:2000 | 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 9.3.
- Regulators: only FXTM offers FCA, CySEC.
- Regulators: only IG offers Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin), SIPC.
- Markets: only FXTM offers Bonds, Metals.
- Markets: only IG offers Options, Spread betting.
- Platforms: only FXTM offers Desktop, Mobile App.
- Platforms: only IG offers Mobile trading, L2 Dealer, ProRealTime.
- Features: only FXTM offers Copy trading, Crypto.
- Features: only IG offers Fractional shares.
Our verdict on each
FXTM
FXTM suits traders who want forex, CFDs, futures, crypto and shares under one account, with retail leverage of 1:2000 and dual regulation behind the money. Costs are the compromise: entry is light, but support runs on help centre only, and a dormant account is charged rather than left free.
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 | FXTM | IG |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.0Entry costs are light, with a $10 starting deposit and No deposit fees; withdrawal fees vary by method, though dormant accounts pay $5. | 9.3Higher |
| Offer | 9.3 | 9.6HigherCommission-free share dealing, a stock trade fee of £0, an account fee of €0 and cash interest of 2.5%. |
| Trust | 9.5 | 9.5 |
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | FXTM | IG |
|---|---|---|
| Cyprus | Not confirmed | |
| Germany | Not confirmed | Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) MiCA CASP 213800HFC5G4V293BN91 |
| United Kingdom | Not confirmed | |
| United States | Not confirmed | SIPC SIPC member 71021 |
Where they rank in our lists
| Ranking | FXTM | IG |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 59 of 490 | 39 of 490 |
| Forex brokers | 27 of 147 | 15 of 147 |
| Low-spread forex brokers | 25 of 145 | 13 of 145 |
| CFD brokers | 22 of 122 | 12 of 122 |
| Futures trading platforms | 14 of 83 | 11 of 83 |
Sources behind this comparison
FXTM
- fxtm.com: 5 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- brokersway.com: 4 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- trade-leader.com: 2 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 | FXTM | IG |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Demo account, Copy trading, Mobile app, Crypto | Demo account, Mobile app, Fractional shares |
| Pricing model | Not confirmed | 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 | FXTM | IG | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $10at the median | Not confirmed | $10 |
| Stock trade fee | Not confirmed | £0at the median | £0 |
| Account fee | Not confirmed | €0at the median | €0 |
| Inactivity fee | $5above the median | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Retail accounts that lose money | 88%highest quarter | 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
FXTM
Pros
- One account spans stocks, etfs and forex.
- The FCA and CySEC both appear under FCA and CySEC, with FSCS up to GBP 85,000 for UK clients.
- Trading runs on Desktop, Mobile App and MetaTrader 4, and demo account, copy trading and mobile app adds a demo account and copy trading.
Cons
- Dormant balances are charged $5, a cost active traders never meet.
- Support runs on help centre only.
- Leverage of 1:2000 magnifies losses, and 88% of retail accounts lose money.
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
FXTM
Who it suits
- Traders who want forex, CFDs, futures, crypto and shares in one place from a $10 start.
- Newcomers who want a demo account and copy trading through demo account, copy trading and mobile app.
- Clients who want regulation in the UK and Cyprus under FCA and CySEC.
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone who wants to open with nothing: CFI has a $0 minimum.
- Traders focused on shares, ETFs and crypto rather than bonds and metals: eToro's markets are stocks, etfs and forex.
- Small accounts wanting a cheaper opening: Vantage starts at $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.
Questions about each
FXTM
What does it cost to open and keep an FXTM account?+
Opening an account starts at $10, and the deposit and withdrawal terms read No deposit fees; withdrawal fees vary by method. The fee to watch is the inactivity charge of $5, which bites once an account sits idle, so running costs stay low only while you keep trading.
Is my money protected at FXTM?+
FXTM is regulated by the FCA and CySEC, and the investor protection stated is FSCS up to GBP 85,000. That cover sits with the regulated entity holding the account, so check which one your account is opened with before treating the protection as your own.
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
- FXTM vs Nexo
- FXTM vs Markets.com
- FXTM vs Vantage Markets
- FXTM vs Vantage
- FXTM vs WH SelfInvest
- FXTM vs AvaTrade
- FXTM vs Errante
- FXTM vs Alchemy Markets
- FXTM vs Windsor Brokers
- FXTM vs IC Markets
- FXTM vs LiteFinance
- FXTM vs VT Markets
- FXTM vs Interactive Brokers
- FXTM vs Webull
- IG vs ActivTrades
- IG vs XTB
- FXTM vs NAGA
- IG vs eToro
- FXTM vs Robinhood
- IG vs S Broker
- FXTM vs EBC Financial Group
- FXTM vs CapTrader
- FXTM vs Kraken