IG Review (2026)
*Spread bets and CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 71% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading spread bets and CFDs with this provider.
The Vibe Check
"Founded in 1974, IG is the undisputed blue-chip benchmark of retail trading. Traded publicly on the London Stock Exchange (LSE: IGG) with a market cap exceeding £3.5 billion, it removes the existential counterparty risk that keeps traders up at night with offshore brokers. Their proprietary web terminal is fast, and serious equity scalpers can unlock direct market access via **L2 Dealer**. The fine print? While their headline 0.6-pip EUR/USD spread looks attractive, IG charges a **£12/month dormancy penalty** if you leave cash untouched for two consecutive years, and casual UK share traders will face an £8 commission per trade unless they executed three or more orders in the previous month."
The Fine Print: IG Fee Audit
IG uses variable spreads for leveraged CFDs and spread bets, while charging tiered ticket commissions on real physical share dealing.
| Fee Channel | IG Pricing Structure | The Wingwoman Audit |
|---|---|---|
| EUR/USD Spread | 0.6 pips minimum (Avg ~0.85–1.0) | Standard retail account spread with embedded execution markup. Competitive for a dealing desk. |
| UK Share Dealing | £3.00 or £8.00 per trade | £3 per trade if you placed 3+ trades in the previous calendar month; otherwise steps up to £8.00. |
| US Share Dealing | £0 or £10.00 per trade | Free ticket cost if 3+ trades placed last month; £10 standard fee otherwise. Plus 0.50% FX conversion toll. |
| Inactivity Fee | £12 / $18 per month | ⚠️ Debited after 24 consecutive months of zero trading activity until cash balance reaches zero. |
| L2 Dealer DMA Platform | Free (Active Traders) | Direct exchange book matching for shares. Requires maintaining active monthly trade minimums. |
| Overnight CFD Swaps | Benchmark + 2.5% – 3.0% | Standard interbank rate plus IG's financing administration fee for leveraged holdings kept past 10 PM UK time. |
The Core Edge: Balance Sheet Safety & Tax-Free Spread Betting
Where newer CFD platforms operate through lightly capitalized Cypriot or Bahamian holding companies, IG's balance sheet is subject to strict London Stock Exchange public audits. For UK residents, IG offers full **Financial Spread Betting** capabilities, exempting all realized trading profits from UK Capital Gains Tax and Stamp Duty. When paired with negative balance protection and segregated client trust accounts at Tier-1 institutions like Barclays and Lloyds, IG provides the strongest consumer safeguard foundation in the retail brokerage industry.
Valerie's Final Verdict
"IG is built for serious active traders who prioritize counterparty solvency, comprehensive market access (17,000+ assets across every continent), and polished charting over zero-fee gimmicks. If you trade frequently enough to hit the £3 share dealing tier, or if you leverage UK spread betting for tax immunity, IG is elite. Passive long-term ETF accumulators, however, will find Trading 212 or Lightyear significantly cheaper."
Open An Account If:
You demand maximum institutional balance sheet safety, trade thousands of global markets, or want tax-free UK spread betting.
Skip It If:
You are an occasional buy-and-hold share investor who will be penalized by the £8/trade ticket cost and £12 dormancy fee.