Switch Markets vs IG Group

Switch Markets vs IG Comparison Table 2024
Switch Markets IG
3.3
4.4

Switch Markets is a multi-asset CFD brokerage, regulated by ASIC and SVGFSA. The new brand offers trading on the MT4 platform and leverage up to 1:500. The broker boasts over 180 instruments, with some additional tools including copy trading services and free VPS hosting.

Founded in 1974, IG is part of IG Group Holdings Plc, a publicly traded (LSE: IGG) brokerage. The brand offers spread betting, CFD and forex trading across an almost unrivalled selection of 17,000+ markets, with a range of user-friendly platforms and investing apps. For 50 years, IG has maintained its position as an industry leader, excelling in all key areas for traders.

Customer Reviews
4
Bonus Offer
100% Deposit Bonus
Comment by Reviewer
"Based on my tests, I think Switch Markets could be a good option for both new and experienced day traders, with accessible accounts, zero commissions and spreads from 0 pips. My main complaint is that the selection of 180+ products may be a little light for some traders." "IG continues to provide a comprehensive package with an intuitive web platform and best-in-class education for beginners, plus advanced charting tools, real-time data, and fast execution speeds for experienced day traders."
Pros
  • Switch Markets offers access to a decent range trading tools including a market sentiment heatmap, an economic calendar and a VPS. I particularly appreciate the diverse range of forex calculators
  • I found 14 accessible deposit options and 5 base currencies. The impressive average processing times of 1 minute and 2 seconds should also appeal to active traders
  • I am impressed by the complimentary access to the HowToTrade education resources, community chatroom and market analysis for just a $100 deposit
  • Traders can access copy trading solutions via the MetaTrader Trading Signals tools and duplicate positions of experienced traders in real-time
  • I think the $50 minimum initial deposit for both account types is very competitive compared to some other brands
  • IG is amongst the best in terms of its range of instruments, which includes stocks, forex, indices, commodities, and cryptocurrencies, providing ample diversification opportunities
  • The proprietary web-based platform continues to caters to traders of all levels, with advanced charting tools and real-time market data useful for day trading
  • The IG app offers a superb mobile trading experience with a clean design that helped it secure Runner Up at our Best Trading App award
  • As a well-established broker, IG operates under strict regulatory guidelines in multiple jurisdictions, maintaining a high level of trust
  • IG offers an extensive collection of professional and engaging educational resources, including webinars, articles, and analysis
  • The ProRealTime advanced charting platform is free as long as certain modest monthly trading activity requirements are met
Cons
  • I'm a little concerned that the global entity is regulated offshore by the SVGFSA, a low-tier watchdog with very limited financial protection for clients
  • Spreads are not the most competitive for Standard account holders in my opinion, averaging 1.5 pips on EUR/USD
  • Beginners might find IG’s fee structure complex, with various fees for different types of trades or services, potentially leading to confusion or unexpected charges
  • While there is negative balance protection in the UK and EU, there is no account protection or guaranteed stop losses for US clients
  • IG has discontinued its swap-free account, reducing its appeal to Islamic traders
  • Stock and CFD spreads still trail the cheapest brokers like CMC Markets based on tests
  • IG applies an inactivity fee of $12 per month after 2 years, deterring casual investors
Awards
  • Best Customer Service 2022 - Online Money Awards
  • Best Spread Betting Provider 2022 - Online Money Awards
  • Best Platform for the Active Trader 2022 - ADVFN International Financial Awards
  • Best Multi Platform Provider 2022 - ADVFN International Financial Awards
  • Best Finance App 2022 - ADVFN International Financial Awards
Instruments
CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Cryptos, Commodities CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, ETFs, Futures, Options, Crypto, Spread Betting
Demo Account
Yes Yes
Minimum Deposit
$50 $0
Trading Platforms
  • MT4
  • Web
  • ProRealTime
  • L2 Dealer
  • MT4
  • AutoChartist
  • TradingCentral
Payment Methods
Minimum Trade
$1 0.01 Lots
Regulator
ASIC FCA, ASIC, NFA, CFTC, DFSA, BaFin, MAS, FSCA
Margin Trading
Yes Yes
Margin Rate
2.5%
STP Account
No No
ECN Account
No No
DMA Account
No Yes
MAM Account
No No
PAMM Account
No No
LAMM Account
No No
Demat Account
No No
AI / Machine Learning
No No
Robo Advisor
No Yes
Negative Balance Protection
Yes Yes
Market Maker
Yes Yes
P2P Trading
No No
Spot Trading
Yes Yes
Mobile Apps
iOS & Android iOS & Android
App Review

