Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of IG vs FP Markets, 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 FP Markets are well-known online brokers with different backgrounds. IG was founded in 1974, is publicly traded, and is a bank. FP Markets was founded in 2005, is not publicly traded, and is not a bank.
On regulation and trust, IG holds 8 Tier-1 licenses and 2 Tier-2 licenses, while FP Markets holds 2 Tier-1 licenses and 1 Tier-2 license. According to ForexBrokers.com, Trust Scores of 90–99 are highly trusted, 80–89 trusted, 70–79 average risk, 60–69 high risk, and below 59 not trusted. IG scores 99/99 (highly trusted) and FP Markets scores 90/99 (highly trusted).
| Feature |
IG
|
FP Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1974 | 2005 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | Yes | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 8 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 2 |
When comparing commissions and fees, IG and FP Markets both offer pricing that can work well for active traders, but FP Markets has the edge overall on low-cost trading. IG is not a discount broker, yet it stands out for its Forex Direct DMA pricing, large-order execution, and active trader rebates. Its main Forex Direct account had average EUR/USD spreads of 0.62 pips in July 2023, which came to an all-in cost of about 0.82 pips after commission. IG’s CFD pricing was also competitive, with average spreads of 0.69 pips during the main trading session, though costs can rise during quieter market hours.
FP Markets is known for its highly competitive commission-based ECN pricing, especially on its Raw account. In October 2023, its Raw ECN EUR/USD spread averaged 0.1 pips, or about 0.8 pips all-in after commission, while its Standard account was wider at around 1.1 pips. FP Markets also offers cTrader and Iress account choices, but the best value is usually found in the Raw ECN setup. For commission and fee value, FP Markets has a 4.5-star rating and is ranked #11 out of 36 brokers.
IG earns a higher 5-star rating and is ranked #7 out of 36 brokers for commissions and fees, thanks to its strong execution, tiered rebates, and DMA-style Forex Direct pricing. Still, if your main goal is the lowest possible trading costs, FP Markets is often the more budget-friendly option. In short, IG is a strong choice for serious traders who value execution and volume-based discounts, while FP Markets is better suited to traders focused on simple, competitive low fees.
| Feature |
IG
|
FP Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £1 | $100 AUD |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.91 | 1.3 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.82 | 0.9 |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
When it comes to range of investments, IG offers more choice overall than FP Markets. IG lists 19,537 tradeable symbols and 97 forex pairs, compared with 10,000 symbols and 71 forex pairs at FP Markets. Both brokers support forex trading as CFDs or spot contracts, but IG also stands out for its access to exchange-traded securities on both U.S. and international markets, so clients can buy real shares such as Apple or Vodafone rather than only trading them as CFDs. IG also lets clients buy actual cryptocurrency, while both brokers offer cryptocurrency CFDs.
FP Markets does have one area where it goes further: copy trading is available, while IG does not offer it. Even so, IG is rated higher for range of investments, with 5 out of 5 stars and a #4 ranking out of 36 brokers from ForexBrokers.com, versus 4.5 stars and #17 for FP Markets. If you want the wider mix of markets and asset types, IG is the stronger option here.
| Feature |
IG
|
FP Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 19537 | 10000 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 97 | 71 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | No |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | Yes | No |
| Cryptocurrency (CFDs) | 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.
IG and FP Markets both give traders a wide range of platform choices, including a free demo account, their own in-house platform, a Windows desktop download, web-based access, and support for MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5. Both also let users trade directly from charts, which can make it easier to react quickly to market moves. For traders who want to test strategies before using real money, each broker offers simulated trading.
