Written by StockBrokers.com
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.
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.
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 Interactive Brokers would cost £15 per year.
12 trades per year - IG would cost £0 per year, while Interactive Brokers would cost £36 per year.
36 trades per year - IG would cost £0 per year, while Interactive Brokers would cost £108 per year.
120 trades per year - IG would cost £0 per year, while Interactive Brokers would cost £360 per year.
3 fund trades per year - IG would cost £0 per year, while Interactive Brokers 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 it comes to online trading, UK investors have a variety of options with IG and Interactive Brokers. IG offers a solid platform for share and ETF trading, as well as investment trusts and CFDs. However, it lacks options for crypto trading and fund management, and it doesn't support trading in corporate or government bonds. In contrast, Interactive Brokers provides a more extensive range of investment choices, including share, crypto, ETF, CFD, and fund trading alongside opportunities for both corporate and government bonds. It's worth noting, however, that neither broker offers spread betting or advisory services.
According to UK.StockBrokers.com, Interactive Brokers stands out for its investment choices, earning a full five-star rating and securing the impressive rank of #2 out of 21 brokers. IG, while still highly rated with 4.5 stars, ranks #11 in the same category. For UK traders seeking a comprehensive range of investment options, these ratings and rankings suggest that Interactive Brokers may have the edge, particularly for those interested in diversified trading opportunities.
| Feature |
IG
|
Interactive Brokers
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Trading | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| 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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Low-cost US and UK shares.
Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.
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.
| Feature |
IG
|
Interactive Brokers
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
IG
|
Interactive Brokers
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 comparing IG and Interactive Brokers for market research features, both platforms provide research reports for funds, enabling investors to gather essential insights. While IG does not offer portfolio allocation by asset class, Interactive Brokers does, providing more detailed investment tracking. Both platforms excel in shares and ETFs research, catering to various investment needs. However, Interactive Brokers holds an edge with comprehensive research on funds and bonds, areas where IG lacks coverage. Both brokers offer CFDs research, ensuring traders have access to necessary market data. For UK investors seeking in-depth research capabilities, Interactive Brokers may present a more versatile option.
| Feature |
IG
|
Interactive Brokers
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes |
| Research - CFDs | 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.
| Feature |
IG
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Interactive Brokers
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|---|---|---|
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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 5| Overall Rating | IG | Interactive Brokers | |
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| Review | IG Review | Interactive Brokers Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
| Investments | IG | Interactive Brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | Yes | |
| SIPP | Yes | Yes | |
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| CFD Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| 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 | 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) | £0 | £15 | |
| 12 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £0 | £36 | |
| 36 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £0 | £108 | |
| 120 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £0 | £360 | |
| 3 fund trades per year (£30k portfolio) | N/A | £0 / £14.85 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £0 - £250,000 | £0 / £96 | £0 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £250K-£500K | £0 / £96 | £0 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £500,000 - £1m | £0 / £96 | £0 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £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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| Platforms & Tools | IG | Interactive Brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes | Yes | |
| 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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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| Review | IG Review | Interactive Brokers Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
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