Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of IG vs ACY Securities, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Between 51% and 89% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
When comparing online brokerages, IG and ACY Securities stand out in terms of trust and regulatory credentials. Founded in 1974, IG is a well-established player, publicly traded, and even operates as a bank. It boasts 8 Tier-1 licenses, which are highly regarded in the financial industry for their trustworthiness. This strong regulatory framework is reflected in IG's impressive Trust Score of 99 out of 99 by ForexBrokers.com, representing the epitome of reliability and safety for investors.
On the other hand, ACY Securities was established in 2011 and is a newer entrant. It is not publicly traded and doesn't operate as a bank, which may influence its regulatory stature. ACY holds just 1 Tier-1 license, paired with no Tier-2 licenses, leading to a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 75. This score indicates an average risk level, potentially appealing to investors seeking different opportunities. While both brokers offer pathways for online trading, their regulatory standings set distinct profiles for potential clients to consider.
| Feature |
IG
|
ACY Securities
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1974 | 2011 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | Yes | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 8 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
When evaluating commissions and fees, IG and ACY Securities both offer different strengths tailored to various trading needs. IG is known for scalable execution across its platforms and offers multiple trading methods. While not classified as a discount broker, it shines for its competitive active trader pricing, especially through its Forex Direct accounts. IG's key advantage lies in its tiered active-trader rebate program and DMA account, where spreads can be as low as 0.62 pips, and active traders can enjoy discounts up to 20%. IG holds a 5-star rating and ranks as the 8th best broker out of 62 in this category.
ACY Securities accommodates a broad spectrum of traders with diverse account options such as the Standard, ProZero, and Bespoke accounts. The Standard account is commission-free with slightly higher spreads, averaging 1.2 pips on the EUR/USD. However, the ProZero account provides better spreads, going as low as 0.25 pips, paired with commissions starting at $6 per round turn (RT). For those in Australia, commissions on the ProZero account drop further, offering a highly competitive edge. ACY Securities boasts a 4.5-star rating and is ranked 21st out of 62 brokers.
In summary, IG appeals to those seeking competitive active trader pricing through their rebate and DMA accounts, while ACY Securities offers flexible account types appealing to cost-conscious traders, especially those based in Australia seeking lower commissions. Both brokers provide attractive trading conditions, with IG having a slight edge in ranking and rating.
| Feature |
IG
|
ACY Securities
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £250.00 | $50 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.98 | 1.2 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.82 | 0.85 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | Yes |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
When comparing the investment options offered by IG and ACY Securities, the differences become clear. IG stands out with an impressive offering of 19,537 tradeable symbols, dwarfing ACY Securities' 2,200. It also provides 97 tradeable forex pairs compared to ACY Securities' 66. Furthermore, IG allows customers to invest in exchange-traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges, giving investors the opportunity to purchase shares like Apple and Vodafone directly. However, IG does not offer a copy trading feature, which ACY Securities does provide, catering to those who prefer to follow trading strategies of more experienced investors.
Both IG and ACY Securities offer forex trading as CFDs, and they also allow trading in cryptocurrency derivatives, although neither broker provides the option to buy actual cryptocurrency. When evaluated by ForexBrokers.com, IG achieves a 5-star rating for its range of investments, placing it 4th among 62 brokers. In contrast, ACY Securities receives 4 stars and ranks 30th, reflecting its somewhat more limited range of investment options. These ratings highlight IG's all-encompassing investment portfolio, while ACY Securities caters to traders who are more focused on forex and copy trading opportunities.
| Feature |
IG
|
ACY Securities
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 19537 | 2200 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 97 | 66 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | No | No |
| Cryptocurrency (Derivative) | Yes | Yes |
| Disclaimers | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). |
Dive deeper: Best Copy Trading Platforms.
When it comes to trading platforms and tools, IG and ACY Securities both cater to traders with a variety of offerings. Both brokers provide users with the ability to explore and practice risk-free through simulated trading accounts. Each firm has crafted proprietary platforms ensuring a tailored trading experience. Both IG and ACY Securities also offer versatile access through Windows-based desktop platforms and browser-based trading interfaces. IG stands out by providing 20 drawing tools and five customizable fields for watch lists, while ACY Securities supports 15 drawing tools and enhances monitoring with seven watch list columns.
In terms of trading software, both IG and ACY Securities support the popular MetaTrader 4 (MT4) platform. However, ACY Securities extends its offerings by including MetaTrader 5 (MT5), whereas IG does not. For traders interested in copy trading, ACY Securities presents options, whereas IG does not facilitate copy trading. Despite varying features, IG garners more acclaim in the trading platforms and tools sector, earning a 5-star rating and ranking second among 62 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com. In contrast, ACY Securities receives a 4-star rating, placing it at #41. This makes IG a leading choice for traders prioritizing advanced trading tools and platform features.
| Feature |
IG
|
ACY Securities
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 33 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 20 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 5 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
When it comes to mobile trading apps, IG and ACY Securities both provide a solid experience for users on iPhone and Android devices. Both platforms offer stock and forex price alerts and allow users to create watchlists with real-time quotes. However, a key difference lies in their watchlist syncing capabilities. IG offers watchlist symbol syncing, ensuring that any changes made in the mobile app or the online account are reflected across both platforms, while ACY Securities does not provide this feature.
