IG vs Interactive Brokers 2025
In this head to head comparison of IG vs Interactive Brokers, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, investment options, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
In this head to head comparison of IG vs Interactive Brokers, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, investment options, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
Your capital is at risk.
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 Interactive Brokers for share dealing.
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 Interactive Brokers for UK investors, both platforms excel in offering diverse investment opportunities, although Interactive Brokers has an edge. IG provides share trading, ETFs, CFD Trading, and investment trusts but does not support crypto trading, funds, or corporate and government bonds. On the other hand, Interactive Brokers offers a comprehensive range covering share trading, cryptocurrency, ETFs, CFDs, funds, corporate bonds, and government bonds, along with investment trusts.
This extensive selection from Interactive Brokers earns them a perfect 5-star rating for investment choices from UK.StockBrokers.com, compared to IG's respectable 4.5 stars. In overall rankings, Interactive Brokers stands impressively at #2 out of 21 brokers, while IG holds a solid #11 position. Neither platform provides advisor services, but with the wider investment options, Interactive Brokers may be a preferable choice for those seeking more comprehensive trading possibilities.
Feature |
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Share Trading | Yes | Yes |
CFD Trading | Yes | Yes |
ETFs | Yes | Yes |
Mutual Funds | No | Yes |
Bonds - Government (Gilts) | No | Yes |
Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes |
Spread Betting | Yes | No |
Crypto Trading | No | Yes |
Advisor Services | No | No |
Investment Choices |
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When comparing the trading tools of IG and Interactive Brokers for UK traders, both platforms offer the ability to display corporate events, such as earnings, splits, and dividends, directly on charts. While IG provides 19 drawing tools and 33 technical indicators, Interactive Brokers impresses with 80 drawing tools and 96 technical indicators. Both platforms allow users to add notes to charts and offer browser-based trading, catering to traders who appreciate versatile chart annotation and accessibility. However, a critical difference arises with overlay options; IG does not support index or stock overlays, whereas Interactive Brokers offers both, granting users enhanced analytical capabilities.
For those keen on receiving updates and data in real time, IG presents an edge with its real-time market data, a feature not available with Interactive Brokers. Both platforms let traders set alerts for stock price updates, ensuring they remain informed about market movements. Overall, while Interactive Brokers delivers a more comprehensive array of charting tools and overlay options, IG provides essential real-time data to better respond to market dynamics swiftly.
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Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes |
Charting - Indicators / Studies | 33 | 96 |
Charting - Drawing Tools | 19 | 80 |
Charting - Notes | Yes | Yes |
Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | Yes |
Charting - Stock Overlays | No | Yes |
Charting - Index Overlays | No | Yes |
For UK investors exploring online brokers with retirement account options, both IG and Interactive Brokers present compelling choices. IG provides Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) and Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPPs), offering flexible solutions for tax-efficient savings and retirement planning. Similarly, Interactive Brokers caters to UK investors by also offering ISAs and SIPPs, thus enabling users to strategically manage their investments and retirement funds. Both platforms grant access to these essential accounts, allowing investors to maximize their savings potential while planning for the future.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
For UK investors choosing between IG and Interactive Brokers, both platforms offer seamless mobile experiences on iPhone and Android devices. IG's mobile app shines with a top-tier 5-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com, securing the impressive #2 spot out of 21 brokers. Similarly, Interactive Brokers also boasts a 5-star rating for its mobile app, earning a respectable #4 ranking. Each app excels in providing smooth user experiences, catered to meet the needs of both novice and seasoned investors.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
For UK beginners seeking top-notch educational resources for online investing, both IG and Interactive Brokers offer valuable tools. IG excels with a 5-star rating and is ranked #1 out of 21 brokers by UK.StockBrokers.com, while Interactive Brokers earns a respectable 4.5 stars and ranks #8. Both platforms provide educational client webinars that can be viewed live or on demand, perfect for learning at your own pace. They cover essential topics like share trading and retirement, but IG lacks content on funds, which Interactive Brokers does offer. Whether you're starting with stocks or gearing up for retirement, it's worth noting that IG leads in tailored beginner education, offering a comprehensive learning journey.
