IG vs Plus500
Since 1 Dec 2001, the FCA, FRN 114059, has authorised IG INDEX LIMITED, which holds client money. Since 29 Jun 2010, the FCA, FRN 509909, has authorised Plus500UK Ltd, which holds client money.
IG and Plus500 side by side
The date we read it appears with each figure from the broker. Their order follows how people search for them, not any preference.
| Fact | IG | Plus500 |
|---|---|---|
| UK firm | IG INDEX LIMITED | Plus500UK Ltd |
| FRN | 114059 | 509909 |
| Regulatory status | Authorised | Authorised |
| Authorised since | 1 Dec 2001 | 29 Jun 2010 |
| Clone firms on the register | 0 | 12 |
| Retail CFD accounts that lose money | 70%, read 2 Nov 2026 | 76%, read 2 Nov 2026 |
| EUR/USD spread as stated | 0.6 points (minimum, Spread betting) | Not stated |
| Smallest deposit | £250 | Not stated |
| Inactivity fee | Free (as stated on spread betting/CFD charges tab) | After no login for at least three months, the charge is up to USD 10 monthly |
| Withdrawal fee | free | No charge applies (We Don’t Charge Deposit and Withdrawal Fees). Withdrawals under the stated minimum may incur charges. |
| Withdrawal time | Not stated | Processing normally takes 1-3 working days; e-wallets take 3-7, while bank transfers take 5-7. |
| CFDs | Yes | Yes |
| Spread betting | Yes | Not stated |
| Share dealing | Yes | Not stated |
| Retail leverage | up to 30x leverage on selected markets | 1:30 on Forex CFDs; 1:5 on share CFDs |
| Platforms | MT4, MT5, TradingView, IG online trading platform plus the mobile app; also available are L2 Dealer, ProRealTime and the tastytrade platform for US options and futures.) | Plus500 trading platform (web and app) |
| Demo account | Yes | Yes |
| Negative balance protection | Yes | Yes |
| iPhone app rating, UK App Store | 4.58 of 5 (34,180 ratings) | 4.25 of 5 (7,849 ratings) |
Both brokers have the same FCA status. Both also offer CFDs, a demo account and negative balance protection.
Sources: ig.com/uk, accessed 2 Nov 2026; plus500.com/en-GB, accessed 2 Nov 2026; ig.com/uk/charges, accessed 2 Nov 2026; ig.com/uk/about-us/international-offering, accessed 2 Nov 2026; ig.com/uk/spread-betting, accessed 2 Nov 2026; plus500.com/en-gb/aboutus, accessed 2 Nov 2026.
How the two loss rates stand against the wider field
The full risk warning from each broker
Spread bets and CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. When customers trade spread bets and CFDs with this provider, 70% of retail investor accounts lose money. Whether you know how spread bets and CFDs work is something you should consider. Whether you can afford the risk of losing your money, which is high, is something you should consider too.
The wording on ig.com is IG's own, read 2 Nov 2026.
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. When customers trade CFDs with this provider, 76% of retail investor accounts lose money. You should consider whether you can afford the high risk of losing your money and whether you understand how CFDs work.
The wording on plus500.com is Plus500's own, read 2 Nov 2026.