IG is a global online share trading provider, offering traders access to Australian and international shares. They’re known for charging some of the lowest brokerage fees on the market, starting with zero commissions for global stocks and $5 for ASX shares.
IG share trading platform review
![IG Share Trading](https://www.finder.com.au/niche-builder/5ed733941f803.png)
- Standard brokerage fee
- US$0
- Available markets
- ASX, NASDAQ, NYSE, AMEX, Euronext, DAX, ISEQ
- Support
- Phone, Email, After hours, Live chat
Our verdict
Access some of the lowest broker fees on the market when you trade global and Australian shares, with commissions starting at $0.
IG is a local and international provider with a long history in share trading, CFD and forex trading. On the positive side, IG has a competitive fee structure and is a well-respected broker. It offers access to a raft of markets and 24-hour support. Its education facilities are up there with the best of them and the broker makes coming up with trading ideas relatively easy.
However, IG suits more active traders, with those who do not make at least 3 trades per month paying a slightly higher brokerage on Australian shares. The difference isn't huge ($5 vs $8) but for smaller long-term buy-and-hold investors, this needs to be factored in.
Pros
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$0 brokerage on global stocks
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Low brokerage on Australian stocks – starting from $5
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A single platform for global and ASX stocks, CFDs, forex (CFDs) and cryptocurrencies (CFDs)
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Extended hours trading on US stocks
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Competitive spreads
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Educational resources
Cons
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Currency conversion fee higher than some others
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Encourages more active traders
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Limited global markets
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Limited order types
Details
Platform details
Type of broker | Online only |
ASX products | Shares |
Available markets | ASX, NASDAQ, NYSE, AMEX, Euronext, DAX, ISEQ |
Standard brokerage fee | US$0 |
Support | Phone, Email, After hours, Live chat |
More Info |
What do Australians think of IG share trading platform?
- 4.17/5 overall for Customer Satisfaction — lower than the average of 4.18
- 4.46/5 for Trust — lower than the average of 4.55
- 4.27/5 for Customer Service — higher than the average of 4.11
Based on IG share trading platform scores in Finder's 2024 Customer Satisfaction Awards.
Company background
IG is a global trading giant that has been around since the mid-70s. Starting out in the UK, IG was actually the first-ever spread betting company. Fast forward the best part 3 decades and in 2002, IG Group commenced trading in Australia. By 2005, the broker was publicly listed on the London Stock Exchange.
Today, it has more than 320,000 clients worldwide, a long-term history and a large array of markets to choose from. IG has become one of Australia's most well-known trading platforms.
Is IG safe to use?
IG has a long history of providing financial products to consumers around the world. This means that it has to be regulated by various governing bodies including the Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC) in Australia.
Adding to its validity, IG is publicly listed.
As such, you can trade with confidence knowing you're protected under Australian laws. However, it is worth pointing out, IG doesn't just offer shares. Its CFD and forex products are riskier products that should only be used by sophisticated investors.
What are the key features of the IG trading platform?
Fees |
★★★★★ 3.4/5 |
Brokerage fees for both ASX and global stocks are among the lowest in the market. |
Trading tools |
★★★★★ 4.5/5 |
It offers charting tools, conditional orders and margin trading options. |
Research and education |
★★★★★ 3/5 |
IG features a live demo and news updates. It does not offer stock rating tools. |
Available securities |
★★★★★ 4/5 |
It offers local and global stocks, ETFs, forex and CFDs. |
Customer support |
★★★★★ 5/5 |
IG is rated highly thanks to 24/7 live chat support, phone and email support services. |
Available countries |
★★★★★ 3.5/5 |
IG offers stocks listed in Australia, the US, the UK, Germany and Ireland. |
News and analysis
One of the perks of signing up with IG is its customers can access news, advice, webinars and recommendations from IG's team of in-house experts. The IG website houses a market analysis section, providing articles and videos on trading opportunities and stocks to watch. However, keep in mind that you should do your own research before buying any shares.
Free courses
IG Academy offers free online courses, webinars and seminars with the aim to help develop investors' skills.
Cheap brokerage
Brokerage costs with IG are some of the lowest in the industry, starting at just $5.00 per trade on Australian shares and $0 commissions per trade on global shares.
Choice of trading platforms
You can place share trades with IG through the provider's web-based trading platform, over the phone or through the IG app. Share trading apps are proving to be a hugely popular medium and the IG trading app is available to suit both Apple and Android smartphones and tablets.
