| Feature | Plus500 | IG Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Regulation and Trust | Regulated by FCA (UK), ASIC (Australia), CySEC (Cyprus); publicly listed on the London Stock Exchange. | Regulated by FCA (UK), ASIC (Australia), CFTC/NFA (USA), BaFin (Germany), among others; publicly listed on the London Stock Exchange. |
| Foundation Year | 2008 | 1974 |
| Account Types | Standard, Demo. | Spread Betting, CFD, Share Dealing, Professional, Demo. |
| Minimum Deposit | $100. | $300. |
| Trading Instruments | Over 2,000 instruments including Forex, indices, commodities, cryptocurrencies, shares via CFDs. | Over 17,000 markets including Forex, indices, commodities, stocks, ETFs, cryptocurrencies, options, bonds. |
| Spreads and Fees | Commission-free trading with spreads starting from 0.8 pips; $10 monthly inactivity fee after three months of inactivity. | Forex spreads starting as low as 0.6 pips; no fees for deposits, withdrawals, or inactivity. |
| Leverage | Up to 1:30 for retail clients; up to 1:300 for professional clients or non-EU traders. | Up to 1:30 for retail clients; up to 1:200 for professional clients or non-EU traders. |
| Trading Platforms | Proprietary platform available on web and mobile; does not support MetaTrader. | Proprietary platform, MetaTrader 4, L2 Dealer; available on desktop, web, and mobile. |
| Order Execution | Market maker model; reliable execution suitable for retail traders. | Fast execution speeds with direct market access (DMA) options; suitable for scalpers and day traders. |
| Customer Support | 24/7 support via live chat and email; no phone support. | 24/5 support via live chat, phone, and email. |
| Educational Resources | Basic trading guides and tutorials. | Extensive resources including webinars, tutorials, in-depth articles through IG Academy. |
| Deposit and Withdrawal Methods | Credit/Debit cards, PayPal, Bank Transfer; no fees for deposits or withdrawals. | Credit/Debit cards, PayPal, Bank Transfer; fees may apply to certain methods. |
| Mobile Trading | Proprietary mobile app available on iOS and Android. | Mobile apps for proprietary platform and MetaTrader 4 on iOS and Android. |
| Research Tools | Basic charting and analysis tools. | Advanced charting tools, technical analysis features, ProRealTime, and L2 Dealer for direct market access. |
| Risk Management Tools | Guaranteed stop-loss orders (GSLO) available with a premium, trailing stop, price alerts. | Guaranteed stop-loss orders (GSLO) with a fee, trailing stops, price alerts, limit orders, and risk warnings. |
| Copy Trading | Not available. | Available through partnerships with third-party platforms like ZuluTrade. |
| Algorithmic Trading | Not supported. | Supported via MetaTrader 4 and ProRealTime automation. |
| Market News and Analysis | Basic news updates and sentiment indicators within the platform. | Real-time market news, analysis from in-house experts, Reuters, and Bloomberg integration. |
| Social Trading Features | No social trading or trader community. | IG Community forum with discussions, insights, and shared trading strategies. |
| Advanced Charting Features | Basic charting with technical indicators, timeframes, and overlays. | Advanced charting with ProRealTime, Autochartist, and TradingView integration. |
| Hedging and Scalping | Hedging allowed, scalping not supported. | Both hedging and scalping are allowed. |
| Account Currencies | USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, and several others. | Multiple currencies including USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, and more. |
| Islamic Account | Available upon request for swap-free trading. | Available upon request for swap-free trading. |
| API Trading | Not available. | API available for automated and institutional trading. |
| Professional Account Benefits | Higher leverage, tighter spreads, priority support. | Higher leverage, lower margin requirements, direct market access (DMA). |
| Withdrawal Processing Time | 1-3 business days. | Same-day processing for most methods, bank transfers may take longer. |
| Demo Account Expiry | Unlimited access as long as actively used. | Unlimited access with full trading features. |
| Bonus and Promotions | Occasionally offers deposit bonuses in certain regions. | Rarely offers bonuses, focuses on competitive pricing and education. |
| Execution Model | Market maker with internalized order execution. | Hybrid model with market maker execution and direct market access (DMA) for professional traders. |
| Trading Signals | Basic signals based on price alerts and market sentiment. | Advanced trading signals from Autochartist, PIA-First, and in-house analysts. |
| Custom Indicators | Limited to built-in technical indicators. | Supports custom indicators through MetaTrader 4 and ProRealTime. |
| Trading Hours | 24/7 for cryptocurrency trading, standard market hours for other assets. | 24/5 for most markets, weekend trading for selected assets like cryptocurrencies. |
| Number of Indices Available | Over 30 global indices. | More than 80 global indices, including exclusive sector-based indices. |
| Number of Commodities Available | Over 20 including gold, oil, and agricultural products. | More than 35, including metals, energy, soft commodities, and interest rates. |
| Number of Cryptocurrency Pairs | Around 15 including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, and Ripple. | Over 10, including major cryptocurrencies and crypto indices. |
| Fractional Share Trading | Not supported. | Available for share dealing accounts. |
| Corporate Actions Support | Dividends and stock splits reflected in CFD prices. | Dividends, stock splits, rights issues, and corporate events fully supported. |
| Interest on Uninvested Cash | Not provided. | Interest paid on uninvested funds depending on account type. |
| Slippage Protection | Limited protection, orders may execute at different prices during volatility. | Advanced slippage protection with guaranteed stop-loss orders (GSLO). |
| Market Sentiment Analysis | Displays sentiment data for selected assets. | In-depth sentiment analysis, trader positioning data, and interactive sentiment tools. |
| VIP and Loyalty Programs | Premium account benefits with lower spreads and priority customer service. | VIP account with dedicated relationship manager, better pricing, and exclusive research. |
| Deposit and Withdrawal Limits | Minimum deposit $100, withdrawal limits depend on the method. | Minimum deposit $300, higher limits for bank transfers and premium accounts. |
| Geographic Restrictions | Not available in the USA and a few other regions. | Available in more regions, but restricted in certain countries like Belgium. |
| Web Trading Platform Features | Simple, fast, user-friendly interface with basic tools. | Advanced web platform with customizable dashboards, multiple chart layouts, and deep analytics. |
| Mobile App Features | Clean and easy-to-use app with essential tools. | Feature-rich mobile app with full charting, price alerts, and integrated news. |
IG Markets offers a broader range of markets, advanced trading tools, and professional-grade features, while Plus500 provides a simpler, commission-free trading experience with an intuitive platform. IG is better for serious traders, whereas Plus500 suits casual traders.