IG vs eToro at a glance
| | IG | eToro |
| --- | --- | --- |
| EUR/USD spread | 0.6 pips | 1.0 pips |
| GBP/USD spread | 0.9 pips | 1.5 pips |
| XAU/USD spread | 0.30 pips | 0.45 pips |
| Commission | Spread-only on forex | Spread-only, $5 withdrawal fee |
| Minimum deposit | £250 (card £1) | $50 |
| Max leverage | 1:30 (FCA retail) | 1:30 (FCA retail) |
| Regulation | FCA, ASIC, BaFin, MAS, CFTC | FCA, CySEC, ASIC |
| Platforms | IG Web, MT4, ProRealTime, L2 Dealer | eToro Web, eToro App |
| Withdrawals | 1-3 business days | 1-2 business days |
| Founded | 1974 | 2007 |
Head-to-head answer
On measurable cost, IG prices EUR/USD at 0.6 pips with Spread-only on forex, versus eToro at 1.0 pips with Spread-only, $5 withdrawal fee. On safety, LSE-listed and FCA-regulated; FSCS cover for eligible UK retail clients. By contrast, FCA-regulated UK entity; FSCS cover for eligible retail clients.
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
- eToro — 1.0 pips plus Spread-only, $5 withdrawal fee
- 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.
eToro: FCA, CySEC, ASIC. 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. eToro supports eToro Web, eToro App. 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 eToro
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.