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IG vs XM Group 2026

A detailed head-to-head comparison of IG and XM Group across regulation, trading costs, platforms, and more.

IG logo - BrokerAudit
IG

Est. 1974 · London, United Kingdom

FCAASICBaFin
83.7/100
Excellent
XM Group logo - BrokerAudit
XM Group

Est. 2009 · Limassol, Cyprus

CySECASICDFSA
80.2/100
Excellent

Score Breakdown

RegulationCostsPlatformsAccountsDepositSupportEducation
IGXM Group

Category-by-Category Winner

Category
IG
XM Group
Regulation & Trust
98
78
Trading Costs
75
72
Platforms & Tools
82
72
Account Conditions
72
90
Deposit & Withdrawal
80
88
Customer Support
82
85
Education & Research
85
92
Overall Score
83.7
80.2

Detailed Comparison

Overview

Year Founded
1974
2009
Headquarters
London, United Kingdom
Limassol, Cyprus
Publicly Listed
Top Regulators
FCA, ASIC, BaFin
CySEC, ASIC, DFSA
Total Instruments
17,000
1,400

Trading Costs

EUR/USD Spread
0.60 pips
0.80 pips
GBP/USD Spread
0.90 pips
1.30 pips
USD/JPY Spread
0.70 pips
1.00 pips
Min. Deposit
$0
$5
Commission/Lot
None
$7.00
Inactivity Fee
$12/month after 24 months
$15/month after 90 days

Platforms & Features

MetaTrader 4
MetaTrader 5
cTrader
TradingView
Copy Trading
API Trading
VPS Hosting
Demo Account
Islamic Account

Instruments

Forex Pairs
80
57
CFD Stocks
12,000
1,300
Indices
40
29
Commodities
35
15
Crypto CFDs
11
31

IG vs XM Group: Our Analysis

Overall Verdict

With an overall score of 83.7/100 vs 80.2/100, IG slightly edges out XM Group by 3.5 points. Both brokers are closely matched, so your choice should come down to specific features that matter most to you.

Trading Costs

On the EUR/USD pair, IG offers an average spread of 0.60 pips commission-free, while XM Group comes in at 0.80 pips with a $7.00 commission. IG offers tighter pricing on EUR/USD. Minimum deposit is $0 at IG and $5 at XM Group.

Regulation & Safety

IG holds 6 regulatory licenses with a highest tier of Tier 1 (FCA, ASIC, BaFin), while XM Group has 5 licenses at Tier 1 (CySEC, ASIC, DFSA). IG has more regulatory licenses overall.

Platform Comparison

IG offers MT4, IG Trading Platform — uniquely offering IG Trading Platform which XM Group does not have. XM Group supports MT4, MT5, XM App, with exclusive access to MT5, XM App. XM Group provides a wider platform selection.

Who Should Choose Which?

IG suits cost-conscious traders, traders who want advanced tools, traders who prioritize safety, traders wanting a wide instrument range, while XM Group is better for beginners seeking education. If copy trading matters, XM Group has the edge. Both brokers offer demo accounts, so you can test each before committing real funds.

Frequently Asked Questions

Based on our testing, IG scores higher overall at 83.7/100 compared to XM Group's 80.2/100. However, "better" depends on your priorities — XM Group may be superior in specific categories like certain niche features.

IG offers tighter spreads with an average EUR/USD spread of 0.60 pips, compared to 0.80 pips at XM Group. Check our detailed comparison table above for GBP/USD and USD/JPY spreads as well.

IG scores higher for regulation and trust at 98/100, holding licenses from FCA, ASIC, BaFin. XM Group scores 78/100 with CySEC, ASIC, DFSA.

For beginners, XM Group is the stronger choice with an education and research score of 92/100. It offers structured trading courses, webinars, and a free demo account. IG scores 85/100 for education.

Yes, there is no restriction on having accounts with both IG and XM Group simultaneously. Many experienced traders maintain accounts with multiple brokers to take advantage of each broker's strengths — for example, using one for its lower spreads on majors and another for its wider instrument range or better platform features.

NC

Reviewed by

Neil C

Neil C is a financial markets analyst and forex trading specialist with over 10 years of experience evaluating broker platforms, trading conditions, and regulatory frameworks. He has personally tested accounts with dozens of brokers and brings a data-driven methodology to every review.

Last updated: April 2026

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