Comparison of IG and Markets.com
| Feature | IG | Markets.com |
|---|---|---|
| Broker | ||
| Year Founded | 1974 | 2008 |
| Broker Type | MM, DMA | MM |
| Dealing | B-book, A-book | B-book |
| Execution | Market | Market |
| Regulation | FCA, BMA, BaFin, FSAN, AFM, CONSOB, CNMV, ACPR, FI, FINMA, NFA, CFTC, ASIC, NZ FMA, JFSA, JFFA, MAS, FSCA, DFSA | SVGFSA, CySEC, FSCA |
| Platforms | MetaTrader 4 (MT4), IG Trading Platform, L2 Dealer | MetaTrader 4 (MT4), MetaTrader 5 (MT5), TradingView |
| Spread | ⮕ Average | ⬊ Low |
| Maximum Leverage | 1:200 | 1:500 |
| Minimum Deposit | $1 | $100 |
| Base Currencies | USD, EUR, GBP, CHF, AUD, NZD, JPY, NOK, SEK, SGD, HKD | USD, EUR, GBP, DKK, NOK, SEK, PLN, AUD, ZAR |
| Funding Methods | Bank Wire, Credit Card, Debit Card, PayPal | Bank wire transfers, credit/debit cards (Visa, MasterCard), Skrill, Neteller, PayPal |
| Inactivity Fee | $18 per month after 24 months | $10 per month after 3 months of inactivity |
| Interest on Margin | ✖ | ✖ |
| Withdrawal Fee | ✖ | ✖ |
| Investor Protection | UK Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS), Investor Compensation Fund (ICF), Financialcommission.org | Cyprus ICF |
| Protection Size | £85 000 / €20 000 | €20 000 |
| Segregated Accounts | ✔ | ✔ |
| Negative Balance Protection | ✔ | ✔ |
| Guaranteed Stop Loss | ✔ | ✖ |
| Copy Trading | ✖ | ✔ |
| VPS | ✖ | ✖ |
| MAM/PAMM | ✖ | ✖ |
| Scalping Allowed | ✖ | ✔ |
| EAs/Robots | ✔ | ✔ |
| Depth of Market (DOM) | ✔ | ✔ |
| Tradable Assets (CFDs) | Currencies, Indices, Stocks, ETFs, Bonds, Cryptocurrencies, Metals, Energies, Soft Commodities | Currencies, Shares, Indices, Commodities, ETFs, Bonds, Cryptocurrencies |
| Review | IG Review | Markets.com Review |
About IG
IG is one of the most established and reputable brokers in the forex and CFD trading industry, having been founded in 1974. Regulated by top-tier financial authorities, including the FCA (UK) and ASIC (Australia), IG offers a wide range of trading instruments, including forex, indices, commodities, and shares. The broker is well-suited for both beginner and professional traders, providing access to an advanced trading platform, competitive spreads, and a comprehensive suite of educational resources. IG's long-standing presence in the market and robust regulatory compliance make it a trusted choice for traders worldwide. In addition to its proprietary platform, IG supports MetaTrader 4 (MT4), which is ideal for traders who prefer algorithmic strategies or a familiar interface. The broker also excels in market research and analysis, providing clients with detailed insights, trading signals, and technical tools. However, while IG offers extensive features, its services might not be ideal for smaller retail traders due to higher minimum deposit requirements in some regions. Furthermore, the absence of certain features like cent accounts or high leverage options may deter specific trading styles.
Pros
- Highly regulated by top-tier financial authorities (FCA, ASIC, etc.)
- Wide range of tradable assets, including over 99 forex pairs
- Advanced proprietary platform and support for MetaTrader 4 (MT4)
- Comprehensive market research and educational resources
- Long-standing reputation with nearly five decades of experience
- Competitive spreads and reliable trade execution
Cons
- Limited high-leverage options compared to some competitors
- No support for cent accounts, which may not suit small-scale traders
- Inactivity fees for dormant accounts
- Customer support may not be available 24/7 for all regions
About Markets.com
Markets.com is a multi-asset CFD and FX broker, operating since 2008 under CySEC, FSCA and SVGFSA oversight. A modest $100 deposit opens the door to 50-plus currency pairs, stocks, ETFs, crypto and more on MT4/MT5, TradingView and the proprietary app, all backed by segregated client funds, negative-balance protection and multilingual 24/5 support. The broker best suits active retail traders who want flexible leverage (up to 1:500 outside the EU), floating spreads from 0.7 pips, copy-trading tools and frequent bonus promotions, yet still value basic regulatory safeguards. Long-term buy-and-hold investors may find the CFD-only model and $10 monthly inactivity fee less appealing.
