Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of IG vs Spreadex, 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.
Founded in 1974, IG stands out as a highly trusted name in the world of online brokers. With a maximum Trust Score of 99 from ForexBrokers.com, IG offers strong reassurance for its customers. The firm is publicly traded, reflecting a level of transparency and reliability conducive to investor confidence. Additionally, as a bank, IG carries a higher level of financial backing and regulation. This reputation is supported by its impressive regulatory credentials, holding 8 highly trusted Tier-1 licenses and 2 trusted Tier-2 licenses.
On the other hand, Spreadex, which started operations in 1999, presents a different profile. It maintains a Trust Score of 71, placing it in the average risk category according to ForexBrokers.com. Unlike IG, Spreadex is not publicly traded and does not have the additional financial security status of a bank. Regulatory-wise, Spreadex holds just 1 highly trusted Tier-1 license and lacks any Tier-2 licenses, possibly providing a narrower scope of regulatory assurance compared to IG. This makes Spreadex a more modest alternative in terms of global trust and financial backing.
| Feature |
IG
|
Spreadex
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1974 | 1999 |
| 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 | 0 |
When comparing the commissions and fees of online brokers IG and Spreadex, IG stands out with its versatile pricing structure and stellar execution services, earning it a 5-star rating. Ranked #8 out of 62 brokers for commissions and fees by ForexBrokers.com, IG offers multiple execution methods, including market maker options and its Forex Direct accounts. These accounts cater to active traders with their competitive pricing, averaging spreads of 0.62 pips for the EUR/USD pair in July 2023. Through its active-trader rebate program, IG provides significant discounts for professionals, leading to spreads as low as 0.60 pips under favorable conditions.
Spreadex, with an average spread of 0.81 pips for the EUR/USD pair in January 2024 and ranking #30 among its peers, carries a 4-star rating for its fees and commissions. Notably, Spreadex achieves a minimum spread of 0.6 pips about 60% of the time during the month, making it a viable alternative for traders seeking straightforward and transparent pricing without the complexity of rebate programs. However, compared to IG’s varied options, Spreadex seems tailored more for traders preferring consistency over advanced trading features.
Choosing between IG and Spreadex largely depends on your trading style and volume. IG caters to high-volume traders with its rebate programs and tiered pricing for significant cost reductions, making it ideal for professionals seeking advanced trading features. On the other hand, Spreadex’s straightforward spread structure can be appealing for traders who prioritize simplicity. Ultimately, both brokers have merits, with IG offering broader options and Spreadex providing consistent pricing.
| Feature |
IG
|
Spreadex
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £250.00 | $0 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.98 | 0.81 |
| 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 | No |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
When comparing IG and Spreadex for their range of investments, both online brokers provide forex trading as CFDs or spot contracts. IG stands out with an impressive 19,537 tradeable symbols and 97 forex pairs, offering a wide selection for seasoned traders. Spreadex, while offering fewer options with 10,000 tradeable symbols and 52 forex pairs, still provides a comprehensive trading experience. However, one key difference lies in their offerings in exchange-traded securities. IG allows clients to invest directly in securities on U.S. and international exchanges, such as Apple and Vodafone shares, whereas Spreadex does not offer this option.
Both brokers are not geared towards copy trading and do not offer actual cryptocurrency purchases, although they do provide cryptocurrency derivatives for trading. Despite the variations in their offerings, both IG and Spreadex receive a top rating of five stars for their range of investments. IG holds a higher position, ranked #4 by ForexBrokers.com among 62 brokers in this category, whereas Spreadex comes in at #13, reflecting IG’s broader array of investment choices.
| Feature |
IG
|
Spreadex
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 19537 | 10000 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 97 | 52 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | No |
| 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 trading platforms and tools, IG stands out with a variety of offerings that cater to diverse trading preferences. IG provides a free virtual demo account for beginners or those looking to test strategies without financial risk, while Spreadex doesn't offer this feature. Both brokers have developed their own proprietary platforms; however, IG offers the added advantage of a Windows-based desktop download, which is absent with Spreadex. Traders can access web-based platforms with both providers, but IG extends its functionality by supporting the popular MetaTrader 4 (MT4), a feature not available at Spreadex. Neither broker provides options for copy trading, but IG delivers more drawing tools for chart enthusiasts compared to Spreadex.
