The IG award-winning trading platforms have been recognised time and time again by the online trading brokerage industry. The IG web trading platform is available online for all users who are interested in spread betting or CFD trading.

You can manage your account, register cards, make payments, withdraw your funds and more. This platform also offers browser-based research tools such as streaming news, economic calendar and signals. A faster, clearer and smarter way to trade. Seize your opportunities with a cutting-edge platform built around your needs. The IG mobile trading platform has been optimised for iPhone and Android.

It is suitable for all spread bettors, CFD traders and share dealers. Get all the features you need to trade from within the app. Open, monitor, edit and close your positions from wherever you are. Manage your risk with our range of tools, including trailing and guaranteed stops. IG has launched a progressive web app PWA , that offers clients anywhere in the world a seamless trading platform on any device — without having to visit a third-party app store.

The PWA is optimised to help you receive critical trading updates quickly and effortlessly, avoiding delays inherent in traditional app store review processes. ProRealTime PRT is the leading advanced charting package on the web, offering powerful monitoring tools, flexible access and advanced analysis resources. PRT is suitable for technical chart users, and free if you trade spread bets or CFDs at least four times a month.

The ProRealTime online charting software for technical analysis and trading, is integrated with the IG trading platform. As an IG client you get ProRealTime charts free for your first month. MetaTrader 4 is a popular third-party platform for CFD trading and spread betting, with advanced analysis and automated trading tools. Plus, you can choose between 18 bespoke app add-ons.

Download it for free to trade forex, indices, major metals and more. Get an edge with instant access to 18 free add-ons and indicators as part of the IG MetaTrader 4 package. You can download thousands more inside the MetaTrader 4 platform. Trade in sizes as small as 0. Save time and energy thanks to an intuitive, software-based platform and charts.

L2 Dealer is a free, downloadable share trading platform that offers direct market access DMA. Trade CFDs supported by helpful monitoring tools such as watchlists, price alerts and orders. Trade from charts and enjoy price-improvement technology at your fingertips. L2 Dealer is free to download. Contact the broker for more information on these costs plus commission and funding charges.

L2 Dealer requires the Microsoft. NET Framework 2. Start API trading today across a range of markets, including forex and cryptocurrencies. Create bespoke trading solutions with web-based APIs, either REST-based or streaming. Get coding as quickly as possible with the brokers sample app and use alongside third-party software such as Excel VBA ,. NET, and Java. API stands for application programming interface. It is a program that connects two applications — for example, your IG trading account and your custom-built platform.

Trading with IG APIs is an easy way to get live market data, historical prices and execute trades from any of your IG trading accounts — without having to manually trawl various exchanges and dark pools for data and prices. Instead, you can get the information delivered directly to you, ensuring speed and efficiency.

Trading APIs are popular among hedge funds and registered trading firms as they enable access to more advanced programs, but they are also widely used among private traders and investors. If you want to focus on trading rather than coding, but would like to use an advanced platform that is capable of trading with algorithms, you can use the ProRealTime platform. See leverage clearly in the brokers unique turbo trading platform.

No download required. React to opportunity wherever you are with the IG apps — designed specifically for your device. You can see all available long and short turbos in the underlying chart, making it easy to pick the one you want to trade. Simply click on the knock-out level you want to trade and the deal ticket for that turbo will open in the chart. Want to see your chart without the list of turbos?

IG really excel when it comes to additional trading tools that are available to support traders. Whilst the provided trading platforms should have more than enough tools to satisfy the needs of even the most demanding of retail and institutional traders, the broker has a whole host of other powerful trading tools at your disposal.

Some of the trading tools provided by IG include trading alerts, trading signals, Autochartist, PIA-First, and automated trading tools for a hands-off trading experience. Spot potential trades with free forex signals , index signals and commodity signals. You can see signals for a huge range of markets in the IG platform, and use them to help you decide how to trade. IG signals come directly from two third-party providers, Autochartist and PIA-First.

Established in , Autochartist is a market leader in automated technical analysis that can support your trading. Receive alerts when the scanner identifies emerging or completed patterns on your preferred instruments and pattern types, providing real-time trading opportunities. This research service aimed at Institutional Investors, which gives the user access to market analysis and trading strategies across Equity, Fixed Income, Foreign Exchange and Commodities.

