IG vs eToro: Full Comparison for UK Investors (2026)
11 JUN, 2026
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IG and eToro are two of the most recognised brokers in the trading world, each with its own specialisation. IG is a full-service broker offering both derivatives and real share/ETF investing, with professional-grade platforms that cater to experienced traders. eToro is designed for the general public and is particularly well-known for its copy trading feature and beginner-friendly interface.
In this comparison, we analyse both brokers' offerings, fees, and services to help you decide which is the better choice for your investment needs. You may also want to read our comparisons of eToro vs Trading 212 and DEGIRO vs eToro
Main Features
| Feature | IG | eToro | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regulation | FCA (UK), BaFin (Germany), FINMA (Switzerland), others | FCA (UK), CySEC (Cyprus), ASIC (Australia) | |||
| FSCS protection | ✅ Up to £85,000 | ✅ Up to £85,000 | |||
| Market Access | 30+ markets | 140+ markets | |||
| Financial Products | Real shares, ETFs, ISA, SIPP; plus CFDs, spread betting, Turbo24, options, warrants | Real shares, ETFs, ISA, crypto, indices, commodities; plus CFDs | |||
| ISA / SIPP | ✅ Both available | ✅ ISA available; no SIPP | |||
| Minimum Deposit | £250 (share dealing); £0 (ISA) | £10 in the UK | |||
| Platforms | IG proprietary, MetaTrader 4, L2, ProRealTime | Web-based and mobile apps only | |||
| Demo Account | Yes | Yes — $100,000 virtual funds | |||
| Customer Support | Phone, email, chatbot | 24/5 live chat, email, chatbot |
| Feature | IG | eToro |
|---|---|---|
| Regulation | FCA (UK), BaFin (Germany), FINMA (Switzerland), others | FCA (UK), CySEC (Cyprus), ASIC (Australia) |
| FSCS protection | ✅ Up to £85,000 | ✅ Up to £85,000 |
| Market Access | 30+ markets | 140+ markets |
| Financial Products | Real shares, ETFs, ISA, SIPP; plus CFDs, spread betting, Turbo24, options, warrants | Real shares, ETFs, ISA, crypto, indices, commodities; plus CFDs |
| ISA / SIPP | ✅ Both available | ✅ ISA available; no SIPP |
| Minimum Deposit | £250 (share dealing); £0 (ISA) | £10 in the UK |
| Platforms | IG proprietary, MetaTrader 4, L2, ProRealTime | Web-based and mobile apps only |
| Demo Account | Yes | Yes — $100,000 virtual funds |
| Customer Support | Phone, email, chatbot | 24/5 live chat, email, chatbot |
Pros and Cons
| IG Pros | IG Cons | ||
| ✅ Professional-grade tools: MT4, ProRealTime, L2 Dealer | ❌ Higher minimum deposit (£250 for share dealing) | ||
| ✅ Full range: real shares, ETFs, ISA, SIPP, plus derivatives | ❌ Share dealing inactivity charge (£24/quarter if fewer than 3 trades/month) | ||
| ✅ Heavily regulated — FCA, BaFin, FINMA; FSCS £85,000 | ❌ More complex for beginners than eToro | ||
| ✅ 3.76% AER interest on uninvested cash in ISA |
| IG Pros | IG Cons |
| ✅ Professional-grade tools: MT4, ProRealTime, L2 Dealer | ❌ Higher minimum deposit (£250 for share dealing) |
| ✅ Full range: real shares, ETFs, ISA, SIPP, plus derivatives | ❌ Share dealing inactivity charge (£24/quarter if fewer than 3 trades/month) |
| ✅ Heavily regulated — FCA, BaFin, FINMA; FSCS £85,000 | ❌ More complex for beginners than eToro |
| ✅ 3.76% AER interest on uninvested cash in ISA |
| eToro Pros | eToro Cons | ||
| ✅ Beginner-friendly — intuitive interface, demo account, copy trading | ❌ 0.50% FX conversion fee — higher than most competitors | ||
| ✅ Low minimum deposit (£10 in the UK) | ❌ $10/month inactivity fee after 12 months of no login | ||
| ✅ Social and copy trading — CopyTrader is unique in the market | ❌ $5 withdrawal fee; no SIPP | ||
| ✅ ISA available; crypto (75+) and forex access | ❌ No phone support in the UK |
| eToro Pros | eToro Cons |
| ✅ Beginner-friendly — intuitive interface, demo account, copy trading | ❌ 0.50% FX conversion fee — higher than most competitors |
| ✅ Low minimum deposit (£10 in the UK) | ❌ $10/month inactivity fee after 12 months of no login |
| ✅ Social and copy trading — CopyTrader is unique in the market | ❌ $5 withdrawal fee; no SIPP |
| ✅ ISA available; crypto (75+) and forex access | ❌ No phone support in the UK |
Regulation
IG is one of the most heavily regulated brokers globally, holding authorisation from the UK's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), Germany's BaFin, and Switzerland's FINMA, among others. IG is listed on the London Stock Exchange, providing an additional layer of transparency. For UK clients, FSCS protection covers up to £85,000 per person if the firm fails.
