IG Markets vs Plus500 2026

Neither is a raw-spread ECN broker, so both build forex costs into the spread. In our recording, IG averaged 0.86 pips on EUR/USD versus around 1.0 pip at Plus500. Neither is as cheap as an ECN broker like IC Markets or Pepperstone for active forex, but IG is the tighter of these two.

Where IG pulls clearly ahead is shares. Since January 2026 IG offers zero-commission US and UK share trading with no custody fee — genuinely competitive for buy-and-hold investors. Plus500 offers share exposure only as CFDs, with costs in the spread. Both avoid deposit and withdrawal fees.

If your priority is the lowest possible forex spread, neither IG nor Plus500 is the answer. IG’s 0.86 pip EUR/USD is roughly ten times an ECN broker’s raw spread. For high-frequency forex trading, a raw-spread broker is cheaper. IG’s strength is breadth and shares, not the rock-bottom forex cost.

For an investor who wants to hold real shares, IG’s 2026 move to zero-commission US and UK shares is a big deal — it turns IG into a credible share-investing platform alongside its CFD range. Plus500 can’t match this because it offers CFDs only. Verify current spreads and fees directly with each broker before opening an account.

IG offers its own award-winning web platform, ProRealTime charting, the L2 Dealer DMA platform, MT4, TradingView and API access. That covers everyone from casual investors to professional DMA traders. The breadth is genuinely best-in-class among ASIC brokers — but it can feel overwhelming to a first-timer.

Plus500’s WebTrader is clean, fast and easy to learn, with TradingView integration and guaranteed stop-loss orders. It has no MetaTrader, no DMA and no real share investing. For a beginner who finds IG’s suite daunting and just wants to place a CFD trade without friction, Plus500’s simplicity is its main advantage.

Both brokers are ASIC-regulated — the baseline we insist on for any broker listed on KolaTrading. Both keep client funds segregated and provide negative balance protection for Australian retail clients. The ASIC protection is identical at both.

IG, founded in 1974 and a FTSE 100 member since March 2026, is one of the most heavily regulated brokers in the world, with tier-1 oversight across six jurisdictions. Plus500 is a FTSE 250-listed company with solid ASIC standing, though it has faced an Australian class action over leveraged-CFD marketing. For an Australian retail trader, both provide identical ASIC protections — verify both AFSLs on the ASIC Connect register.

We processed real AUD withdrawals at both brokers in March 2026, and both arrived without fees within a couple of business days. IG’s A$0 minimum via bank transfer or BPAY makes it easy to start small, though card deposits require A$450. Plus500’s flat A$100 minimum is straightforward across methods.

Funding is a near-tie on cost. The practical edge goes to IG for its A$0 bank-transfer entry and BPAY support, which Australian traders tend to prefer.