Written by StockBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of IG vs Barclays, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, investment options, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
Alongside the cost per trade, most UK online brokers also charge a monthly, quarterly, or annual management fee, which varies based on the account type and balance. Based on our thorough review, IG offers better pricing than Barclays for share dealing.
Assuming a £30,000 portfolio size, here are the total annual costs for share dealing with both brokers, given different monthly activity scenarios.
5 trades per year - IG would cost £0 per year, while Barclays would cost £105 per year.
12 trades per year - IG would cost £0 per year, while Barclays would cost £75 or £147 per year.
36 trades per year - IG would cost £0 per year, while Barclays would cost £75 or £291 per year.
120 trades per year - IG would cost £0 per year, while Barclays would cost £75 or £795 per year.
3 fund trades per year - IG would cost £0 per year, while Barclays would cost £0 per year.
What type of trader are you?
New to the world of investing? See our picks for the Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners. More experienced traders should read our guide to the Best UK Trading Platforms for Active Traders.
IG and Barclays are two prominent online brokers in the UK, each offering distinct investment choices that cater to different investor needs. Both platforms provide opportunities for share trading, ETF trading, and investment trusts, allowing users to access a range of popular financial instruments. However, while IG distinguishes itself with a comprehensive platform that includes CFD trading, it doesn't extend to trading funds, bonds, or provide advisor services, which Barclays offers. Barclays' broader range of investment options like funds and corporate bonds, alongside advisor services, make it appealing for those seeking a more extensive array of financial products.
In terms of ratings, UK.StockBrokers.com awarded IG a commendable 4.5 stars for its investment choices, ranking it 11th out of 18 brokers. On the other hand, Barclays received a higher rating of 5 stars and ranks 9th in the same list. This highlights Barclays' stronger overall offering in terms of diversity in investment products, despite IG's strong offering in specific areas like CFD trading. Choosing between the two largely depends on whether you value a platform that specializes in certain trades or one that provides a more rounded investment array with professional guidance.
| Feature |
IG
|
Barclays
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Trading | Yes | No |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | No | Yes |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | No | Yes |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes |
| Spread Betting | Yes | No |
| Crypto Trading | No | No |
| Advisor Services | No | Yes |
| Investment Choices |
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Low-cost US and UK shares.
Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.
When comparing the charting tools offered by IG and Barclays, IG clearly provides a more comprehensive suite of features for traders. IG stands out by including 19 drawing tools and 33 technical indicators, while Barclays offers none. Additionally, IG allows users to display corporate events such as earnings, splits, and dividends on their charts, a feature not available through Barclays. IG also lets traders add notes directly to charts, further enhancing the ability to personalize and analyze data for informed decision-making.
Both IG and Barclays offer browser-based trading platforms and the ability to create alerts for stock price updates, making them accessible options for real-time trading. However, only IG delivers real-time market data, providing a significant edge for traders who rely on the most current market information. For UK investors seeking advanced charting capabilities and real-time insights, IG offers richer tools compared to Barclays.
| Feature |
IG
|
Barclays
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 33 | 0 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 19 | 0 |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | No |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | No |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | No | No |
| Charting - Index Overlays | No | No |
When considering online brokers for retirement accounts in the UK, both IG and Barclays offer flexible options to suit various financial goals. IG provides access to both Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) and Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPPs), allowing for tax-efficient growth and personal control over your investments. Similarly, Barclays offers a range of retirement solutions with their ISAs and SIPPs, catering to individuals looking to manage and invest their savings prudently. Both platforms are designed to support your financial future, making it important to evaluate your personal needs and preferences when choosing between these two reputable providers.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
For UK investors seeking a reliable mobile trading experience, both IG and Barclays provide apps for iPhone and Android devices. However, there is a significant difference in their performance ratings. IG's mobile app, lauded for its user-friendly interface and advanced features, receives a top rating of 5 stars from UK.StockBrokers.com, ranking as the second-best among 18 brokers. Meanwhile, Barclays' app, which also supports both major mobile platforms, receives a lower rating of 2.5 stars and ranks 21st. This comparison highlights IG's superior mobile trading experience for UK users when contrasted with Barclays.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
For UK beginner investors exploring educational resources, IG and Barclays present distinct offerings. IG stands out by providing live and archived webinars, facilitating convenient access to learning at any time. While both IG and Barclays offer education on share trading and retirement, only Barclays covers the topic of funds. In rankings by UK.StockBrokers.com, IG clinches the top spot, boasting a full 5-star rating for its beginner education. Conversely, Barclays, with a strong but slightly lower rating of 4.5 stars, holds the 10th position among 18 brokers. Ultimately, IG’s comprehensive educational approach, particularly its webinar content, positions it as a premier choice for novice traders, while Barclays remains a commendable option, especially for those interested in fund education.