eToro is regulated by the FCA (UK), CySEC (EU), and ASIC (Australia). UK clients are protected by the FSCS up to £85,000, with additional private insurance extending coverage further. Both brokers offer strong UK regulatory protection — this is not a differentiating factor between them.
Investment Options
IG offers a wider range of investment types than is often assumed. Alongside its well-known derivatives offering, UK clients can invest in real shares and ETFs through IG's share dealing account, ISA, and SIPP:
- Real shares: 11,000+ global stocks via share dealing account, ISA, or SIPP
- ETFs: 2,400+ UCITS ETFs available in share dealing account and ISA
- Stocks and Shares ISA: Tax-efficient investing with 0.25% platform fee (capped at £250/year) and £3.76% AER on uninvested cash
- SIPP: Pension investing with 20–45% tax relief on contributions
- Derivatives: Turbo24, barrier options, vanilla options, warrants, CFDs, and spread betting (tax-free profits on spread betting)
UK clients can also invest in global shares and ETFs via SIPP and Stocks and Shares ISAs, combining tax efficiency with IG's professional-grade platforms.
eToro is designed for a broader audience, including beginners and long-term investors. It offers access to a wide range of real, non-derivative assets:
- 3,100+ real shares across 18 global stock markets, available within a Stocks and Shares ISA
- 300+ ETFs commission-free
- 75+ cryptocurrencies (real coins, not just CFDs)
- Major commodities and key indices (S&P 500, Nasdaq, VIX)
- CopyTrader — follow and replicate the portfolios of experienced investors automatically
👉 Read here for more information on the best platforms for ETFs
Account Types
IG offers two categories of account types:
Leveraged Accounts
- Spread Betting account: Trade tax-free on price movements without owning the underlying asset. Profits are based on the amount you bet per point of price movement — exempt from CGT and stamp duty in the UK.
- CFD account: Contracts for Difference with leverage across shares, indices, forex, commodities, and more.
Non-leveraged Accounts
- Share Dealing account: Buy and own real shares from 11,000+ global stocks. Ideal for long-term investors building a portfolio without leverage.
- Stocks and Shares ISA: Invest tax-efficiently with no CGT or income tax on profits, up to the £20,000 annual allowance for 2026/27. Interest on uninvested cash: 3.76% AER.
- SIPP: Pension investing with 20–45% upfront tax relief on contributions.
- IG Smart Portfolio: Automated, diversified portfolio built using iShares ETFs by BlackRock, based on your risk profile.
- IG Smart ISA Portfolio: Combines Smart Portfolio with ISA tax benefits.
eToro keeps things simpler with one main account for all trading activities. UK clients also have access to:
- Stocks and Shares ISA — commission-free stocks and ETFs within the £20,000 annual ISA allowance.
- Demo Account — $100,000 virtual funds to practise risk-free.
- Professional Account — higher leverage, reduced regulatory protections.
- Islamic Account — swap-free, Sharia-compliant.
- eToro Club — tiered membership with priority support and exclusive tools based on account equity.
Fees and Charges
IG fees (updated 2026):
- Share dealing (online): £3 per trade for orders under £3,000; £8 per trade for orders between £3,000 and £30,000; 0.05% (min £3) for IG SmartFolio accounts. Regular investing: free via Direct Debit.
- ISA platform fee: 0.25% per year (capped at £250/year)
- Inactivity charge: £24/quarter on share dealing accounts if fewer than 3 trades per month — waived during months you trade 3+ times.
