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Head to head
Capital.com or IG? Fees, regulation, platform and product range compared side by side — with a verdict drawn from the data.
Risk warning: CFDs and leveraged products are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly. Investments can fall in value. Past performance is not an indicator of future results.
The best-executed retail CFD platform in Europe, provided you accept that CFDs are the whole product.
The most complete leveraged-trading operation in Europe — and it prices like it knows that.
Advertising disclosure: where a partnership is active, we may earn a commission through broker links. The provider’s terms apply. Commissions do not influence our ratings; paid placements are separately labelled as sponsored.
Four decision axes, each derived from the recorded data.
Overall IG takes it, 4.5 against 4.3 out of 5. IG is the cheaper of the two: a reference EUR 5,000 stock order costs €0.00 there against €5.00. IG scores 100 against 77 out of 100 on the group index. Your account's protection depends on its legal entity. IG covers more ground with 13 of 14 asset classes against 8. On platform and app IG is ahead, 4.6 against 4.4 out of 5. Which one is right depends on which of these axes matters for your trading profile.
Capital.comIGCapital.comIGCapital.comIGCapital.comIGCapital.comIGUp to four brokers at once — every row a decision point.
Data as of: 30 Aug 2026
| Criterion | ||
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 4.3 | 4.5 — Better |
| Group index | 77 of 100 | 100 of 100 |
| Best for | Active CFD tradersForex day tradingMobile-first tradersBeginners learning leverageCrypto CFD exposure | Experienced CFD and spread bet tradersMulti-asset traders who want one accountUK ISA and SIPP investorsDirect market access share tradingUS options and futures from Europe |
| Regulation | FCAASICCySECCySEC | FCABaFinFINMAASICMASJFSADFSA |
| Top-tier licences | 2 | 6 — Better |
| Investor protection | £85,000 | CHF 100,000 — Better |
| Listed group | No | Yes |
| Banking licence | No | Yes |
| Segregated client accounts | Yes | Yes |
| Negative balance protection | Yes | Yes |
| Audited financials | Yes | Yes |
| Disclosed regulatory actions | None | None |
| Founded | 2016 | 1974 |
| Headquarters | Limassol, CY | London, GB |
| Fees | 4.4 — Better | 4.0 |
| Safety & regulation | 4.3 | 4.9 — Better |
| Trading platform | 4.3 | 4.7 — Better |
| Product range | 3.6 | 4.9 — Better |
| Mobile app | 4.6 — Better | 4.5 |
| Research | 4.2 | 4.6 — Better |
| Customer support | 4.2 | 4.3 — Better |
| Deposit & withdrawal | 4.5 — Better | 4.2 |
| Account opening | 4.6 — Better | 4.2 |
| Education | 4.6 — Better | 4.5 |
| Reference order EUR 5,000 | €5.00 | €0.00 — Better |
| Minimum deposit | US$20 | None — Better |
| Stocks (per order) | in the spread | Free |
| US stocks | in the spread | Free |
| ETFs | in the spread | Free |
| Options | Not offered | US$1 |
| Futures | Not offered | US$1 |
| Crypto | in the spread | n/a |
| Bonds (order) | n/a | n/a |
| Funds (order) | n/a | n/a |
| EUR/USD spread | 0.7 pips — Better | 0.9 pips |
| Index CFD spread | 1 points | 1 points |
| FX conversion | 0.7 % — Better | 0.8 % |
| Inactivity fee | None | None |
| Custody fee | n/a | None |
| Withdrawal fee | free | free |
| Deposit fee | free | free |
| Overnight financing | 4.05 % | n/a |
| Other fees |
|
|
| Asset classes (of 14) | 8 | 13 — Better |
| Exchanges | n/a | n/a |
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Options | No | Yes |
| Futures | No | Yes |
| Forex | Yes | Yes |
| CFDs | Yes | Yes |
| Crypto | Yes | Yes |
| Bonds | No | Yes |
| Funds | No | Yes |
| Commodities | Yes | Yes |
| Indices | Yes | Yes |
| Warrants | No | Yes |
| Spread betting | Yes | Yes |
| Social trading | No | No |
| Platforms | Capital.com Web PlatformCapital.com Mobile AppMetaTrader 4MetaTrader 5TradingView | IG web platformIG Trading appProRealTimeL2 DealerMetaTrader 4TradingViewIG REST & streaming API |
| Demo account | Yes | Yes |
| Fractional shares | Yes | No |
| Maximum leverage | 1:30 · Pro 1:300 | 1:30 |
| Account opening | Under 10 minutes — fully digital, usually verified the same day | Fully online; typically same-day approval, 1–3 business days when manual document checks are triggered |
| Account types | Standard (Retail)ProfessionalCapital.com Invest | CFD accountSpread betting accountShare dealing, ISA and SIPPUS Options & FuturesProfessional account |
| Payment methods | Bank transferSEPACredit cardDebit cardPayPalApple PayGoogle PaySkrillNeteller | Bank transferSEPACredit cardDebit cardPayPal |
| Account currencies | USDEURGBPPLNAUD | GBPEURUSDCHFAUDSGDJPY |
| Deposit time | Instant for cards and e-wallets, 1–3 business days for bank wire | Instant by card or PayPal; 1–3 business days by bank transfer |
| Withdrawal time | 1–3 business days | 1–5 business days depending on method and entity |
| Free withdrawals | n/a | n/a |
| Languages | EnglishGermanSpanishItalianFrenchPolishArabicDutchRomanianCzech | EnglishGermanFrenchItalianSpanishDutchSwedishPolishChineseJapanese+1 |
| Channels | EmailLive chatPhone | PhoneEmailLive chat |
| Availability | 24/7 | 24/5, with limited weekend cover for IG's weekend markets |
Editorial assessment based on the recorded data.
Capital.com
The best-executed retail CFD platform in Europe, provided you accept that CFDs are the whole product.
Pros
Cons
Best for
IG
The most complete leveraged-trading operation in Europe — and it prices like it knows that.
Pros
Cons
Best for
Open an account with either
A demo account costs nothing and answers the platform question in ten minutes.
Advertising disclosure: where a partnership is active, we may earn a commission through broker links. The provider’s terms apply. Commissions do not influence our ratings; paid placements are separately labelled as sponsored.
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