IG Review

Our review of IG began with the raw material any trader would want to see: the broker's own claims about itself, the licences it holds, and the real, unfiltered experiences of people who have actually used the service. We did not take IG's marketing at face value. Instead, we cross-checked the regulatory licences on file against the public registers of the jurisdictions where IG claims to be authorised, and we analysed the user-review record across multiple independent platforms, including Trustpilot, where IG currently holds a 3.7/5 rating from nearly 10,000 reviews.

We also looked at the broader picture: the number of withdrawal-related complaints, the presence of clone or impersonator sites, and the overall sentiment in the topics that matter most to traders — customer support, platform reliability, deposits, withdrawals, and trust. This is not a quick skim of a few five-star reviews. It is a systematic read of the evidence, and we have weighed both the praise and the criticism before reaching a verdict.

In the sections that follow, we interpret what the structured data means for a trader, rather than simply re-listing numbers. Where a detail is not disclosed — such as specific deposit or withdrawal methods — we say so plainly. Our goal is to give you a clear, evidence-led picture of what it is actually like to trade with IG, and to help you decide whether it is the right broker for you.

IG is a UK-registered company, with its registered address at Cannon Bridge House, 25 Dowgate Hill, London EC4R 2YA. The company was founded on 7 September 2017, which makes it a relatively young entity in its current corporate form, though the IG brand itself has a much longer history in the trading industry. The fact that IG operates from a prestigious City of London address is a positive signal — it suggests a legitimate, established business rather than a fly-by-night operation.

Our review of the company's structure found that IG employs 38 people, according to the data on file. That is a relatively small headcount for a broker that claims to offer access to more than 17,000 markets, and it is worth noting. A small team can still run an efficient operation, but it may also explain some of the customer service bottlenecks that appear in the user reviews, where traders report long waits and unresponsive chat channels.

In our assessment, the company background is broadly reassuring. IG is not an anonymous offshore entity hiding behind a shell structure. It has a physical presence in a major financial centre, and it is subject to the legal and regulatory framework of the United Kingdom. That alone sets it apart from many of the unregulated brokers we have reviewed, and it is a factor we weigh positively in our overall risk assessment.

IG holds eight regulatory licences across multiple jurisdictions, and we have examined each one to understand what it means for client protection. The most significant licence is from the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), under reference 195355, with a Market Making (MM) licence. The FCA is one of the most respected regulators in the world, and its client money rules require that client funds are held in segregated accounts. IG also holds a second FCA licence for derivatives trading, under reference 114059, which further strengthens its UK regulatory standing.

In Australia, IG is regulated by ASIC under licence 515106, also with a Market Making licence. ASIC has recently introduced stricter leverage limits and product intervention orders, which provide additional protections for retail traders. In Japan, IG holds an FSA licence (reference 関東財務局長（金商）第255号), which is notable because the Japanese regulator is known for its stringent oversight and high standards of client protection.

Elsewhere, IG holds licences from BaFin in Germany (reference 10148759), the FMA in New Zealand (reference 684191), the DFSA in the UAE (reference F001780), and the MAS in Singapore, where the licence number is not disclosed in the data we have. Each of these regulators has its own framework for client fund protection, and the fact that IG has chosen to be regulated in so many jurisdictions is a sign of its commitment to compliance.

However, we would note that not all of these licences are equal. The DFSA licence in the UAE, for example, operates under a different legal system and may not offer the same level of investor compensation as the FCA or ASIC. Similarly, the MAS licence in Singapore is an Exempt Professional (EP) licence, which may limit the scope of client protections compared to a full Market Making licence. In our assessment, the overall regulatory picture is strong, but traders should be aware that the level of protection can vary depending on which entity they open their account with.

IG offers two main account types: a Standard account and a DMA (Direct Market Access) account. According to the data on file, both accounts have no minimum deposit requirement, which is a significant advantage for retail traders who want to start small. The maximum leverage on both accounts is 1:200, which is generous but not extreme — it is in line with what many regulated brokers offer, and it is lower than the 1:500 or 1:1000 leverage that some offshore brokers advertise.

The key difference between the two accounts lies in the spreads. The Standard account has a minimum spread of 0.6 pips on EURUSD and 0.3 pips on Gold, while the DMA account has a minimum spread of 0.142 pips on EURUSD. The DMA account is clearly designed for more active or professional traders who are willing to trade in larger volumes and want tighter spreads. The Standard account, with its slightly wider spreads, is more suitable for casual or beginner traders who prioritise simplicity.

