Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of IG vs Markets.com, 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 Markets.com are both well-established online brokers, each with strong regulatory credentials, but they have distinct differences in their trust scores and structural setups. Founded in 1974, IG is not only a publicly traded company but also a bank, which positions it as a highly secure choice for traders, backed by its eight Tier-1 licenses. This extensive regulatory coverage contributes to IG's near-perfect Trust Score of 99 out of 99 from ForexBrokers.com, marking it as a highly trusted broker.
In contrast, Markets.com, founded in 1999, operates as a private entity and is not a bank, which may influence its regulatory stance compared to IG. Despite these differences, Markets.com holds three Tier-1 and one Tier-2 licenses, and boasts an impressive Trust Score of 93 out of 99. This rating denotes that Markets.com is considered highly trusted in the industry, providing peace of mind for its clients regarding security and oversight.
| Feature |
IG
|
Markets.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1974 | 1999 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | Yes | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 8 | 3 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
In the world of online trading, choosing a broker with favorable commission and fee structures is crucial for maximizing potential returns. IG, with a five-star rating and an impressive rank of #8 out of 62 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, stands out with its varied execution methods and active trader pricing. Known for its scalable execution, IG offers Forex Direct accounts that feature average spreads of 0.62 pips with an overall cost of 0.82 pips for July 2023, inclusive of commissions. Their spread during peak trading sessions averaged 0.69 pips in July 2023 for CFD accounts, outperforming the industry average. Additionally, IG provides active trader rebates for professional volume traders in the EU, offering up to 20% discounts based on trading volume. Their DMA accounts also appeal to seasoned traders, offering competitive spreads and reduced per-side commissions for large trading volumes.
In contrast, Markets.com, rated at 3.5 stars and ranked #49, does not provide specific average spread data, which can be a drawback for traders prioritizing cost transparency. While it may offer a range of services, the lack of detailed spread information makes it challenging to assess its pricing competitiveness compared to IG. For traders emphasizing cost-effective trading with transparency in fees, IG's comprehensive spread details and rebate options potentially make it a more attractive choice.
| Feature |
IG
|
Markets.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £250.00 | $100 |
| 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 | Yes |
| 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.
When comparing IG and Markets.com, their range of investments offers several noteworthy differences. Both platforms provide forex trading as a Contract for Difference (CFD), but IG stands out with a significantly larger selection, boasting 19,537 tradeable symbols compared to Markets.com's 2,179. In the realm of forex pairs, IG also takes the lead with 97 options, exceeding Markets.com's 57 pairs. Additionally, IG allows users to purchase exchange-traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges, granting access to shares like Apple and Vodafone. In contrast, Markets.com does not offer this feature, limiting its users to CFD trading only.
Another point of difference is copy trading, which Markets.com supports while IG does not. However, both brokers allow trading in cryptocurrency derivatives, although neither offers direct purchasing of actual cryptocurrencies. Reflecting these features, IG has been awarded a full five-star rating for its range of investments and ranks 4th out of 62 brokers in this category, according to ForexBrokers.com. On the other hand, Markets.com has achieved a four-star rating and ranks 29th in the same lineup, highlighting IG's broader investment options.
| Feature |
IG
|
Markets.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 19537 | 2179 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 97 | 57 |
| 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 comparing the trading platforms and tools offered by IG and Markets.com, both brokers provide a strong foundation for traders with their offerings. They each offer free virtual demo accounts, allowing users to practice their skills without financial risk. Both brokers have developed proprietary platforms in-house, ensuring tailored experiences for their clients. IG and Markets.com cater to desktop users by offering Windows-based platforms, while also providing web-based platforms for browser access. Additionally, both support MetaTrader 4 (MT4), though only Markets.com offers MetaTrader 5 (MT5), appealing to traders who seek the latest functionalities. While IG does not support copy trading, Markets.com fills this gap, catering to traders interested in following and mimicking the strategies of others.
IG takes the lead with a higher emphasis on enhanced charting tools, offering 20 drawing tools compared to Markets.com’s four. It also allows for trading directly from stock charts, a feature missing in Markets.com. Although Markets.com provides an additional watch list column, IG's five-star rating for Trading Platforms and Tools reflects its strength, bolstered by its #2 ranking out of 62 brokers on ForexBrokers.com. In contrast, Markets.com ranks at #26 with a four-star rating, indicating its competent but less formidable platform and tools compared to IG.
| Feature |
IG
|
Markets.com
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 89 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 20 | 4 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | No |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 5 | 6 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Both IG and Markets.com offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android devices, catering to traders who need flexibility on the go. They both provide the convenience of stock or forex price alerts and watchlist symbol syncing, ensuring that any updates you make are reflected across both your mobile and online platforms. However, IG stands out with its impressive offering of 33 technical studies for charting, in contrast to Markets.com, which defaults to the MT4 platform. While both brokers allow you to draw trendlines on charts, IG enables traders to access various time frames, such as daily, weekly, or intraday, a feature not available on Markets.com's app.
