Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
IG vs Robinhood
What sets them apart
| Compare |  IG |  Robinhood |
|---|---|---|
| Stock trade fee | £0 | $0 |
| Account fee | €0 | $0 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, CFDs, Options, Futures, Crypto, Spread bettingCovers more | Stocks, ETFs, Options, Futures, Crypto |
| Regulators | Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin), SIPC | Bank of Lithuania (LSC), LT BL, SIPC |
| Platforms | Mobile trading, L2 Dealer, ProRealTime, MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, TradingView | Robinhood app, Robinhood Legend |
| Minimum deposit | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Inactivity fee | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Retail accounts that lose money | 69% | Not confirmed |
| Margin rate | Not confirmed | 3.95% |
| Options contract fee | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Not confirmed | $100 outgoing transfer |
| Account types | Not confirmed | IRA, Roth IRA, Joint |
| Maximum retail leverage | Not confirmed | 10X |
| Interest on cash | 2.5% | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Investor protection (EU ICS up to EUR 20,000).
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 9.4.
- Regulators: only IG offers Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin).
- Regulators: only Robinhood offers Bank of Lithuania (LSC), LT BL.
- Markets: only IG offers Forex, CFDs, Spread betting.
- Platforms: only IG offers Mobile trading, L2 Dealer, ProRealTime.
- Platforms: only Robinhood offers Robinhood app, Robinhood Legend.
- Features: only IG offers Demo account.
- Features: only Robinhood offers Crypto, Options, Futures.
- Pricing model: only Robinhood offers Low fees.
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%.
Robinhood
Robinhood suits first-time investors and small, regular investors who want nothing charged for holding or trading. It is the cheapest way in on our data, with a minimum deposit of $0, no account fee and no inactivity charge, under the Bank of Lithuania and SIPC.
Score breakdown
| Area | IG | Robinhood |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.3 | 9.6HigherStock trades cost $0, options contracts $0, the account fee is $0 and inactivity is $0. |
| Offer | 9.6HigherCommission-free share dealing, a stock trade fee of £0, an account fee of €0 and cash interest of 2.5%. | 9.3 |
| Trust | 9.5Higher | 9.3 |
Licences and countries
| Country | IG | Robinhood |
|---|---|---|
| United States | SIPC SIPC member 71021 | SIPC SIPC member 69916 |
| Germany | Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) MiCA CASP 213800HFC5G4V293BN91 | Not confirmed |
| Lithuania | Not confirmed | Bank of Lithuania (LSC) MiCA CASP 254900GTP4UXQO1UMI36 LT_BL PSD_PI 306377915 |
What each covers
| Markets | IG | Robinhood |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Forex | Yes | No |
| CFDs | Yes | No |
| Options | Yes | Yes |
| Futures | Yes | Yes |
| Crypto | Yes | Yes |
| Spread betting | Yes | No |
How they place
| Ranking | IG | Robinhood |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 39 of 490 | 13 of 490 |
| Options trading platforms | 11 of 103 | 1 of 103 |
| Futures trading platforms | 11 of 83 | 3 of 83 |
Where these facts come from
IG
- ig.com: 8 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- esma.europa.eu: 4 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Robinhood
- finder.com: 7 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- esma.europa.eu: 4 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- mymillennialguide.com: 4 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- financer.com: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- robinhood.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | IG | Robinhood |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Demo account, Mobile app, Fractional shares | Crypto, Fractional shares, Options, Futures, Mobile app |
| Pricing model | Commission free | Commission free, Low feesCovers more |
| Audience | Not confirmed | Beginners, Day traders |
| Legal entity | IG Europe GmbH | Robinhood Europe UAB |
| Headquarters | Germany | Lithuania |
| Founded | Not confirmed | 2013 |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | IG | Robinhood | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | Not confirmed | $0below the median | $10 |
| Inactivity fee | Not confirmed | $0at the median | $0 |
| Retail accounts that lose money | 69%below the median | Not confirmed | 70.375% |
| Margin rate | Not confirmed | 3.95%lowest quarter | 8.79% |
| Options contract fee | Not confirmed | $0lowest quarter | $0.59 |
| 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.
Robinhood
Pros
- Nothing to pay to open or hold an account, with an account fee of $0 and an inactivity fee of $0
- Trading a share costs $0, so a small first order is not eaten by commission
- You can start with a deposit of $0, lower than most brands on our data
Cons
- Leverage is available at 10X, which magnifies losses as well as gains
- Outgoing transfers carry a charge of $100 outgoing transfer
- Margin borrowing is priced at a margin rate of 3.95%, so interest adds to your cost
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.
Robinhood
Who it suits
- Beginners opening a first account with a small deposit
- Day-traders working in options, futures and crypto on mobile
- Retirement investors using an IRA, Roth IRA or joint account
Who should look elsewhere
- Vantage if a flat minimum deposit of $5 suits you better
- CFI if you want forex and CFDs alongside shares, since its markets cover stocks, etfs and forex
- eToro if social copy trading matters more than options and futures
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.
Robinhood
What does it cost to trade shares on Robinhood?+
Trading a share costs $0, and an options contract costs $0. There is also an account fee of $0 and an inactivity fee of $0, so nothing is taken for simply holding the account open. Borrowing on margin is charged at a margin rate of 3.95%, which is the main running cost if you use leverage.
Is there a minimum deposit to open a Robinhood account?+
The minimum deposit is $0, so you can open an account and place a small first order without funding a large balance. It is worth comparing that with the deposits other brands ask for before you commit, since the figure varies widely across the market. Outgoing transfers are charged at $100 outgoing transfer, so factor that in if you plan to move money out early.
Other options to compare
Other matchups
- IG vs Nexo
- IG vs CFI
- IG vs Markets.com
- IG vs OANDA
- IG vs Exness
- IG vs Interactive Brokers
- IG vs Fidelity
- IG vs Webull
- IG vs Topstep
- IG vs Wealthsimple
- IG vs FXTM
- IG vs Ally Bank
- IG vs Firstrade
- IG vs Merrill Edge
- IG vs Plus500
- IG vs Public
- Robinhood vs Angel One
- IG vs ActivTrades
- Robinhood vs DKB (Deutsche Kreditbank)
- IG vs XTB
- IG vs NAGA
- Robinhood vs UNest
- IG vs eToro
- Robinhood vs Linxea
- Robinhood vs bunq
- Robinhood vs Mintos
- IG vs EBC Financial Group
- Robinhood vs Afranga
- Robinhood vs Nectaro