Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of IG vs Eightcap, 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 it comes to choosing an online broker, understanding trustworthiness and regulatory standards is key. IG, founded in 1974, stands out with an impressive Trust Score of 99 from ForexBrokers.com, reflecting the highest level of trust. As a publicly traded bank, IG holds 8 Tier-1 licenses, signaling a strong commitment to regulatory compliance. Additionally, IG boasts 2 Tier-2 licenses, further solidifying its reputation for reliability in the financial sector.
Comparatively, Eightcap, which was established in 2009, offers a respectable Trust Score of 85. Although not a publicly traded company or a bank, Eightcap demonstrates a commendable level of trust with 3 Tier-1 licenses under its belt. However, it holds no Tier-2 licenses, which may be a consideration for some users. While both brokers have their strengths, IG's extensive history and regulatory credentials give it a distinct edge for those prioritizing trust and control in an online trading partner.
| Feature |
IG
|
Eightcap
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1974 | 2009 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | Yes | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 8 | 3 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
When comparing IG and Eightcap for commissions and fees, each offers unique advantages suited to different trading needs. IG, rated 5 stars, is known for its competitive pricing, especially for active traders. With its Forex Direct accounts, IG provides pricing near the industry average, averaging spreads of 0.62 pips with an all-in cost of 0.82 pips when including a commission equivalent of 0.2 pips. CFD account spreads for IG can be as low as 0.69 pips during main trading hours, making it a strong choice for high-volume traders who can leverage extra discounts through their active-trader rebate program. In this space, IG ranks #8 out of 62 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com, largely due to its scalable execution and premium trader benefits, although users must handle higher costs in lower liquidity periods.
On the other hand, Eightcap offers a simpler fee structure through its commission-based Raw account and spread-only Standard account. The Raw account features an average spread of 0.06 pips; however, factoring in the $3.50 commission per trade, the all-in cost is approximately 0.76 pips. This slightly undercuts the industry average, but Eightcap remains a touch more expensive than the absolute lowest-cost brokers. Eightcap earns a 4-star rating in commissions and fees and ranks #26 out of 62 brokers in the ForexBrokers.com ranking, making it an appealing option for those interested in a straightforward fee structure without the need for advanced trading volume discounts.
| Feature |
IG
|
Eightcap
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £250.00 | $100 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.98 | 1.0 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.82 | 0.76 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| 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 it comes to the variety of investments, IG stands out with an impressive offering. They provide access to 19,537 tradeable symbols, including 97 forex pairs. IG also allows clients to invest in exchange-traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges, offering more traditional stock purchase options. Additionally, IG offers forex trading as both a CFD and a spot contract, alongside the chance to trade cryptocurrency derivatives. Subsequently, IG has been rated 5 stars for its range of investments and is ranked 4th out of 62 brokers by ForexBrokers.com.
Meanwhile, Eightcap delivers a more streamlined selection with 736 tradeable symbols, including 56 forex pairs. While it offers forex trading via CFD and spot contracts, it lacks the option for direct exchange-traded securities purchases or actual cryptocurrency transactions. Instead, Eightcap provides clients with the ability to trade cryptocurrency derivatives and supports copy trading. With a focus on specific trading features, Eightcap is rated 3.5 stars for its range of investments and holds the 40th position in ForexBrokers.com's ranking.
| Feature |
IG
|
Eightcap
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 19537 | 736 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 97 | 56 |
| 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.
Both IG and Eightcap offer traders the opportunity to start with simulated trading, providing free virtual demo accounts that are ideal for practice. When it comes to their own trading platforms, IG shines with its proprietary platform while Eightcap lacks one but compensates with support for popular platforms like MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5). Both brokers provide accessible trading through Windows-based desktop downloads and web-based platforms, while Eightcap goes a step further by offering copy trading, a feature that IG does not.
IG's platform comes highly recommended, receiving a stellar 5-star rating and ranking 2nd among 62 brokers for its Trading Platforms and Tools. Eightcap, although not as highly rated with a 4-star score and a 38th place ranking, still offers a solid trading experience. IG offers more drawing tools for charting compared to Eightcap but falls behind in the variety of platforms. Both brokers support trading directly from stock charts. Additionally, Eightcap provides more customizable watchlist fields than IG, which may appeal to those who are keen on detailed market monitoring.
| Feature |
IG
|
Eightcap
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | No |
| 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.
