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IG vs Interactive Brokers 2025

StockBrokers.com

Written by StockBrokers.com

July 31, 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.

IG
4.5/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: £0
  • ISA: Yes
  • SIPP: Yes
Interactive Brokers
4.5/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: £0
  • ISA: Yes
  • SIPP: Yes

Your capital is at risk.

Fees

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.

query_stats 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.

Investment Choices

For UK investors exploring online brokers, IG and Interactive Brokers present diverse options for investment. Both platforms offer share trading, ETFs, CFD trading, and investment trusts. However, Interactive Brokers extends a broader selection with additional offerings such as crypto trading, funds trading, and both corporate and government bonds. This expansive range places Interactive Brokers ahead in the market, especially for those eyeing varied financial instruments.

In terms of ratings, Interactive Brokers outshines IG with a perfect 5-star evaluation from UK.StockBrokers.com for investment choices, boasting a commendable rank of #2 out of 21 brokers. Conversely, IG, while still impressive with a 4.5-star rating, is positioned at #11. The difference highlights Interactive Brokers' comprehensive suite, appealing to those seeking a wide array of investment opportunities.

Feature IG logoIG
Interactive Brokers logoInteractive Brokers
Share Trading info Yes Yes
CFD Trading info Yes Yes
ETFs info Yes Yes
Funds info Yes
Bonds - Government (Gilts) info Yes
Investment Trusts info Yes Yes
Spread Betting info Yes
Crypto Trading info Yes
Advisor Services info
Investment Choices 4.5/5 Stars 5/5 Stars

Featured Offers


IG
4.5/5 Stars

Low-cost US and UK shares.

Interactive Brokers
4.5/5 Stars

Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.

Trading Tools

When comparing the trading tools offered by IG and Interactive Brokers, both platforms allow traders to display corporate events, such as earnings, splits, and dividends, directly on their charts. IG provides 19 drawing tools and 33 technical indicators, while Interactive Brokers offers a more extensive selection with 80 drawing tools and 96 technical indicators. Both brokers enable users to add notes to charts, contributing to a more personalized trading experience.

Although both IG and Interactive Brokers offer browser-based trading platforms and the ability to set up alerts for stock price updates, they differ in some functionalities. Interactive Brokers supports adding both index and stock overlays to charts, a feature not specified for IG. Additionally, while IG provides real-time market data, this feature isn’t mentioned for Interactive Brokers, which could be a consideration for those who require up-to-the-minute information.

Feature IG logoIG
Interactive Brokers logoInteractive Brokers
Web Platform info Yes Yes
Stock Alerts info Yes Yes
Charting - Indicators / Studies info 33 96
Charting - Drawing Tools info 19 80
Charting - Notes info Yes Yes
Charting - Display Corporate Events info Yes Yes
Charting - Stock Overlays info Yes
Charting - Index Overlays info Yes

ISAs and SIPPs

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.

Mobile App

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.

Beginners and Education

For UK beginners looking to dive into investing, both IG and Interactive Brokers offer solid educational resources, although IG takes the lead. Both platforms provide webinars that can be accessed live or archived for on-demand viewing, making learning flexible and convenient. When it comes to specific topics, IG and Interactive Brokers both cover share trading and retirement, but Interactive Brokers also offers guidance on funds, which IG lacks. UK.StockBrokers.com rates IG with the top score of 5 stars and ranks it #1 out of 21 brokers for beginner education, while Interactive Brokers receives a commendable 4.5 stars and is placed 8th. Overall, while both platforms are well-prepared to educate novice investors, IG stands out as the better choice for comprehensive beginner support.

Feature IG logoIG
Interactive Brokers logoInteractive Brokers
Client Webinars info Yes Yes
Client Webinars (Archived) info Yes Yes
Education (Share Trading) info Yes Yes
Education (Funds) info Yes
Education (Retirement) info Yes Yes
Education 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars

Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.

Market Research

When it comes to market research features, both IG and Interactive Brokers offer certain strengths to UK investors. Both platforms provide research reports for funds, as well as comprehensive research for shares, ETFs, and CFDs. Interactive Brokers stands out by also offering detailed research reports for bonds and a clear view of portfolio allocation by asset class—a feature IG does not provide. While IG supports a broad range of research services, Interactive Brokers appears to deliver a more complete package, especially for those needing insights into complete asset allocation and bond investments.

Feature IG logoIG
Interactive Brokers logoInteractive Brokers
Research - Shares info Yes Yes
Research - CFDs info Yes Yes
Research - ETFs info Yes Yes
Research - Bonds info Yes
Research - Funds info Yes
Fund Research - Research Reports info Yes Yes
Portfolio Allocation Breakdown info Yes

IG vs Interactive Brokers Winner

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 logoIG
Interactive Brokers logoInteractive Brokers
Overall Rating 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Charges & Fees 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Investment Choices 4.5/5 Stars 5/5 Stars
Mobile App 5/5 Stars 5/5 Stars
Website 4.5/5 Stars 5/5 Stars
Ease of Use 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Education 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars

FAQs

Can you trade cryptocurrency with IG or Interactive Brokers?

