IG Review UK 2026: Share Dealing, ISA & Spread Betting

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Published: 11 April 2026

4.5/5 Our Rating

IG is the UK's original and largest spread betting and CFD provider — and since launching their share dealing platform, they've become one of the most complete brokers available to UK investors and traders. FTSE 250 listed, FCA regulated since 1974, and offering everything from spread betting and CFDs to ISAs, SIPPs, and smart portfolios under one roof. The education through IG Academy is the best in the industry, and for newer traders or investors who want a single platform for both trading and long-term investing, IG is hard to beat.

Who Is IG?

IG Group was founded in 1974 by Stuart Wheeler as the world's first spread betting firm. Over fifty years later, they're a FTSE 250 listed company (ticker: IGG.L) and the UK's largest provider of spread bets and CFDs by revenue. They're also one of the oldest continuously operating financial services firms in the retail trading space — and that longevity matters.

For UK clients, the relevant entity is IG Markets Limited, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority under firm reference number 195355. As a publicly listed company, IG is subject to additional layers of governance and transparency that privately held brokers simply aren't — quarterly earnings, independent audits, and regulatory filings that are all publicly available.

IG offers over 17,000 tradable markets across forex, indices, shares, commodities, bonds, interest rates, and options. But what sets them apart from pure-play CFD brokers is that IG also offers share dealing — you can buy and hold actual shares through a General Investment Account (GIA), Stocks and Shares ISA, or Self-Invested Personal Pension (SIPP). That makes IG a genuine one-stop shop for both active traders and long-term investors.

Share Dealing, ISA & SIPP

This is where IG distinguishes itself from specialist CFD brokers. If you want to buy and hold actual shares — not just trade on the price via CFDs — IG offers three account types:

General Investment Account (GIA)

Standard share dealing account with access to UK, US, and international shares plus ETFs and investment trusts. No limit on how much you can invest. Capital gains tax applies on profits above your annual CGT allowance (£3,000 for 2026/27).

Stocks and Shares ISA

Tax-free wrapper for up to £20,000 per tax year (2026/27 allowance). All gains and dividends within the ISA are completely free from capital gains tax and income tax. For UK investors building long-term wealth, this is the most tax-efficient way to invest. IG's ISA has no custody fees if you make at least three trades per quarter — otherwise there's a £24 quarterly charge.

Self-Invested Personal Pension (SIPP)

For retirement planning, IG's SIPP lets you invest in the same range of shares and ETFs with the tax advantages of a pension — contributions get tax relief at your marginal rate (20%, 40%, or 45% depending on your tax bracket). There's a platform fee of 0.25% per year on the first £250,000 of assets.

Smart Portfolios

If you prefer a hands-off approach, IG's smart portfolios are a managed investment service built with BlackRock ETFs. You answer some questions about your goals and risk tolerance, and IG builds and manages a diversified portfolio for you. The all-in fee is 0.62% per year. Good for investors who want professional management without the high fees of a traditional financial adviser.

The share dealing commission structure is straightforward: £8 per trade for UK shares, dropping to £3 per trade if you make three or more trades in the previous month. US shares are commission-free (you just pay the FX conversion). That's competitive but not the cheapest — Trading 212 offers zero commission, for example. But IG gives you access to a far wider range of markets and the trust of a FTSE 250 listed company.

Current IG New Client Promotions

IG has several new client offers running right now — including a boosted 5% interest rate for June. If you've been considering opening an IG account, it's a good time to do it. Here are the live offers:

🎁 Up to £300 in Free UK Shares

Open a new Share Dealing Account and invest £300 or more in net trades before the end of the same calendar month as your first trade. IG will allocate you a random bundle of UK-listed shares worth between £40 and £300.

You'll need to maintain an average of £300 invested across the three full calendar months following your first trade.

Promotion runs 16 March – 31 December 2026. New IG clients only, opening a GIA, ISA or SIPP. Reward is a randomly allocated bundle of UK-listed shares worth £40–£300. Minimum £300 invested, maintained for 3 full calendar months after first trade. Full T&Cs apply.

📈 5.00% AER Boosted Interest on Your Cash

Open a new IG Share Dealing Account in June 2026 and earn a boosted 5.00% AER (variable) on uninvested cash in your Boosted Account for 12 months — on balances up to £75,000. Interest is paid monthly.

To qualify, make a net investment of at least £2,000 by 22:00 on 30 June 2026, and keep an average invested value of at least £2,000 throughout the 12-month boost period.

