Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
IG vs TradeUP
IG vs TradeUP: the differences
| Compare |  IG |  TradeUP |
|---|---|---|
| Stock trade fee | £0 | $0 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, CFDs, Options, Futures, Crypto, Spread bettingCovers more | ETFs, Options, Stocks |
| Regulators | Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin), SIPCCovers more | SIPC |
| Investor protection | EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 | SIPC up to USD 500,000 |
| Account fee | €0 | Not confirmed |
| Retail accounts that lose money | 69% | Not confirmed |
| Options contract fee | Not confirmed | $0.65 |
| Platforms | Mobile trading, L2 Dealer, ProRealTime, MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, TradingView | Not confirmed |
| Interest on cash | 2.5% | Not confirmed |
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Key differences
- IG scores higher overall: 9.5 vs 8.8.
- Regulators: only IG offers Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin).
- IG is licensed in 1 more country.
- Markets: only IG offers Forex, CFDs, Futures.
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%.
TradeUP
TradeUP suits retail investors who want free stock dealing and low options costs from a US broker holding SIPC membership. Stock trades cost $0 and investor protection stands at SIPC up to USD 500,000. Markets are limited to etfs, options and stocks, so it suits single market US investors.
Score breakdown
| Area | IG | TradeUP |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.3Higher | 9.0Stock trades cost $0 and options contracts cost $0.65, with no account charge listed. |
| Offer | 9.6HigherCommission-free share dealing, a stock trade fee of £0, an account fee of €0 and cash interest of 2.5%. | 8.8 |
| Trust | 9.5Higher | 8.6 |
Licences and countries
| Country | IG | TradeUP |
|---|---|---|
| United States | SIPC SIPC member 71021 | SIPC SIPC member 36754 |
| Germany | Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) MiCA CASP 213800HFC5G4V293BN91 | Not confirmed |
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | IG | TradeUP |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 48 of 471 | 188 of 471 |
| Options trading platforms | 12 of 103 | 62 of 103 |
What we checked
IG
- ig.com: 8 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- esma.europa.eu: 4 facts, checked September 26, 2026
TradeUP
- play.google.com: 3 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- sipc.org: 3 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- tradeup.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | IG | TradeUP |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Demo account, Mobile app, Fractional shares | Not confirmed |
| Pricing model | Commission free | Commission free |
| Legal entity | IG Europe GmbH | TRADEUP SECURITIES INC |
| Headquarters | Germany | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | IG | TradeUP | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Account fee | €0at the median | Not confirmed | €0 |
| Retail accounts that lose money | 69%below the median | Not confirmed | 72.05% |
| Options contract fee | Not confirmed | $0.65above the median | $0.625 |
| Interest on cash | 2.5%below the median | Not confirmed | 3% |
Median across 52 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.
TradeUP
Pros
- Stock trades carry a fee of $0 on a commission free model
- Options contracts cost $0.65
- Client accounts sit with SIPC protection of SIPC up to USD 500,000
Cons
- Trading is limited to etfs, options and stocks
- The regulated entity is TRADEUP SECURITIES INC, so claims are made in the US
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.
TradeUP
Who it suits
- Retail investors buying and holding US shares and ETFs
- Options traders who keep contract costs low
Who should look elsewhere
- eToro, which covers a wider set of stocks, etfs and forex
- Vantage, which adds forex, cfds and stocks
- CFI, which lists stocks, etfs and forex
Country by country
| Country | IG | TradeUP |
|---|---|---|
| United States | 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.
TradeUP
How much does it cost to buy shares?+
Buying and selling shares carries a fee of $0, and the pricing model is commission free. There is no listed account charge or inactivity charge to offset that, so the dealing cost sits entirely on the trade.
What does an options contract cost?+
An options contract is charged at $0.65. Options are part of the etfs, options and stocks range, so contracts can be traded alongside shares and ETFs in the same account.
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