IG and Eightcap both provide their users with high-quality mobile trading experiences through their dedicated iPhone and Android applications. Each platform supports important features like stock and forex price alerts, watchlist symbol syncing, and the ability to draw trendlines on charts. Traders can also view multiple time frames and enjoy the convenience of auto-saving their drawings. Both apps allow the creation of watchlists with real-time quotes, offering a seamless trading experience whether you're on the go or at your desktop.
When comparing charting tools, IG holds a slight edge with 33 technical studies available in its mobile app, compared to Eightcap's 30. This advantage may contribute to IG's superior rating, achieving a full five stars in mobile trading apps, while Eightcap is close behind with four stars. IG's app is highly regarded in the industry, holding the top rank out of 62 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com, whereas Eightcap ranks at 38th. These rankings make IG a preferred choice for traders seeking top-tier mobile trading performance.
| Feature |
IG
|
Eightcap
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| 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 Eightcap on the basis of market research, IG stands out with an impressive range of resources. Both platforms provide daily market commentary and a sentiment-based trading tool, but IG takes the lead in offering additional resources. Notably, IG delivers forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, which Eightcap does not. Moreover, IG is equipped with research tools from Autochartist and TipRanks, enhancing its analytical offerings, while Eightcap lacks these tools. Both brokers provide economic calendars, yet IG's broader suite of research tools gives it a competitive edge.
Further emphasizing IG's research strength is its use of tools from Acuity Trading, which is absent in Eightcap's lineup. Reflecting its extensive market analysis offerings, IG has earned a 5-star research rating and ranks second among 62 brokers on ForexBrokers.com. In contrast, Eightcap receives a 3.5-star rating and ranks 39th. This distinction highlights IG's commitment to providing traders with a comprehensive array of insights and analysis tools, making it a top choice for those who prioritize in-depth market research.
| Feature |
IG
|
Eightcap
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes |
| 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 beginner traders, IG provides a comprehensive learning experience compared to Eightcap. Both IG and Eightcap provide informative content with more than 10 pieces focused on forex and CFDs, including a rich archive of recorded webinars. However, IG takes a step further by offering monthly live webinars to engage clients directly, a feature Eightcap does not provide. Additionally, IG presents an extensive selection of beginner videos, as well as advanced educational content for more experienced traders, whereas Eightcap lacks equivalent advanced materials.
IG also enhances the learning journey with an investor dictionary that defines over 50 essential investing terms, matching Eightcap's offering in that regard. Reflecting their overall educational support, IG earns a top-tier rating of 5 stars for education and holds the first rank out of 62 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com. Conversely, Eightcap has a 3.5-star rating and is ranked 40th, highlighting IG's superior commitment to educating traders of all levels. For those new to trading, IG presents a more thorough educational platform to help build confidence and knowledge.
| Feature |
IG
|
Eightcap
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | Yes |
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 Eightcap. IG finished with an overall rank of #1, while Eightcap finished with an overall rank of #38.
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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Eightcap
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 85 |
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Both IG and Eightcap do not provide the option to buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrency, but they both offer the ability to trade cryptocurrency derivatives.
In comparing online brokers IG and Eightcap, IG provides more flexible options with support for ACH/SEPA transfers, PayPal, Visa/Mastercard, and bank wires, while Eightcap, although lacking ACH/SEPA transfer support, offers Skrill alongside PayPal, Visa/Mastercard, and bank wire transactions.
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 | Eightcap | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IG Review | Eightcap Review |
| Broker Screenshots | IG | Eightcap | |
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| Regulation | IG | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 85 | |
| Year Founded | 1974 | 2009 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 8 | 3 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | IG | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | Yes | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | IG | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 19537 | 736 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 97 | 56 | |
| 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 | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.98 | 1.0 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.82 | 0.76 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | IG | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £250.00 | $100 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | IG | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | No | |
| 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 | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | Yes | |
| 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 | Yes |
| Research | IG | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | IG | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | IG | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Eightcap Review |
| Overall | IG | Eightcap | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IG Review | Eightcap Review |
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