Promotion period: 1 – 30 June 2026. New customers opening a Share Dealing Account (GIA) only — not available on ISA or SIPP for new customers. 5.00% AER variable on uninvested cash up to £75,000. Minimum net investment £2,000 by 22:00 on 30 June 2026; maintain an average invested value of £2,000+ throughout. Boost period 1 July 2026 – 30 June 2027. Interest credited monthly. Full T&Cs apply.

₿ Also new — 0% crypto commission: IG now charges 0% commission on Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH) and Solana (SOL) through the IG Crypto account. This is an ongoing offer — no promo code needed. Don't invest unless you're prepared to lose all the money you invest. Crypto is a high-risk, largely unregulated investment and you are unlikely to be protected if something goes wrong.

Spread Betting & CFDs

While IG's share dealing side is impressive, they remain primarily a spread betting and CFD broker — and this is where their experience and market depth really shows. With over 17,000 markets, IG offers more tradable instruments than almost any other retail broker.

For UK traders, IG offers both spread betting (profits exempt from capital gains tax under current HMRC rules) and CFD trading.

Typical Spreads

IG also offers guaranteed stops on many markets — you pay a small premium, but your stop is guaranteed to execute at your specified price even if the market gaps through it. During events like flash crashes or surprise economic data, that can save you from catastrophic slippage.

Trading Platforms

IG's proprietary trading platform with advanced charting tools

IG Trading Platform (Web & Mobile)

IG's proprietary platform is clean, modern, and genuinely well-designed. The charting is powered by a partnership with TradingView's technology, giving you access to advanced charting tools, 100+ indicators, and drawing tools within IG's own interface. The mobile app is one of the best in the industry — fast, responsive, and feature-complete. You can place trades, set alerts, manage your portfolio, and access research all from your phone.

ProRealTime

For advanced technical analysis, IG offers ProRealTime — a professional-grade charting platform that's normally a paid subscription but comes free with IG if you place at least four trades per month. ProRealTime's backtesting and automated trading capabilities are excellent, and it's the preferred platform for many serious technical traders.

MetaTrader 4

IG supports MT4 for traders who prefer it, with the same competitive pricing. If you're running existing MT4 EAs or indicators, they'll work on IG without modification. However, IG doesn't offer MT5 — if MetaTrader 5 is important to you, Pepperstone or IC Markets are better choices.

Fees & Charges

Trading Fees

• Spread betting & CFDs: No commission — costs are built into the spread
• UK shares: £8 per trade (£3 if 3+ trades in previous month)
• US shares: Commission-free
• Other international shares: From 0.10% commission per trade

Account Fees

• ISA custody fee: £24 per quarter (waived if you make 3+ trades that quarter)
• SIPP fee: 0.25% per year on first £250,000
• Smart Portfolios: 0.62% all-in annual fee
• Inactivity fee: £12/month after 2 years of no trading (spread betting/CFD account only)
• Currency conversion: 0.5% on non-GBP trades

The inactivity fee is worth flagging — if you open a spread betting or CFD account but don't trade for two years, IG will charge £12 per month. This doesn't apply to share dealing, ISA, or SIPP accounts.

Regulation & Is IG Safe for UK Investors?

IG is arguably the safest retail broker available to UK clients. Here's why:

FCA regulated since 1974 — IG Markets Limited is authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority under firm reference number 195355. FTSE 250 listed company — as a publicly listed company on the London Stock Exchange, IG is subject to UK corporate governance requirements, independent auditing, and quarterly financial reporting. FSCS protection — eligible deposits are covered up to £85,000 per client if IG were to fail. Segregated client funds — client money is held in segregated accounts at tier-1 banks, completely separate from IG's operating capital. Negative balance protection — you cannot lose more than your account balance on spread betting and CFD accounts.

IG Academy & Education

IG Academy is the most comprehensive free education platform offered by any broker — covering content from absolute beginner to advanced technical analysis, options strategies, and risk management. The courses are structured with progress tracking, quizzes, and certificates. Beyond the academy, IG publishes daily market analysis and has a dedicated analyst team.

Deposits & Withdrawals

IG offers the standard range of UK funding methods:

• Bank transfer — no fees, 1-3 business days
• Debit card — instant deposits, no fees
• Apple Pay / Google Pay — instant deposits

The minimum deposit is £250 for a spread betting or CFD account. Withdrawals are typically processed within one business day. No withdrawal fees.

IG vs Pepperstone vs IC Markets — Which Should You Choose?

Conclusion

IG is the most complete broker available to UK clients, offering comprehensive services encompassing both trading and long-term investing along with strong regulatory frameworks and educational support.