| Feature | XM Trading | IG Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2009 | 1974 |
| Regulation | ASIC, CySEC, DFSA, FSC, FSCA | FCA, ASIC, CFTC/NFA, BaFin, MAS, FINMA, FMA, CySEC, JFSA, SFC |
| Minimum Deposit | $5 | $0 |
| Maximum Leverage | Up to 1:1000 | Up to 1:200 |
| Tradable Instruments | Forex, Commodities, Stocks, Indices, Cryptocurrencies | Forex, Indices, Commodities, Cryptocurrencies, Shares, ETFs, Bonds, Options |
| Number of Tradable Instruments | ~1,000 | ~17,000 |
| Trading Platforms | MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, XM WebTrader | MetaTrader 4, IG Proprietary Platform, ProRealTime, L2 Dealer |
| Account Types | Micro, Standard, XM Ultra Low, XM Zero | Standard CFD Account, Limited Risk Account, Share Dealing Account |
| Spreads | From 0.6 pips | From 0.6 pips |
| Commission | $3.50 per $100,000 traded (Zero Account) | 2 cents per share (Share CFDs) |
| Deposit Methods | Credit/Debit Cards, Bank Wire, Skrill, Neteller, WebMoney, UnionPay, FasaPay, QIWI, iDEAL, SOFORT, giropay, paysafecard, Moneta.Ru, Perfect Money | Credit/Debit Cards, Bank Wire, PayPal |
| Withdrawal Methods | Same as deposit methods | Same as deposit methods |
| Inactivity Fee | $5 monthly after 90 days of inactivity | $12 monthly after 24 months of inactivity |
| Demo Account | Yes | Yes |
| Educational Resources | Webinars, Seminars, Educational Videos, Live Education | Online Courses, Webinars, Seminars, IG Academy |
| Customer Support | 24/5 via Live Chat, Email, Phone | 24/7 via Live Chat, Email, Phone |
| Bonuses and Promotions | Up to $5,000 deposit bonus, Loyalty Program | None |
| Order Execution Speed | ~0.01 seconds | ~0.014 seconds |
| Order Types | Market, Limit, Stop, Trailing Stop | Market, Limit, Stop, Trailing Stop, Guaranteed Stop |
| Algorithmic Trading | Supported via MT4 & MT5 Expert Advisors (EAs) | Supported via MT4, ProRealTime, and APIs |
| Social Trading | Not offered | Available via third-party integrations |
| VPS Hosting | Free for eligible traders | Available, but with additional cost |
| Hedging Allowed | Yes | Yes (depending on jurisdiction) |
| Scalping Allowed | Yes | Yes |
| Negative Balance Protection | Yes | Yes (only for retail clients in specific jurisdictions) |
| Stop-Out Level | 20% - 50% (depending on account type) | 50% |
| Trading Signals | Free signals via MT4/MT5 | Available through third-party services |
| Market Analysis Tools | Technical Analysis, Economic Calendar, Trade Ideas, Market Sentiment | IG Live, Reuters News, Economic Calendar, Market Screener, Autochartist |
| Custom Indicators | Available on MT4/MT5 | Available on MT4, ProRealTime, and custom scripts |
| API Trading | Not supported | Fully supported with REST and FIX APIs |
| Swap-Free Islamic Account | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading Apps | MT4/MT5 Mobile Apps | IG Proprietary App, MT4 Mobile App |
| Web Trading Platform | XM WebTrader | IG Web Trading Platform |
| CFD Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Direct Market Access (DMA) | No | Available for professional traders |
| Autochartist & Trading Central | Available | Available |
| Cryptocurrency Trading | Yes (CFDs) | Yes (CFDs, No direct crypto exchange) |
| ETF Trading | No | Yes |
| Bond Trading | No | Yes |
| Options Trading | No | Yes |
| Guaranteed Stop-Loss Orders (GSLOs) | No | Yes (for an additional fee) |
| Slippage Protection | No guaranteed protection | Yes (via GSLOs) |
| Interest on Unused Cash Balances | No | Yes (for some account types) |
| Fractional Shares Trading | No | Yes |
| Physical Stock Trading | No | Yes (UK, US, EU markets) |
| Spread Betting | No | Yes (UK only) |
| Professional Accounts | Available with higher leverage | Available with enhanced features |
| Execution Model | Market Maker / ECN | Market Maker / DMA |
| Trading Cost Transparency | Clearly listed | Clearly listed |
| Withdrawal Fees | None | None (except for wire transfers below minimum thresholds) |
| Broker Type | Market Maker / ECN Hybrid | Market Maker / DMA |
| Tier-1 Liquidity Providers | Yes | Yes (Access to institutional-grade liquidity) |
| Spread Type | Variable | Variable (Fixed spreads available for some markets) |
| Minimum Lot Size | 0.01 (Micro lots) | 0.01 (Micro lots) |
| Maximum Trade Size | 50 lots | Varies by instrument (generally higher than XM) |
| Depth of Market (DOM) | Not available | Available (for professional traders) |
| Slippage Control | No guaranteed control | Available (with GSLOs for a fee) |
| Margin Call Level | 50% | 100% |
| Trading on Weekends | No (Markets closed) | Yes (Limited weekend trading on crypto and select indices) |
| Forex Trading Pairs | 55+ | 80+ |
| Exotic Forex Pairs | Available (Limited) | Wide selection of exotic pairs |
| Commodities Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Energy Markets | Crude Oil, Natural Gas | Crude Oil, Brent, Gasoline, Heating Oil |
| Metal Trading | Gold, Silver, Platinum, Palladium | Gold, Silver, Platinum, Palladium |
| Stock Indices | 30+ | 80+ |
| Corporate Earnings Reports Trading | No | Yes |
| Corporate Events Trading (Mergers, Acquisitions) | No | Yes |
| Thematic Trading (Sector-specific investing) | No | Yes |
| Dividend Adjustments on CFD Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| Interest Rate Derivatives | No | Yes |
| STP Execution (Straight Through Processing) | Yes | Yes |
| Dark Pool Liquidity Access | No | Yes (For professional traders) |
| Forex Market Depth Visualization | No | Yes |
| ECN Spreads | Yes (On XM Zero Account) | Yes (For professional traders with DMA access) |
| Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) Regulation | No | Yes (UK) |
| Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) Regulation | Yes | Yes |
| U.S. Regulation (CFTC/NFA) | No | Yes (Limited product availability in the U.S.) |
| MiFID II Compliant (EU) | Yes | Yes |
| Investor Compensation Scheme | Yes (Depending on regulatory region) | Yes (FSCS up to £85,000 for UK clients) |
| Client Fund Segregation | Yes | Yes |
| Negative Balance Protection | Yes | Yes (Retail clients only) |
| Insurance Against Broker Insolvency | Yes | Yes |
| KYC (Know Your Customer) Verification | Required | Required |
| Tax-Free Trading Accounts (e.g., ISAs in the UK) | No | Yes (For UK residents) |
XM Trading offers higher leverage, lower minimum deposits, and MT4/MT5 support, making it ideal for budget-friendly retail traders. IG Markets provides more asset classes, advanced trading tools, and direct market access (DMA), catering to professional and institutional traders.