Feature |
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Client Webinars | Yes | Yes |
Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
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 considering online brokers for their market research features, UK investors may compare IG and Interactive Brokers. Both platforms provide research reports for funds, enabling users to make informed investment decisions. However, when it comes to viewing portfolio allocation by asset class, Interactive Brokers has the upper hand, offering this feature, unlike IG. On the brighter side, both brokers excel in providing shares and ETFs research. Where Interactive Brokers stands out is in the additional provision of research on funds and bonds, which IG does not offer. Investors seeking comprehensive research capabilities might lean towards Interactive Brokers for a more detailed market analysis experience.
Feature |
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Research - Shares | Yes | Yes |
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 Interactive Brokers? 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.
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While both IG and Interactive Brokers provide robust trading platforms, Interactive Brokers stands out by offering cryptocurrency trading, whereas IG does not.
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0 of 5Overall Rating | IG | Interactive Brokers | |
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Overall Rating |
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Charges & Fees |
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Investment Choices |
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Mobile App |
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Website |
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Ease of Use |
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Education |
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Review | IG Review | Interactive Brokers Review | |
Winner | check_circle |
Investments | IG | Interactive Brokers | |
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ISA | Yes | Yes | |
SIPP | Yes | Yes | |
Share Trading | Yes | Yes | |
CFD Trading | Yes | Yes | |
Mutual 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 | Yes | ||
Advisor Services | No | No |
Trading Fees | IG | Interactive Brokers | |
---|---|---|---|
Minimum Deposit | £0 | £0 | |
Share Trading: 0-9 Deals/ Month | £0 | £3 | |
Share Trading: 10-19 Deals/ Month | £0 | £3 | |
Share Trading: 20+ Deals/ Month | £0 | £3 | |
5 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | |||
12 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | |||
36 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | |||
120 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | |||
3 fund trades per year (£30k portfolio) | |||
Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £0 - £250,000 | £0 / £96 | £0 | |
Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £250K-£500K | £0 / £96 | £0 | |
Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £500,000 - £1m | £0 / £96 | £0 | |
Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £1m and over | £0 / £96 | £0 | |
Bonds - Corporate - Fee | N/A | 0.1% (for <10,000 EUR) 0.025% (for >10,000 EUR) | |
Bonds - Government (Gilts) - Fee | N/A | 0.1% (for <10,000 EUR) 0.025% (for >10,000 EUR) | |
ETFs - Fee | £0 - £8 | £3 | |
Investment Trusts - Fee | £0 - £8 | N/A | |
Telephone Dealing Fee | £50 | £25 |
Broker Screenshots | IG | Interactive Brokers | |
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Website Gallery (click to expand) | |||
Mobile Trading Apps Gallery (click to expand) | |||
Education Gallery (click to expand) |
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Platforms & Tools | IG | Interactive Brokers | |
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Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
Android App | Yes | Yes | |
Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
Charting - Indicators / Studies | 33 | 96 | |
Charting - Drawing Tools | 19 | 80 | |
Charting - Notes | Yes | Yes | |
Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | Yes | |
Charting - Stock Overlays | No | Yes | |
Charting - Index Overlays | No | Yes |
Research | IG | Interactive Brokers | |
---|---|---|---|
Research - Shares | Yes | Yes | |
Research - CFDs | |||
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 | Interactive Brokers | |
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Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes | |
Education (Funds) | No | Yes | |
Education (Retirement) | Yes | Yes | |
Client Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
Overall Summary | IG | Interactive Brokers | |
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Overall Rating |
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Charges & Fees |
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Investment Choices |
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Mobile App |
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Website |
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Ease of Use |
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Education |
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Review | IG Review | Interactive Brokers Review | |
Winner | check_circle |