Written by StockBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of IG vs XTB, 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, XTB offers better pricing than IG for share dealing.
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 vs XTB: For UK investors comparing investment choices, both brokers let you trade shares, ETFs and CFDs. Neither supports funds, corporate bonds or government bonds (gilts), and neither offers adviser services. IG also offers cryptocurrency trading and access to investment trusts, which XTB does not.
UK.StockBrokers.com rates IG at 5 stars for investment choices (ranked 11th of 21) and XTB at 4.5 stars (ranked 13th). If you want crypto and investment trusts alongside share dealing, ETF trading and CFD trading, IG is the broader pick; if you only need shares, ETFs and CFDs, XTB remains a solid option.
| Feature |
IG
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XTB
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|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Trading | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Mutual Funds | No | No |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | No | No |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | No |
| Spread Betting | Yes | No |
| Crypto Trading | Yes | 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.
Comparing IG vs XTB for trading tools in the UK, both brokers let you display corporate events (earnings, splits, dividends) on charts, add notes, and use index and stock overlays. Each offers a browser-based platform with real-time market data. The big gap is in charting depth: IG supplies 19 drawing tools and 33 technical indicators, while XTB provides 4 drawing tools and 13 indicators.
If alerts matter, IG supports price alerts for stock updates, whereas XTB does not. Traders who want richer charting and built-in alerts may prefer IG, while those after a simpler setup with essential chart features and live data may find XTB sufficient.
| Feature |
IG
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XTB
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 33 | 13 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 19 | 4 |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes | Yes |
When comparing online brokers IG and XTB for retirement account options in the UK, IG stands out for offering both ISA and SIPP accounts, providing flexibility for investors planning their retirement. Although XTB matches IG in offering ISA accounts, it doesn't support SIPP accounts, which could be a deciding factor for those specifically looking to include this type of pension in their retirement strategy. Both platforms cater to UK investors seeking tax-efficient savings through ISAs, but IG's additional SIPP offering may make it more appealing for those aiming for comprehensive retirement planning.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
For UK traders evaluating mobile platforms, both IG and XTB offer applications compatible with iPhone and Android devices, ensuring accessibility on the go. According to UK.StockBrokers.com, IG's mobile app excels with a rating of 5 stars and ranks #2 out of 21 evaluated brokers, highlighting its superior performance and user satisfaction. In comparison, XTB boasts a commendable 4.5-star rating and holds the #6 spot, offering a reliable option but falling slightly behind IG in both score and rank. Both brokers provide strong solutions for mobile trading, with IG taking a slight edge in overall user experience.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
IG vs XTB for beginner investor education in the UK: IG offers live educational webinars and an on‑demand archive, while XTB does not provide webinars. Topic coverage differs too—IG teaches funds and retirement but not share trading, whereas XTB covers share trading but not funds or retirement. According to UK.StockBrokers.com, IG holds a 5‑star rating and ranks #1 out of 21 brokers for beginner education, while XTB scores 4.5 stars and ranks #9. For easy access to webinars and guidance on funds or retirement, IG is the better fit; if you want education focused on share trading, XTB has that covered.
| Feature |
IG
|
XTB
|
|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
| Education (Share Trading) | No | Yes |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | No |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | No |
| Education |
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Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.
IG vs XTB: For UK investors comparing market research, IG stands out with research reports for funds and the ability to view portfolio allocation by asset class—features XTB doesn’t offer. Both brokers provide shares and ETF research, but neither offers bonds research or a full funds research section. If you want fund reports and clearer portfolio breakdowns, IG is the better fit; if you only need shares and ETF research, XTB covers the basics.
| Feature |
IG
|
XTB
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Research - Bonds | No | No |
| Research - Funds | No | No |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | No |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | No |
Which broker is better overall, IG or XTB? 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.
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XTB
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IG vs XTB: IG offers crypto trading, while XTB does not—making IG the preferable online broker for traders seeking cryptocurrency exposure.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | IG | XTB | |
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| Review | IG Review | XTB Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
| Investments | IG | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | Yes | |
| SIPP | Yes | No | |
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| CFD Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Mutual Funds | No | No | |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Bonds - Corporate | No | No | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | No | No | |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | No | |
| Spread Betting | Yes | No | |
| Crypto Trading | |||
| Advisor Services | No | No |
| Trading Fees | IG | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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) | |||
| 12 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | |||
| 36 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | |||
| 120 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | |||
| 3 fund trades per year (£30k portfolio) | |||
| Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £0 - £250,000 | N/A | N/A | |
| Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £250K-£500K | N/A | N/A | |
| Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £500,000 - £1m | N/A | N/A | |
| Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £1m and over | N/A | N/A | |
| Bonds - Corporate - Fee | N/A | N/A | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) - Fee | N/A | N/A | |
| ETFs - Fee | £0 | £0 | |
| Investment Trusts - Fee | £0 | N/A | |
| Telephone Dealing Fee | £50 | N/A |
| Broker Screenshots | IG | XTB | |
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| Platforms & Tools | IG | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 33 | 13 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 19 | 4 | |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes | Yes |
| Research | IG | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - CFDs | |||
| Research - Funds | No | No | |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | No | |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Bonds | No | No | |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | No |
| Education | IG | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Share Trading) | No | Yes | |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | No | |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
| Overall Summary | IG | XTB | |
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| Review | IG Review | XTB Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
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