Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of IG vs Forex4you, 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.
IG and Forex4you are two prominent online brokers offering traders different levels of trust and regulatory assurance. Founded in 1974, IG stands out with its extensive industry experience and is publicly traded on a stock exchange, which adds a layer of transparency and reliability. Additionally, IG operates as a bank and holds 8 Tier-1 licenses, signifying a high level of trust. With a stellar ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 99, IG is considered highly trusted, making it a compelling choice for safety-minded investors.
In contrast, Forex4you, founded in 2007, is not publicly traded and does not function as a bank, which may limit its appeal for some traders seeking added security. Lacking any Tier-1 or Tier-2 licenses, Forex4you receives a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 61, placing it in the high-risk category. While both brokers serve the online trading community, IG's regulatory credentials and high trust score distinguish it as a more secure option compared to Forex4you.
| Feature |
IG
|
Forex4you
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1974 | 2007 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | Yes | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 8 | 0 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
IG and Forex4you differ significantly in terms of their commissions and fees structures. IG, known for its scalable execution across various products, excels in providing competitive fees especially through its Forex Direct accounts. While not a discount broker, IG shines with its active trader pricing and the ability to handle large orders. In July 2023, IG's main Forex Direct account offered spreads averaging 0.62 pips, with an all-in cost of 0.82 pips after accounting for commissions. Meanwhile, its CFD accounts showcased spreads slightly better than the industry average, which fluctuate based on market liquidity. For high-volume traders, IG provides a favorable rebate program that can reduce spreads significantly. Its DMA account offers deeper discounts and uses a tiered pricing mechanism based on trading volume.
Conversely, Forex4you doesn't provide average spread data, offering limited transparency in its fee structures. This lack of detailed information puts Forex4you at a disadvantage compared to IG's comprehensive and competitive pricing strategy. While Forex4you's specifics remain sparse, IG sets a benchmark with its transparent tier-based rebates and low all-in costs for savvy traders. ForexBrokers.com ranks IG at #8 out of 62 brokers for commissions and fees, significantly higher than Forex4you, which stands at #53.
In terms of ratings, IG excels with a 5-star rating for its fee structure, highlighting its strength and appeal to active and professional traders. Forex4you, on the other hand, receives a 3.5-star rating, reflecting its comparative shortcomings in pricing clarity and competitiveness. The stark contrast in both their offerings and ratings underscores IG's superior capacity to cater to diverse trading needs with precision and economic efficiency.
| Feature |
IG
|
Forex4you
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £250.00 | $0 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.98 | N/A |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.82 | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| 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.
IG and Forex4you both offer forex trading options, allowing traders to engage in CFD and spot contract transactions. While IG boasts an impressive range with 19,537 tradeable symbols and 97 forex pairs, Forex4you provides a more focused selection of 150 symbols and 43 forex pairs. IG offers a broader investment opportunity with access to exchange-traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges, allowing clients to invest directly in companies like Apple and Vodafone. In contrast, Forex4you does not offer this option but compensates with a copy trading feature that is not available with IG.
Both brokers allow cryptocurrency derivative trading, though neither facilitates the purchase of actual, delivered cryptocurrencies. When rated on the range of available investments, IG receives a near-perfect 5-star rating and ranks #4 out of 62 brokers by ForexBrokers.com. Forex4you, on the other hand, garners a 3.5-star rating and a #58 ranking in the same category. This stark difference highlights IG's dominance in providing a diverse array of investment opportunities compared to Forex4you's more limited offerings.
| Feature |
IG
|
Forex4you
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 19537 | 150 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 97 | 43 |
| 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.
For those exploring the trading world, both IG and Forex4you offer a range of intuitive platforms and tools that cater to the needs of new and seasoned traders alike. Both brokers provide virtual demo accounts, allowing users to practice trading strategies without financial risk. Each also offers proprietary platforms and windows-based desktop downloads, as well as web-based trading platforms, ensuring easy access from almost any device. However, Forex4you distinguishes itself with the added feature of copy trading, which is absent from IG's offerings. Both brokers support MetaTrader 4, but only Forex4you extends its services to MetaTrader 5, appealing to those seeking the latest MetaTrader version.
