Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
IG vs InvestEngine
IG vs InvestEngine: the differences
| Compare | ||
|---|---|---|
| Account fee | €0 | £0 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, CFDs, Options, Futures, Crypto, Spread bettingCovers more | ETFs |
| Regulators | Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin), SIPC | Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) |
| Investor protection | EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 | FSCS up to GBP 85,000 |
| Platforms | Mobile trading, L2 Dealer, ProRealTime, MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, TradingView | Web, iOS, Android |
| Interest on cash | 2.5%Higher | 0% |
| Minimum deposit | Not confirmed | £100 |
| Retail accounts that lose money | 69% | Not confirmed |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Not confirmed | Free |
| Account types | Not confirmed | ISA, SIPP, Corporate |
Same on both: Stock trade fee (£0).
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Key differences
- IG scores higher overall: 9.5 vs 8.7.
- Regulators: only IG offers Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin), SIPC.
- Regulators: only InvestEngine offers Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
- IG is licensed in 1 more country.
- Markets: only IG offers Stocks, Forex, CFDs.
- Platforms: only IG offers Mobile trading, L2 Dealer, ProRealTime.
- Platforms: only InvestEngine offers Web, iOS, Android.
- Interest on cash is higher at IG: 2.5% vs 0%.
- Features: only IG offers Demo account.
Our verdict on each
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%.
InvestEngine
InvestEngine suits beginners who want their money spread across ETFs without picking shares themselves. Costs stay thin: an account fee of £0, a stock trade fee of £0 and a single portfolio management charge of 0.25%, with deposits and withdrawals free.
Score breakdown
| Area | IG | InvestEngine |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.3Higher | 9.0 |
| Offer | 9.6HigherCommission-free share dealing, a stock trade fee of £0, an account fee of €0 and cash interest of 2.5%. | 8.8The isa, sipp and corporate account range wraps one ETF plan for savers and firms alike. |
| Trust | 9.5Higher | 8.4 |
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | IG | InvestEngine |
|---|---|---|
| Germany | Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) MiCA CASP 213800HFC5G4V293BN91 | Not confirmed |
| United Kingdom | Not confirmed | |
| United States | SIPC SIPC member 71021 | Not confirmed |
How they place
| Ranking | IG | InvestEngine |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 48 of 471 | 195 of 471 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | IG | InvestEngine |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Demo account, Mobile app, Fractional sharesCovers more | Fractional shares, Mobile app |
| Pricing model | Commission free | Commission free |
| Audience | Not confirmed | Beginners |
| Legal entity | IG Europe GmbH | InvestEngine (UK) Limited |
| Headquarters | Germany | United Kingdom |
| Founded | Not confirmed | 2019 |
| Support channels | Not confirmed | Email, Help centre |
Robo-advisors
| Fact | IG | InvestEngine |
|---|---|---|
| Management fee | Not confirmed | 0.25% |
| Minimum investment | Not confirmed | £1 |
| Portfolio types | Not confirmed | ETF |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | IG | InvestEngine | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | Not confirmed | £100highest quarter | £20 |
| Stock trade fee | £0at the median | £0at the median | £0 |
| Retail accounts that lose money | 69%below the median | Not confirmed | 72.05% |
| Interest on cash | 2.5%below the median | 0%lowest quarter | 3% |
Median across 47 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
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.
InvestEngine
Pros
- An account fee of £0 and a stock trade fee of £0 leave almost nothing to pay for holding or trading.
- Investor protection is FSCS up to GBP 85,000, with the platform regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
- The platform list covers Web, iOS and Android, and fractional shares make small regular buys work.
Cons
- Shares are not among its markets (etfs), so the range stays on funds rather than a general dealing list.
- Support runs on email and help centre, with no phone number for urgent account questions.
- Cash waiting to be invested earns 0%.
Who each suits
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.
InvestEngine
Who it suits
- Beginners who want a curated portfolio and can start from a minimum investment of £1.
- ISA and SIPP holders in the UK who would rather not pay an account fee.
- Investors who only need help by email and are happy to stay inside a single asset class.
Who should look elsewhere
- CFI, for anyone who wants to open with a minimum deposit of $0 rather than £100.
- Vantage, for anyone who wants a smaller entry point, since its minimum deposit is $5.
- eToro, for traders who want share dealing, because shares are not among its markets (etfs).
Country by country
| Country | IG | InvestEngine |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | No | Yes |
Questions about each
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.
InvestEngine
What does it cost to hold an InvestEngine account?+
The account fee is £0 and a stock trade costs £0, so buying and holding leaves most of the pot intact. The only ongoing charge is the portfolio management fee of 0.25%, which is taken on the portfolio rather than per trade. Cash left uninvested earns 0%.
Is my money protected if the platform fails?+
The Financial Conduct Authority is the regulator named on the licence, and the platform states investor protection of FSCS up to GBP 85,000. The account is run by InvestEngine (UK) Limited, a UK company, so UK rules and the protection scheme both apply to the account.
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