Institutional users get live information on trade timing and market direction across these Asset Classes. Therefore, you can get on with your day, with the broker monitoring the markets for you, and take advantage of opportunity when it arises. Trade around the clock and never miss an opportunity with algorithmic trading, available on a range of platforms when you choose IG as your trading broker.

Create and refine your own trading algorithms, or use off-the-shelf solutions, to speculate on the brokers huge offering of over 17, markets. Algorithmic trading uses computer codes and chart analysis to enter and exit trades according to set parameters such as price movements or volatility levels. Once the current market conditions match any predetermined criteria, trading algorithms can execute a buy or sell order on your behalf.

This can save you time scanning the markets, and it means that your trades are executed almost instantly. There are several algorithmic trading strategies to choose from. Most traders will choose a price action strategy or a technical analysis strategy, but some combine the two. A technical analysis strategy relies on technical indicators to analyse charts and the algorithms will react to the markets depending on what the indicators show, such as high or low volatility.

Algorithmic trading has many benefits. Most notably, using algorithms removes your emotions from trading, because they react to predetermined levels and can do so when you are not even at your trading platform.

Other benefits include the time they save you, the fact that they can react to price movements faster than manual trading — ensuring you get the best price — and the back testing and redefining which helps to ensure that your algorithms are performing at their optimum levels.

With IG, algorithmic trading is made possible through partnerships with cutting-edge platforms such as ProRealTime and MetaTrader 4 MT4 , as well as with the brokers native APIs. IG also offer advanced technical analysis and charting tools to make algorithmic trading easy for you, whether you want to build and fully customise your own algorithms or use off-the-shelf solutions. ProRealTime is the leading web-based charting package, which you can use to create your own trading algorithms.

ProRealTime is designed to make building algorithms easy, and it is recommended if you want to create, test and refine your own algorithms. This means your algorithms will operate according to your exact specifications while running on the ProRealTime platform. MT4 is a tried-and-tested trading platform, with a large community of users who are actively creating and refining trading algorithms. These are easily available to you on the MT4 marketplace, from which you can download pre-made algorithms.

Because of this, MT4 is usually preferable if you are looking for off-the-shelf solutions. MT4 is known for its indicators and add-ons, 18 of which you get for free when you download MT4 from IG. These can help you with chart analysis, as well as enabling you to fully customise the MT4 platform to your own needs. An application programming interface API enables you to automate trades, build integrations and create trading algorithms and apps using our market-leading CFD and spread betting technology.

The IG web API offers you an easy way to get market data and historical prices, plus execute trades on any of your IG trading accounts. Creating APIs is only recommended for those with a background in programming and coding, because it is the most complex of the options available here.

However, APIs do offer the greatest amount of customisation, since you build them yourself from the ground up using coding language such as Java, Excel VBA ,.

NET, or any other programming language that supports HTTP. Your success is important to IG which is why they are on hand to help you achieve your trading goals, right from the moment you join. You get continued support for your trading and platform use as and when you need it from the brokers large, highly skilled trading services team. Benefit from shared knowledge with IG Community, the brokers online space for IG clients to chat with each other and the IG team. This forum was created for likeminded clients to share trade ideas and discuss market opportunities.

If you have an IG account your Community login details will be the same as your trading platform details, so you can seamlessly access all your forum content on desktop, the IG mobile app, or mobile browser.

The broker has a vast collection of research and educational resources in their IG Academy section. Some of the resources include:. Get inspired by live and on-demand shows from the brokers in-house TV channel. Watch shows with experts three times a day, Monday to Friday. Get exclusive coverage of major events, like monetary policy announcements from the Federal Reserve and Bank of England. Keep up with financial announcements, and stay ahead of market movements, with news and analysis built into the IG online trading platform.

IG is a multiple award-winning broker and certainly one of the biggest brokers in the world. They offer a wide range of tradable assets and provide multiple flexible and user-friendly trading platforms, powerful trading tools, along with a huge selection of educational resources and up to date market analysis.

The IG support team is available 24 hours a day whilst the broker is regulated in multiple jurisdictions so traders can feel secure with a trusted provider. IG have an easy account opening process that takes just a few minutes to complete.

