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IG vs Interactive Brokers 2025

StockBrokers.com

Written by StockBrokers.com

April 17, 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

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

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 logoIG
Interactive Brokers logoInteractive Brokers
Share Trading info Yes Yes
CFD Trading info Yes Yes
ETFs info Yes Yes
Funds info No Yes
Bonds - Government (Gilts) info No Yes
Investment Trusts info Yes Yes
Spread Betting info Yes No
Crypto Trading info No Yes
Advisor Services info No No
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 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 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 No Yes
Charting - Index Overlays info No 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 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 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 No 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 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 logoIG
Interactive Brokers logoInteractive Brokers
Research - Shares info Yes Yes
Research - CFDs info Yes Yes
Research - ETFs info Yes Yes
Research - Bonds info No Yes
Research - Funds info No Yes
Fund Research - Research Reports info Yes Yes
Portfolio Allocation Breakdown info No 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?

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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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 No Yes
ETFs info Yes Yes
Bonds - Corporate info No Yes
Bonds - Government (Gilts) info No Yes
Investment Trusts info Yes Yes
Spread Betting info Yes No
Crypto Trading info No Yes info
Advisor Services info No No
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 No Yes
Charting - Index Overlays info No Yes
Research IG Interactive Brokers
Research - Shares info Yes Yes
Research - CFDs info Yes Yes
Research - Funds info No Yes
Fund Research - Research Reports info Yes Yes
Research - ETFs info Yes Yes
Research - Bonds info No Yes
Portfolio Allocation Breakdown info No Yes
Education IG Interactive Brokers
Education (Share Trading) info Yes Yes
Education (Funds) info No 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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