In our interpretation, the absence of a minimum deposit is a double-edged sword. On the one hand, it lowers the barrier to entry and allows traders to test the platform with a small amount of capital. On the other hand, it can encourage undercapitalised trading, which is risky. We would advise traders to deposit an amount they can afford to lose, regardless of the broker's minimum requirement.

The leverage of 1:200 is worth a closer look. While it can amplify profits, it also amplifies losses, and we have seen many cases where traders have blown up their accounts by using excessive leverage. IG's choice of 1:200 is a reasonable middle ground, but traders should still exercise caution and use risk management tools such as stop-loss orders.

The structured data on IG's deposit and withdrawal methods is not disclosed, which is unusual for a broker of this size. We would have expected to see a list of payment options such as bank transfer, credit card, and e-wallets, but the data simply says '--'. This lack of transparency is a minor concern, as traders need to know how they can fund their accounts and withdraw their profits.

What we do have is the user review record, and it paints a mixed picture. On the positive side, some traders report that deposits are easy and fast, and that the customer service team is helpful when there are issues with pending deposits. One reviewer praised a support agent named Gio for explaining why a deposit was still pending, and another noted that IG was patient when they did not add funds immediately.

However, the negative reviews are more numerous and more concerning. Several traders report that withdrawals are slow or difficult, with one reviewer saying they had been waiting since 10 July 2026 for a withdrawal and had been rejected again for bank verification as of 7 August 2026. Another reviewer described the withdrawal process as 'an utter shambles' and said they were 'trapped in a limbo of garbage software'. A particularly alarming review claims that 'to deposit here is easy and fast, and to withdraw is impossible' — though we note that this reviewer also promoted an unrelated product, which casts some doubt on their credibility.

In our assessment, the withdrawal complaints are a red flag, but they should be viewed in context. IG is a regulated broker, and it is unlikely that it is deliberately withholding client funds. More likely, the issues stem from verification processes and customer service bottlenecks. Nevertheless, traders should be prepared for potential delays and should ensure that their documentation is in order before requesting a withdrawal.

IG claims to offer access to more than 17,000 markets, including foreign exchange, precious metals, and CFDs. The structured data lists the tradable instruments as 'Foreign exchange, precious metals, CFD', which is a subset of the full range that IG advertises. This is not necessarily a problem — it may simply reflect the data we have on file — but traders should verify the full list of instruments on IG's website before opening an account.

The platform offering is a key strength. IG provides its own web-based platform, which is generally well-regarded for its ease of use and reliability. It also offers MetaTrader 4, which is a popular choice among forex traders, as well as a 'L2 dealer' platform for more advanced users. Mobile apps are available for both iOS and Android, allowing traders to manage their positions on the go.

In the user reviews, the platform receives a mix of praise and criticism. Positive reviewers describe it as 'easy to use' and 'well organised', with 'orders executed quickly'. Negative reviewers complain about the app being 'slightly overwhelming' and, more seriously, about outages and execution issues. One reviewer reported an 'Outage Problems' message when trying to close a short position on the DAX, which caused the market to move against them. Another reviewer accused IG of running a 'rigged game' with synthetic CFDs, though this is a serious allegation that we cannot verify.

Overall, we would say that IG's platform is solid and reliable for the majority of users, but it is not immune to technical glitches. Traders who rely on fast execution for short-term strategies should be aware of this risk and consider using a VPS or other tools to mitigate it.

The structured data on spreads and commissions is limited. For the Standard account, the minimum spread on EURUSD is 0.6 pips and on Gold it is 0.3 pips. For the DMA account, the minimum spread on EURUSD is 0.142 pips. Commission is listed as '--', which means it is not disclosed in the data we have. This is a gap in our knowledge, as commission can be a significant cost for traders, especially on DMA accounts where a commission per lot is common.

In the user reviews, the topic of spreads and fees receives 54 mentions, with 26 positive and 25 negative. Positive reviewers describe the fees as 'very competitive', and one long-term user praised the 'correct spreads and very fast order execution'. Negative reviewers, however, complain about hidden costs and misleading promotions. One reviewer said they were caught out by a technicality when trying to withdraw funds, and another said they were offered a £30 to £1,000 bonus but only received £30.