For those who appreciate direct interaction with their trading charts, both IG and Spreadex facilitate trading directly from stock charts. Although IG may have fewer watchlist columns compared to Spreadex, its overall offerings place it among the top-rated brokers for platforms and tools, receiving a perfect 5-star rating. ForexBrokers.com ranks IG impressively at second among 62 brokers, showcasing its excellence in delivering a satisfactory trading experience. In contrast, Spreadex earns a respectable 4-star rating and a ranking of 46th, reflecting a solid yet more limited platform experience in comparison to IG.
| Feature |
IG
|
Spreadex
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | No |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | No |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | No |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | No |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | No |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 33 | 55 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 20 | 11 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 5 | 8 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
When comparing the mobile trading apps of IG and Spreadex, both brokers offer apps for iPhone and Android devices, allowing users to trade on the go with ease. Both platforms also provide essential features such as stock or forex price alerts and the ability to draw trendlines on charts. However, IG stands out by offering a greater array of technical studies, with 33 options available for charting, while Spreadex does not list any. Additionally, IG provides watchlist symbol syncing, meaning changes made in the mobile app sync seamlessly with the user's online account, a feature not available with Spreadex.
IG’s app also auto-saves drawings on charts, enhancing user convenience, whereas Spreadex lacks this capability. Watchlists with real-time quotes are available on both apps, but IG edges ahead in rankings and ratings. IG is rated 5 stars for its mobile trading apps and is ranked number one out of 62 brokers in the Mobile Trading Apps category by ForexBrokers.com. In contrast, Spreadex receives 4 stars and ranks 49th out of the same group. These distinctions make IG a more favored choice for mobile trading according to industry assessments.
| Feature |
IG
|
Spreadex
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 33 | N/A |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | No |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When comparing IG and Spreadex for market research capabilities, both platforms provide valuable daily market commentary and forex news sourced from top-tier outlets like Bloomberg and Reuters. IG has a wider array of research tools, partnering with companies like Autochartist and TipRanks, and also offers Acuity Trading's Signal Centre. Although Spreadex doesn't feature research products like Autochartist or resources from TipRanks and Acuity Trading, it still includes useful sentiment-based tools similar to IG, which display ratios of long and short positions across various instruments.
Both IG and Spreadex offer comprehensive economic calendars detailing global news events, an essential tool for traders. However, IG outshines Spreadex with a full 5-star rating in research, compared to Spreadex's 4-star rating. This distinction is reflected in their rankings by ForexBrokers.com, where IG is placed second out of 62 brokers and Spreadex is ranked 31st. Overall, IG provides a more extensive research suite which may benefit those seeking in-depth analytical tools and comprehensive insights for trading.
| Feature |
IG
|
Spreadex
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 comparing the educational resources for beginners offered by online brokers IG and Spreadex, it's clear that both provide a variety of learning materials for those new to forex and CFDs. IG stands out with its comprehensive offerings, including more than 10 educational pieces focused on these subjects, alongside a rich selection of over 10 beginner videos. Furthermore, IG engages its users with monthly educational webinars and offers access to a searchable archive of past sessions. In contrast, Spreadex also provides over 10 beginner-focused videos and educational content, but falls short by not hosting regular monthly webinars or offering a recorded sessions archive. Nevertheless, both platforms cater to beginners by providing an investor dictionary with at least 50 investing terms.
For more experienced traders, IG further elevates its educational offerings with over 10 advanced videos on trading topics, a benefit that Spreadex does not match. This comprehensive educational coverage is reflected in IG's top ratings, receiving 5 stars for education and securing the #1 spot out of 62 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com. Spreadex, while still a formidable option with good resources, garners 4 stars and is ranked #45 by the same site. This positions IG as a more robust choice for beginners seeking extensive educational support in their trading journey.
| Feature |
IG
|
Spreadex
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
| 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 Spreadex. IG finished with an overall rank of #1, while Spreadex finished with an overall rank of #39.
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
|
Spreadex
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 71 |
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Both IG and Spreadex do not offer the ability to buy actual delivered cryptocurrency, but they do provide options for trading cryptocurrency derivatives.
When comparing online brokers IG and Spreadex in terms of deposit and withdrawal options, IG provides more versatility by offering ACH or SEPA transfers, PayPal, Visa or Mastercard, and bank wires, while Spreadex supports Visa or Mastercard and bank wires, but lacks ACH, SEPA, and PayPal as options.
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 | Spreadex | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 71 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IG Review | Spreadex Review |
| Broker Screenshots | IG | Spreadex | |
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| Regulation | IG | Spreadex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 71 | |
| Year Founded | 1974 | 1999 | |
| 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 | 0 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | IG | Spreadex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes | |
| 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 | Spreadex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Spreadex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 19537 | 10000 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 97 | 52 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | No | |
| 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 | Spreadex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.98 | 0.81 | |
| 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 | Spreadex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £250.00 | $0 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | IG | Spreadex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | No | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | No | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | No | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | No | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | IG | Spreadex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | No | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 5 | 8 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 33 | 55 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 20 | 11 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | IG | Spreadex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | N/A | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | IG | Spreadex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Spreadex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | IG | Spreadex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Spreadex Review |
| Overall | IG | Spreadex | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 71 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IG Review | Spreadex Review |
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