Available markets
IG share trading provides access to more than 13,000 both here and abroad. Check out the list below for the international stock exchanges you can buy shares on via your IG share trading account.
Stop losses
For those looking to protect their portfolio, IG offers stop and limit orders, which can help investors control some of the risks. For example, the provider says you can choose exactly where your trade closes with a guaranteed stop loss, with no exceptions.
What markets can I trade with an IG share trading account?
An IG share trading account provides investors access to more than 13,000 shares across both Australian and international markets. The stock exchanges you can access through your IG share trading account include:
- Australia: ASX 200, ASX 300 and a wide range of other small-cap Australian stocks.
- US: S&P 500, DOW 30, Nasdaq-100 and a wide range of other small-cap US stocks.
- UK: FTSE 100, FTSE 250 and a wide range of other small-cap UK stocks.
- Germany: DAX, HDAX, MDAX.
- Ireland: ISEQ.
If you're not looking to invest in shares and are instead interested in taking more of a short-term approach, then perhaps trading CFDs might be more suitable for you. If this sounds like the case, take a look at our review of the IG forex and CFD trading account.
What account types can you open with IG?
IG allows you to open 1 of 3 tailored accounts depending on your individual needs.
- Corporate account: This is a complete trading solution for corporate and institutional investors, allowing access to a variety of markets and financial products.
- Personal accounts: Made for individual traders, it offers free research, fast set-up, cheap spreads and a range of markets.
- SMSF account: Investors with an SMSF can also trade through IG, but will need to have at least $1 million worth of assets. You'll gain access to accounts tailored to suit your needs.
What customer support is available?
IG offers a 24-hour customer support service. When you need assistance, visit IG's extensive online help portal.
If you can't find the answer you're looking for among the frequently asked questions, you can email your question to IG, free call the experienced customer help team directly or jump on live chat.
IG Academy also contains educational resources and the IG community allows users to access forums, get trading tips and interact with other members.
What are the fees?
As well as brokerage, an IG share trading account has a number of fees and charges that you need to be aware of.
Note: IG removed its quarterly $50 inactivity fee from share trading accounts as of July 2022.
Brokerage fees
You have a few options on broker (aka commission) fees, which will come down to how often and how much you trade each month.
The brokerage fee for Australian shares starts at $5 a trade. However, this is only if you've made 3 or more trades in the previous month. If you've only made 1–2 trades, your broker fee will be the standard $8 per trade or 0.1%, whichever is higher.
For international markets, the commission fee is $0, but you're charged a foreign exchange fee of 0.70% per trade if you choose this route. The other option here is to convert currencies outside of IG. This means you avoid the high FX fee, but must pay $10 per trade in commissions.
The following table breaks down the brokerage fees across Australia and its international share markets for phone or online trades.
Location | Commission per trade |
---|---|
Australia | AUD$5 per trade (if you make 3+ trades in the previous month), or $8/0.1% (whichever is higher) |
US | $0 |
UK | $0 |
Germany | $0 |
Ireland | $0 |
Location | Minimum charge |
---|---|
Australia | AUD$50/0.1% |
US | US$50/2 cents per share |
UK | £40/0.1% |
Germany | €50/0.1% |
Ireland | €50/0.1% |
Access to live share market data
To view live prices on Australian and international share markets, you will need to activate the relevant data feed through your IG share trading account. Certain markets allow users to upgrade from free pricing options to real-time pricing, but this is for a fee.
Minimum balance
While not exactly a fee, it's worth noting that there's no minimum balance requirement on your IG share trading account. You aren't required to deposit any money upfront in order to open the account and there aren't any ongoing account balance limits you need to maintain to keep it.
What are the account funding options on an IG share trading account?
You can fund your IG share trading account in a number of ways including credit card, debit or BPAY. Each method attracts different fees. If you're in Australia, the minimum deposit via credit or debit card is $450.
However, there is no minimum deposit amount if you're funding your account via bank transfer, BPAY or PayPal. Below is a list of methods for funding your account based on your location.
Note: IG does not accept payments made via commercial and business credit cards, or cash.