Charting features are a strong point for both apps. IG offers a slightly higher number of technical studies at 33 compared to ACY Securities' 30. Both apps support drawing trendlines and viewing multiple time frames, like daily or weekly charts, with auto-saving functionalities for drawings. Users have rated IG's mobile trading app a full 5 stars, ranking it first among 62 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com, while ACY Securities earns 4 stars and is ranked 40th. This places IG as the top choice for those seeking a comprehensive and synchronized mobile trading experience.
| Feature |
IG
|
ACY Securities
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 33 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When comparing IG and ACY Securities in terms of market research offerings, both brokers provide daily market commentary and an economic calendar to keep traders informed about global events. However, IG stands out with its access to forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, a feature not offered by ACY Securities. IG further enhances its research tools with Autochartist, sentiment-based trading tools, and additional insights from TipRanks and Acuity Trading. Conversely, ACY Securities does not provide these advanced research tools.
Overall, IG has established a formidable reputation for market research, earning a 5-star rating and ranking second among 62 brokers as per ForexBrokers.com. This strong performance reflects its comprehensive suite of tools and services for informed decision-making. On the other hand, ACY Securities, with a 3.5-star rating and a rank of 44, offers a more basic research package, making it less competitive for traders seeking in-depth analysis and innovative research tools.
| Feature |
IG
|
ACY Securities
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No |
| TipRanks | Yes | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | Yes | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When it comes to educational resources for beginners, both IG and ACY Securities deliver strong offerings, but there are some differences worth mentioning. IG and ACY Securities each provide a broad selection of over 10 educational materials, like articles and videos, focusing on forex and CFDs. Both brokers also offer at least one educational webinar for clients every month, along with access to an archive of previously recorded webinars. Where IG shines ahead is its collection of video content; it provides more than 10 videos designed specifically for novice traders, whereas ACY Securities struggles to match this with advanced video content for seasoned traders. Additionally, IG enhances its educational suite with a dictionary that defines over 50 investment terms – a feature not available with ACY Securities.
Reflecting the strength of its educational services, IG receives a 5-star rating for education and holds the top spot among 62 brokers in a ranking by ForexBrokers.com. In contrast, ACY Securities earns a decent but lower rating of 3.5 stars and ranks 43rd on the same list. These factors make IG a favored choice for beginners looking to dive into trading education, offering a more comprehensive learning experience, while ACY Securities provides a solid yet less extensive option.
| Feature |
IG
|
ACY Securities
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 62 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that IG is better than ACY Securities. IG finished with an overall rank of #1, while ACY Securities finished with an overall rank of #41.
IG offers the ultimate comprehensive trading package, featuring excellent trading and research tools, industry-leading education, and an extensive range of tradeable markets.
| Feature |
IG
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ACY Securities
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 75 |
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Both IG and ACY Securities do not offer the ability to buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrency, but they both provide options to buy cryptocurrency derivatives instead.
Both IG and ACY Securities support ACH and SEPA transfers, Visa or Mastercard, as well as bank wire options for depositing or withdrawing funds; however, while IG accommodates PayPal and does not support Skrill, ACY Securities reverses these options by offering Skrill but not PayPal.
Please note:
We review each broker’s overall global offering – a “Yes” checkmark in our Compare Tool does not guarantee the availability of any specific features in your country of residence. To verify the availability of any features within your country of residence, please contact the broker directly.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | IG | ACY Securities | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 75 | |
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| Review | IG Review | ACY Securities Review |
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| Regulation | IG | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 75 | |
| Year Founded | 1974 | 2011 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 8 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | IG | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | Yes | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | IG | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | IG | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 19537 | 2200 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 97 | 66 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | No | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (Derivative) | Yes | Yes | |
| Disclaimers | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). |
| Cost | IG | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.98 | 1.2 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.82 | 0.85 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | No |
| Funding | IG | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £250.00 | $50 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | IG | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | IG | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 5 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 33 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 20 | 15 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | IG | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 33 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | No |
| Research | IG | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No | |
| TipRanks | Yes | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | IG | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | IG | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/JPY | Yes | Yes | |
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CAD | Yes | Yes | |
| NZD/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| AUD/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| Review | IG Review | ACY Securities Review |
| Overall | IG | ACY Securities | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 75 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IG Review | ACY Securities Review |
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