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.
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.
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 XTB would cost £0 per year.
12 trades per year - IG would cost £0 per year, while XTB would cost £0 per year.
36 trades per year - IG would cost £0 per year, while XTB would cost £0 per year.
120 trades per year - IG would cost £0 per year, while XTB would cost £0 per year.
3 fund trades per year - IG would cost £0 per year, while XTB 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.
For UK investors seeking online trading options, both IG and XTB present competitive investment choices, although they differ in certain assets offered. IG and XTB both allow share trading and exchange-traded fund (ETF) trading, catering to those interested in these popular investment types. Additionally, both brokers support contracts for difference (CFD) trading, but neither offers crypto trading or spread betting. It's worth noting that while IG allows trading of investment trusts, this option is absent in XTB's offerings.
When it comes to service ratings for investment choices, both IG and XTB are equally esteemed, each earning a commendable 4.5-star score from UK.StockBrokers.com. Nevertheless, there's a slight distinction in their overall ranking among 21 brokers, with IG placed at #11 and XTB at #13. While neither broker provides corporate or government bond trading, nor do they support fund trading or offer advisor services, their differing rankings might reflect the nuances in available investment options that some investors might find crucial.
| Feature |
IG
|
XTB
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Trading | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | No | No |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | No | No |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | No |
| Spread Betting | Yes | Yes |
| 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 the trading tools of IG and XTB, both brokers offer the visualization of corporate events like earnings, splits, and dividends on their charts, ensuring investors can keep track of vital corporate changes. XTB edges slightly ahead with 20 drawing tools for charting, just one more than IG's 19. For technical traders, XTB also offers a broader suite of technical indicators with 39 available, compared to IG's 33. Both platforms allow traders to add notes on charts and provide a seamless browser-based trading environment, ensuring ease of access and flexibility for UK traders.
Neither IG nor XTB provides the option to add index or stock overlays, maintaining a streamlined charting experience. However, essential features such as the ability to set alerts for stock price updates and access to real-time market data are available on both platforms. These common features allow traders to effectively monitor market developments and make informed decisions without missing a beat. Whether you prefer IG or XTB, both brokers offer strong charting and trading tools that cater to the needs of most traders.
| Feature |
IG
|
XTB
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 33 | 39 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 19 | 20 |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | No | No |
| Charting - Index Overlays | No | No |
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.
When comparing the beginner investor educational offerings of IG and XTB for UK readers, IG stands out with its comprehensive resources. IG provides educational client webinars, both live and archived for on-demand viewing, covering topics such as share trading and retirement, earning them the top spot and a 5-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com out of 21 brokers. In comparison, XTB offers solid educational materials, including share trading courses, but lacks live or on-demand webinars and does not cover retirement. This results in a 4.5-star rating and a ninth-place ranking in beginner education. Neither platform, however, offers education focused on funds.
| Feature |
IG
|
XTB
|
|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Funds) | No | No |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | No |
| Education |
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Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.
When comparing market research features for UK users between online brokers IG and XTB, there are notable differences and similarities to consider. IG provides research reports for funds, a feature not available with XTB. However, XTB allows users to see their portfolio allocation by asset class, which IG does not offer. Both brokers excel in providing comprehensive research across shares, ETFs, and CFDs, but neither offers research on bonds or funds. This comparison highlights IG’s advantage in fund research and XTB's strength in visualising portfolio allocation, catering to different investor needs.
| Feature |
IG
|
XTB
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 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.
| Feature |
IG
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XTB
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|---|---|---|
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When comparing online brokers IG and XTB, it is important to note that neither provider offers crypto trading options, which may influence the decision of traders interested in cryptocurrency investments.
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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 | |
| Funds | No | No | |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Bonds - Corporate | No | No | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | No | No | |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | No | |
| Spread Betting | Yes | Yes | |
| Crypto Trading | No | No | |
| Advisor Services | No | No |
| Trading Fees | IG | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £0 | £0 | |
| 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 | N/A | |
| 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 | 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 | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 33 | 39 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 19 | 20 | |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | No | No | |
| Charting - Index Overlays | No | No |
| Research | IG | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Funds) | No | 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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