Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
IG vs Markets.com
What sets them apart
| Compare |  IG |  Markets.com |
|---|---|---|
| Stock trade fee | £0 | $0 |
| Account fee | €0 | $0 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, CFDs, Options, Futures, Crypto, Spread betting | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, CFDs, Crypto, Bonds, Spread betting |
| Regulators | Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin), SIPC | CySEC, FCA, FSCA, ASIC |
| Retail accounts that lose money | 69% | 72.4% |
| Platforms | Mobile trading, L2 Dealer, ProRealTime, MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, TradingView | Web Platform, Mobile App, MT4, MT5 |
| Minimum deposit | Not confirmed | $100 |
| Inactivity fee | Not confirmed | $10 |
| Currency conversion fee | Not confirmed | 0.6% |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Not confirmed | no deposit or withdrawal fees |
| Interest on cash | 2.5% | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Investor protection (EU ICS up to EUR 20,000).
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Key differences
- Regulators: only IG offers Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin), SIPC.
- Regulators: only Markets.com offers CySEC, FCA, FSCA.
- Markets.com is licensed in 2 more countries.
- Markets: only IG offers Options, Futures.
- Markets: only Markets.com offers Bonds.
- Platforms: only IG offers Mobile trading, L2 Dealer, ProRealTime.
- Platforms: only Markets.com offers Web Platform, Mobile App, MT4.
- Features: only IG offers Fractional shares.
- Features: only Markets.com offers Copy trading, Crypto.
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%.
Markets.com
Markets.com suits retail traders who want stocks, forex, cfds, crypto and spread betting under a single account with no commission charged on share dealing. Stock trades carry fees of $0 and the account fee is $0, though the $100 minimum deposit and an inactivity charge of $10 are the figures to weigh.
Score breakdown
| Area | IG | Markets.com |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.3Higher | 8.9Commission-free model: stock trades at fees of $0, account fee of $0, currency conversion of 0.6%. |
| Offer | 9.6Commission-free share dealing, a stock trade fee of £0, an account fee of €0 and cash interest of 2.5%. | 9.7Higher |
| Trust | 9.5 | 9.9Higher |
Where they rank in our lists
| Ranking | IG | Markets.com |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 39 of 490 | 40 of 490 |
| Forex brokers | 15 of 147 | 16 of 147 |
| Low-spread forex brokers | 13 of 145 | 14 of 145 |
| CFD brokers | 12 of 122 | 13 of 122 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | IG | Markets.com |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Demo account, Mobile app, Fractional shares | Mobile app, Copy trading, Demo account, Crypto |
| Pricing model | Commission free | Commission free |
| Audience | Not confirmed | Beginners, Experienced |
| Legal entity | IG Europe GmbH | Finalto Financial Services Limited |
| Headquarters | Germany | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Not confirmed | Email, Phone, Help centre |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | IG | Markets.com | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | Not confirmed | $100above the median | $10 |
| Inactivity fee | Not confirmed | $10above the median | $0 |
| Retail accounts that lose money | 69%below the median | 72.4%above the median | 70.375% |
| Currency conversion fee | Not confirmed | 0.6%above the median | 0.4% |
| Interest on cash | 2.5%below the median | Not confirmed | 3% |
Median across 99 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.
Markets.com
Pros
- Stock trades carry fees of $0 on a commission-free model, so placing a share trade is not chargeable
- The account fee is $0, which ranks Markets.com at 1 of 138 brands on that measure
- Deposits and withdrawals carry no deposit or withdrawal fees, so moving money on and off the account stays cheap
Cons
- An inactivity charge of $10 catches dormant balances, placing Markets.com at 35 of 56 brands on that measure
- The minimum deposit of $100 is heavy, ranking at 148 of 213 brands, so a smaller opening balance rules it out
- A currency conversion fee of 0.6% sits on top of the commission-free model, so currency trades cost more than the share trades priced at $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.
Markets.com
Who it suits
- Retail traders who want stocks, forex, cfds, crypto and spread betting inside a single account
- Investors who trade often enough to clear the $100 minimum and steer clear of the $10 inactivity charge
- UK residents who want the account run by Finalto Financial Services Limited under the FCA
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone opening with a small balance, since the $100 minimum deposit compares with a site median of €4.64 while CFI takes $0 and Vantage takes $5
- Long term holders of an idle balance, because an inactivity charge of $10 applies
- Traders who mainly want forex and the lowest way in, since CFI and Vantage set minimum deposits at $0 and $5
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.
Markets.com
Does Markets.com charge commission on shares?+
The pricing model is commission-free, and stock trades carry fees of $0 on the trade itself. Currency conversion of 0.6% and an inactivity charge of $10 sit outside that figure, so regular traders should build both into the running cost.
Is there a monthly or annual account fee?+
Fees run $0 on the account, which ranks Markets.com at 1 out of 138 brands on that measure. Deposits and withdrawals carry no deposit or withdrawal fees as well, so funding the account and taking money back out stay clear of extra charges.
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