IG review Australia (CFDs)

What is IG and who is it for?

IG is one of the world's original spread-betting and CFD providers, founded way back in 1974, and it moved that trading online in the late 1990s as the internet took off. It’s a global powerhouse, now part of IG Group which is listed on the London Stock Exchange. As of its 2025 financial year, it serves 820,000 active clients worldwide with operations in 19 countries.

In Australia, IG is regulated by ASIC, offering a platform primarily for trading Contracts for Difference (CFDs). This means you speculate on the price movements of assets without owning them.

It’s best suited to confident traders who value a massive selection of markets and a robust, reliable platform. Its recent moves, like acquiring a local crypto exchange and launching a new direct investment app, show it's also expanding to cater to investors who want to own assets directly.

How does IG compare to other brokers?

While IG is a market leader, it's not the only option. Here’s how it stacks up against other popular brokers in Australia.

• IG vs Pepperstone: Both are top-tier, ASIC-regulated brokers. IG wins on the sheer number of markets and its superior proprietary platform. Pepperstone, however, often appeals to traders focused on low-cost execution, with potentially tighter spreads on its Razor account and a strong focus on the MetaTrader and TradingView platforms.
• IG vs IC Markets: IC Markets is known for its very low spreads and is a favourite among high-volume traders and those who use automated trading strategies or forex scalping. IG offers a much broader range of non-forex markets, like options and a wider selection of share CFDs, making it a more versatile multi-asset broker.

What can you trade with IG?

IG's biggest strength is its enormous range of markets. With an IG CFD account, you get access to over 18,000 instruments.

• Forex. Trade over 90 currency pairs, including majors, minors and exotics.
• Share CFDs. Access more than 11,000 global and Australian share CFDs.
• Indices. Trade 36 of the world's most popular stock indices, such as the Australia 200, S&P 500 and FTSE 100.
• Commodities. Gain exposure to over 35 commodity markets including gold, silver and oil.
• Other markets. You can also trade CFDs on options, interest rates and bonds.

A significant recent development is IG's move into direct asset ownership. Following its acquisition of Independent Reserve, announced in September 2025 and completed in January 2026, IG launched its IG Markets mobile app in June 2026, allowing Australians to buy and hold actual cryptocurrencies, shares and ETFs, separate from its CFD offering.

How do IG's fees and spreads compare?

Understanding the costs is key before you start to trade forex. IG’s pricing is competitive, though it varies depending on what you trade and which account you use.

• Spreads. The spread is the main cost on most CFD trades. For major forex pairs like EUR/USD and AUD/USD, spreads start from a competitive 0.6 pips. You can learn more about how spreads, pips and fees work.
• Commissions. Most CFD trading at IG is commission-free, as the cost is built into the spread. The main exception is for share CFDs, where a commission applies.
• Currency conversion fee. If you trade a market in a currency different from your account's base currency (e.g. trading US stocks from an AUD account), a currency conversion fee is charged. For CFD accounts this is 1.0%, while for the separate Share Trading account it is 0.7%.
• Funding and withdrawals. You can fund your account using credit/debit cards, Apple Pay, PayPal, BPAY and PayID. The minimum deposit for cards, PayPal and Apple Pay is A$100, and for BPAY it's A$10 — PayID's minimum instead depends on your own bank.

What trading platforms can you use?

IG offers a comprehensive suite of platforms to suit different types of traders.

• IG's proprietary platform. Available on the web and as a highly-rated mobile app, this is IG's flagship platform. It's powerful yet intuitive, with advanced charting, integrated news from Reuters, trading signals and risk management tools. The mobile app offers extensive charting capabilities that rivals desktop platforms.
• MetaTrader 4 (MT4). If you prefer the classic forex trading experience, IG offers the full MT4 platform. It's a global favourite, especially for those who use automated trading strategies known as Expert Advisors (EAs).
• ProRealTime. This is an advanced charting package integrated with IG's platform, designed for serious technical analysts. It features over 100 indicators and powerful backtesting tools.
• Direct Market Access (DMA) platform. For professional traders, IG offers L2 Dealer, its dedicated DMA platform. This provides direct access to exchange order books, allowing traders to see market depth and trade inside the market spread.

Is IG safe to use?

Yes, IG is considered a very safe and highly trusted broker. It has multiple layers of security and regulation that set it apart from many competitors.

• Regulation: In Australia, IG Markets Ltd is licensed and regulated by the Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC). Globally, it is regulated by top-tier authorities in numerous jurisdictions, including the FCA in the UK and FINMA in Switzerland.
• Publicly Traded Company: Its parent company, IG Group Holdings plc, is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a member of the FTSE 100 index. This requires a high level of financial transparency and corporate governance.
• Long History: Having been in operation since 1974, IG has a long track record of stability and has weathered many market cycles.
• Segregated Funds: Client money is held in segregated bank accounts, separate from IG's own corporate funds, which provides protection for your capital.

How to open an IG account

Opening an account with IG is free and the online application process is straightforward.

1. Go to the IG website. Navigate to the account creation page.
2. Fill out the application form. You'll need to provide your name, email, country of residence and create a password. You will also need to answer questions about your trading experience.
3. Verify your identity. You will likely need to provide proof of identity (like a driver's licence or passport) and proof of address to complete the process.
4. Fund your account. Once your account is approved, you can deposit funds using one of the available methods and start trading.