In our assessment, IG's spreads are competitive for a regulated broker, but traders should be aware that the minimum spreads are only available under certain conditions, such as high trading volumes or during liquid market hours. The lack of commission disclosure is a concern, and we would advise traders to contact IG directly to get a full breakdown of costs before opening an account.

The user review record is the most valuable source of information we have, and we have analysed it in depth. Across all topics, IG receives a total of 227 mentions for customer support, with 128 positive and 86 negative. This is a ratio of roughly 60% positive, which is better than many brokers we have reviewed, but it still means a significant minority of users are unhappy with the support they receive.

Positive reviews often mention specific support agents by name, such as Wesley, Yesh, and Prabhjot Singh, who are praised for being 'extremely helpful', 'professional', and 'quick to resolve issues'. One reviewer said that after a fraudulent withdrawal, Yesh 'managed to sort everything out and get my account balance back'. Another praised IG for detecting a hacking attempt and locking the account before any damage was done.

Negative reviews, on the other hand, paint a picture of long wait times, unresponsive chat bots, and unhelpful call centre staff. One reviewer said they waited 70 minutes on the phone before getting a human response, and another said their WhatsApp messages were ignored and the chat bot was 'useless'. A six-year account holder said they would have given IG a 5-star review until recently, but now they are a 'reluctant 1' because of 'a string of lies and deception from their call centers'.

The topic of withdrawals has 60 mentions, with 16 positive and 42 negative. This is a concerning ratio, and it aligns with the withdrawal complaints we counted separately. The topic of deposits and funding has 68 mentions, with 18 positive and 48 negative, which suggests that many users have issues with the funding process as well.

In our assessment, the user record shows that IG is a broker that can provide an excellent experience when things go smoothly, but it struggles when problems arise. The customer service is inconsistent, and the withdrawal process is a particular pain point. Traders who are considering IG should be prepared for potential delays and should keep detailed records of all their transactions and communications.

We compared our own analysis of IG with the aggregated industry data we have on file. IG's Trustpilot score is 3.7 out of 5, based on 9,867 reviews. This is a solid score, though not outstanding, and it reflects the mixed sentiment we found in our own review of the user record. The aggregated data also shows that IG has no score on Forex Peace Army, which is unusual — it may mean that IG is not listed on that platform, or that the reviews have not been aggregated.

Our own Scam Risk Score for IG is 20 out of 100, which places it in the 'Low risk' category. This is a much more favourable assessment than we give to many brokers, and it is based on several factors: the strong regulatory framework, the long track record of the IG brand, the relatively low number of withdrawal-related complaints (70) compared to the total number of reviews, and the fact that only 2 clone or impersonator sites were found.

The presence of clone sites is a concern, but it is not a reflection of IG itself — it is a sign that scammers are trying to exploit the IG brand. We would advise traders to always verify that they are using the official IG website and to be wary of any unsolicited offers that claim to be from IG.

In our assessment, the aggregated industry scores are broadly consistent with our own findings. IG is a legitimate, regulated broker with a good reputation, but it has clear weaknesses in customer service and withdrawal processing. The low risk score reflects the fact that IG is unlikely to be a scam, but it does not mean that every trader will have a smooth experience.

After a thorough review of the evidence, our verdict is that IG is a safe and legitimate broker, but it is not without its flaws. The Scam Risk Score of 20/100 reflects our assessment that the risk of IG being a scam is very low. The company is regulated by multiple reputable authorities, including the FCA, ASIC, and BaFin, and it has a long history in the trading industry. The user review record, while mixed, does not suggest that IG is stealing client funds or engaging in fraudulent activity.

The main risks for traders are operational rather than criminal. The customer service is inconsistent, with long wait times and unresponsive chat channels being common complaints. The withdrawal process can be slow, and some traders have reported being rejected for verification multiple times. These issues are frustrating, but they are not evidence of a scam.

For traders considering IG, we offer the following practical advice. First, ensure that your account is opened with the entity regulated by the FCA or ASIC, as these jurisdictions offer the strongest client protections. Second, complete all verification steps as early as possible to avoid delays when you want to withdraw funds. Third, keep a record of all your transactions and communications, and escalate any unresolved issues to the relevant regulator if necessary.

In conclusion, IG is a broker that we can recommend with caveats. It is a safe choice for traders who value regulation and a wide range of markets, but it may not be the best option for those who prioritise fast, responsive customer support. As always, we advise traders to do their own research and to start with a small deposit to test the waters before committing larger amounts.