Pros
- Multi-regulated (SVGFSA, CySEC, FSCA)
- Low $100 entry threshold, no deposit/withdrawal fees
- Choice of MT4/MT5 and TradingView
- 50+ FX pairs and broad multi-asset CFD selection
- Negative-balance protection for all retail clients
Cons
- Inactivity fee after 90 days
- Only one live trading account type available
IG & Markets.com Regulation
| Feature | IG | Markets.com |
|---|---|---|
Companies | IG Markets Ltd, IG International Limited, IG Europe GmbH, IG Bank SA, IG US LLC, IG Australia Pty Ltd., IG Securities Limited, IG Asia Pte Ltd, IG Markets South Africa Limited, IG Limited | Markets International Ltd, Safecap Investments Limited, Markets (South Africa) Pty Limited |
Countries | United Kingdom, Bermuda, Germany, Switzerland, United States, Australia, Japan, Singapore, South Africa, United Arab Emirates | Saint Vincent & The Grenadines, Cyprus, South Africa |
Regulators | FCA, BMA, BaFin, FSAN, AFM, CONSOB, CNMV, ACPR, FI, FINMA, NFA, CFTC, ASIC, NZ FMA, JFSA, JFFA, MAS, FSCA, DFSA | SVGFSA, CySEC, FSCA |
Investor Protection | UK Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS), Investor Compensation Fund (ICF), Financialcommission.org | Cyprus ICF |
Investor Protection Size | £85 000 / €20 000 | €20 000 |
Publicly Traded | ||
Segregated Accounts | ||
Guaranteed Stop Loss | ||
Negative Balance Protection |
Account Types
| Account | IG | Markets.com |
|---|---|---|
Market Maker Account | ||
| Account Name | CFD | Standard |
| Min Deposit | $1 | $100 |
| Lot Size | 0.01 | 0.01 |
| Spread Type | Floating | Floating |
| Execution | Market | Market |
| Min Spread | 0.6 | 0.7 |
| Fee | No | No |
| Max Leverage | 1:200 | 1:500 |
| Stop Out | 50% | 50% |
| Margin Call | 100% | 100% |
DMA Account | ||
| Account Name | DMA | — |
| Min Deposit | $1000 | — |
| Lot Size | 0.01 | — |
| Spread Type | Floating | — |
| Execution | Market | — |
| Min Spread | 0.16 | — |
| Fee | $12 per 1 lot | — |
| Max Leverage | 1:200 | — |
| Stop Out | 20% | — |
| Margin Call | 50% | — |
| Additional Features | ||
| Demo Account | ||
| VIP Account | ||
| Swap-Free Account | ||
| Copy Trading | ||
| VPS | ||
| PAMM/MAM Accounts | ||
Funding and Fees
| Feature | IG | Markets.com |
|---|---|---|
Base currencies | USD, EUR, GBP, CHF, AUD, NZD, JPY, NOK, SEK, SGD, HKD | USD, EUR, GBP, DKK, NOK, SEK, PLN, AUD, ZAR |
Deposit and withdrawal methods | Bank Wire, Credit Card, Debit Card, PayPal | Bank wire transfers, credit/debit cards (Visa, MasterCard), Skrill, Neteller, PayPal |
Inactivity fee | $18 per month after 24 months | $10 per month after 3 months of inactivity |
Interest on margin | ||
Withdrawal fee |
Trading Platforms and Conditions
| Feature | IG | Markets.com |
|---|---|---|
Trading Platforms | MetaTrader 4 (MT4), IG Trading Platform, L2 Dealer | MetaTrader 4 (MT4), MetaTrader 5 (MT5), TradingView |
Execution Speed | - | 82 ms |
Scalping | ||
Expert Advisors (EAs) | ||
Depth of Market (DOM) | ||
Spread | average | low |
Trading Assets
| Asset | IG | Markets.com |
|---|---|---|
Currencies | 99 | 54 |
Indices | 46 | 36 |
Stocks | 13000 | 260 |
Cryptocurrencies | 15 | 29 |
Bonds | 19 | 4 |
Metals | 11 | 8 |
Energies | 9 | 5 |
Soft Commodities | 20 | 6 |
ETFs | 5400 | 68 |
Education and Analytics
| Feature | IG | Markets.com |
|---|---|---|
Economic Calendar | ||
Indicators | ||
Robots | ||
Signals | ||
Autochartist | ||
Expert Analytics | ||
News Feed | ||
Education Articles | ||
Webinars | ||
Seminars |
Bonuses
| Bonus | IG | Markets.com |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome Bonus | ||
| Is available | ||
| Size | — | 20%, up to $10000 |
| Details | — | Learn More |
| No Deposit Bonus | ||
| Is available | ||
| Size | — | $1020 |
| Details | — | Learn More |
Customer Support
| Contact | IG | Markets.com |
|---|---|---|
Email | newaccounts.uk@ig.com | support@markets.com |
Phone | +442076335430 | +27104470539 |
Facebook | ||
LinkedIn | ||
YouTube | YouTube | YouTube |
Instagram | — | |
Twitter | ||
TikTok | — | TikTok |
Which Broker is Better?
After comparing IG and Markets.com, Markets.com comes out ahead as our overall pick. It ranks higher in our internal scoring and delivers a stronger balance of pricing (spreads/fees), platform experience, and product range. That said, the runner-up may still be a better fit if you prioritize specific needs—like a particular account type, funding method, or niche instruments. This is not financial advice; always choose a broker that matches your goals and local regulatory requirements.
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Andriy Bondarenko
Broker Analyst
Andriy is a seasoned expert in broker reviews with over a decade of experience in finance and trading. Under his leadership, the team produces in-depth and unbiased analyses of leading trading platforms.