Written by StockBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of IG vs Saxo, 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 Saxo 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 Saxo would cost 0.12% + 0.08% (or £3) per trade: a minimum of £51 per year.
12 trades per year - IG would cost £0 per year, while Saxo would cost 0.12% + 0.08% (or £3) per trade: a minimum of £72 per year.
36 trades per year - IG would cost £0 per year, while Saxo would cost 0.12% + 0.08% (or £3) per trade: a minimum of £144 per year.
120 trades per year - IG would cost £0 per year, while Saxo would cost 0.12% + 0.08% (or £3) per trade: a minimum of £396 per year.
3 fund trades per year - IG would cost £0 per year, while Saxo 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 comparing the investment choices offered by IG and Saxo, both platforms provide opportunities for share and ETF trading, as well as access to Contracts for Difference (CFD) and investment trusts. While neither broker offers options for trading cryptocurrencies or spread betting, they each cater to different types of investors in distinct ways. IG doesn't support trading funds or bonds, whereas Saxo expands its offerings with the ability to trade funds, corporate bonds, and government bonds (gilts), providing a broader range of investment possibilities for its users.
According to UK.StockBrokers.com, IG earns a respectable 4.5-star rating for its investment variety, ranking 11th out of 21 brokers analyzed. Saxo, however, takes the top spot with a 5-star rating, standing as the leading choice for UK investors seeking a diverse selection of investment options. Although neither broker offers advisory services, Saxo's comprehensive range of trading instruments may appeal more to those looking for an extensive menu of investing opportunities.
| Feature |
IG
|
Saxo
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | No |
| 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 IG and Saxo for their online trading tools, both platforms offer browser-based trading, real-time market data, and stock price alerts, making them user-friendly for on-the-go traders. IG allows users to display corporate events like earnings and dividends directly on charts, a feature not available on Saxo. Additionally, IG provides 19 drawing tools and 33 technical indicators for a comprehensive charting experience. However, when it comes to customization, Saxo edges ahead slightly with 20 drawing tools and a substantial 64 technical indicators, giving traders a wider range of options for technical analysis.
Both IG and Saxo support adding notes to charts, catering well to traders who rely heavily on personal annotations. While Saxo offers enhanced chart customization with options to add index and stock overlays, IG lacks these specific features. This makes Saxo more appealing to those who value overlay functionalities in their trading strategy. In summary, although both brokers offer strong fundamental tools for traders, your choice might hinge on the importance of specific charting features like event displays or overlay options.
| Feature |
IG
|
Saxo
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 33 | 64 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 19 | 20 |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | No |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | No | Yes |
| Charting - Index Overlays | No | Yes |
For UK investors seeking online brokers with retirement account options, both IG and Saxo provide appealing choices. Each offers Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) and Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPPs), making them suitable for retirement planning. This dual offering allows investors to benefit from tax-efficient ISAs and take control of their retirement savings through SIPPs. Whether you choose IG or Saxo, both brokers cater to those looking to build a secure financial future through diverse investment accounts tailored for UK users.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
When comparing the mobile app offerings of IG and Saxo for UK users, both brokers provide apps for iPhone and Android devices. UK.StockBrokers.com rates both IG and Saxo's mobile applications highly, each receiving a full 5-star rating. However, Saxo takes the lead in overall rankings, achieving the top spot out of 21 brokers for its mobile apps, while IG follows closely behind in second place. These rankings suggest that while both apps deliver excellent performance, Saxo slightly edges out IG in terms of overall mobile app experience. For UK investors seeking a reliable and user-friendly trading platform on their mobile devices, either broker's app would be a solid choice.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
For beginner investors in the UK seeking educational resources from online brokers, both IG and Saxo provide valuable offerings, but they cater to different needs. Both brokers host educational webinars that can be accessed live or viewed on demand, giving clients flexible learning opportunities. However, IG stands out by covering share trading and retirement topics, while Saxo does not. Neither platform offers education on funds. When rated by UK.StockBrokers.com, both brokers earn a perfect five stars for beginner education, but IG takes the lead with a #1 ranking out of 21 brokers, compared to Saxo’s #3 position. This makes IG a slightly more comprehensive choice for those starting their investment journey.
| Feature |
IG
|
Saxo
|
|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | No |
| Education (Funds) | No | No |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | No |
| Education |
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Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.
For UK investors comparing the market research features of IG and Saxo, there are distinct differences to consider. Both IG and Saxo provide research reports for funds, alongside offering comprehensive insights into shares, ETFs, and CFDs. However, Saxo sets itself apart by offering additional research capabilities, such as the ability to view portfolio allocation by asset class, as well as in-depth research on funds and bonds—features that IG does not provide. While IG delivers a solid foundation for many market research needs, Saxo's broader research offerings may appeal to those seeking more detailed investment insights.
| Feature |
IG
|
Saxo
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 Saxo? 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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Saxo
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| Mobile App |
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Both IG and Saxo do not offer crypto trading options for their users, focusing instead on a variety of other financial instruments.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | IG | Saxo | |
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| Review | IG Review | Saxo Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
| Investments | IG | Saxo | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | |||
| Advisor Services | No | No |
| Trading Fees | IG | Saxo | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £0 | £0 | |
| Share Trading: 0-9 Deals/ Month | £0 | From £3 or 0.08% | |
| Share Trading: 10-19 Deals/ Month | £0 | From £3 or 0.08% | |
| Share Trading: 20+ Deals/ Month | £0 | From £3 or 0.08% | |
| 5 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £0 | 0.12% + 0.08% (or £3) per trade: a minimum of £51 | |
| 12 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £0 | 0.12% + 0.08% (or £3) per trade: a minimum of £72 | |
| 36 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £0 | 0.12% + 0.08% (or £3) per trade: a minimum of £144 | |
| 120 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £0 | 0.12% + 0.08% (or £3) per trade: a minimum of £396 | |
| 3 fund trades per year (£30k portfolio) | N/A | 0.4% + 0% commission: £120 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £0 - £250,000 | £0 / £96 | Up to £800 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £250K-£500K | £0 / £96 | £500 to £1,000 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £500,000 - £1m | £0 / £96 | Up to £1,998 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £1m and over | £0 / £96 | £1,000 | |
| Bonds - Corporate - Fee | N/A | €20 minimum | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) - Fee | N/A | €20 minimum | |
| ETFs - Fee | £0 - £8 | From $1 | |
| Investment Trusts - Fee | £0 - £8 | From $1 / £3 / €10 | |
| Telephone Dealing Fee | £50 | £50 |
| Broker Screenshots | IG | Saxo | |
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| Website Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Platforms & Tools | IG | Saxo | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 33 | 64 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 19 | 20 | |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | No | Yes | |
| Charting - Index Overlays | No | Yes |
| Research | IG | Saxo | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Saxo | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | No | |
| Education (Funds) | No | No | |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Overall Summary | IG | Saxo | |
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| Review | IG Review | Saxo Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
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