Written by StockBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of IG vs Lloyds Bank, 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 Lloyds Bank 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.
IG and Lloyds Bank both let UK investors buy shares, ETFs, and investment trusts. IG also offers crypto and CFD trading, which may appeal to active traders. Lloyds Bank does not offer crypto or CFDs, but it does provide access to funds, corporate bonds, and UK government bonds (gilts), plus advisor services—useful if you prefer guidance or want income-focused holdings.
For investment choices, both brokers are rated 5 stars by UK.StockBrokers.com. In the same study, Lloyds Bank ranks 8th out of 21 brokers, while IG ranks 11th. If you want trading features like crypto and CFDs, IG stands out; if you want funds, bonds, and advice in one place, Lloyds Bank is the stronger fit.
| Feature |
IG
|
Lloyds Bank
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Trading | Yes | No |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Mutual Funds | No | Yes |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | No | Yes |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes |
| Spread Betting | Yes | No |
| Crypto Trading | Yes | 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.
IG stands out for trading tools. It offers a browser-based platform, price alerts and real-time market data. Its charts are feature-rich, with 19 drawing tools, 33 technical indicators, markers for corporate events (earnings, splits, dividends), the ability to add notes, plus index and stock overlays.
Lloyds Bank also provides a browser-based platform with price alerts, but its charts are very limited: no corporate event markers, no drawing tools, no technical indicators, no notes and no index or stock overlays. Market data is not real time, making IG the stronger pick for anyone who relies on in-depth charts and up-to-the-minute prices.
| Feature |
IG
|
Lloyds Bank
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes | No |
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes | No |
When comparing online broker IG with Lloyds Bank for retirement account options in the UK, both institutions offer Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) and Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPPs). IG provides a flexible platform for managing ISAs and SIPPs, catering to those who prefer a more self-directed approach to investing. With IG, you can benefit from tools and resources designed for independent investors. On the other hand, Lloyds Bank combines traditional banking support with the ability to open ISAs and SIPPs, appealing to those who might prefer having their financial products consolidated within a familiar banking environment. Both IG and Lloyds Bank make it easy for UK investors to manage their retirement savings efficiently, ensuring a tailored approach to financial planning.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
When comparing the mobile apps offered by IG and Lloyds Bank, both provide options for iPhone and Android users in the UK. IG's app takes a clear lead with a 5-star rating on UK.StockBrokers.com, securing the #2 spot out of 21 brokers for its mobile app offerings. In contrast, Lloyds Bank's mobile app receives a 3.5-star rating and is ranked #17 on the same list. This suggests that while both apps are readily accessible on popular smartphone platforms, IG delivers a superior user experience according to the ratings by UK.StockBrokers.com.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
For UK beginners comparing IG and Lloyds Bank for investor education, IG stands out with live webinars and an on-demand archive, plus lessons on funds and retirement, while Lloyds Bank offers no webinars and does not cover funds or retirement; neither provider teaches share trading. This matches UK.StockBrokers.com’s scores: IG earns 5/5 stars and ranks 1st of 21 brokers for beginner education, while Lloyds Bank has 4/5 stars and ranks 14th. If you want accessible, webinar-led learning you can revisit anytime, IG is the stronger pick; Lloyds suits those who want simpler content without webinars.
| Feature |
IG
|
Lloyds Bank
|
|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
| Education (Share Trading) | No | No |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | No |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | No |
| Education |
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Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.
Comparing IG and Lloyds Bank for market research in the UK: both brokers provide shares research, ETFs research, and research reports for funds. IG stands out with a clear portfolio allocation view by asset class, but it does not offer dedicated funds research or bonds research. Lloyds Bank lacks the portfolio allocation tool, yet it delivers broader funds research and bonds research alongside fund reports. Pick IG if you value seeing how your portfolio breaks down; choose Lloyds Bank if you want deeper coverage on funds and bonds.
| Feature |
IG
|
Lloyds Bank
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes | No |
Which broker is better overall, IG or Lloyds Bank? 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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IG
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Lloyds Bank
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IG vs Lloyds Bank: the online broker IG offers cryptocurrency (crypto) trading, while Lloyds Bank does not.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | IG | Lloyds Bank | |
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| Review | IG Review | Lloyds Bank Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
| Investments | IG | Lloyds Bank | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | Yes | |
| SIPP | Yes | Yes | |
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| CFD Trading | Yes | No | |
| 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 | |||
| Advisor Services | No | Yes |
| Trading Fees | IG | Lloyds Bank | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £0 | £0 | |
| Share Trading: 0-9 Deals/ Month | £0 | £8 - £11 | |
| Share Trading: 10-19 Deals/ Month | £0 | £8 | |
| Share Trading: 20+ Deals/ Month | £0 | £8 | |
| 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 | N/A | £40 | |
| Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £250K-£500K | N/A | £40 | |
| Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £500,000 - £1m | N/A | £40 | |
| Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £1m and over | N/A | £40 | |
| Bonds - Corporate - Fee | N/A | £8 - £11 | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) - Fee | N/A | £8 - £11 | |
| ETFs - Fee | £0 | £8 - £11 | |
| Investment Trusts - Fee | £0 | £8 - £11 | |
| Telephone Dealing Fee | £50 | £35 |
| Broker Screenshots | IG | Lloyds Bank | |
|---|---|---|---|
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| Platforms & Tools | IG | Lloyds Bank | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes | No |
| Research | IG | Lloyds Bank | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes | No |
| Education | IG | Lloyds Bank | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Share Trading) | No | No | |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | No | |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
| Overall Summary | IG | Lloyds Bank | |
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| Review | IG Review | Lloyds Bank Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
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