Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
IG vs Nexo
IG vs Nexo: the differences
| Compare | ||
|---|---|---|
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, CFDs, Options, Futures, Crypto, Spread bettingCovers more | Crypto, Futures |
| Regulators | Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin), SIPC | Department of Financial Protection and Innovation, National Securities Commission (CNV) of the Argentine Republic, Companies Registry, Ministry of Finance, Financial Services Authority Seychelles |
| Investor protection | EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 | SIPC up to USD 500,000 |
| Platforms | Mobile trading, L2 Dealer, ProRealTime, MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, TradingView | Web platform, Mobile app |
| Interest on cash | 2.5% | 13%Higher |
| Minimum deposit | Not confirmed | $5,000 |
| Stock trade fee | £0 | Not confirmed |
| Account fee | €0 | Not confirmed |
| Retail accounts that lose money | 69% | Not confirmed |
| Margin rate | Not confirmed | 1.9% |
| Account types | Not confirmed | Corporate |
| Maximum retail leverage | Not confirmed | 100x |
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Key differences
- IG scores higher overall: 9.5 vs 9.0.
- Regulators: only IG offers Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin), SIPC.
- Regulators: only Nexo offers Department of Financial Protection and Innovation, National Securities Commission (CNV) of the Argentine Republic, Companies Registry.
- Nexo is licensed in 3 more countries.
- Markets: only IG offers Stocks, ETFs, Forex.
- Platforms: only IG offers Mobile trading, L2 Dealer, ProRealTime.
- Platforms: only Nexo offers Web platform, Mobile app.
- Interest on cash is higher at Nexo: 13% vs 2.5%.
- Features: only IG offers Fractional shares.
- Features: only Nexo offers 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%.
Nexo
Nexo suits corporate account holders who want crypto plus futures trading on web and mobile platforms with margin borrowing available. You should weigh minimum funding of $5,000 and margin rate of 1.9% against demo access and limited market breadth before you commit capital.
Score breakdown
| Area | IG | Nexo |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.3Higher | 9.0Margin borrowing priced with margin rate of 1.9% supports cost view. |
| Offer | 9.6HigherCommission-free share dealing, a stock trade fee of £0, an account fee of €0 and cash interest of 2.5%. | 8.9Offer centres on markets of crypto and futures via platforms of Web platform and Mobile app. |
| Trust | 9.5Higher | 9.0Trust reflects cover of SIPC up to USD 500,000. |
Pick IG if, pick Nexo if
Pick IG if cost, offer, trust, and markets matter most.
Pick Nexo if interest on cash matter most.
What each covers
| Markets | IG | Nexo |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | No |
| ETFs | Yes | No |
| Forex | Yes | No |
| CFDs | Yes | No |
| Options | Yes | No |
| Futures | Yes | Yes |
| Crypto | Yes | Yes |
| Spread betting | Yes | No |
Availability and regulation
| Country | IG | Nexo |
|---|---|---|
| United States | SIPC SIPC member 71021 | Department of Financial Protection and Innovation 60DBO-109416 |
| Argentina | Not confirmed | |
| Germany | Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) MiCA CASP 213800HFC5G4V293BN91 | Not confirmed |
| Hong Kong | Not confirmed | Companies Registry TC007556 |
| Poland | Not confirmed | Ministry of Finance RDWW-533 |
| Seychelles | Not confirmed |
Where these facts come from
IG
- ig.com: 8 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- esma.europa.eu: 4 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Nexo
- nexo.com: 9 facts, checked September 29, 2026
- portal.dfpi.ca.gov: 2 facts, checked September 29, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | IG | Nexo |
|---|---|---|
| Futures trading platforms | 11 of 83 | 1 of 83 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | IG | Nexo |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Demo account, Mobile app, Fractional shares | Crypto, Demo account, Mobile app |
| Pricing model | Commission free | Low fees |
| Legal entity | IG Europe GmbH | Not confirmed |
| Headquarters | Germany | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | IG | Nexo | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | Not confirmed | $5,000highest quarter | $10 |
| Stock trade fee | £0at the median | Not confirmed | £0 |
| Account fee | €0at the median | Not confirmed | €0 |
| Retail accounts that lose money | 69%below the median | Not confirmed | 70.375% |
| Margin rate | Not confirmed | 1.9%lowest quarter | 8.79% |
| Interest on cash | 2.5%below the median | 13%highest quarter | 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.
Nexo
Pros
- Crypto and futures coverage in crypto and futures suits focused digital asset traders rather than general equity investors.
- Corporate access through corporate suits entities that need business onboarding rather than personal accounts.
- Margin access with margin rate of 1.9% gives clear borrowing pricing for planned leveraged use.
Cons
- Entry funding of $5,000 is high beside $50 at eToro and $1 at Kraken, which limits casual access.
- Market breadth is narrow at crypto and futures, with crypto and futures focus and no stocks or funds breadth for diversification.
- Support runs on chat, email and help centre only, which may deter you if you prefer phone help available elsewhere.
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.
Nexo
Who it suits
- Corporate desks that accept $5,000 and prefer Nexo focus over eToro retail breadth
- Crypto futures users who value Web platform and Mobile app and prefer Nexo margin clarity over Kraken entry level simplicity
- Entity clients comfortable with chat, email and help centre who prefer Nexo structure over NAGA retail positioning
Who should look elsewhere
- Traders seeking low entry balances who prefer eToro because $50 is below $5,000
- Crypto beginners wanting simple retail onboarding who prefer Kraken because $1 is below $5,000
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.
Nexo
What can you trade with Nexo?+
Nexo focuses on markets of crypto and futures, which means crypto and futures activity rather than broad equities or funds. Access is through platforms of Web platform and Mobile app, giving web based management plus mobile use for monitoring. You should confirm that this limited scope matches your plan before you apply.
How much do you need to open a Nexo account?+
Nexo lists minimum deposit of $5,000 and account choice of corporate, so access is framed around corporate funding. You should prepare qualifying funds and corporate documentation before you start. This structure suits entities rather than individuals seeking small retail balances.