IG Markets Review

IG Markets is a big Forex and CFD Broker with a presence in almost all countries and strong trading technology. IG Markets US is the US division of UK brokerage powerhouse IG Markets. Unlike its global service, IG Markets US focuses solely on Forex. It’s now one of the top US Forex brokers. According to its 2023 annual report, IG holds more than double the required regulatory capital, with a $498 million buffer as of May 31, 2023. So, we’ve reviewed IG Markets Broker to see if it’s reliable for commission-free trading as it claims to be.

🏢 Headquarters	London, United Kingdom
📅 Year founded	1974
🗺️ Regulation	FCA, BaFin, ASIC, MAS, CySec, FINMA, BMA, CFTC (United States), NFA (United States)
💻 Trading platform:	MetaTrader 4, IG Trading Platform, ProRealTime, L2 Dealer, and API
💰 Account currency:	USD
📊 Accounts:	Demo and CFD
💵 Withdrawal:	Debit Card, Wire Transfer, ACH (Automated Clearing House (ACH))
🚀 Minimum deposit:	$250
⚖️ Leverage:	1:50 (CFTC), 1:50 (NFA)
☪️ Islamic account (swap free)	No
🎮 Demo Account	Yes
💱 Spread:	From 0.165–0.4 pips on Forex, (subject to the client’s status)
🔧 Instruments:	Forex; CFDs on indices, commodities, and stocks; Cryptocurrencies, options, interest rates, sectors, bonds, knock-outs, ETFs, and Futures on indices and commodities
📋 Orders execution:	Market execution
☎ Customer Support:	24*7, from 3am Saturday to 5pm Friday (EST)
📚 Education	Yes

What is IG?

IG Group (IG) was started in 1974 by Stuart Wheeler as the first spread betting firm in the world. It’s now part of a big company called IG Group Holdings Plc, which is traded publicly on the London Stock Exchange (LSE: IGG). They help people who like to make informed decisions and take risks to access opportunities in financial markets.

IG has more than 178,000 clients around the world, offers many different products, has fair prices, has been around for a long time, and has a great reputation in the industry. Because of this, it’s not surprising that IG is a top global leader in online trading and is currently the world’s number one provider of CFDs. Even though many online forex brokers don’t operate in the U.S. because of strict rules, IG came back to this market in 2019, showing that they really want to be a global company.

In the U.S., IG offers clients access to more than 80 currency pairs with leverage. Their website is easy to use and has clear information about their services and fees. They also have an easy-to-use platform, lots of resources to help clients learn, and useful research tools. All of these things make IG a strong competitor to other forex brokers in the U.S. In 2020, Investopedia recognized IG as the Best Forex Broker for U.S. Traders because of these qualities.

Pros and Cons

Pros	Cons
People trust IG a lot.	They don’t have chat support.
They have small price differences.	If you’re not active, they charge you.
Orders are done quickly.	They only trade spot forex.
IG’s platform has lots of features.	The rules change depending on where you are.
They have really good research.	They don’t have support all the time.
If you have a premium account, you can get some of your money back.
They have really good stuff to help you learn.

Fees

We found that IG trading costs are low. They depend on the type of account and the size of your bet. The fees change depending on where you’re trading from. For example, if you’re in the UK, you can do spread betting, but not if you’re in Japan. There’s also a fee if you don’t use your account for more than 6 months.

Deposits and Withdrawals

At IG, managing your money is quick and easy. You can deposit or withdraw money using bank transfers, credit cards, or electronic wallets. There’s no minimum deposit, and no extra fee for moving your money. However, it’s a good idea to check the rules for deposits and the money you need to trade with. IG doesn’t charge you to take out your money.

You can withdraw using various methods like bank transfers, credit cards, e-wallets, and PayPal. There’s no fee if you withdraw at least $150, and it usually takes 3–5 days to get your money. You can withdraw up to $25,000 a day, but it might take 2–5 days. If you’re using bank wires, there are no limits, and it usually takes 1-3 days.

Account Types

IG offers a basic account for trading, which you can set up quickly. They also have spread betting and CFD accounts. You can use a demo account while trading with IG.

Trading Platforms

IG Markets US offers a competitive web-based trading platform. Traders can also use ProRealTime, a great platform for serious traders. IG Markets US also has MT4, with 18 add-ons and Autochartist. We like that IG Markets US supports algorithmic trading using MT4 and ProRealTime. MT4 also has a copy trading service. They did a great job, earning many industry awards and praise from traders for their well-designed platform.

Research and Education

Traders can find useful research and trading ideas on the IG Markets US blog. We believe it’s interesting to read and gives a different view of the market. IG Markets US also offers trading signals from Autochartist and PIA-First on its own trading platform.

A great thing about IG Markets US is the IG Academy, which we think is one of the best in the industry. The courses have videos and quizzes, and we recommend beginner traders use the IG Academy. There are also webinars, seminars, and other learning materials.

Customer Support

We’re unhappy with the customer support at IG. It’s not a surprise that it has been criticized heavily. IG Markets US only lists two phone numbers on most pages—one for new clients and one for existing clients. An email address is only provided for marketing partnerships. IG Markets US doesn’t give its operating hours and mainly relies on its FAQ section for support.

Is IG Safe or a Scam?

No, IG is not a scam. It’s a regulated and authorized broker with many entities worldwide, each operating under necessary financial licenses like FCA, ASIC, CFTC, DFSA, etc. Also, IG is listed on a stock exchange, which adds extra security.

Is IG Legit?

Yes, IG is legit. It’s a highly trusted broker that’s been operating for nearly 40 years. It’s publicly traded and holds various regulatory licenses across the globe, along with a banking license in Switzerland. Since IG’s main office is in the UK, it’s authorized by the FCA. Stock and shares ISA accounts are provided by IG Markets Ltd, and spread betting is offered by registered IG Index Ltd.

Conclusion

In conclusion, IG is a safe broker to trade with because it offers reliable trading solutions. IG has earned a respected reputation for its expanded trading strategies and its approach to markets and traders. We’ve learned that IG’s flexibility in platforms, currency pairs, and solutions is a big advantage. The broker also offers competitive costs and great educational material and research for traders at all levels.

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