IG's mobile app further enhances user experience by auto-saving drawings on charts, an advantage not found with Markets.com. Both platforms do support creating watchlists with real-time quotes, which is crucial for active trading. In terms of user ratings, IG is highly acclaimed with a 5-star rating for its mobile trading app and is ranked #1 out of 62 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, indicating a strong preference among traders. Markets.com, while reliable, holds a 4-star rating and a #33 ranking, suggesting there is room for improvement in their mobile offerings compared to IG.
| Feature |
IG
|
Markets.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 33 | (default on MT4, none on Markets app) |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | No |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When comparing IG and Markets.com for market research capabilities, both platforms provide daily market commentary and access to forex news from reputable sources like Bloomberg and Reuters. This ensures that traders on either platform stay informed with the latest developments in the financial markets. However, IG stands out by offering additional tools and insights not available on Markets.com. IG provides technical analysis and fundamental research tools from Autochartist and market research from TipRanks, which are absent in the Markets.com offerings. Furthermore, IG has research tools from Acuity Trading, enhancing its capability to deliver in-depth market analysis.
Both IG and Markets.com offer sentiment-based trading tools and maintain an economic calendar for tracking global news events, giving traders valuable insights into market movements. Yet, when it comes to overall research quality, IG receives a superior 5-star rating and ranks as the second-best out of 62 brokers reviewed by ForexBrokers.com. In contrast, Markets.com holds a 4-star rating and ranks 17th, reflecting a slight edge in comprehensive market research and trading tools for IG.
| Feature |
IG
|
Markets.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| 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 beginners, IG stands out as a comprehensive option compared to Markets.com. IG provides an extensive array of materials, including over ten educational pieces focusing on forex and CFDs, a searchable archive of past webinars, and regular monthly client webinars, making it a go-to choice for beginners and experienced traders alike. IG also offers more than ten videos geared toward beginners and an investor dictionary with over 50 term definitions, which further enriches the learning experience for new investors.
While Markets.com also delivers monthly webinars and over ten educational videos for beginners, it falls short in a few areas compared to IG. Markets.com lacks a searchable webinar archive, an extensive library of educational articles on forex and CFDs, and an investor dictionary, which are instrumental for those just starting their trading journey. This distinction is reflected in their ratings, with IG earning a top-tier five-star rating and the number-one rank among 62 brokers for education, while Markets.com holds a four-star rating and ranks 34th.
| Feature |
IG
|
Markets.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| 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 Markets.com. IG finished with an overall rank of #1, while Markets.com finished with an overall rank of #23.
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
|
Markets.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
|
| Trust Score | 99 | 93 |
| Range of Investments |
|
|
| Commissions & Fees |
|
|
| Platform & Tools |
|
|
| Research |
|
|
| Mobile Trading |
|
|
| Education |
|
|
When comparing online brokers IG and Markets.com, neither offers the ability to buy actual delivered cryptocurrency, but both provide the option to purchase cryptocurrency derivatives.
IG stands out for offering ACH and SEPA transfers, as well as PayPal, for deposits and withdrawals, while Markets.com contrasts by supporting Skrill but not ACH, SEPA, or PayPal, with both brokers providing traditional options like Visa, Mastercard, and bank wires.
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.
Select Brokers
↓×Compare
0 of 5| Overall Rating | IG | Markets.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Commissions & Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Platform & Tools |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 99 | 93 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IG Review |
| Broker Screenshots | IG | Markets.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trading Platforms Gallery (click to expand) |
| ||
| Mobile Trading Gallery (click to expand) |
| ||
| Research Gallery (click to expand) |
| ||
| Education Gallery (click to expand) |
|
| Regulation | IG | Markets.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 93 | |
| Year Founded | 1974 | 1999 | |
| 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 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | IG | Markets.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | IG | Markets.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | IG | Markets.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 19537 | 2179 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 97 | 57 | |
| 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 | Markets.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | IG | Markets.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £250.00 | $100 | |
| 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 | Markets.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Markets.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | No | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 5 | 6 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 33 | 89 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 20 | 4 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | No | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | IG | Markets.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | (default on MT4, none on Markets app) | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | No |
| Research | IG | Markets.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No | |
| TipRanks | Yes | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | IG | Markets.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | IG | Markets.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/JPY | Yes | Yes | |
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CAD | Yes | Yes | |
| NZD/USD | Yes | No | |
| AUD/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| Review | IG Review |
| Overall | IG | Markets.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Commissions & Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Platform & Tools |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 99 | 93 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IG Review |
IG
CMC Markets
FOREX.com
XTB
eToro
AvaTrade
Plus500
Pepperstone
FP Markets
Tickmill