DEGIRO vs IG: Which Broker Suits You?
DEGIRO scores 3.4 and IG 4.2 out of 5 on our published methodology. DEGIRO leads on Costs & Fees; IG leads on Platform & Tools, Regulation & Trust, Asset Range and Account Access & Support. Both accept clients in the EU.
Score by score
Each category is scored 1–5 using our published methodology. The overall score is the plain average of the first five; ease of use is shown separately.
Key facts side by side
| DEGIRO | IG | |
|---|---|---|
| What you own | Real assets | Mixed |
| Available assets | Stocks, ETFs, bonds and funds across many European and global exchanges | CFDs and spread betting, plus genuine UK share dealing and ISAs |
| Regulated by | BaFin (flatexDEGIRO Bank SE), with DNB and AFM overseeing the Dutch branch | FCA, ASIC and other regional regulators |
| Stands out for | Among the lowest per-trade costs available in Europe | Trading since 1974, LSE-listed, with very wide market access |
| Watch out for | Basic platform, no forex, and not open to US residents | Most of the range is leveraged rather than owned |
| Accepts clients in | The EU | The UK, the EU and other countries |
Is DEGIRO cheaper than IG?
On our Costs & Fees score, DEGIRO rates 4/5 against IG’s 3/5, so it is generally the cheaper of the two for the costs we assess: commissions, spreads, currency conversion and account fees. Fees differ by country and account type and change often, so check both brokers’ current price lists before you choose.
Which is safer, DEGIRO or IG?
DEGIRO is regulated by BaFin (flatexDEGIRO Bank SE), with DNB and AFM overseeing the Dutch branch; IG by FCA, ASIC and other regional regulators. IG scores higher on our Regulation & Trust measure (5/5 against 4/5). Which company holds your account, and which investor compensation scheme covers it, depends on where you live. Compensation schemes cover a broker failing, never investment losses.
Which is better for beginners?
On ease of use for a beginner, which sits outside the overall score, DEGIRO scores 3/5 and IG 3/5. Neither has a clear edge for a first account.
Who each one tends to suit
DEGIRO
- Tends to suit
- Low-cost European investing
- Stands out for
- Among the lowest per-trade costs available in Europe
- Watch out for
- Basic platform, no forex, and not open to US residents
IG
- Tends to suit
- Established multi-market trading
- Stands out for
- Trading since 1974, LSE-listed, with very wide market access
- Watch out for
- Most of the range is leveraged rather than owned
More head-to-heads
Scores and facts come from our own reviews as of September 2026 and follow one published methodology. Plain Investor has no commercial relationship with either broker. This is general education, not personal financial advice. Fees, features and regulation change, so confirm current terms with each broker before opening an account.