Traders focusing on charting capabilities and customization might find IG more suitable, as it offers 20 drawing tools compared to Forex4you's 15. Meanwhile, both brokers allow users to execute trades directly from stock charts. Forex4you offers a more comprehensive watch list customization with seven columns, surpassing IG's five. Despite these differences, IG receives an impressive five-star rating from ForexBrokers.com for its Trading Platforms and Tools, ranking #2 out of 62 brokers. In contrast, Forex4you earns four stars and is positioned at #52, indicating IG's stronger overall performance in this category.
| Feature |
IG
|
Forex4you
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 considering mobile trading apps, both IG and Forex4you provide solutions for iPhone and Android users. Each app supports key features such as price alerts and the ability to draw trendlines on stock or forex charts. Both platforms allow users to explore various time frames and autosave chart drawings, offering flexibility for traders on the go. However, IG stands out with its seamless watchlist symbol syncing feature, keeping updates consistent across devices, which Forex4you does not offer.
IG provides access to 33 technical studies for chart analysis, while Forex4you offers 30, both presenting a range of tools for technical traders. The apps also let users create watchlists with real-time quotes, essential for staying informed on market movements. According to user ratings, IG shines with a full 5-star score and ranks 1st among 62 brokers, showing its strong reputation in mobile trading. Forex4you has a respectable 4-star rating but ranks 50th, indicating room for improvement compared to its peers.
| Feature |
IG
|
Forex4you
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 it comes to market research offerings, both IG and Forex4you provide a strong foundation for traders by offering daily market commentary and access to forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg and Reuters. They also supply tools from Autochartist for technical and fundamental analysis. However, notable differences arise with IG's unique features, such as a sentiment-based trading tool and research from TipRanks and Acuity Trading, offering a richer insight experience that Forex4you doesn't match.
Forex4you stands out with access to Trading Central's technical analysis tools, which IG does not provide. Despite this advantage, IG's comprehensive suite of research tools and its high rating of 5 stars for research from ForexBrokers.com—the second-highest among 62 brokers—showcase its dominance in the market research category. In contrast, Forex4you holds a 3.5-star rating and ranks at #47 in the same field, revealing a more limited research capability compared to IG.
| Feature |
IG
|
Forex4you
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | Yes |
| 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 comparing the educational resources offered by IG and Forex4you, IG stands out as a more comprehensive choice for beginners. IG provides an extensive range of educational materials, including articles, videos, and archived webinars, specifically focused on forex and CFDs. Beginners can benefit from IG's monthly webinars and a searchable archive for revisiting past sessions. In addition, IG offers a plethora of beginner-friendly videos and an informative investor dictionary that explains over 50 investing terms. With these resources, IG earns a 5-star rating for education and secures the top rank among 62 brokers reviewed by ForexBrokers.com.
Forex4you, while offering some educational content and a searchable archive of webinars, does not match IG's breadth in educational videos for beginners or advanced traders. Forex4you lacks the regular monthly webinars that IG provides, as well as a comprehensive investor dictionary. As a result, Forex4you is rated 3.5 stars for its educational offerings and ranks 25th out of 62 brokers in the education category. For beginners seeking in-depth learning tools, IG's educational resources provide a more thorough and supportive environment for understanding forex and CFD trading.
| Feature |
IG
|
Forex4you
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| 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 Forex4you. IG finished with an overall rank of #1, while Forex4you finished with an overall rank of #55.
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
|
Forex4you
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 61 |
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Both IG and Forex4you do not offer the ability to buy actual, delivered cryptocurrency, but they do provide options to buy cryptocurrency derivatives, allowing traders to speculate on digital currency price movements without owning the underlying assets.
When comparing online brokers, IG offers ACH or SEPA transfers, PayPal, Visa/Mastercard, and bank wires for depositing and withdrawing funds, but does not support Skrill, whereas Forex4you lacks ACH or SEPA transfers and PayPal options, but provides Visa/Mastercard, bank wires, and supports Skrill 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 | Forex4you | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 61 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IG Review |
| Broker Screenshots | IG | Forex4you | |
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| Regulation | IG | Forex4you | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 61 | |
| Year Founded | 1974 | 2007 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 8 | 0 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | IG | Forex4you | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| 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 | Forex4you | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Forex4you | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 19537 | 150 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 97 | 43 | |
| 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 | Forex4you | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.98 | N/A | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.82 | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | IG | Forex4you | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £250.00 | $0 | |
| 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 | No |
| Trading Platforms | IG | Forex4you | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Forex4you | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Forex4you | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes |
| Research | IG | Forex4you | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | Yes | |
| TipRanks | Yes | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | IG | Forex4you | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | IG | Forex4you | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD | Yes | No | |
| USD/JPY | Yes | No | |
| EUR/USD | Yes | No | |
| USD/CHF | Yes | No | |
| USD/CAD | Yes | No | |
| NZD/USD | Yes | No | |
| AUD/USD | Yes | No | |
| Review | IG Review |
| Overall | IG | Forex4you | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 61 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IG Review |
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