Is IG good for investing?
Independent review by Boring Money
Investment expert’s opinion
IG offers lots of choice for more confident traders who will enjoy the app which serves up suggestions grouped by theme and sector. It’s mostly about shares, international shares but also spread-betting (playing with fire). The supporting research and content feels a bit thinner compared to some peers. Charges are low, particularly for larger accounts, and the large international brand will give comfort to some who struggle with the newer ‘funkier’ brands competing in this space.
*This is the view of investment expert Holly Mackay based on her first-hand customer experience as a test account holder. This does not constitute regulated advice. You can read more about Holly's investments here.
Who is IG?
IG is a trading platform which was founded in 1974. Its claim to fame is that it invented ‘spread betting’ - a form of speculative trading where you anticipate whether the price of a currency, index, commodity or share is going to rise or fall. Today IG is one of the world’s most popular choices for spread betting, is a constituent of the FTSE 250 index in London and is regulated by the UK’s financial regulator, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). IG states its business model is “built around being on your side and wanting you to trade profitably”.
Who is IG good for?
IG is a good choice for frequent share traders, those who want to learn about more sophisticated trading methods using a free demo account and lots of educational resources, and those who are interested in ready-made investments through IG’s Smart Portfolio service.
Pros and cons
Still not quite sure if IG is right for you? We’ve broken down the main pros and cons in the table below. Take a look for a bird’s eye view of the key takeaways.
Investments
IG customers can invest in a huge range of different investments, including:
There is also a wealth of educational resources on IG’s website and app, including articles, guides, courses and even live learning sessions with financial experts to help you improve your knowledge on investing.
IG Smart Portfolios
IG offers a range of ready-made portfolios it calls its Smart Portfolios. These are essentially multi-asset funds that are made up of a blend of high and low-risk investments in different proportions. The idea is that if you prefer to minimise risk, you would opt for the lower-risk options, or if you’re more comfortable with risk and looking to maximise gains, you would opt for the higher-risk options.
The table below breaks down IG’s five Smart Portfolios in more detail.
Portfolio name | What is it? | Risk level |
Conservative | Invests in fixed-income products, primarily UK and US government bonds as well as corporate debt, with additional exposure to high-yield, index-linked and emerging-market bonds. | Very low risk. Described as suitable for “risk-averse” investors or those with short-term objectives. |
Moderate | Primarily invests in fixed-income products such as government, corporate and high-yield bonds. Some exposure to global equities and alternative assets such as gold. | Low risk. Designed for investors looking to protect their savings, but still want to keep ahead of inflation. |
Balanced | Invests in a blend of fixed-income products and global equities, with the addition of some alternative assets such as gold. | Medium risk. Designed for those who want to grow their savings over time but want to stay diversified. |
Growth | Invests primarily in global equities, with additional diversifying exposures to fixed-income products and alternatives. | High risk. Designed for investors with a high tolerance for risk and who are prepared to see sizeable fluctuations in the value of their investments in order to achieve long-term growth. |
Aggressive | Predominantly invests in equities, with residual exposure to fixed-income products and alternatives. | Very high risk. Designed for investors with a very high tolerance for risk, or those with an extended time horizon who can afford significant fluctuations in their savings. |
Accounts
Stocks & Shares ISA | Pension (SIPP) | General Investment Account (GIA) | Lifetime ISA | Junior ISA |
✔ | ✔ | ✔ | X | X |
ISA & SIPP offer available on IG*
Invest £50.
Get up to £200.
Kick-start your investing journey with IG. Open an IG account, invest at least £50, and you’ll get a free share bundle worth up to £200*. It's time to start building for the future you want.
*New customers only. Make your first investment of at least £50 into an ISA, GIA or SIPP account by 30 September 2025. Must remain invested until 31 October 2025. Other fees may apply. T&Cs found here.
Fees and charges
The cost of investing with IG depends on which type of account you have. If you have a Smart Portfolio account, there is a flat account admin fee, whereas the fee for a Share Dealing Account can be reduced by executing a certain number of trades in a quarter. The table below breaks it down in further detail.
Account Type | Account Admin Fee | SIPP Admin Fee | Fund Charges | Transaction Costs |
Share Dealing ISA and GIA | £24 per quarter/£96 per year | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Share Dealing SIPP | £24 per quarter/£96 per year | £210 | N/A | N/A |
Smart Portfolio ISA and GIA | 0.50% on the first £50k, 0% on amounts above £50k | N/A | 0.13% | 0.9% |
Smart Portfolio SIPP | 0.50% on the first £50k, 0% on amounts above £50k | £210 | 0.13% | 0.9% |
See how much it would cost you
Use the handy calculator below to calculate the cost of an account. Just select which type of account you want to use, type in the amount you want to invest and - hey presto! - our calculator will give you an estimate of how much it costs. Please note estimated fees are calculated excluding promotional offers.
Step 1. Select account type.
Step 2. Enter the amount you are looking to invest.
Estimated fees:
£7.20
All Inclusive
This cost represents the total amount you will pay. It is based on a typical account and will be a very good guide, but may differ depending on the investment option you pick.
The boring disclaimer bit
This is a free resource for our readers. We’ve tried really hard to ensure that these calculations are correct and can promise you there’s no monkey business or favouritism going on. But please don’t rely on these calculations without double checking yourself. If you do think you have seen an error please contact community@boringmoney.co.uk and help us to make this better. More information on the assumptions we've used to calculate these investment fees can be found here.
Customer reviews
Customers generally like the broad range of investment products, “efficient and prompt” customer service and the reliability that comes with this established, respected brand. However, some negative feedback includes the fees being too high and the website and app being “complicated” to understand.
Your opinion matters!
Leave a review for IG
20 April 2025
IG available shares are strongly weighted to the North American market and you cannot buy many well-known European stocks, for example. This is an ongoing frustration. Its website is clear and easy to navigate. Request daily share dealing statements and monthly ones to track your investments. The helpdesk quality varies depending on who you email. Sadly, they do not offer multiple currencies so you are required to pay a currency conversion fee of 0.7% when you both buy and sell. This compares unfavourably with some more modern platforms which allow you to hold cash in a range of currencies.
Sue
26 November 2024
Clear to understandnot the best value for money
25 November 2024
I love the trading platform and the different instruments.
23 November 2024
Very good platform
22 November 2024
Excellent customer service and low fees
21 November 2024
Simple platform, great range of products
20 November 2024
Varied aspects and good platform
19 November 2024
They are clear and direct in their communications.
Most asked questions
Is IG safe?
Cash savings with Dodl are covered by the UK government’s Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS), which guarantees reimbursement up to the value of £85,000 per person in the event that Dodl and parent company AJ Bell fail. Any amount above this threshold is unlikely to be covered. Investments with Dodl, on the other hand, are not guaranteed - by their nature, investments can and will go up and down in value.
Who owns IG?
IG, originally founded as IG Index, was founded in 1974 by British financier Stuart Wheeler. Today the company is listed on the London Stock Exchange, meaning investors can purchase shares in the company itself.
Glossary
Not 100% sure you understand something we’ve written in this review?
Discover jargon-free definitions of the most common words and technical terms used in the world of investing.
Risk warning
As is always the case with investing, your capital is at risk. The value of your portfolio can go down as well as up and you may get back less than you invest. Tax treatment depends on your individual circumstances and may change in the future.
All information in this review correct as at 01/02/2025.
