IG vs eToro (2026): Fees, ISAs, CFDs and Which Is Safer

Two very different brokers

IG and eToro both offer CFDs and share dealing, and both are well-known names in the UK and Europe, but they are built for different people. IG traces its roots back to 1974 and is part of IG Group, listed on the London Stock Exchange; it combines a large CFD and spread-betting business with a share-dealing service, ISA and pension. eToro, founded in 2007 and listed on Nasdaq since May 2025, is a social investing app: you can buy shares, ETFs and crypto, trade CFDs, and copy the trades of other investors.

Share dealing costs

• IG UK shares: £8 per trade, or £3 if you made at least three trades in the previous month.
• IG US shares: commission-free for frequent traders who use instant currency conversion, otherwise £10 per trade, plus the cost of converting currency.
• IG custody fee: £24 a quarter if you hold shares, unless you make at least three trades in that quarter.
• eToro: no commission on ETFs; $1 or $2 per stock trade, each way, depending on the market.
• eToro currency conversion: 0.75% for most UK and EU clients converting into US dollars, less for higher Club tiers.
• Inactivity: IG charges $12 a month after two years without activity.

For a UK investor buying a few large positions a year, IG’s fixed fees can be cheaper than eToro’s percentage-based currency charge; for someone making small, frequent purchases without trading three times a quarter, IG’s custody fee adds up quickly. Run your own numbers before choosing.

ISAs and pensions

IG offers a stocks and shares ISA and a self-invested personal pension (SIPP), which matters for UK savers because gains and income inside them are sheltered from tax. eToro is mainly a general investment account in the UK; if a tax wrapper is central to your plans, check its current UK offer before relying on it.

Which is safer?

Both are regulated by the FCA in the UK, keep client money and assets segregated, and give UK clients FSCS protection up to £85,000 if the firm fails and cannot return assets. Both are listed companies with audited accounts. IG has a much longer history and is a large, profitable group; eToro has grown fast and has been public only since 2025. Neither scheme protects you against losses on your investments or trades. Our guide Is eToro safe? covers eToro’s protections in detail.

The bigger risk at both is not the broker failing. It is using the CFD side when you meant to invest.

CFDs and spread betting

Both brokers offer leveraged CFDs, and IG also offers spread betting to UK clients. These are derivatives, not ownership: you can lose money quickly, and both firms’ risk warnings state that most retail accounts lose money trading them. IG’s range of leveraged markets is far larger, with access to some 19,000 markets and professional platforms such as ProRealTime, L2 Dealer and MetaTrader 4.

Which suits whom

• IG suits UK investors who want an ISA or SIPP from an established listed provider and trade often enough to avoid the custody fee, and experienced traders who want deep markets and professional platforms.
• eToro suits beginners who want a simple app with shares, ETFs and crypto, and people interested in copy trading, provided they understand the currency fee and stay away from leverage they do not understand.

On our published methodology IG scores 4.2 overall and eToro 3.6, with IG ahead on Platform & Tools, Regulation & Trust and Asset Range, and eToro ahead on ease of use. This comparison is general education, not personal financial advice; fees change, so check both brokers’ current price lists.

This article is educational and general in nature. It isn’t personalized investment, tax, or legal advice — always weigh your own circumstances, or talk to a licensed professional, before making financial decisions.

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