| Feature |
IG
|
Barclays
|
|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Funds) | No | Yes |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | Yes |
| Education |
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Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.
When comparing the market research features of online brokers IG and Barclays, both platforms provide research reports for funds, helping investors make informed decisions. While IG excels in offering research for shares, ETFs, and CFDs, it falls short in providing insights into portfolio allocation by asset class and bonds. In contrast, Barclays provides a more comprehensive range with research options for funds, shares, ETFs, and bonds, along with the ability to view portfolio allocation by asset class, giving investors a clearer overview of their investments. However, Barclays does not offer CFDs research, which IG covers. Thus, choosing between IG and Barclays depends largely on specific research needs, with Barclays suitable for investors seeking a broader spectrum of market insights and IG catering to those focused on share and CFD research.
| Feature |
IG
|
Barclays
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes |
| Research - CFDs | Yes | No |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Research - Bonds | No | Yes |
| Research - Funds | No | Yes |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | Yes |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | No | Yes |
Which broker is better overall, IG or Barclays? After collecting more than 900 data points over a 10-week period, we found IG to be a better trading platform overall.
IG is an investment platform aimed at experienced investors looking to make frequent trades on the stock market, with thousands of shares, trusts and ETFs to trade. It offers a comprehensive and easy-to-use trading platform that is used by both private and professional investors.
| Feature |
IG
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Barclays
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| Charges & Fees |
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| Mobile App |
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| Website |
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Neither IG nor Barclays offer cryptocurrency trading, positioning both online brokers similarly for investors interested in crypto assets.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | IG | Barclays | |
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| Review | IG Review | Barclays Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
| Investments | IG | Barclays | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | Yes | |
| SIPP | Yes | Yes | |
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| CFD Trading | Yes | No | |
| Funds | No | Yes | |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Bonds - Corporate | No | Yes | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | No | Yes | |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes | |
| Spread Betting | Yes | No | |
| Crypto Trading | No | No | |
| Advisor Services | No | Yes |
| Trading Fees | IG | Barclays | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £0 | £0 | |
| Share Trading: 0-9 Deals/ Month | £0 | £6 | |
| Share Trading: 10-19 Deals/ Month | £0 | £6 | |
| Share Trading: 20+ Deals/ Month | £0 | £6 | |
| 5 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £0 | £105 | |
| 12 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £0 | £75 or £147 | |
| 36 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £0 | £75 or £291 | |
| 120 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £0 | £75 or £795 | |
| 3 fund trades per year (£30k portfolio) | N/A | £75 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £0 - £250,000 | £0 / £96 | £0 - £525 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £250K-£500K | £0 / £96 | £525 - £650 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £500,000 - £1m | £0 / £96 | £650 - £850 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £1m and over | £0 / £96 | £850 and up | |
| Bonds - Corporate - Fee | N/A | £6 | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) - Fee | N/A | £6 | |
| ETFs - Fee | £0 - £8 | £6 | |
| Investment Trusts - Fee | £0 - £8 | £6 | |
| Telephone Dealing Fee | £50 | £25 |
| Broker Screenshots | IG | Barclays | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Website Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Mobile Trading Apps Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Education Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Platforms & Tools | IG | Barclays | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 33 | 0 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 19 | 0 | |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | No | No | |
| Charting - Index Overlays | No | No |
| Research | IG | Barclays | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - CFDs | Yes | No | |
| Research - Funds | No | Yes | |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Bonds | No | Yes | |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | No | Yes |
| Education | IG | Barclays | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Funds) | No | Yes | |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
| Overall Summary | IG | Barclays | |
|---|---|---|---|
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| Review | IG Review | Barclays Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
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