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IG Review 2026
By Guilherme J. · Markets & broker analyst · Updated 2026-07-30 · How we rank
IG is a real stocks + CFDs broker offering from $0 (US) / low commission with a $0 minimum, regulated by FCA, ASIC, +. Fractional shares: no. Below is how it stacks up on cost, market access and safety.
Open IG Account →Best for
UK investors who want a long-established name with share dealing and derivatives under one roof.
Not for
Investors who want fractional shares, which IG does not offer on real share dealing.
Pros
- One of the oldest, most trusted brokers
- Real shares and CFDs in one account
- Deep research and education
Cons
- No fractional shares
- Platform aimed at more experienced traders
What it actually costs
- UK share dealing commission falls to zero after a set number of trades in the prior month; a flat fee applies otherwise.
- US share dealing can be commission-free depending on activity, with an FX conversion charge on top.
- Custody fee on share dealing accounts, waived if you trade often enough.
- Spread betting carries no commission; the cost sits in the spread and overnight funding.
Is your money safe
FCA regulated in the UK with additional licences in Australia and elsewhere. Client money is segregated and FSCS protection covers eligible claims to £85,000. IG is a FTSE-listed company with published accounts.
Questions people ask
Does IG offer fractional shares?
Not on real share dealing. You buy whole shares, which makes expensive US stocks harder to access with small monthly amounts. Trading 212 and eToro both offer fractions.
Is spread betting with IG tax free?
For UK residents, spread betting profits are currently free of capital gains tax and stamp duty. It is a leveraged trading product rather than investing, and tax treatment depends on your circumstances and can change.
Verdict
IG has been operating since 1974 and is listed on the London Stock Exchange, which puts it in a small group of brokers that predate the internet and survived everything since. For a lot of people that history is the deciding factor.
The offering is unusually wide: real share dealing, spread betting, CFDs and options in one account. The spread betting side is a genuine advantage for UK clients because profits are free of capital gains tax, though it is a trading tool rather than an investing one.
The gap is fractional shares. If you want to put £50 a month into expensive US stocks, IG will not divide the share for you, and Trading 212 or eToro will. For whole-share purchases at reasonable size, that limitation does not arise.