The biggest difference is copy trading: FP Markets offers it, while IG does not. In third-party ratings for trading platforms and tools, IG comes out ahead with a 5-star score and a #1 ranking out of 36 brokers, compared with FP Markets’ 4-star score and #22 ranking. That makes IG the stronger pick overall for platform quality, while FP Markets may appeal more to traders who want copy trading alongside the usual platform options.
| Feature |
IG
|
FP Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 33 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
IG and FP Markets both make it easy to trade on the go with iPhone and Android apps, plus stock and forex price alerts. Each app also lets you draw trendlines on charts and automatically saves those drawings, which is helpful if you switch between devices or return to a chart later. For mobile charting, IG stands out with 33 technical studies built in, while FP Markets uses the default MetaTrader chart tools.
The biggest difference is watchlist syncing and overall app quality. IG syncs watchlists between its mobile app and online account, so updates show up in both places, while FP Markets does not offer this feature. IG is also rated 5 stars for mobile trading apps and ranks #1 out of 36 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, compared with FP Markets’ 4-star rating and #20 ranking. If mobile app features matter to you, IG has the edge overall.
| Feature |
IG
|
FP Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 33 | MetaTrader (Default) |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
IG and FP Markets both give traders a solid set of market research tools, including daily market commentary, forex news from major sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, Autochartist support, sentiment data, and an economic calendar. This means either broker can help users stay on top of market moves and key global events. That said, IG goes further with added research from TipRanks and Acuity Trading, while FP Markets does not offer those extras.
IG also has a higher edge in overall research quality, with a 5-star Research rating and a #2 ranking out of 36 brokers on ForexBrokers.com. FP Markets still performs well, but it trails behind with a 4-star rating and a #22 ranking. In short, both brokers cover the basics well, but IG offers a wider range of research tools and a stronger overall research experience.
| Feature |
IG
|
FP Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Central | No | Yes |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | Yes | No |
| Acuity Trading | Yes | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
IG and FP Markets both give beginner traders a wide range of learning tools, including forex and CFD education, online webinars offered at least once a month, and more than 10 beginner and 10 advanced trading videos. That means either broker can help new traders get started, while also giving more experienced traders content to build on their knowledge. In simple terms, both platforms offer plenty of material for learning how to trade, but IG goes a step further in overall quality and depth.
IG stands out as the stronger choice for education, with a 5-star rating and a #7 ranking out of 36 brokers from ForexBrokers.com. FP Markets also performs well, with a 4-star education rating and a #22 ranking, but it does not match IG’s level of recognition. If education is a top priority, IG is the better option, though FP Markets still provides a solid set of learning resources for beginners.
| Feature |
IG
|
FP Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 63 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that IG is better than FP Markets. IG finished with an overall rank of #1, while FP Markets finished with an overall rank of #19.
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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FP Markets
|
|---|---|---|
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| Trust Score | 99 | 90 |
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IG allows investors to buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrency and trade cryptocurrency CFDs, while FP Markets offers cryptocurrency CFDs only and does not support purchasing actual (delivered) cryptocurrency.
Comparing online brokers IG and FP Markets for deposits and withdrawals: IG supports ACH/SEPA, PayPal, and bank wires but not Skrill, while FP Markets offers PayPal, Skrill, and bank wires but not ACH/SEPA; Visa and Mastercard availability is not specified for either broker.
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 | FP Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 90 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IG Review | FP Markets Review |
| Broker Screenshots | IG | FP Markets | |
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| Regulation | IG | FP Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 90 | |
| Year Founded | 1974 | 2005 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 8 | 2 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 2 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | IG | FP Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (FSA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| 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 | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | IG | FP Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or CMA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | IG | FP Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 19537 | 10000 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 97 | 71 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | Yes | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (CFDs) | 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 | FP Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.91 | 1.3 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.82 | 0.9 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | IG | FP Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £1 | $100 AUD | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | IG | FP Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | Yes |
| Trading Tools | IG | FP Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 33 | 30 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | IG | FP Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 33 | MetaTrader (Default) | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | IG | FP Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes | |
| Trading Central | No | Yes | |
| TipRanks | Yes | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | IG | FP Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | IG | FP Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | IG Review | FP Markets Review |
| Overall | IG | FP Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 90 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IG Review | FP Markets Review |
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