You can get access to fast execution on a huge range of markets and enjoy flexible access to more than 17, trading instruments, with reliable execution. Deal seamlessly, wherever you are and trade on the move with the brokers natively designed, award-winning trading app. With 45 years of experience, IG are rightly proud to offer a truly market-leading service. Spread bets and CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage.

You should consider whether you understand how spread bets and CFDs work, and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. Self-confessed Forex Geek spending my days researching and testing everything forex related. I have many years of experience in the forex industry having reviewed thousands of forex robots, brokers, strategies, courses and more.

I share my knowledge with you for free to help you learn more about the crazy world of forex trading! Read more about me. Skip to content Forex Brokers Forex Courses Forex Robots Forex Signals Forex Systems Forex Tools Forex Trading. Forex Brokers Forex Courses Forex Robots Forex Signals Forex Systems Forex Tools Forex Trading. Search for:. Home Forex Brokers IG Review.

Table of Contents. Markets 9. Platforms 9. Educational videos: For educational content, IG offers a separate standalone mobile app called IG Academy. IG provides an outstanding selection of trading platforms and tools, with functionality that serves traders of all experience levels.

Platforms overview: While IG does offer the popular MetaTrader 4 platform, alongside the L2 Dealer DMA platform and ProRealTime charting software platform, I focused my testing on IG's flagship web platform.

There is a seemingly endless variety of research and trading tools, including integrated risk-management modules. One minor caveat is that you must take a few minutes to set up the layout, as the default view is mostly empty — though you can save multiple custom layouts.

Charting: Default charts within the IG platform feature advanced functionalities, such as the ability to add up to four alerts to any of its 11 supported indicators. I also appreciated that zooming in and out and resizing the view across time frames all felt very fast and smooth.

Specialty platforms: IG offers the MetaTrader4 MT4 platform and its L2 Dealer platform, where Forex Direct and Direct Market Access DMA are available for share trading. ProRealTime charts: ProRealTime — a third-party platform exclusively offered by IG in the U. ProRealTime costs £30 per month unless you make at least four trades during each calendar period.

While the ProRealTime layout is highly customizable, my testing left me thinking it could use a modern upgrade. For example, floating windows can get messy and are inferior to modern snap grid layouts. That said, its charts were an absolute pleasure to use, and I appreciated the automatic coloring of studies, which made them easier to view when adding multiple indicators. IG provides a vast selection of excellent quality market research from both in-house and third-party providers.

The sheer amount of content in IG's platform — including in-house broadcasting with IGTV — is only matched by TD Ameritrade U. residents only , and Interactive Brokers. Research overview: IG's research tools include streaming news and TV from Reuters, trading signals, in-house broadcasting via IGTV, and an economic calendar and weekly forecast The Week Ahead series in video and article format, alongside multiple daily blog updates with market analysis.

Advanced tools include a customizable screener for various asset classes, including CFDs on global stocks, forex. The additional DailyFX content practically doubles the already impressive amount of research provided by IG.

Market news and analysis: IG integrates Autochartist and PIA First into its platform, allowing traders to view trade signals generated by automated pattern recognition and technical analysis. These trading ideas can be conveniently copied with a single click, which pre-populates the trade ticket window.

IG also provides multiple daily articles and videos that are posted throughout the trading week. DailyFX and IG Community: IG powers DailyFX, a blog-style news website that provides IG clients with news content and various research tools. IG Community, a recently launched social network resembling an advanced forum, brings together over 60, users.

While the content is crowdsourced, I still found it to be valuable as IG hand-picks the best research articles. There is also a timeline akin to a social network that shows member actions such as new joins, follows, and comments on threads. IG is a leader for its educational content, offering a vast selection of material in a variety of formats, including video, written articles, numerous weekly webinars, and guides from DailyFX.

There are educational courses organized by experience level on IG Academy, complete with progress tracking and quizzes. IG also provides a dedicated mobile app for education, and its strong social community of over 64, members provides a selection of crowd-sourced articles.

Learning center: Educational content is scattered across its website, its YouTube channel, and its DailyFX offering. DailyFX offers eight trading guides for beginners, five advanced guides, and written materials in a well-designed course that features progress tracking.

