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IG vs Saxo 2025

StockBrokers.com

Written by StockBrokers.com

April 17, 2025

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.

IG
4.5/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: £0
  • ISA: Yes
  • SIPP: Yes
Saxo
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 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.

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 comparing IG and Saxo for online trading, both platforms offer a similar suite of options but with noteworthy differences. IG provides access to share trading, ETF trading, CFD trading, and investment trusts; however, it doesn't support crypto trading, spread betting, funds, or bond trading. Saxo also offers share, ETF, CFD trading, and investment trusts, and extends its offerings to include funds, corporate bonds, and government bonds, but does not support crypto trading or spread betting either.

When evaluating which platform might be better suited for diverse investment opportunities, Saxo takes the lead with an impressive rating of 5 stars from UK.StockBrokers.com for its comprehensive range of investment choices, ranking it as number one among 21 brokers. In contrast, IG holds a respectable 4.5-star rating but ranks 11th. This makes Saxo a more attractive option for those seeking a wider selection of trading instruments.

Feature IG logoIG
Saxo logoSaxo
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 No
Advisor Services info No No
Investment Choices 4.5/5 Stars 5/5 Stars

Featured Offers


4.5/5 Stars

Low-cost US and UK shares.

4.5/5 Stars

Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.

Trading Tools

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 logoIG
Saxo logoSaxo
Web Platform info Yes Yes
Stock Alerts info Yes Yes
Charting - Indicators / Studies info 33 64
Charting - Drawing Tools info 19 20
Charting - Notes info Yes Yes
Charting - Display Corporate Events info Yes No
Charting - Stock Overlays info No Yes
Charting - Index Overlays info No Yes

ISAs and SIPPs

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.

Mobile App

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.

Beginners and Education

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 logoIG
Saxo logoSaxo
Client Webinars info Yes Yes
Client Webinars (Archived) info Yes Yes
Education (Share Trading) info Yes No
Education (Funds) info No No
Education (Retirement) info Yes No
Education 5/5 Stars 5/5 Stars

Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.

Market Research

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 logoIG
Saxo logoSaxo
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 Saxo Winner

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 logoIG
Saxo logoSaxo
Overall Rating 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Charges & Fees 5/5 Stars 4/5 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 5/5 Stars

FAQs

Can you trade cryptocurrency with IG or Saxo?

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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Compare

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Overall Rating IG Saxo
Overall Rating 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Charges & Fees 5/5 Stars 4/5 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 5/5 Stars
Review IG Review Saxo Review
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Investments IG Saxo
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 No
Advisor Services info No No
Trading Fees IG Saxo
Minimum Deposit info £0 £0
Share Trading: 0-9 Deals/ Month info £0 info From £3 or 0.08%
Share Trading: 10-19 Deals/ Month info £0 info From £3 or 0.08%
Share Trading: 20+ Deals/ Month info £0 info From £3 or 0.08%
5 trades per year (£30k portfolio) info £0 0.12% + 0.08% (or £3) per trade: a minimum of £51
12 trades per year (£30k portfolio) info £0 0.12% + 0.08% (or £3) per trade: a minimum of £72
36 trades per year (£30k portfolio) info £0 0.12% + 0.08% (or £3) per trade: a minimum of £144
120 trades per year (£30k portfolio) info £0 0.12% + 0.08% (or £3) per trade: a minimum of £396
3 fund trades per year (£30k portfolio) info N/A 0.4% + 0% commission: £120
Annual Custody Fee: £0 - £250,000 info £0 / £96 info Up to £800 info
Annual Custody Fee: £250K-£500K info £0 / £96 info £500 to £1,000
Annual Custody Fee: £500,000 - £1m info £0 / £96 info Up to £1,998
Annual Custody Fee: £1m and over info £0 / £96 info £1,000
Bonds - Corporate - Fee info N/A €20 minimum
Bonds - Government (Gilts) - Fee info N/A €20 minimum
ETFs - Fee info £0 - £8 From $1
Investment Trusts - Fee info £0 - £8 From $1 / £3 / €10
Telephone Dealing Fee info £50 £50
Broker Screenshots IG Saxo
Website Gallery (click to expand)
Mobile Trading Apps Gallery (click to expand)
Education Gallery (click to expand)
Platforms & Tools IG Saxo
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 64
Charting - Drawing Tools info 19 20
Charting - Notes info Yes Yes
Charting - Display Corporate Events info Yes No
Charting - Stock Overlays info No Yes
Charting - Index Overlays info No Yes
Research IG Saxo
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 Saxo
Education (Share Trading) info Yes No
Education (Funds) info No No
Education (Retirement) info Yes No
Client Webinars info Yes Yes
Client Webinars (Archived) info Yes Yes
Overall Summary IG Saxo
Overall Rating 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Charges & Fees 5/5 Stars 4/5 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 5/5 Stars
Review IG Review Saxo Review
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