Payment type | IG's cost | Execution time | How to pay |
---|---|---|---|
Credit card | Visa: 1% (AUD transactions) Mastercard: 0.5% (AUD transactions) Non-AUD transactions: 1.5% | Instant | Log in to the trading platform, select "Payments" and follow the prompts |
Debit card | Visa: Free Mastercard: Free | Instant | Log in to the trading platform, select "Payments" and follow the prompts |
BPAY | Free | Up to 2 business days | Your BPAY Biller and Customer Reference number is available from the following locations:
|
PayPal | 1% flat charge | Instant | Log in to the trading platform, select "Payments" and follow the prompts |
Payment type | IG's cost | Execution time | How to pay |
---|---|---|---|
Credit card | 1.5% | Instant | Log in to the trading platform, select "Payments" and follow the prompts |
Debit card | Visa: Free Mastercard: Free | Instant | Log in to the trading platform, select "Payments" and follow the prompts |
Electronic funds transfer to NZ-based account | Free | Up to 3 business days | Account name: IG Markets Ltd Client Trust Bank / Branch Code: 03-0252 Account number: 0834546-05 Currency: NZD only |
PayPal | 1% flat charge | Instant | Log in to the trading platform, select "Payments" and follow the prompts |
Payment type | IG's cost | Execution time | How to pay |
---|---|---|---|
Credit card | 1.5% | Instant | Log in to the trading platform, select "Payments" and follow the prompts |
Debit card | Visa: Free Mastercard: Free | Instant | Log in to the trading platform, select "Payments" and follow the prompts |
Local transfer to their HK-based account | Free | Up to 3 business days | Bank Name: The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited HSBC Main Building, 1 Queens Road Central, Hong Kong Account Name: IG Markets Ltd - Client Trust Account Swift Code: HSBCHKHHHKH Account Number(s): USD Currency – 848391785201 HKD Currency – 848391785001 AUD Currency – 848391785203 |
International Transfer to their Australia-based account | Free | Up to 3 business days | Bank Name: Westpac Banking Corporation 409 St Kilda Road Melbourne Vic 3004 Australia Account Name: IG Markets Client Trust Account Swift Code: WPACAU2SXXX Account Number(s): USD Currency – 034702372672 HKD Currency – 034734320199 AUD Currency – 033079189977 EUR Currency – 034705308262 GBP Currency – 034703392421 |
PayPal | 1% flat charge | Instant | Login to the trading platform, select "Payments" and follow the prompts. |
Payment type | IG's cost | Execution time | How to pay |
---|---|---|---|
Credit card | 1.5% | Instant | Log in to the trading platform, select "Payments" and follow the prompts |
Debit card | Visa: Free Mastercard: Free | Instant | Log in to the trading platform, select "Payments" and follow the prompts |
Local transfer to their HK-based account | Free | Up to 3 business days | Bank Name: The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited HSBC Main Building, 1 Queens Road Central, Hong Kong Account Name: IG Markets Ltd – Client Trust Account Swift Code: HSBCHKHHHKH Account Number(s): USD Currency – 848391785201 HKD Currency – 848391785001 AUD Currency – 848391785203 |
International transfer to their Australia-based account | Free | Up to 3 business days | Bank Name: Westpac Banking Corporation 409 St Kilda Road Melbourne Vic 3004 Australia Account Name: IG Markets Client Trust Account Swift Code: WPACAU2SXXX Account Number(s): USD Currency – 034702372672 HKD Currency – 034734320199 AUD Currency – 033079189977 EUR Currency – 034705308262 GBP Currency – 034703392421 |
PayPal | 1% flat charge | Instant | Log in to the trading platform, select "Payments" and follow the prompts |
Payment type | IG's cost | Execution time | How to pay |
---|---|---|---|
Credit card | 1.5% | Instant | Log in to the trading platform, select "Payments" and follow the prompts |
Debit card | Visa: Free Mastercard: Free | Instant | Log in to the trading platform, select "Payments" and follow the prompts |
International transfer to their Australia-based account | Free | Up to 3 business days | Bank Name: Westpac Banking Corporation 409 St Kilda Road Melbourne Vic 3004 Australia Account Name: IG Markets Client Trust Account Swift Code: WPACAU2SXXX Account Number(s): USD Currency – 034702372672 HKD Currency – 034734320199 AUD Currency – 033079189977 EUR Currency – 034705308262 GBP Currency – 034703392421 |
PayPal | 1% flat charge | Instant | Log in to the trading platform, select "Payments" and follow the prompts |
Source: IG
How do I open an IG share trading account?
If you'd like to sign up for an IG share trading account, click one of the "Go to site" links on this article to be securely redirected to the IG share trading website. You can then open an account by filling out an online application.
