IG Markets Review 2026

IG uses a spread-only model for most CFDs — no commission on top. That makes the spread the only cost you pay per trade. It’s simpler to understand than ECN brokers, but the spreads are wider.

For share investing, 2026 changed the picture significantly. Zero-commission US and UK shares, and the custody fee removed entirely, make IG genuinely competitive for buy-and-hold investors.

For active CFD and forex traders, IG is not the cheapest. Our recorded EUR/USD average was 0.86 pips — versus 0.08 pips at IC Markets cTrader and 0.09 pips at Pepperstone Razor. On a 1-lot round-turn, that’s roughly A$15 at IG versus A$7–8 at ECN brokers. The gap is real.

For share investors, the picture flipped in 2026. Zero-commission US shares and no custody fee make IG a genuinely competitive option — particularly against CommSec (A$9.95/trade) and Stake (A$3/trade but no research tools).

IG offers four platforms: the proprietary IG Platform, MT4, TradingView and L2 Dealer. That covers most trader types. The main gap: no MT5 and no cTrader.

IG’s web platform is the best we have used across all brokers reviewed. It runs in your browser — no download. Clean layout, multiple workspaces, one-click trading from charts.

What makes it genuinely different is the information built in. Reuters news feed, Autochartist signals, an economic calendar and the DailyFX research portal — all available without switching tabs. The mobile app mirrors the desktop closely. It won Best Mobile Share Trading App at the 2026 Finder Awards.

MT4 is available for forex and CFD traders who rely on Expert Advisors. VPS hosting is available for algo traders needing 24/7 uptime. Performance connects to the same liquidity as the IG platform — execution quality is consistent across both.

Note: IG does not support MT5 or cTrader. If you need either platform, Pepperstone or IC Markets are better suited.

You can execute live IG trades directly from TradingView charts — no need to switch between platforms. Available for both CFD and share accounts. This combination of TradingView’s charting with IG’s market access is genuinely useful for chart-first traders.

L2 Dealer gives eligible clients Direct Market Access with full Level II order books. You see market depth and deal directly onto exchange order books. It is not available to all retail clients by default — request access via IG’s account team.

ProRealTime is integrated into the IG Platform for automated strategy testing and backtesting. A monthly fee applies for real-time data, but it is waived if you meet a minimum monthly trade count. For systematic traders, it is a worthwhile add-on.

Both accounts can be held simultaneously under one login. IG Pro account available for professional clients — lower margins but without retail Corporations Act protections. SMSF and corporate accounts also available. Free demo available on CFD account.

No fees on deposits or withdrawals. In our testing, a card deposit was instant and an AUD bank transfer withdrawal arrived within 2 business days. The main thing to note is the A$150 minimum withdrawal via bank transfer — higher than Pepperstone (A$1) and IC Markets (A$50).

AUD base currency available — no FX conversion on AUD transactions. Min withdrawal A$150 is higher than competitors. Our test withdrawal (bank transfer) arrived in 2 business days.

We analysed independent reviews from ProductReview.com.au, Trustpilot and trading forums. The pattern is consistent: platform and tools earn high praise, customer support during peak hours earns consistent criticism.

IG Markets is one of the safest retail brokers in the world. It is publicly listed on the London Stock Exchange and was promoted to the FTSE 100 in March 2026. That means quarterly earnings reports, audited accounts and regulatory scrutiny that no private broker faces. It has operated continuously since 1974 — 52 years without a major regulatory breach.

IG holds ASIC licence AFSL 220440 — verify on the ASIC Connect register. Client funds are held in segregated accounts at Citibank, separate from IG’s operational capital.

The ongoing Australian class action relates to CFD marketing practices — not fund misappropriation. ASIC’s 2023 remediation exercise involved multiple brokers industry-wide. IG remains fully licensed and operational. We disclose it for transparency, but it does not change our safety assessment.