When comparing online brokers, Interactive Brokers offers crypto trading, while IG does not provide this service.

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Overall Rating IG Interactive Brokers
Overall Rating 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Charges & Fees 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Investment Choices 4.5/5 Stars 5/5 Stars
Mobile App 5/5 Stars 5/5 Stars
Website 4.5/5 Stars 5/5 Stars
Ease of Use 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Education 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Review IG Review Interactive Brokers Review
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Investments IG Interactive Brokers
ISA info Yes Yes
SIPP info Yes Yes
Share Trading info Yes Yes
CFD Trading info Yes Yes
Funds info Yes
ETFs info Yes Yes
Bonds - Corporate info Yes
Bonds - Government (Gilts) info Yes
Investment Trusts info Yes Yes
Spread Betting info Yes
Crypto Trading info Yes info
Advisor Services info
Trading Fees IG Interactive Brokers
Minimum Deposit info £0 £0
Share Trading: 0-9 Deals/ Month info £0 info £3
Share Trading: 10-19 Deals/ Month info £0 info £3
Share Trading: 20+ Deals/ Month info £0 info £3
5 trades per year (£30k portfolio) info £0 £15
12 trades per year (£30k portfolio) info £0 £36
36 trades per year (£30k portfolio) info £0 £108
120 trades per year (£30k portfolio) info £0 £360
3 fund trades per year (£30k portfolio) info N/A £0 / £14.85 info
Annual Custody Fee: £0 - £250,000 info £0 / £96 info £0
Annual Custody Fee: £250K-£500K info £0 / £96 info £0
Annual Custody Fee: £500,000 - £1m info £0 / £96 info £0
Annual Custody Fee: £1m and over info £0 / £96 info £0
Bonds - Corporate - Fee info N/A 0.1% (for <10,000 EUR) 0.025% (for >10,000 EUR)
Bonds - Government (Gilts) - Fee info N/A 0.1% (for <10,000 EUR) 0.025% (for >10,000 EUR)
ETFs - Fee info £0 - £8 £3
Investment Trusts - Fee info £0 - £8 N/A
Telephone Dealing Fee info £50 £25
Broker Screenshots IG Interactive Brokers
Website Gallery (click to expand)
Home page of the IG website. Home page of the personalized workspace on the IG website. Using the Stock Screener on the IG website. A chart of the BP share price on the IG website.
The home page of the Interactive Brokers website (demo account). The order ticket on the IBKR website. List of available indicators for the charts when viewing a share price on the IBKR website.
Mobile Trading Apps Gallery (click to expand)
A stock chart of BP on the IG mobile app. Available chart indicators on the IG mobile app. Total cost of purchasing 1,000 shares of BT Group displayed on the order ticket of the IG mobile app. Order summary on the trade ticket for the IG mobile app. Popular markets tab of the IG mobile app. The explore tab of the IG mobile app. The Top 100 Traders on the IG mobile app.
The home screen of the IBKR mobile app. The customisation screen for the homepage of the IBKR mobile app. The watchlist on the IBKR mobile app. Share price information for Barclays stock on the IBKR mobile app. Viewing a stock chart for Lloyds Bank on the IBKR mobile app. The order ticket on the IBKR mobile app (slide to buy). Order fulfillment screen on the IBKR mobile app. Various order types available on the IBKR mobile app. Setting advanced order conditions on the IBKR mobile app. The Learn page of the IBKR mobile app. IBKR GlobalTrader home page. The trade ticket on the IBKR GlobalTrader mobile app. Order preview for purchasing Apple stock on the IBKR GlobalTrader app.
Education Gallery (click to expand)
IG education Academy
Platforms & Tools IG Interactive Brokers
Web Platform info Yes Yes
iPhone App info Yes Yes
Android App info Yes Yes
Stock Alerts info Yes Yes
Charting - Indicators / Studies info 33 96
Charting - Drawing Tools info 19 80
Charting - Notes info Yes Yes
Charting - Display Corporate Events info Yes Yes
Charting - Stock Overlays info Yes
Charting - Index Overlays info Yes
Research IG Interactive Brokers
Research - Shares info Yes Yes
Research - CFDs info Yes Yes
Research - Funds info Yes
Fund Research - Research Reports info Yes Yes
Research - ETFs info Yes Yes
Research - Bonds info Yes
Portfolio Allocation Breakdown info Yes
Education IG Interactive Brokers
Education (Share Trading) info Yes Yes
Education (Funds) info Yes
Education (Retirement) info Yes Yes
Client Webinars info Yes Yes
Client Webinars (Archived) info Yes Yes
Overall Summary IG Interactive Brokers
Overall Rating 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Charges & Fees 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Investment Choices 4.5/5 Stars 5/5 Stars
Mobile App 5/5 Stars 5/5 Stars
Website 4.5/5 Stars 5/5 Stars
Ease of Use 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Education 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Review IG Review Interactive Brokers Review
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