IG offers a superb all-round trading app. One of the pioneers of mobile trading, the application has been developed and refined over many years, meaning it is now among the best trading apps. Quick response, user-friendly layout, access to full charting and a stable and reliable application. It also offers guaranteed stops – an important risk management tool not available on many apps we’ve tested.

Android App Rating
4
iOS App Rating
4.6
Auto Trading
Yes - Equinix Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader, build your own on ProRealTime
Copy Trading
Yes No
Copy Trading Platform
Switch Markets offers copy trading services with low fees via the MetaTrader 4 terminal.
Social Trading
Yes No
Trade Signals
MT4 Yes
VPS Hosting
Yes Yes
Tournaments
No No
Demo Competitions
No No
Ethical Investing
No Yes
Custodial Account
No No
Guaranteed Stop Loss
No Yes
Inactivity Fee
$12
Islamic Account
Yes No
Account Currencies
  • USD
  • EUR
  • GBP
  • CAD
  • AUD
  • NZD
  • CHF
  • SGD
  • USD
  • EUR
  • GBP
  • CAD
  • AUD
  • JPY
  • ZAR
  • SEK
  • DKK
  • CHF
  • HKD
  • SGD
Stock Exchanges
Commodities
CFD Trading
Switch Markets offers 180+ CFD instruments with 1:500 leverage and fast order execution speeds of <76 ms. I find commissions are also fairly competitive, coming in at $7 per round turn for Pro account holders. IG offers a huge selection of 17,000+ CFDs, providing more trading opportunities than most CFD brokers. Traders can go long or short on popular markets like stocks, currencies, commodities and cryptos, while custom price alerts and the IG Academy continue to enhance the trading experience.
Leverage
1:500 1:30 (Retail), 1:250 (Pro)
FTSE Spread
1.2 1.0
GBPUSD Spread
0.5 0.9
Oil Spread
2.0 2.8
Stocks Spread
Variable 0.02
Forex Trading
I think the range of 60+ major, minor and exotic currency pairs is fairly competitive, especially with spreads from 0 pips in the Pro account. Experienced traders can also access high leverage up to 1:500 in the popular MT4 platform. IG offers an above-average suite of 80+ currency pairs on its proprietary web platform, mobile app or MetaTrader 4, with more advanced charts and forex analysis tools available on the ProRealTime software. Forex spreads are competitive based on tests, starting from 0.1 pips on majors like the EUR/USD.
Forex App

IG offers a superb all-round trading app. One of the pioneers of mobile trading, the application has been developed and refined over many years, meaning it is now among the best trading apps. Quick response, user friendly layout, access to full charting and a stable and reliable application. Top marks.

GBPUSD Spread
0.5 0.9
EURUSD Spread
0.1 0.8
EURGBP Spread
0.6 0.9
Assets
60+ 80+
Currency Indices
  • USD
Cryptocurrency
There's only 6 crypto CFDs available at Switch Markets, though I was pleased to see leverage of 1:3 available. I like that you can also benefit from BTC, ETH, XRP, USDT and USDTRC20 deposit options. IG's modest selection of 11 crypto CFDs trails top crypto brokers like Vantage which offers 40+ tokens. That said, it stands out with its crypto index, which tracks the value of the top 10 digital currencies by market cap and provides a holistic way to speculate on the value of the crypto market.
Spread
Variable Variable
Coins
  • BTC
  • ETH
  • LTC
  • XRP
  • BTC
  • BCH
  • LTC
  • ETH
  • ADA
  • DOT
  • DOGE
  • LINK
  • UNI
  • XLM
Crypto Lending
No No
Crypto Mining
No No
Crypto Staking
No No
Auto Market Maker
No No
More Comparisons
Switch Markets
vs
IG
vs