Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of IG vs XTB, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Between 51% and 89% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
When comparing IG and XTB, two well-known online brokers, trust and regulatory information are key factors to consider. Founded in 1974, IG stands out with a top-tier Trust Score of 99 out of 99 from ForexBrokers.com, reflecting its position as a highly trusted broker. It maintains this reputation with 8 Tier-1 licenses, which are seen as highly reliable. Added to this, IG is a publicly traded company and also operates as a bank, elements that contribute to its robust regulatory standing.
XTB, established in 2002, shares some similarities but also has notable differences in its regulatory profile. It is also publicly traded and holds 2 Tier-1 licenses, fostering a respected reputation with a Trust Score of 96 out of 99—still significantly strong but slightly lower than IG. Although not a bank, XTB's 2 Tier-2 licenses further underpin its credibility in the trading community. Both brokers offer solid regulatory credentials, though IG's additional features may provide an added sense of security for some investors.
| Feature |
IG
|
XTB
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1974 | 2002 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank | Yes | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 8 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 2 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 2 |
When comparing online brokers IG and XTB regarding commissions and fees, both brokers offer competitive structures but cater to different needs. IG provides scalable execution across various products, with Forex Direct accounts offering active trader pricing and the capability to manage large orders. Average spreads for IG's Forex Direct account hover around the 2024 industry average, standing at 0.62 pips in July 2023, leading to an all-in cost of 0.82 pips after including a 0.2 pips commission. IG's traders can also benefit from a three-tier active-trader rebate program, offering rebates of up to 20% for trading massive monthly volumes. Its DMA account provides additional perks, with average spreads of 0.62 pips on the EUR/USD, suitable for high-volume traders seeking transparency and discounts.
Alternatively, XTB offers a spread-only Standard account and a phased-out commission-based Professional account, primarily available to professional clients in U.K. and Europe. With average forex spreads on the EUR/USD at 1 pip in Q4 2023, XTB's pricing aligns with the industry average, though it doesn't lead the pack. The Standard account, starting from a deposit of £250, €250, or $250, is recommended for retail traders due to cost efficiencies at lower trading volumes. XTB provides an attractive rebate system for its active traders through its Lower Spread Group, rebating a portion of the spread based on trading volume, from 5% to 30%.
Both brokers are highly rated but display different strengths. IG earns a full 5 out of 5-star rating for its commissions and fees and is ranked #8 out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com. Meanwhile, XTB holds a 4.5-star rating and takes the #11 spot. While IG's structure benefits high-volume and active traders with its rebates and spreads, XTB offers a straightforward choice for retail traders through its cost-effective Standard account and rebate system.
| Feature |
IG
|
XTB
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £250.00 | $0 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.98 | 1.00 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.82 | 1.00 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
Join 239,000+ traders worldwide.
Regulated in 7 jurisdictions
When comparing the range of investments offered by online brokers IG and XTB, both platforms provide opportunities for forex trading through CFDs and spot contracts. However, IG eclipses XTB with an impressive offering of 19,537 tradeable symbols, outstripping XTB’s total of 7,184. This is further highlighted in their forex pair selections, with IG offering 97 pairs compared to XTB's 71. Both brokers allow clients to invest in exchange-traded securities on U.S. and international exchanges, facilitating transactions like purchasing Nasdaq-listed Apple shares or shares from the London Stock Exchange. Despite their similarities, a notable difference arises in cryptocurrency offerings: IG permits the purchase of actual cryptocurrencies, whereas XTB limits clients to trading cryptocurrency derivatives.
Both IG and XTB receive a commendable rating of five out of five stars for their range of investments, reflecting their extensive offerings. However, their standings diverge in the ForexBrokers.com rankings, with IG securing the fourth position out of 63 brokers and XTB settling at fourteenth. Neither broker provides copy trading capabilities, a factor to consider for investors interested in replicating the strategies of seasoned traders. Each platform has its strengths, with IG standing out in certain areas like the quantity of tradeable options and access to actual cryptocurrencies, while XTB provides solid alternative investment opportunities through derivatives.
| Feature |
IG
|
XTB
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 19537 | 7184 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 97 | 71 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | No |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | Yes | No |
| Cryptocurrency (Derivative) | Yes | Yes |
| Disclaimers | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). |
Dive deeper: Best Copy Trading Platforms.
When comparing IG and XTB in terms of their trading platforms and tools, both brokers offer similar features, such as simulated trading through virtual demo accounts and proprietary platforms developed in-house. Both also provide traders with the flexibility of Windows-based desktop and web-based platforms, ensuring accessibility across various devices. However, a key difference is that IG supports MetaTrader 4, while XTB does not. Neither broker offers MetaTrader 5 or other platforms like DupliTrade or ZuluTrade, marking them similar in these respects. For charting, IG offers 20 drawing tools compared to XTB's 32, although both allow direct trading from stock charts.
In terms of customization and information management, XTB offers more, with eight fields for watch lists compared to IG’s five. Despite this, IG stands out by receiving a higher rating of 5 stars for its trading platforms and tools and ranks higher at #2 compared to XTB's 4.5-star rating and #9 rank, according to ForexBrokers.com. These distinctions highlight IG's strong standing in the industry for providing comprehensive trading platforms and tools, although XTB remains a competitive choice for traders looking for extensive charting features.
| Feature |
IG
|
XTB
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | No |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | No |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | No |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 33 | 39 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 20 | 32 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 5 | 8 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Both IG and XTB offer comprehensive mobile trading apps available for iPhone and Android users, allowing easy access to stock and forex markets on the go. While both platforms provide key features like price alerts and the ability to draw trendlines and view multiple time frames on charts, there are some noteworthy differences between the two. IG offers a seamless experience by syncing watchlists between the mobile app and the client's online account, ensuring that any changes reflect across platforms. In contrast, XTB lacks this sync feature. However, when it comes to technical charting tools, XTB offers a slight edge with 39 technical studies compared to IG’s 33. Both platforms support creating watchlists with real-time quotes and automatically save drawings on charts.
