Is IG Markets good for trading?

IG Markets is rated 4.3/5 on TradingToolsHub. Key strengths: 50+ years of operating history — highly trusted, 17,000+ tradable markets, ProRealTime professional charting included free. Potential drawbacks: CFDs not available to US clients (forex only), Inactivity fee of $12/month after 2 years, Spread betting only available in UK/Ireland. It's best suited for CFD traders,spread bettors,multi-asset traders.

Does IG Markets have a free plan?

Yes, IG Markets offers a free plan. It includes Forex spreads from 0.6 pips and No minimum deposit. Upgrade to a paid plan for full access.

IG Markets

World's largest CFD and spread betting provider with 17,000+ markets, ProRealTime charting, and 50 years of trading heritage.

★★★★☆ 4.3/5

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Quick Facts

Starting Price: Free
Free Tier: Yes
Founded: 1974
Company: IG Group Holdings plc

IG Markets Overview

IG Markets (commonly known as IG) is the world's largest CFD provider by revenue and one of the most established names in online trading, founded in 1974. The platform offers CFDs and spread betting (in select jurisdictions) across over 17,000 markets including forex, indices, shares, commodities, cryptocurrencies, and more.

IG's proprietary web platform is clean and intuitive, while serious traders can access ProRealTime — a professional-grade charting and automated trading platform included free with an active account. IG also supports MetaTrader 4 and offers L2 Dealer for direct market access (DMA) trading on shares.

The broker is regulated by the FCA, ASIC, BaFin, and other top-tier regulators. US clients can access forex trading through IG's US entity. IG's educational resources are among the best in the industry, with IG Academy offering structured courses from beginner to advanced levels. The platform also provides real-time Reuters and Twitter feeds, economic calendars, and client sentiment data.

Editorial Assessment

What We Checked

• Pricing reviewed across 2 listed plans: Standard: Free | Professional: Free.
• Feature fit checked against 12 supported capability flags, including Backtesting, Paper Trading, Price Alerts, Mobile App.
• Best-use recommendation checked against the stated audience: CFD traders, spread bettors, multi-asset traders.
• Tradeoffs reviewed from the published cons list so the page does not rank tools only by headline rating.

Before You Pay

• Use the free tier or trial to confirm the workflow before upgrading.
• Check whether your broker is supported before assuming imports will work.
• Review API limits, latency, and data coverage if you plan to build around it.
• Test mobile usability if you review trades or alerts away from desk.

Our rating favors tools that solve a specific trading workflow reliably. IG Markets is strongest for CFD traders, spread bettors, and multi-asset traders. It is weaker if you need AI Analysis, Social Features, Trade Journaling.

IG Markets Pricing

Standard

Free

✓ Forex spreads from 0.6 pips
✓ No minimum deposit
✓ 17,000+ markets
✓ ProRealTime included

Professional

Free

✓ Higher leverage limits
✓ Reduced margins
✓ No negative balance protection
✓ Requires professional qualification

Features

✗ 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

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

Rating Breakdown

4.3

★★★★☆

Overall Rating

ease of use

4.4

features

4.5

value

4.0

support

4.2

reliability

4.5

Key Takeaways

✓ 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
★ Rated 4.3/5 — best for CFD traders, spread bettors, multi-asset traders
$ Free tier available

Summary

World's largest CFD and spread betting provider with 17,000+ markets, ProRealTime charting, and 50 years of trading heritage. IG Markets offers a free tier. Best suited for CFD traders, spread bettors, and multi-asset traders.