Written by StockBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of IG vs Robinhood UK, 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 Robinhood UK 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 £136 per year, while Robinhood UK would cost £0 per year.
12 trades per year - IG would cost £96 per year, while Robinhood UK would cost £0 per year.
36 trades per year - IG would cost £108 per year, while Robinhood UK would cost £0 per year.
120 trades per year - IG would cost £360 per year, while Robinhood UK would cost £0 per year.
3 fund trades per year - IG would cost £0 per year, while Robinhood UK 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.
IG and Robinhood UK are both popular online brokers offering share trading options for investors based in the UK. However, when it comes to investment choices, IG offers a broader selection. Apart from share trading, IG provides trading in ETFs, CFDs, and investment trusts, making it a versatile option for investors looking to diversify their portfolio. On the other hand, Robinhood UK focuses primarily on share trading, offering a more streamlined service but with limited investment types compared to IG.
Neither IG nor Robinhood UK supports crypto trading, spread betting, funds, corporate bonds, or gilts, and both lack advisor services. In terms of ratings, IG boasts a 4.5-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com and holds the 10th position out of 18 brokers for investment choices, reflecting its diverse offerings. Meanwhile, Robinhood UK has a 3-star rating but is not ranked out of the same 18 brokers, indicating more limited investment options. Whether you prioritize a wide array of investment choices or a focused platform, understanding the differences between these brokers can guide your investment journey.
| Feature |
IG
|
Robinhood UK
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Trading | Yes | No |
| ETFs | Yes | No |
| Funds | No | No |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | No | No |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | No |
| Spread Betting | Yes | No |
| Crypto Trading | No | No |
| Advisor Services | No | No |
| Investment Choices |
|
|
Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.
Low-cost US and UK shares.
When comparing the trading tools of IG and Robinhood UK, IG provides a more comprehensive charting experience for users interested in detailed analysis. IG allows traders to display corporate events such as earnings, splits, and dividends directly on charts, while Robinhood UK does not offer this feature. Additionally, IG impresses with 19 drawing tools and 33 technical indicators, offering significant flexibility in technical analysis. In contrast, Robinhood UK lacks drawing tools and offers only three technical indicators, which might limit the depth of analysis for more advanced traders.
Another advantage of IG is the ability to add notes to charts, a feature not available on Robinhood UK. Both platforms provide real-time market data and browser-based trading platforms, ensuring accessibility and quick decision-making for users. Moreover, IG and Robinhood UK both allow users to set alerts for stock price updates, aiding traders in staying informed about market movements. While both platforms lack index and stock overlay capabilities, IG's edge in charting tools makes it a preferred choice for traders seeking deep analytical potential.
| Feature |
IG
|
Robinhood UK
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 33 | 3 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 19 | 0 |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | No |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | No |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | No | No |
| Charting - Index Overlays | No | No |
If you're exploring retirement account options between IG and Robinhood UK, there are some notable differences to consider. IG provides Individual Savings Accounts (ISA) and Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPP), giving users a wider array of investment vehicles for personal savings and retirement, ideal for those looking to maximize their tax benefits and retirement planning. In contrast, Robinhood UK currently does not offer ISA or SIPP accounts, focusing instead on simpler trading options without retirement-specific accounts, which may suit those more interested in straightforward trading rather than retirement planning. Ultimately, IG's broader selection of accounts may be more appealing to those planning for their financial future.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
Both IG and Robinhood UK provide mobile trading options with dedicated apps available for iPhone and Android devices. According to UK.StockBrokers.com, IG's mobile app is highly praised with a perfect 5-star rating, ranking 6th out of 18 brokers for mobile app performance. In contrast, Robinhood UK's app receives a commendable 4-star rating but doesn't feature in the top rankings of the same review. This comparison highlights IG's superior app performance as rated by users, making it a strong option for traders who prioritize mobile trading capabilities.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
When comparing the educational resources for beginners, IG and Robinhood UK offer distinct experiences. IG provides comprehensive learning opportunities, including live and archived educational webinars that cater to new investors. They also cover essential topics like share trading and retirement planning, earning them a robust 5-star rating for beginner education from UK.StockBrokers.com, where they rank 7th out of 18 brokers. In contrast, Robinhood UK lacks educational webinars and archives but does offer introductory materials on share trading. However, they don't cover retirement or funds, resulting in a lower rating of 3.5 stars and no ranking position on UK.StockBrokers.com's list. For those prioritizing accessible and varied educational resources, IG stands out as the superior choice.
| Feature |
IG
|
Robinhood UK
|
|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Funds) | No | No |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | No |
| Education |
|
|
Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.
When comparing the market research features of IG and Robinhood UK, IG takes the lead with its comprehensive suite of offerings. IG provides research reports for funds, shares, ETFs, and CFDs, whereas Robinhood UK does not offer funds or CFDs research reports. Both platforms deliver insights for shares and ETFs, but neither offer tools for portfolio allocation by asset class, nor do they provide bonds research. Consequently, IG presents a broader array of market research options, making it a more versatile choice for those seeking detailed insights.
| Feature |
IG
|
Robinhood UK
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes |
| Research - CFDs | Yes | No |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Research - Bonds | No | No |
| Research - Funds | No | No |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | No |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | No | No |
Which broker is better overall, IG or Robinhood UK? 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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Robinhood UK
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Mobile App |
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| Website |
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| Ease of Use |
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Both IG and Robinhood UK do not provide crypto trading options for their users, making them similar in their lack of cryptocurrency offerings.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | IG | Robinhood UK | |
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| Review | IG Review | Robinhood UK Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
| Investments | IG | Robinhood UK | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | No | |
| SIPP | Yes | No | |
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| CFD Trading | Yes | No | |
| Funds | No | No | |
| ETFs | Yes | No | |
| Bonds - Corporate | No | No | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | No | No | |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | No | |
| Spread Betting | Yes | No | |
| Crypto Trading | No | No | |
| Advisor Services | No | No |
| Trading Fees | IG | Robinhood UK | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £0 | £0 | |
| Share Trading: 0-9 Deals/ Month | £0-£10 | £0 | |
| Share Trading: 10-19 Deals/ Month | £3 | £0 | |
| Share Trading: 20+ Deals/ Month | £3 | £0 | |
| 5 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £136 | £0 | |
| 12 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £96 | £0 | |
| 36 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £108 | £0 | |
| 120 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £360 | £0 | |
| 3 fund trades per year (£30k portfolio) | N/A | N/A | |
| 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 | N/A | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) - Fee | N/A | N/A | |
| ETFs - Fee | £0 - £8 | £0 | |
| Investment Trusts - Fee | £0 - £8 | N/A | |
| Telephone Dealing Fee | £50 | N/A |
| Broker Screenshots | IG | Robinhood UK | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Website Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Mobile Trading Apps Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Education Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Platforms & Tools | IG | Robinhood UK | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 33 | 3 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 19 | 0 | |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | No | No | |
| Charting - Index Overlays | No | No |
| Research | IG | Robinhood UK | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - CFDs | Yes | No | |
| Research - Funds | No | No | |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | No | |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Bonds | No | No | |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | No | No |
| Education | IG | Robinhood UK | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Funds) | No | No | |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
| Overall Summary | IG | Robinhood UK | |
|---|---|---|---|
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| Investment Choices |
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| Mobile App |
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| Review | IG Review | Robinhood UK Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
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