Written by StockBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of IG vs Trading 212, 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, Trading 212 offers better pricing than IG 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 Trading 212 would cost £0 per year.
12 trades per year - IG would cost £0 per year, while Trading 212 would cost £0 per year.
36 trades per year - IG would cost £0 per year, while Trading 212 would cost £0 per year.
120 trades per year - IG would cost £0 per year, while Trading 212 would cost £0 per year.
3 fund trades per year - IG would cost £0 per year, while Trading 212 would cost £1 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 IG and Trading 212 for UK investors, both platforms provide competitive options, but with subtle differences. IG and Trading 212 both offer share trading, ETF trading, CFD trading, and investment trusts, making them versatile choices for traders interested in a broad range of assets. Despite the similarities, neither broker offers crypto trading, spread betting, funds trading, or the option to trade corporate or government bonds.
In terms of ratings, both IG and Trading 212 receive a commendable 4.5 stars from UK.StockBrokers.com for their investment choices, indicating a high level of satisfaction among users. However, IG slightly edges out Trading 212 in the rankings, placing 11th out of 21 brokers compared to Trading 212's 16th position. This difference may influence those prioritizing a higher-ranked service, yet overall, both brokers present solid platforms for diverse trading activities.
| Feature |
IG
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Trading | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | No | No |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | No | No |
| 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 Trading 212 for trading tools, there are some notable differences that UK traders may find interesting. IG allows users to display corporate events such as earnings, splits, and dividends directly on their charts, a feature Trading 212 does not offer. However, Trading 212 provides a more extensive range of charting tools, offering 27 drawing tools compared to IG's 19. Moreover, Trading 212 stands out with an impressive 106 technical indicators, overshadowing IG's offering of 33.
Both brokers offer the capability to add notes to charts and provide browser-based trading platforms, which enhances user experience through easy access and chart annotation. However, neither IG nor Trading 212 allows for adding index or stock overlays on charts. For traders keen on staying updated with market movements, both platforms support the creation of price alerts and deliver real-time market data, ensuring that you can make informed trading decisions as developments occur.
| Feature |
IG
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 33 | 106 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 19 | 27 |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | No |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | No | No |
| Charting - Index Overlays | No | No |
For UK investors exploring online brokers for retirement savings, IG and Trading 212 both offer Stocks and Shares ISAs, allowing individuals to invest in a tax-efficient manner. However, when it comes to Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPPs), only IG provides this option, giving their users the means to manage their retirement funds directly. Conversely, Trading 212 does not offer SIPP accounts. Choosing between these platforms will largely depend on whether the availability of SIPP accounts is a key factor in your retirement planning strategy.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
For UK investors seeking seamless trading on the go, both IG and Trading 212 offer highly-rated mobile apps available for both iPhone and Android users. Ranked by UK.StockBrokers.com, IG stands out at #2 among 21 brokers, while Trading 212 follows closely at #3, showcasing their commitment to user-friendly mobile trading. Each app has earned a perfect 5-star rating, reflecting high user satisfaction and reliable performance. Whether you choose IG or Trading 212, both provide strong options for mobile trading, empowering users to trade efficiently from their mobile devices.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
When comparing educational resources for beginner investors in the UK, IG outshines Trading 212 in several ways. IG hosts educational webinars, which are also archived for later viewing, providing flexibility for those eager to learn at their own pace. While both platforms offer educational content on share trading, IG extends its resources to cover retirement planning, a topic absent in Trading 212's offerings. Conversely, Trading 212 provides insights into funds, an area not addressed by IG. According to UK.StockBrokers.com, IG receives a stellar 5-star rating for beginner education and is ranked first among 21 brokers. In comparison, Trading 212 earns a respectable 4-star rating but is ranked 13th in the same study. This makes IG a leading choice for newcomers seeking comprehensive educational support.
| Feature |
IG
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Funds) | No | Yes |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | No |
| Education |
|
|
Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.
When comparing market research features between IG and Trading 212 for UK investors, IG proves to be a valuable choice for those seeking in-depth research reports on funds, a feature Trading 212 does not provide. However, for those interested in portfolio allocation transparency, Trading 212 stands out by allowing users to see their portfolio allocation by asset class, a feature IG lacks. Both platforms shine with their research offerings in shares, ETFs, and CFDs, providing comprehensive support for diverse investment interests. Although neither platform offers research on bonds or funds beyond IG's reports, both brokers deliver solid resources for traders interested in stocks, exchangable funds, and contracts for difference.
| Feature |
IG
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes |
| Research - CFDs | Yes | Yes |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Research - Bonds | No | No |
| Research - Funds | No | No |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | No |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | No | Yes |
Which broker is better overall, IG or Trading 212? 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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Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Charges & Fees |
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| Investment Choices |
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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 Trading 212 do not offer crypto trading options, providing potential investors with a platform focused on other financial instruments.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | IG | Trading 212 | |
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| Review | IG Review | Trading 212 Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
| Investments | IG | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | Yes | |
| SIPP | Yes | No | |
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| CFD Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Funds | No | No | |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Bonds - Corporate | No | No | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | No | No | |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes | |
| Spread Betting | Yes | No | |
| Crypto Trading | No | No | |
| Advisor Services | No | No |
| Trading Fees | IG | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £0 | £1 | |
| Share Trading: 0-9 Deals/ Month | £0 | £0 | |
| Share Trading: 10-19 Deals/ Month | £0 | £0 | |
| Share Trading: 20+ Deals/ Month | £0 | £0 | |
| 5 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £0 | £0 | |
| 12 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £0 | £0 | |
| 36 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £0 | £0 | |
| 120 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £0 | £0 | |
| 3 fund trades per year (£30k portfolio) | N/A | £0 | |
| 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 | 0 | |
| Telephone Dealing Fee | £50 | N/A |
| Broker Screenshots | IG | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 33 | 106 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 19 | 27 | |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | No | No | |
| Charting - Index Overlays | No | No |
| Research | IG | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - CFDs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Funds | No | No | |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | No | |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Bonds | No | No | |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | No | Yes |
| Education | IG | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Funds) | No | Yes | |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
| Overall Summary | IG | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
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| Investment Choices |
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| Review | IG Review | Trading 212 Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
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