Publicly listed brokers XTB and IG Markets, the former in Poland and the latter in the UK, share many similarities in their core trading environment. Both brokers present competitive proprietary trading platforms, but IG Markets additionally deploys ProRealTime, MT4, and L2 Dealer. It also upgrades the core MT4 with 18 add-ons plus the Autochartist plugin, creating a superior MT4 trading experience.
IG Markets shines with its asset selection, order execution, and trading costs. XTB counters with a well-balanced choice of trading instruments, but notably less quantity with 17,000+ at IG Markets versus 2,100+ at XTB. It does take a minor edge in minimum trading costs and higher leverage. Both feature a volume-based rebate program and training academies for beginner traders.
We have conducted an in-depth review of XTB and IG Markets to determine which one presents the better overall choice and from which traders will benefit the most.
- Features and Platforms
- Available Markets
- Typical Spreads and Fees
- Security and Trust
- XTB vs. IG Markets - Verdict
 |  | |
Headquarters | United Kingdom | United Kingdom |
Regulators | N/A | ASIC, BaFin, CySEC, DFSA, FCA, FINMA, FMA, FSCA, JFSA, MAS |
Tier 1 Regulator(s)? | ||
Owned by Public Company? | ||
Year Established | 2002 | 1974 |
Execution Type(s) | Market Maker | Market Maker |
Minimum Deposit | $0 | €0 |
Negative Balance Protection | N/A | |
Trading Platform(s) | Proprietary platform | Other, MetaTrader 4, Proprietary platform, Trading View+ |
Average Trading Cost EUR/USD | 0.1 pips ($1.00) | 0.9 pips |
Average Trading Cost GBP/USD | 0.2 pips ($2.00) | 1.4 pip |
Average Trading Cost WTI Crude Oil | $0.04 | $0.03 |
Average Trading Cost Gold | $0.36 | $0.30 |
Retail Loss Rate | N/A | 70.00% |
Minimum Raw Spreads | N/A | Not applicable |
Minimum Standard Spreads | N/A | 0.6 pips |
Minimum Commission for Forex | N/A | Commission-free |
Islamic Account | ||
Signals | ||
US Persons Accepted? | ||
Managed Accounts | ||
| Visit Website | Visit Website 71% of retail spread bet and CFD accounts lose money |
Features and Platforms
| | |
MT4 | ||
MT5 | ||
MT4/MT5 Add-Ons | N/A | |
cTrader | ||
Proprietary Platform | ||
Automated Trading | ||
Social/Copy Trading | N/A | |
DOM? | ||
Guaranteed Stop Loss | ||
Scalping | ||
Hedging | ||
One-Click Trading | ||
OCO Orders | ||
Interest on Margin | ||
| Visit Website | Visit Website 71% of retail spread bet and CFD accounts lose money |
Noteworthy:
IG Markets maintains ideal trading conditions for algorithmic trading via API, ProRealTime, and MT4. It is notably absent from the trading environment at XTB.
Available Markets
| | |
Currency Pairs | N/A | |
Cryptocurrencies | N/A | |
Commodities | ||
Crude Oil | ||
Gold | ||
Metals | ||
Equity Indices | ||
Stocks (non-CFDs) | ||
Bonds | N/A | |
ETFs | ||
Options | N/A | |
Futures | ||
Synthetics | ||
| Visit Website | Visit Website 71% of retail spread bet and CFD accounts lose money |
IG Markets offers an unrivaled asset selection, including options and DMA. The breadth of investment and trading choices creates a distinct competitive advantage for advanced traders and fund managers. While XTB has notably fewer assets, it maintains a well-balanced and competitive overall selection. Cryptocurrencies remain underserved at XTB and IG Markets alike.
Typical Spreads and Fees
| | |
Average Trading Cost EUR/USD | 0.1 pips ($1.00) | 0.9 pips |
Average Trading Cost GBP/USD | 0.2 pips ($2.00) | 1.4 pip |
Average Trading Cost WTI Crude Oil | $0.04 | $0.03 |
Average Trading Cost Gold | $0.36 | $0.30 |
Average Trading Cost Bitcoin | $100.00 | $90 |
Minimum Raw Spreads | N/A | Not applicable |
Minimum Standard Spreads | N/A | 0.6 pips |
Minimum Commission for Forex | N/A | Commission-free |
Deposit Fee | N/A | |
Withdrawal Fee | N/A | |
Inactivity Fee | N/A | |
| Visit Website | Visit Website 71% of retail spread bet and CFD accounts lose money |
Both brokers maintain a commission-free Forex pricing environment, where XTB provides traders with an edge. Costs for the EUR/USD are as low as $1.00 versus $6.00 at IG Markets. XTB also has 20% lower commissions on equities. The pricing advantage extends with average spreads at XTB versus IG Markets.
Security and Trust
| | |
Country of the Regulator | Belize, Cyprus, Poland, United Kingdom | United Arab Emirates, Australia, Bermuda, The Bahamas, Switzerland, Cyprus, Germany, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, United Kingdom, United States, South Africa |
Name of the Regulator | N/A | ASIC, BaFin, CySEC, DFSA, FCA, FINMA, FMA, FSCA, JFSA, MAS |
Regulatory License Number | 000302/438, 522157, 169/12, 0000217580 | 195355, 378/19, 10148759, confirmed, but no regulaary license number, F001780, 41393, 1489, unconfirmed, 220440, 18923, 0509630, 54814 |
Regulatory Tier | 4, 1, 1, 1 | 1, 1, 1, 1, 2, 2, 1, 1, 1, 1, 4 |
| Visit Website | Visit Website 71% of retail spread bet and CFD accounts lose money |
XTB and IG Markets both offer negative balance protection and segregate all client deposits from corporate funds.
IG vs XTB – Verdict
XTB
Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Outstanding trading costs, ranking among the best Forex spreads industry-wide | Limited deposit and withdrawal methods |
| Well-balanced asset selection with high leverage | Absence of MT4 and no algorithmic trading |
| Fast NDD order execution and deep liquidity | |
| Quality training academy for beginner traders |
IG
Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Excellent choice of trading platforms and superior asset selection | Limited deposit and withdrawal methods |
| Competitive trading costs with a volume-based cash rebate program | Higher minimum deposit requirement, but within a reasonable demand |
| Outstanding trading environment for algorithmic trading, including API support | |
| Comprehensive educational tools for beginner traders |
Both brokers maintain an industry-leading trading environment. IG Markets takes an overall lead due to superior asset selection and extensive support for advanced algorithmic trading solutions. The educational platforms for beginners at XTB and IG Markets offer in-depth and high-quality courses.
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FAQs
Is XTB a good broker?
XTB presents one of the lowest trading costs and a well-balanced asset selection. XTB is an ideal choice for manual traders.
Is IG the best Forex broker?
With 99 currency pairs and three for weekend trading, plus its competitive trading costs and competitive trading platforms, IG ranks among the elite Forex brokers industry wide.
Is IG a good broker?
IG maintains an ultra-competitive trading environment, supplemented by excellent trading tools and services. IG remains a market leader in most categories.