IG vs Saxo Bank: Which Broker Suits You?
IG scores 4.2 and Saxo Bank 4.0 out of 5 on our published methodology. IG leads on Costs & Fees and Account Access & Support; Saxo Bank leads on Asset Range, and they tie on Platform & Tools and Regulation & Trust. Both accept clients in the UK, the EU and other countries.
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
| IG | Saxo Bank | |
|---|---|---|
| What you own | Mixed | Real assets |
| Available assets | CFDs and spread betting, plus genuine UK share dealing and ISAs | Stocks, bonds, ETFs, options, futures and forex across 50+ exchanges |
| Regulated by | FCA, ASIC and other regional regulators | Danish FSA as a licensed bank, plus FCA and others |
| Stands out for | Trading since 1974, LSE-listed, with very wide market access | Professional-grade platforms and exceptional instrument breadth |
| Watch out for | Most of the range is leveraged rather than owned | Premium pricing, with custody fees in some countries |
| Accepts clients in | The UK, the EU and other countries | The UK, the EU and other countries |
Is IG cheaper than Saxo Bank?
On our Costs & Fees score, IG rates 3/5 against Saxo Bank’s 2/5, 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, IG or Saxo Bank?
IG is regulated by FCA, ASIC and other regional regulators; Saxo Bank by Danish FSA as a licensed bank, plus FCA and others. Both score 5/5 on our Regulation & Trust measure. 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, IG scores 3/5 and Saxo Bank 2/5. IG is the gentler place to start.
Who each one tends to suit
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
Saxo Bank
- Tends to suit
- Premium multi-asset investing
- Stands out for
- Professional-grade platforms and exceptional instrument breadth
- Watch out for
- Premium pricing, with custody fees in some countries
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.