FBS vs IG Markets (2026) — Which Is Better?
Compare FBS and IG Markets — features, pricing, pros and cons.
Fees, feature availability, and plan details come from each provider's current documentation. If you're about to act on this, confirm the specific numbers on the vendor's site first. Methodology →
At-a-Glance
Higher Rated
IG Markets (4.3)
More Affordable
FBS (Free)
FBS
FBS is a global retail forex and CFD broker founded in 2009, offering 40+ currency pairs, ultra-low minimum deposits from $1, and MT4/MT5 platforms.
IG Markets
World's largest CFD and spread betting provider with 17,000+ markets, ProRealTime charting, and 50 years of trading heritage.
Spread, Regulation & Feature Breakdown
| Feature | FBS | IG Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★ 3.9 | ★ 4.3 |
| Starting Price | Free | Free |
| Free Tier | Yes | Yes |
| Markets | forex, metals, indices, stocks, crypto, energies | forex, stocks, crypto, futures, options |
| AI Analysis | ✗ | ✗ |
| Backtesting | ✓ | ✓ |
| Paper Trading | ✓ | ✓ |
| Price Alerts | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mobile App | ✓ | ✓ |
| API Access | ✗ | ✓ |
| Social Features | ✓ | ✗ |
| Broker Integration | ✓ | ✓ |
| Custom Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Automated Trading | ✓ | ✓ |
| Trade Journaling | ✗ | ✗ |
| Performance Analytics | ✓ | ✓ |
| Risk Management | ✓ | ✓ |
| News Feed | ✓ | ✓ |
| Education Content | ✓ | ✓ |
Forex Broker Head-to-Head
FBS and IG Markets are both regulated CFD brokers but they compete in different weight classes. IG Markets is the veteran heavyweight — the world's largest CFD and spread-betting provider by market count (17,000+ markets covering forex, indices, shares, commodities, options and more), with ProRealTime charting alongside MT4 and IG's own web platform, and 50 years of trading heritage from a company that essentially invented the retail CFD category.
FBS is the newer, lower-friction challenger — founded 2009, focused on retail forex and CFDs, with 40+ currency pairs on MT4/MT5 and ultra-low minimum deposits from $1 that let a new trader open a live account for the price of a coffee.
IG's core buyer is the serious retail or semi-pro trader who values market breadth and platform depth. FBS's core buyer is the newer trader or emerging-market user who wants a small-deposit entry point and a familiar MetaTrader workflow — and who doesn't need IG's product breadth on day one.
FBS: Pros & Cons
Pros
- + Ultra-low minimum deposit starting at $1 for Cent accounts
- + Supports MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, and proprietary FBS Trader app
- + Copy trading feature accessible to all account types
- + Extensive educational resources including webinars and courses
- + 24/7 multilingual customer support
Cons
- - Primary regulation is IFSC Belize (offshore) for most global clients
- - High leverage up to 1:3000 poses significant risk for inexperienced traders
- - Limited range of tradable instruments compared to top-tier brokers
- - No proprietary desktop trading platform beyond MT4/MT5
IG Markets: Pros & Cons
Pros
- + 50+ years of operating history — highly trusted
- + 17,000+ tradable markets
- + ProRealTime professional charting included free
- + Excellent educational content via IG Academy
- + Regulated by FCA, ASIC, and other top authorities
Cons
- - CFDs not available to US clients (forex only)
- - Inactivity fee of $12/month after 2 years
- - Spread betting only available in UK/Ireland
- - Share CFD commissions can be high