- Turbo24: Low fixed commission per trade
- Share CFDs: Commission applies (e.g. £3 for UK shares via CFD)
- Currency conversion: 0.50% if trading in a currency other than your base account currency
- ProRealTime charting: Free with 4+ trades/month; £30/month otherwise
- No deposit or withdrawal fees for UK clients
👉 Read here for more information on MT4 vs ProRealTime
eToro fees:
- Stocks & ETFs: Zero commission
- FX conversion fee: 0.50% — accounts are USD-denominated; all GBP deposits/withdrawals incur this fee
- Cryptocurrencies: 1% spread
- Withdrawal fee: $5 per withdrawal; minimum $30
- Inactivity fee: $10/month after 12 months of no login activity
- No deposit fees for UK clients
Minimum Deposit and Withdrawals
IG requires a minimum deposit of £250 for UK clients opening a share dealing account via debit/credit card or bank transfer. The ISA has no minimum deposit requirement. No fees for deposits or withdrawals. No inactivity fee on ISA accounts — the £24/quarter inactivity charge applies only to share dealing accounts where fewer than 3 trades are made per month.
eToro has a low minimum deposit of £10 for UK clients. Deposits via credit/debit card, PayPal, and bank transfer are all free. Withdrawals incur a $5 fee with a minimum of $30. The $10/month inactivity fee applies after 12 months of no login or trading activity.
Trading Platforms
IG offers a powerful, professional-grade platform suitable for both beginners and experienced traders. Its web platform is highly customisable, with watchlists, alerts, and multi-window layouts. IG also supports MetaTrader 4 (MT4) for advanced charting and automated trading, and ProRealTime (V13 in 2026, with Volume Profile and options pricing) — free with 4+ trades/month.
eToro's proprietary platform focuses on simplicity and social trading. It is user-friendly, ideal for beginners, and includes CopyTrader, Smart Portfolios, personalised watchlists, and social feeds. It is available on web and mobile (iOS and Android) but lacks the advanced charting capabilities of MT4 or ProRealTime
Education and Resources
IG Academy provides structured learning through free online courses, webinars, tutorials, and quizzes — covering beginner basics to advanced trading strategies. IG also offers daily market analysis, trading signals, and insights from in-house experts.
eToro Academy includes video tutorials, trading guides, and articles. A unique aspect is its social trading environment, where users can learn by observing and copying top-performing traders — a more hands-on, real-time approach suited to beginners.
Customer Support
IG offers phone, email, and chatbot support during UK trading hours. Their help centre covers FAQs, guides, and troubleshooting resources.
eToro offers 24/5 live chat, email, and an AI chatbot. No phone support in the UK. eToro's live chat is generally fast for verified users but can be slower during peak periods. The eToro Academy and Help Centre cover most common queries.
User Opinions
IG has a Trustpilot rating of 3.9 out of 5 from more than 8,000 reviews. Traders praise IG for its professional-grade tools, extensive market access, and regulatory standards. It is preferred by more experienced or active traders who value advanced features.
eToro has a Trustpilot rating of 4.2 out of 5 based on over 28,000 reviews. Users highlight the intuitive platform, CopyTrader, and wide asset range. It is particularly well-regarded by beginner and intermediate investors.
Conclusion: Both IG and eToro are safe, FCA-regulated platforms with FSCS protection. IG suits traders seeking control, advanced tools, and the full range of UK tax wrappers (ISA + SIPP). eToro appeals to beginners and those interested in social investing, copy trading, and crypto — with a lower barrier to entry.
FAQs
What is IG?
Founded in London in 1974, IG began as a broker specialising in gold trading. Now operating as IG Group (since 2000), it has grown into a global brand with 17 offices worldwide. IG offers platforms for both retail and institutional investors, with professional-grade tools including MT4, ProRealTime, and L2 Dealer. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange and widely regarded as one of the best trading platforms in the industry.
👉 Read our IG review to learn more.
What is eToro?
Established in 2007 and headquartered in Cyprus, eToro has offices in the UK, Israel, and the US. It rose to global prominence thanks to its easy-to-use platform and social trading features, particularly its CopyTrader tool — widely recognised as one of the best copy trading platforms.
👉 Read our eToro review to learn more.
Can you trade cryptocurrency with IG or eToro?
eToro: Yes — real cryptocurrencies (Bitcoin, Ethereum, and 75+ others) plus crypto wallets and social trading. Available to retail clients in the UK.
IG: Cryptocurrency CFDs only (no real coins, no crypto wallet). Crypto CFDs are restricted for retail clients in the UK under FCA regulations — you are speculating on price movement, not owning the asset.
Does IG have an ISA?
Yes — IG offers a Stocks and Shares ISA with a 0.25% platform fee (capped at £250/year), £3 share dealing fee, and 3.76% AER on uninvested cash. It also offers a SIPP for pension investing. For a full comparison of ISA providers, see our best Stocks and Shares ISA guide.
Which broker is better for beginners?
eToro is generally better for beginners due to its intuitive interface, low £10 minimum deposit, demo account, and copy trading features. IG's platform is more powerful but has a steeper learning curve and a higher minimum deposit (£250 for share dealing).
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