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 it comes to investment choices, both IG and Trading 212 present a wide array of options for UK investors. They each offer share trading and the ability to trade ETFs, CFDs, and investment trusts. However, neither platform provides access to crypto trading, spread betting, funds trading, or trading of corporate and government bonds (gilts). While both brokers lack advisor services, they cater to investors who are interested in self-directed trading across popular asset classes.
In terms of ratings, IG and Trading 212 both receive 4.5 stars from UK.StockBrokers.com for their investment offerings, demonstrating high satisfaction among users. However, IG holds a slight edge with an overall ranking of #11 out of 18 brokers for investment choices, while Trading 212 is positioned at #16. This ranking may reflect subtle differences in user experience or platform features that influence these standings, despite their similar investment offerings.
| 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 looking to trade on the go, both IG and Trading 212 offer excellent mobile app experiences available on iPhone and Android devices. UK.StockBrokers.com rates both apps highly, awarding each a full five stars for their performance and user experience. When it comes to ranking among 18 brokers, IG takes the lead with a #2 spot for mobile apps, closely followed by Trading 212 at #3. These rankings reflect a strong user satisfaction and effective app functionality, making either choice a viable option for trading enthusiasts.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
When comparing the educational resources for beginner investors offered by IG and Trading 212, UK readers will find that each platform has unique strengths. IG provides a wealth of learning opportunities, including live and archived webinars, and covers topics like share trading and retirement, earning a top 5-star rating and the #1 ranking from UK.StockBrokers.com. In contrast, Trading 212 lacks webinar support but offers education on share trading and funds, gaining a respectable 4-star rating and the #13 spot. While both brokers cater to novice investors, IG stands out for its comprehensive range of accessible educational materials.
| 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
|
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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| Education |
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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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