In terms of user ratings, IG shines with a perfect 5-star rating for its mobile trading app, while XTB follows closely with a strong 4.5 stars. IG's mobile app also holds the top rank in the Mobile Trading Apps category from ForexBrokers.com, claiming the #1 spot out of 63 brokers. XTB, while not leading the category, still performs admirably at #8. Overall, both apps are excellent choices for mobile trading, with IG standing out for its seamless syncing capabilities and top-tier user ratings. Whichever app you choose, you're sure to find a range of advanced tools to enhance your trading experience.
| Feature |
IG
|
XTB
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 33 | 39 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When comparing market research offerings, both IG and XTB provide essential tools for traders, such as daily market commentary and forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg and Reuters. They both feature sentiment-based trading tools and comprehensive economic calendars, showcasing a commitment to keeping traders informed about current and future economic events. However, IG stands out by offering additional tools not available with XTB, such as technical analysis from Autochartist, market research from TipRanks, and research tools from Acuity Trading, such as Signal Centre.
Dissecting ratings and rankings, both IG and XTB have earned a solid 5-star research rating. Yet, IG secures a more prestigious position by ranking #2 among 63 brokers in the Research category on ForexBrokers.com, whereas XTB holds the 7th spot. This distinction highlights IG's broader range of research tools that might benefit traders looking for a more enhanced analytical experience.
| Feature |
IG
|
XTB
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | Yes | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | Yes | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When comparing the educational resources available for beginners between the online brokers IG and XTB, both platforms offer extensive learning opportunities. Beginners diving into the world of forex and CFDs can find over ten educational pieces such as articles, videos, and archived webinars on both platforms. This commitment to education ensures an array of learning materials, making it easy for newcomers to get started. IG and XTB also provide monthly live educational webinars and maintain accessible archives of past sessions, allowing clients to learn at their own pace. Moreover, both brokers cater to various experience levels by offering at least ten beginner-friendly videos as well as advanced content for seasoned traders.
Despite their similarities, there is a slight edge with IG when it comes to additional educational tools. IG offers an investor dictionary covering over 50 investing terms, a feature absent from XTB's arsenal. While both brokers have earned a five-star rating for education, the makeup of their educational lineups slightly differs in terms of supplementary resources available to clients. IG's efforts have earned it the top spot in ForexBrokers.com's rankings, placing first among 63 brokers for education. XTB, by comparison, holds a respectable 11th position, showcasing the broker's strong commitment to educating their clients despite the fierce competition.
| Feature |
IG
|
XTB
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 63 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that IG is better than XTB. IG finished with an overall rank of #1, while XTB finished with an overall rank of #7.
IG offers the ultimate comprehensive trading package, featuring excellent trading and research tools, industry-leading education, and an extensive range of tradeable markets.
| Feature |
IG
|
XTB
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
|
| Trust Score | 99 | 96 |
| Range of Investments |
|
|
| Commissions & Fees |
|
|
| Platforms & Tools |
|
|
| Research |
|
|
| Mobile Trading |
|
|
| Education |
|
|
While both IG and XTB offer the ability to trade cryptocurrency derivatives, only IG provides the option to purchase actual delivered cryptocurrency, setting it apart from XTB's offerings.
When comparing online brokers IG and XTB, IG stands out by offering ACH or SEPA transfers for funding accounts, a feature XTB lacks, both platforms support PayPal and major credit cards like Visa and Mastercard, but only XTB provides Skrill as a payment option, while both allow for bank wire transactions, providing diverse and flexible financial transaction methods for their users.
Please note:
We review each broker’s overall global offering – a “Yes” checkmark in our Compare Tool does not guarantee the availability of any specific features in your country of residence. To verify the availability of any features within your country of residence, please contact the broker directly.
Select Brokers
↓×Compare
0 of 5| Overall Rating | IG | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Commissions & Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Platforms & Tools |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 99 | 96 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IG Review | XTB Review |
| Broker Screenshots | IG | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trading Platforms Gallery (click to expand) |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading Gallery (click to expand) |
|
| |
| Research Gallery (click to expand) |
|
| |
| Education Gallery (click to expand) |
|
|
| Regulation | IG | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 96 | |
| Year Founded | 1974 | 2002 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 8 | 2 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 2 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 2 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | IG | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | Yes | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | IG | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | IG | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 19537 | 7184 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 97 | 71 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | Yes | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (Derivative) | Yes | Yes | |
| Disclaimers | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). |
| Cost | IG | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.98 | 1.00 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.82 | 1.00 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | IG | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £250.00 | $0 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | IG | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | No | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | No | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | No | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | IG | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 5 | 8 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 33 | 39 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 20 | 32 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | IG | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 33 | 39 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | IG | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No | |
| TipRanks | Yes | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | IG | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | IG | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/JPY | Yes | Yes | |
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CAD | Yes | Yes | |
| NZD/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| AUD/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| Review | IG Review | XTB Review |
| Overall | IG | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Commissions & Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Platforms & Tools |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 99 | 96 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IG Review | XTB Review |
IG
CMC Markets
FOREX.com
XTB
eToro
AvaTrade
Plus500
Pepperstone
FP Markets
Tickmill