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.
When comparing IG and Barclays for investment account options in the UK, both platforms allow share trading, ETF trading, and investment trusts, making them versatile choices for investors interested in these markets. However, if you're looking to delve into contracts for difference (CFD) trading, IG emerges as the go-to option, given that Barclays does not offer this service. Conversely, Barclays offers a wider range of investment opportunities, including funds trading, corporate bonds, and government bonds, which are not available with IG. Additionally, Barclays provides advisory services, potentially appealing to investors seeking professional guidance along their investment journey.
While both brokers have their strengths, Barclays receives a slightly higher rating of 5 stars compared to IG's 4.5 stars from UK.StockBrokers.com, reflecting its broader array of investment choices. Ranked 9th among 21 brokers for investment choices, Barclays is two spots ahead of IG, which holds the 11th position. This slight variance in ranking may influence those who prioritise a wider selection of investment vehicles and professional advisory support.
| 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.
When comparing mobile trading apps from IG and Barclays, both offer compatibility with iPhone and Android devices, ensuring accessibility for all users. However, the quality of the apps is where they diverge significantly. According to UK.StockBrokers.com, IG's app stands out with an impressive 5-star rating, securing the #2 spot out of 21 brokers for mobile app excellence. In contrast, Barclays lags with a 2.5-star rating, placing it at the bottom as #21. This suggests that IG provides a more reliable and user-friendly experience for mobile trading compared to Barclays, making it a preferred choice for tech-savvy investors in the UK.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
When it comes to educational resources for beginner investors, IG stands out as a top choice in the UK, offering compelling features such as live educational webinars, which are also archived for on-demand viewing. In contrast, Barclays does not provide webinars. Both IG and Barclays cover essential investment topics like share trading and retirement, but Barclays offers additional resources on funds, which IG does not. Notably, UK.StockBrokers.com rates IG at 5 stars and ranks it #1 out of 21 brokers for its beginner education resources, while Barclays receives a commendable 4.5 stars, securing the #10 spot. For those prioritising access to educational webinars and a highly rated platform, IG might be the preferable option.
| 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 |
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Barclays
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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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