IG vs XTB at a glance
| | IG | XTB |
| --- | --- | --- |
| EUR/USD spread | 0.6 pips | 0.5 pips |
| GBP/USD spread | 0.9 pips | 0.8 pips |
| XAU/USD spread | 0.30 pips | 0.28 pips |
| Commission | Spread-only on forex | Spread-only on forex |
| Minimum deposit | £250 (card £1) | No minimum |
| Max leverage | 1:30 (FCA retail) | 1:30 (FCA retail) |
| Regulation | FCA, ASIC, BaFin, MAS, CFTC | FCA, KNF, CySEC, IFSC |
| Platforms | IG Web, MT4, ProRealTime, L2 Dealer | xStation 5, xStation Mobile |
| Withdrawals | 1-3 business days | Same day to 2 business days |
| Founded | 1974 | 2002 |
Deposits and withdrawals
IG processes withdrawals in 1-3 business days. XTB takes Same day to 2 business days. Payout speed is one of the clearest signals of how a broker treats client money, so test it with a small withdrawal before you scale your account.
Total cost of a 1 lot EUR/USD round turn
The only cost comparison that matters is spread plus commission, measured together:
- IG — 0.6 pips plus Spread-only on forex
- XTB — 0.5 pips plus Spread-only on forex
- Vantage — 0.0 pips (Raw ECN) plus $3 per side per lot (Raw ECN) (the lowest commission of the raw ECN group)
Across 200 lots a month, a $0.50 per-side commission difference alone is $200 — $2,400 a year kept in or taken out of your account before a single pip of market movement.
Safety and regulation
IG: FCA, ASIC, BaFin, MAS, CFTC. LSE-listed and FCA-regulated; FSCS cover for eligible UK retail clients.
XTB: FCA, KNF, CySEC, IFSC. FCA-regulated UK entity; FSCS cover for eligible retail clients.
Whichever you pick, confirm the entity you are onboarded to, that client funds are segregated, and that negative balance protection applies to your account type.
Platforms and execution
IG supports IG Web, MT4, ProRealTime, L2 Dealer. XTB supports xStation 5, xStation Mobile. MT4 remains best for expert advisors, MT5 adds depth of market, and cTrader gives the clearest view of raw pricing and order book depth.
Verdict: IG vs XTB
Between the two, pick on the metric that dominates your strategy — commission for scalpers, withdrawal speed for active traders, regulation for long-term capital. But on pure cost, neither beats Vantage: 0.0 pips (Raw ECN) raw spreads, $3 per side per lot (Raw ECN), up to 1:500 leverage, MT4/MT5/cTrader and same-day withdrawals from a $50 minimum deposit. Open a Vantage account.