• FCA-verified · Independent ratings · Updated weekly
Switching brokers
IG is an FCA-authorised firm founded in 1974, quoting from 0.6 pips with a minimum deposit of £0 and running Web, MT4, ProRealTime. It is a genuine option — but it is not the right option for everybody.
This page compares it against the ten authorised brokers most likely to suit a trader leaving it, on all-in cost, execution, platform range, product coverage, funding and support, and is honest about where IG still wins.
FCA regulated, FSCS £85K, since 1989
Rated 4.9 out of 5 after live-account testing by the desk.
Min spread
0.7 pips
Min deposit
£0
Regulator
FCA
Best for
Best-in-class charting
CFDs are complex instruments. Your capital is at risk.
On this page
Why traders leave IG, the ten FCA-authorised firms most often chosen instead, and a clear statement of the cases where staying is the better decision.
IG quotes from 0.6 pips, asks £0 to open, and offers Web, MT4, ProRealTime. Judge every alternative against those three numbers plus the protections, not against the marketing.
The most common reason is growth. An account that suited a beginner at £0 often outgrows the standard pricing tier, and a raw-spread account with commission elsewhere becomes cheaper once monthly volume rises. Cost structure, not cost headline, is what changes.
The second is product range. IG runs Web, MT4, ProRealTime, which suits some workflows and blocks others outright. Traders who decide to automate, to use depth of market, or to hold shares in an ISA alongside leveraged positions frequently need a firm built for that from the start.
The third is service. Execution in fast markets, withdrawal turnaround and the quality of the answer you get when something goes wrong are the parts of a broker that never appear in a comparison table, and they are the parts people actually leave over.
Deepest UK market coverage That is a real strength, and it is worth weighing properly before moving. Switching costs time, forces you to rebuild platform templates and alerts, and interrupts whatever rhythm you have built with the firm you know.
If your reason for leaving is a fractionally tighter spread advertised elsewhere, run the arithmetic first. Advertised spreads are usually best-case figures sampled in quiet conditions, and the all-in cost including commission and financing frequently closes the gap or reverses it.
Stay if you trade the products IG is built around, if the platform fits, and if the account has behaved through volatility. Leave if you need something structural that the firm simply does not offer.
Desk shortlist
Every alternative below is FCA authorised, holds retail client money in segregated accounts and offers negative balance protection. Ranked on our six-factor model rather than on commercial terms.
Best-in-class charting. Next Generation, MT4.
£0
Deposit
0.7 pips
Spread
Lowest all-in FX cost. MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView.
£0
Deposit
0.0 pips
Spread
Global multi-asset access. TWS, IBKR Desktop, API.
£0
Deposit
0.2 pips
Spread
Institutional-grade platform. SaxoTraderGO, PRO.
£0
Deposit
0.6 pips
Spread
Cleanest proprietary platform. xStation 5.
£0
Deposit
0.5 pips
Spread
| # | Broker | Rating | Min. deposit | Spread from | Platforms | FCA | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 |  SpreadexStrong UK service deskStrong UK service desk | ★★★★★4.7 | £0 | From 0.6 pips | Web, mobile | ✓ | Trade NowReview |
| 7 |  City IndexBalanced all-rounderBalanced all-rounder | ★★★★★4.7 | £100 | From 0.5 pips | Web Trader, MT4, TradingView | ✓ | Trade NowReview |
| 8 |  FOREX.com UKDeep FX researchDeep FX research | ★★★★★4.7 | £100 | From 0.4 pips | MT4, MT5, TradingView | ✓ | Trade NowReview |
| 9 |  Tickmill UKRaw spreads, low commissionRaw spreads, low commission | ★★★★★4.7 | £100 | From 0.0 pips | MT4, MT5 | ✓ | Trade NowReview |
| 10 |  ActivTradesFast, reliable executionFast, reliable execution | ★★★★★4.6 | £0 | From 0.5 pips | ActivTrader, MT4, MT5 | ✓ | Trade NowReview |
Open the new account and complete verification before you close anything. Deposit a small amount, trade once, then withdraw in full to confirm the round trip works before you move real capital.
Do not close open positions purely to switch. Let them run to their planned exit, or hedge if the strategy allows, and move capital in stages. The cost of an unplanned exit will usually exceed a year of the spread difference you are chasing.
Export every statement and trade confirmation from IG before closing. Those documents settle tax questions and disputes, and they are far harder to obtain once the account is shut.
Prefer a direct comparison? Each link below puts IG against one rival on cost, execution, platforms and protections.
Switching FAQ
What UK traders ask the desk when they are thinking about moving away from this broker.
Ask the deskStill deciding which broker?
Our #1-ranked FCA broker for 2026 is IG, tested live from our desk with £0 minimum deposit and spreads from 0.6 pips.
IG, Best UK Broker 2026
FCA · FSCS £85K · Since 1974
IG holds a live FCA authorisation, segregates retail client money and offers negative balance protection. Eligible claims are covered by the FSCS up to £85,000 if the firm fails. That is protection against failure, not against losing trades.
CMC Markets is the closest match on our scoring for most traders, quoting from 0.7 pips with a £0 minimum and Next Generation, MT4.
Directly, rarely. Indirectly, yes: closing positions early, converting currency and rebuilding your platform setup all carry a cost, which is why the annual saving should be calculated before you move.
Yes, and it is often the sensible route. Running both in parallel gives you a live pricing comparison and keeps a fallback if one platform goes down at the wrong moment.
Deepest UK market coverage
Six factors: all-in cost, execution quality, platform, product range, funding and support. Scores come from funded live accounts, not from broker submissions, and no firm can pay for placement.
Risk warning
CFDs and spread bets are leveraged products and the majority of retail accounts lose money. Figures on this page are researched from firm documentation and live accounts, but pricing, funding routes and account terms change without notice. Check the broker's own terms and the Financial Services Register before you deposit, and never risk money you cannot afford to lose.