In addition to educational content, there are seven articles about risk-management from Bollinger Bands, 17 beginner articles, and support is also available for additional languages.

IG Academy: IG Academy features eight courses that are organized by experience level, each containing nearly a dozen chapters. These courses are an interactive experience, with video content, lesson summaries, and quizzes incorporated throughout the coursework. There is also a final quiz where you receive a total score reflecting how many questions were answered correctly.

Videos: In addition to a wealth of archived content and various playlists on its YouTube channels, IG offers its own in-house broadcasting with IGTV. Featuring content such as multiple weekly webinars, weekly podcasts, IGTV is an excellent educational tool. IG staff also cover educational topics in a live format, such is the Technical Analysis Masterclass. Even archived webinars are organized by experience level, making it easy to find what you need quickly.

IG Community: As noted in the research section above, the IG Community produces content that is curated by IG. Some of this content takes the form of educational articles, while some of it has more of a narrative structure, with traders sharing their personal views, as well as their past trading successes and failures. Room for improvement: As a leader in this category, IG has little room to enhance its already well-rounded educational offering.

Consolidating content from the IG Academy mobile app into the main IG Trading app could be one way to bring all of its educational material into one place, which would make for a more streamlined, accessible experience. Retail forex and CFD traders who want a trusted broker with brilliant tools, research, and access to nearly every global market over 19, tradeable assets will find that IG is a fantastic choice.

IG finished Best in Class across multiple categories in , including Offering of Investments, Commissions and Fees, Platform and Tools, Research, Education, Mobile Trading, Professional Trading, Trust Score, and Overall. Yes, IG is an excellent broker that ranks at the top in nearly all key categories of importance to traders. As an online broker, IG goes above and beyond to offer a rich experience with many options for investing in financial markets.

Its trading costs, platforms, ease of use, education, mobile apps, research, range of markets, and trading tools make it a winner. Yes, IG holds more regulatory licenses than any other online broker that offers forex and CFDs. Its decades of operation, reputation, and requirements as a publicly traded company mean IG is considered a safe broker to hold client assets, including cash money.

IG holds your funds across a variety of banks and collectively services over , active clients as of its latest trading update in early For example, clients of IG South Africa must deposit at least 4, South African rand ZAR , whereas at IG Japan the minimum is 35, Japanese yen JPY.

As an early pioneer in offering contracts for difference CFDs and spread betting, IG was founded in and has grown to be a global leader in the online trading industry. IG is a London-based public company listed on the London Stock Exchange's FTSE LON: IGG with a market capitalization of £3.

As of its annual report for the financial year ending May 31, , IG has 2, staff, servicing nearly , active clients globally across its regulated entities in the UK and internationally. Read more on Wikipedia. For our Forex Broker Review we assessed, rated, and ranked 39 international forex brokers over a three-month time period resulting in over 50, words of published research. Each broker was graded on different variables, including our proprietary Trust Score algorithm.

This innovative scoring system ranks the level of trustworthiness for each broker based on factors such as licenses, regulation and corporate structure. Read about Trust Score here. As part of our annual review process, all brokers had the opportunity to provide updates and key milestones and complete an in-depth data profile, which we hand-checked for accuracy. Ultimately, our rigorous data validation process yields an error rate of less than.

Learn more about how we test. There is a very high degree of risk involved in trading securities. With respect to margin-based foreign exchange trading, off-exchange derivatives, and cryptocurrencies, there is considerable exposure to risk, including but not limited to, leverage, creditworthiness, limited regulatory protection and market volatility that may substantially affect the price, or liquidity of a currency or related instrument.

It should not be assumed that the methods, techniques, or indicators presented in these products will be profitable, or that they will not result in losses. Read more on forex trading risks. Was this helpful? Yes or No. Steven Hatzakis is the Global Director of Research for ForexBrokers. Steven previously served as an Editor for Finance Magnates, where he authored over 1, published articles about the online finance industry.

A forex industry expert and an active fintech and crypto researcher, Steven advises blockchain companies at the board level and holds a Series III license in the U. as a Commodity Trading Advisor CTA.

Affiliate Disclosure DailyForex. com adheres to strict guidelines to preserve editorial integrity to help you make decisions with confidence. Some of the reviews and content we feature on this site are supported by affiliate partnerships from which this website may receive money.