It takes around 5–10 minutes to apply and you will need to provide the following:
- Your name
- Your email address and phone number
- Your residential address (you must be an Australian tax resident)
- Your username and password
- A photograph or scanned copy of your Australian driver's licence or passport
Once the IG accounts team has approved your application, you will then be able to fund your account and begin trading shares.
What other products can you trade through IG
IG has a large selection of trading platforms that you're able to choose between. After registering for a forex and CFD account with IG, you can then gain access to the following:
- IG trading platform. It features a range of useful trading tools including trading charts, signals and personalised alerts.
- Web-based platform. IG's online trading platform enables you to trade via your web browser and customise your theme. Open and close your positions in a few clicks, view split charts and signal analysis, set up trading alerts and receive breaking news via Reuters and Twitter. The web-based platform supports Google Chrome (recommended), Firefox, Microsoft Edge, Internet Explorer 11 and Safari (Mac only).
- Mobile trading apps. Trade on-the-go with IG's trading apps, free to download and featuring native designs across all major mobile and tablet devices. Access market data and analysis and live prices before logging in.
- MetaTrader 4 (MT4). The most popular forex trading platform in the world for its fast execution, automated trading, customisable interface and enhanced trading tools. The IG version of MT4 comes with 18 free bespoke add-ons and indicators. Plus, you can access your account via the MT4 app on both Android and iPhone. Simply request access to MT4 in your client portal.
- Advanced platforms. Advanced traders can register for L2 Dealer, IG's downloadable DMA (Direct Market Access) platform. Get direct access to share market CFDs and forex currency pairs. This is for professional traders only and is only available via a specific request.
Frequently asked questions
Your reviews
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Cameron Finder
Writer
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Jeni Finder
March 05, 2019
Hi Al,
Thank you for getting in touch with Finder.
That only means that if you open a trade and you do not close the trade then you will be charged the fees.
I hope this helps.
Thank you and have a wonderful day!
Cheers,
Jeni
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danbradster
February 17, 2019
Not so great for:
They close out my orders at the end of the day, even if it was hit by a robot for $1 worth of shares, costing me $8 in brokerage. Unlike Commsec which leaves my order open for 20 days or until fully filled.
John Basanes Finder
February 18, 2019
Hi Danbradster,
Thank you for reaching out to finder.
You may want to directly reach out to them if it would still be possible to review this transaction and refund any amount that has been mistakenly charged from you. Hope this helps!
Cheers,
Reggie
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Amit
November 23, 2018
In relation to subscription fees “You deal at least three times across either of your share trading or CFD accounts during the quarter”
What is a deal? Is buy and a sell one deal or they are considered two deals?
Charisse Finder
November 29, 2018
Hi Amit,
Thanks for reaching out to finder.
As a general definition, a deal is a commercial exchange as in buying or selling any instrument. As per IG’s share trading customer agreement, when you give them an instruction to deal, it means you are asking them to buy or sell so it may mean buying and selling are two separate transactions.
However, you may also want to contact IG and confirm this information with them directly.
I hope this helps.
Cheers,
Charisse
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Prady
October 21, 2018
How does the payment by Credit Card been considered as i.e. cash advance or normal purchase?
John Basanes Finder
October 22, 2018
Hi Prady,
Thank you for leaving a question.
When you use your credit card to do a cash advance, this is basically using the card to go to an ATM and withdraw physical cash from it. This will incur a cash advance fee which the bank would charge from you. When you mention “Normal Purchase”, this is you using the card to make purchases via merchants and not getting cash from it. Hope this helps!
Cheers,
Reggie
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Martin
June 07, 2018
I am an Australian citizen and want to trade in the US market. Can I trade and write covered call options in the US stocks exchange?
Arnold
June 08, 2018
Hi Martin,
Thanks for your inquiry
Yes, IG account holders have the option to trade in the US Market. You can deal on over 15,000 markets, including more 24-hour indices than any provider and out-of-hours US shares. Please do note that IG has an obligation under US tax regulation to obtain documentation from their clients that wish to trade on US equities.
For more information about the IG Trading Account, please click the green ‘Go to site’ button to be redirected to their site.
Hope this information helps
Cheers,
Arnold
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Al
March 04, 2019
Can you please explain a bit for condition 2 for Quarterly inactivity fee waiver (if you hold onto your shares, this is classed as having an open position)? Is that means I order for some shares & subsequently not transferring the amount to IG account either by BPay or credit/debit card until the end of that quarter?
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