Written by StockBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of XTB vs IG, 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 - XTB would cost £0 per year, while IG would cost £136 per year.
12 trades per year - XTB would cost £0 per year, while IG would cost £96 per year.
36 trades per year - XTB would cost £0 per year, while IG would cost £108 per year.
120 trades per year - XTB would cost £0 per year, while IG would cost £360 per year.
3 fund trades per year - XTB would cost £0 per year, while IG 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.
When comparing investment choices between XTB and IG, both brokers offer access to share trading, ETF trading, and CFD trading, making them versatile options for UK investors. However, they have limitations concerning asset diversity, as neither provides opportunities for crypto trading, spread betting, funds trading, or bonds of any kind. Where IG edges slightly ahead is in offering trading of investment trusts, giving it a small advantage in variety over XTB.
Despite these differences, both brokers are well-regarded for their investment options. Rated at 4.5 stars by UK.StockBrokers.com, they offer solid choices for traders. Nevertheless, IG holds a marginally better ranking, coming in at 11th place out of 18 brokers, while XTB ranks at 13th. This subtle discrepancy may guide investor preference, depending on individual trading priorities and the slight variation in available assets.
| Feature |
XTB
|
IG
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Trading | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | No | No |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | No | No |
| Investment Trusts | No | Yes |
| Spread Betting | Yes | Yes |
| Crypto Trading | No | No |
| Advisor Services | No | No |
| Investment Choices |
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Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.
Low-cost US and UK shares.
For UK traders seeking comprehensive trading tools, both XTB and IG boast impressive features. Each platform offers the ability to display crucial corporate events, such as earnings, splits, and dividends, directly on charts, allowing traders to make informed decisions. While both platforms enable users to add notes to charts, XTB edges slightly ahead with 20 drawing tools for detailed charting compared to IG's 19. Technical analysis enthusiasts may also appreciate XTB's 39 technical indicators, offering a wider range than IG’s 33.
In terms of accessibility and customisation, both XTB and IG provide browser-based trading platforms and support real-time market data to keep investors updated. They allow traders to set up alerts for stock price updates, ensuring users never miss a critical market movement. However, neither platform supports adding index or stock overlays to charts, which might be a consideration for some traders. Overall, both XTB and IG offer powerful trading tools designed to cater to the needs of modern traders in the UK.
| Feature |
XTB
|
IG
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 39 | 33 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 20 | 19 |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | No | No |
| Charting - Index Overlays | No | No |
When comparing XTB and IG for UK investors interested in retirement accounts, both brokers offer ISA accounts, providing a tax-efficient way to save and invest. However, only IG caters to those seeking a Self-Invested Personal Pension (SIPP) account, giving it an edge for individuals focused on long-term retirement planning. This distinction makes IG a more comprehensive choice for managing retirement investments with both ISA and SIPP options available, while XTB limits its offerings to ISA accounts. Choose the platform that best aligns with your retirement goals and account preferences.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
When considering mobile trading options in the UK, both XTB and IG provide user-friendly apps available for iPhone and Android devices. XTB's mobile app receives a commendable 4.5-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com, ranking 6th out of 18 brokers. However, if you're seeking a top-tier experience, IG's app has achieved a perfect 5-star rating, securing the 2nd position in the same ranking. Both choices offer access to the markets on the go, but IG's app slightly edges out in terms of accolades and user satisfaction.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
When comparing beginner investor educational resources between XTB and IG, IG clearly stands out for UK readers. While both XTB and IG provide educational content on share trading, IG offers considerably more, including educational client webinars with on-demand access, a feature XTB lacks entirely. Furthermore, IG uniquely covers retirement topics, which XTB does not. According to UK.StockBrokers.com, IG earns an impressive 5-star rating, ranking first among 18 brokers for beginner education, contrasting with XTB's respectable 4.5-star rating and ninth position. For novice investors seeking comprehensive educational support, IG presents a stronger option.
| Feature |
XTB
|
IG
|
|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | No | Yes |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | No | Yes |
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Funds) | No | No |
| Education (Retirement) | No | Yes |
| Education |
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|
Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.
When comparing the market research features of XTB and IG for a UK audience, there are some notable differences and similarities to consider. IG provides research reports for funds, a feature that XTB does not offer. On the other hand, XTB allows users to see portfolio allocation by asset class, whereas IG does not provide this capability. Both platforms offer research on shares, ETFs, and CFDs, but neither provides research on funds or bonds. These distinctions may influence your choice between the two, depending on your specific investment needs and preferences.
| Feature |
XTB
|
IG
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes |
| Research - CFDs | Yes | Yes |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Research - Bonds | No | No |
| Research - Funds | No | No |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | No | Yes |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | No |
Which broker is better overall, XTB or IG? After collecting more than 900 data points over a 10-week period, we found XTB to be a better trading platform overall.
XTB has set itself up as a strong competitor in commission-free share trading. Its low fees and solid educational content will make XTB particularly attractive to newer investors. It does not, however, offer an ISA or SIPP.
| Feature |
XTB
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IG
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Mobile App |
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While both XTB and IG are renowned online brokers, neither offers crypto trading, making it essential for investors seeking cryptocurrency options to consider alternative platforms.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | XTB | IG | |
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| Review | XTB Review | IG Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
| Investments | XTB | IG | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | Yes | |
| SIPP | No | Yes | |
| 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 | No | Yes | |
| Spread Betting | Yes | Yes | |
| Crypto Trading | No | No | |
| Advisor Services | No | No |
| Trading Fees | XTB | IG | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £0 | £0 | |
| Share Trading: 0-9 Deals/ Month | £0 | £0-£10 | |
| Share Trading: 10-19 Deals/ Month | £0 | £3 | |
| Share Trading: 20+ Deals/ Month | £0 | £3 | |
| 5 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £0 | £136 | |
| 12 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £0 | £96 | |
| 36 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £0 | £108 | |
| 120 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £0 | £360 | |
| 3 fund trades per year (£30k portfolio) | N/A | N/A | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £0 - £250,000 | 0 | £0 / £96 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £250K-£500K | 0 | £0 / £96 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £500,000 - £1m | 0 | £0 / £96 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £1m and over | 0 | £0 / £96 | |
| Bonds - Corporate - Fee | N/A | N/A | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) - Fee | N/A | N/A | |
| ETFs - Fee | £0 | £0 - £8 | |
| Investment Trusts - Fee | N/A | £0 - £8 | |
| Telephone Dealing Fee | N/A | £50 |
| Broker Screenshots | XTB | IG | |
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| Platforms & Tools | XTB | IG | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 39 | 33 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 20 | 19 | |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | No | No | |
| Charting - Index Overlays | No | No |
| Research | XTB | IG | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - CFDs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Funds | No | No | |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | No | Yes | |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Bonds | No | No | |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | No |
| Education | XTB | IG | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Funds) | No | No | |
| Education (Retirement) | No | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | No | Yes | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | No | Yes |
| Overall Summary | XTB | IG | |
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| Review | XTB Review | IG Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
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