Safety is evaluated by quality and length of the broker's track record, plus the scope of regulatory standing. Overall How we rank DailyForex. Get Started Free Demo DailyForex. com Team Created on February 21, Updated on September 06, Affiliate Disclosure Affiliate Disclosure DailyForex. I decided to review IG Markets US to determine if its commission-free trading environment offers the promised cost advantage. Does IG Markets US deserve the praise it gets?

Overall Fees Deposit and withdrawal Asset selection Ease of account opening Regulation and security Pros Broad asset selection for Forex traders Quality choice of trading platforms, including MT4 Autochartist signals integrated with the proprietary web-based platform Superb educational tools for beginner traders Cons Limited deposit and withdrawal methods Higher minimum deposit requirement, but within a reasonable demand Overview As far as US-based Forex brokers go, I believe IG Markets US presents one of the best choices, if not THE BEST choices on the market.

Traders get a great selection of currency pairs, offering excellent trading opportunities, a competitive commission-free trading environment. and superb trading platforms. I can also recommend the IG Academy to beginner traders, where IG Markets US delivers an industry-leading service. IG Markets US Main Features Retail Loss Rate Undisclosed Regulation Yes Minimum Raw Spreads Not applicable Minimum Standard Spreads 0.

I always recommend traders to check for regulation and verify it with the regulator by checking the provided license with their database. IG Markets presents clients with one regulated entity for US traders, which is also the only necessary regulation for Forex brokers operating out of the United States. IG Markets US officially launched in , and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission CFTC regulates this broker.

It is also a member of the National Futures Association NFA , created by the CFTC. IG Markets US follows the industry standard for US regulations but has faced criticism in In January , a spike in market volatility caused outages at IG Markers US, and traders could not manage their positions, leading to avoidable trading losses.

Reports from two sources indicated that IG Markets US failed to provide customer support and did not answer phone calls. At the same time, it was quick to react to commentary to protect its image and deny accusations made by clients. Since IG Markets US is a Forex broker, it does not offer traders Securities Investor Protection Corporation SIPC protection, which does not cover currencies. However, since IG Markets US is part of IG Group, publicly listed in the UK on the London Stock Exchange LSE , and a member of the FTSE index, I do not consider this an issue.

Traders can confidently trade with IG Markets US and trust this broker with deposits and portfolios. The minimum mark-up of 0. While the minimum spread is 0. For a US-based broker, this ranks at the top. One of the most ignored trading costs is swap rates on leveraged overnight positions. Depending on the trading strategy, it may become the most significant fee per trade. I always recommend that traders check them before evaluating the total trading costs.

Usually, MT4 traders can easily access swap rates from their platform by following these steps, but IG Markets does not provide this information: 1. Right-click on the desired symbol in the Market Watch window and select Specification. Scroll down until you see Swap Long and Swap Short. While IG Markets US provides two examples of trading costs and how swap rates apply, I dislike the lack of complete transparency.

The document available on the IG Markets US websites shows a 0. IG Markets US also charges a £12 monthly inactivity fee after twelve months of dormancy.

It is more of a nuisance than a cost most traders will face. What Can I Trade on IG Markets IG Markets US is a pure Forex broker, providing traders with 87 currency pairs, an excellent choice, but no other assets. I like the selection for Forex traders, but cross-asset portfolio diversification is impossible at IG Markets US.

Asset List and Leverage Overview. Currency Pairs 87 Cryptocurrency Pairs 0 Commodities Metals: Indices Stocks Index CFDs 0 Stock CFDs 0 CFDs Oil Gold Bonds 0 ETFs Maximum Retail Leverage IG Markets US Leverage The maximum leverage available at IG Markets US is , but it only applies to a few currency pairs, with and the most frequent ones.

This is not as generous as leverage offered in other jurisdictions, but is standard in the US to protect traders from extreme losses.

IG Markets US Trading Hours Asset Class From To Forex Monday Friday I recommend the following step for MT4 traders to access trading hours: 1. Scroll down until you see Sessions. IG Markets Account Types Since IG Markets US only offers Forex trading, it maintains the same account type for all clients.

