Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
IG vs Wealthsimple
IG vs Wealthsimple: the differences
| Compare |  IG |  Wealthsimple |
|---|---|---|
| Stock trade fee | £0 | CA$0 |
| Account fee | €0 | CA$0 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, CFDs, Options, Futures, Crypto, Spread bettingCovers more | Stocks, ETFs, Options, Crypto, Futures |
| Interest on cash | 2.5%Higher | 1.25% |
| Minimum deposit | Not confirmed | CA$0 |
| Regulators | Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin), SIPC | Not confirmed |
| Investor protection | EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 | Not confirmed |
| Retail accounts that lose money | 69% | Not confirmed |
| Margin rate | Not confirmed | 3.95% |
| Options contract fee | Not confirmed | CA$0 |
| Platforms | Mobile trading, L2 Dealer, ProRealTime, MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, TradingView | Not confirmed |
| Account types | Not confirmed | Joint, Corporate |
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Key differences
- IG scores higher overall: 9.5 vs 9.4.
- Markets: only IG offers Forex, CFDs, Spread betting.
- Interest on cash is higher at IG: 2.5% vs 1.25%.
- Features: only IG offers Demo account.
- Features: only Wealthsimple 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%.
Wealthsimple
Wealthsimple serves Canadian beginners and experienced investors who want self-directed trading and managed portfolios in a single app. The minimum deposit is CAD 0, the stock trade fee is CAD 0 and the account fee is CAD 0, while the UK is not among its markets (stocks, etfs and options).
Score breakdown
| Area | IG | Wealthsimple |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.3 | 9.6HigherMinimum deposit of CAD 0, stock trade fee of CAD 0, options contract fee of CAD 0 and account fee of CAD 0. |
| Offer | 9.6HigherCommission-free share dealing, a stock trade fee of £0, an account fee of €0 and cash interest of 2.5%. | 9.2Managed portfolios charge 0.5% and start at CAD 1, with cash earning 1.25%. |
| Trust | 9.5 | Not confirmed |
Side by side, item by item
| Markets | IG | Wealthsimple |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
If neither fits
ActivTrades has interest on cash at 3.3%, against 2.5% for IG and 1.25% for Wealthsimple.
ActivTrades reviewHow they place
| Ranking | IG | Wealthsimple |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 39 of 490 | 53 of 490 |
| Options trading platforms | 11 of 103 | 17 of 103 |
| Futures trading platforms | 11 of 83 | 13 of 83 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | IG | Wealthsimple |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Demo account, Mobile app, Fractional shares | Crypto, Fractional shares, Mobile app |
| Pricing model | Commission free | Commission free |
| Audience | Not confirmed | Beginners, Experienced |
| Legal entity | IG Europe GmbH | Wealthsimple Technologies Inc. |
| Headquarters | Germany | Canada |
| Support channels | Not confirmed | Chat, Email, Phone, Help centre |
Robo-advisors
| Fact | IG | Wealthsimple |
|---|---|---|
| Management fee | Not confirmed | 0.5% |
| Minimum investment | Not confirmed | CA$1 |
| Portfolio types | Not confirmed | ETF, Cash, Crypto |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | IG | Wealthsimple | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | CA$0below the median | CA$0.90 |
| Interest on cash | 2.5%below the median | 1.25%lowest quarter | 3% |
Median across 38 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.
Wealthsimple
Pros
- Stock trade fee of CAD 0 on a commission-free model across self-directed accounts
- Minimum deposit of CAD 0, so an account opens with a small sum
- Managed portfolios charge a management fee of 0.5% and start at CAD 1
Cons
- The UK and Europe are not among its markets (stocks, etfs and options), so a reader there would need a different broker
- Managed portfolios carry a management fee of 0.5% on top of CAD 0 self-directed trades
- Margin is available at a margin rate of 3.95%, which amplifies losses on a levered position
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.
Wealthsimple
Who it suits
- Canadian beginners putting money away in a managed portfolio
- Canadian investors buying fractional shares in a mobile app
- Experienced traders wanting stocks, ETFs, options, crypto and futures in a single account
Who should look elsewhere
- UK or EU readers, who should look at CFI, eToro or Vantage instead
- Traders who want a forex and CFD range, since stocks, etfs and options omits both
- Anyone seeking an ISA, SIPP or similar tax-sheltered wrapper, since neither is among its account types (joint and corporate)
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.
Wealthsimple
What does it cost to trade stocks at Wealthsimple?+
The stock trade fee is CAD 0 and the account fee is CAD 0. Options contracts carry a fee of CAD 0. Cash earns interest of 1.25%. Managed portfolios are the part that still charges, at a management fee of 0.5%.
Is there a minimum deposit or account fee?+
The minimum deposit is CAD 0 and the account fee is CAD 0, so opening an account costs nothing. Managed portfolios ask for a minimum investment of CAD 1. Brands across the site typically ask €4.64 to start.
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