I appreciate a broker that does not upsell better trading conditions for more substantial deposits. I like the unlimited duration but prefer a flexible account balance, allowing traders to select one similar to their initial deposit. Demo trading lacks real-life trading experiences, and an excessive amount makes it that much more unrealistic. IG Markets Trading Platforms Besides the competitive proprietary web-based trading platform at IG Markets US, traders can use ProRealTime, one of the best trading platforms available for committed traders.

IG Markets US also maintains MT4 and upgrades it with 18 add-ons plus Autochartist. I like that IG Markets US supports algorithmic trading via MT4 and ProRealTime. MT4 also comes with an integrated copy trading service.

I want to note that traders must place a minimum of four trades per month for free access to ProRealTime. Research and Education Traders get a quality selection of in-house research and trading ideas on the IG Markets US blog.

I think it makes a thought-provoking read and grants a different market perspective. IG Markets US also provides trading signals generated by Autochartist and PIA-First, embedded in the proprietary trading platform.

One of the best features at IG Markets US is the IG Academy, which I rank among the best industry wide. The step-by-step courses feature video content, videos, and quizzes, and I highly recommend beginner traders to take full advantage of the IG Academy. Webinars, seminars, and other educational material complement the superb educational offering at IG Markets US. IG Markets US only lists two phone numbers at the bottom of most web pages, one for new clients and one for existing ones. An e-mail address is available only for marketing partnerships.

IG Markets US does not provide operating hours and relies on its FAQ section for the bulk of support. Bonuses and Promotions Active traders can reduce spreads via a three-tier volume-based rebate program.

While I appreciate the program, as any reduction in trading costs makes a notable difference, the compensation ranks towards the bottom compared to other brokers. Terms and conditions apply, and I recommend traders read them before participating. Opening an Account The online application at IG Markets US remains swift, but I dislike two sections that collect unnecessary information. While regulators often require them, traders may fill them out at will without verification.

New traders must submit a copy of their ID. It is higher than most brokers but within a reasonable demand. Payment Methods IG Markets US offers bank wires, automated clearing house ACH , and debit cards, a limited selection typical for US-based brokers. I find the choices unacceptable and prefer third-party payment processors. They remain superior and allow traders to keep trading activities and day-to-day transactions separate.

Accepted Countries IG Markets US only accepts traders from the US except from the state of Ohio. There is no explanation provided for this exclusion. IG Markets Deposits and Withdrawals The back office, also known as My IG, handles all financial transactions. IG Markets US does not levy internal fees but passes on third-party processor costs. The process itself remains straightforward, but I cannot ignore the absence of choices, which is frustrating, but not uncommon for US-based brokers.

Traders can only withdraw the amount they deposited via debit card. The rest must go via bank wire, the most expensive method to transact today. It is typical for US brokers, who lack the options their international counterparts provide.

Bottom Line I like the trading experience at IG Markets US for pure Forex traders. With 87 currency pairs, it offers a broad choice with plenty of trading opportunities. com, Oanda, and TD Ameritrade. It makes a notable difference, especially for active traders. I also like the choice of trading platforms, consisting of a competitive proprietary trading platform, ProRealTime, and MT4. IG Markets US only scored a 3.

I conducted my report with the same standards I apply for each broker, and US-based brokers remain globally uncompetitive, explaining the lower rating but positive conclusion.

I can only recommend IG Markets US, which I consider the best US-based Forex broker. Besides cheaper trading costs, traders get quality research, market commentary, and trading signals.

Beginner traders can benefit from the IG Academy, one of the best industry wide. Home Forex Brokers Directory List IG Markets Review IG Markets Review [year] Affiliate Disclosure. Get Started Free Demo. com Team. Created on February 21, Updated on September 06, Affiliate Disclosure.

Deposit and withdrawal. Asset selection. Ease of account opening.

One of the best features at IG Markets US is the IG Academy, which I rank among the best industry wide. You can use the same order types and order time limits as the ones available on the web trading platform. Published by Usman Ahmed, MBA Researcher. IG Markets US Trading Hours Asset Class From To Forex Monday Friday I recommend the following step for MT4 traders to access trading hours: 1. Steven Hatzakis is the Global Director of Research for ForexBrokers. IG's in-house developed trading platform has no desktop version.

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