Spread bets and CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 70% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading spread bets and CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how spread bets and CFDs work, and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
- Good Money Guide experts commend IG's demo account for its extensive market access, allowing users to trade over 17,000 markets with a virtual £10,000. The demo account mirrors the live platform's features and pricing, providing a risk-free way to explore trading options. However, it lacks certain functionalities, such as a demo for MT4 and the ability to reset the account without creating a new one.
- Across 746 user reviews on Good Money Guide, averaging 4/5, customers frequently highlight the platform's ease of use, reliability, and comprehensive range of products. Many users appreciate the seamless integration of crypto trading with other investment options, while some express concerns about occasional technical issues affecting trade execution. Overall, the platform is viewed as trustworthy and well-supported, with strong educational resources available.
IG Demo Account Expert rating
Our expert rating is the average of the areas listed here, each scored out of 5 by our team.- Pricing4.5
- Market Access5.0
- Online Platform5.0
- Customer Service4.5
- Research & Analysis5.0
Pros
- Huge range of markets to trade
- Signals, news and research
- Does not expire
Cons
- Can't see commissions on investing
- No DMA demo account
- No client sentiment data
See full expert review
Our verdict
IG's demo lets you trade over 17,000 markets with a virtual £10k in a spread betting and CFD account with no expiry.
Spread bets and CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 70% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading spread bets and CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how spread bets and CFDs work, and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.>
Is IG's demo account any good?
Yes, IG's demo lets you trade over 17,000 markets with a virtual £10k in a spread betting and CFD account with no expiry.
IG Index's demo account lets you test out the broker formally known as IG Index's spread betting and CFD trading platform. There is no cost to opening a demo account with IG and you do not have to risk real money. Instead, you trade with virtual money. I've compared the demo account against the real account so you can decide if the IG demo account is right for you.
IG's demo versus live trading
Both the IG demo and the real trading platform have the same pricing and asset classes. You can see the similarity in the below screenshot (demo left, live right). 
There are a few downsides though, you can't get an IG MT4 demo, but I actually don't think IG is that good for MT4 (there are better MT4 brokers) as you are limited on what you can trade. You also can't get an IG share dealing demo, or IG Markets trading demo for DMA or physical shares. It's only the main IG Index demo for forex, indices, commodities and share derivatives.
You also cannot reset an IG demo account as it doesn't expire. So if you want to create a new IG demo you have to set up a new one using a different email address.
IG's demo account is excellent as it mirrors the pricing and features of its live platform. You get access to a £10k account for both spread betting and CFDs (so £20k in total), which means you can explore the difference in execution and trade order styles. Plus you get access to their news, trading signals and research without having to deposit funds.
Customer reviews for IG
Customer ratings come from reviews left on this site. Every review is read and approved before it is published.Based on 746 reviews
- Excellent38%
- Very good36%
- Basic18%
- Poor5%
- Bad3%
Read customer reviews
OK
OK
poor currency exchange rates
poor currency exchange rates
Professional
Professional
A bit clunky in places....
A bit clunky in places. Phone app and computer web page do not share watchlists
No comment
No comment
Good value for money and...
Good value for money and app is easy to use
OK
OK
Easy to use
Easy to use
Works well for the limited...
Works well for the limited spreadbets that I do
Easy to use excellent quality...
Easy to use excellent quality trading platform.
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.
Easy to use and navigate
Easy to use and navigate
need to be bit user...
need to be bit user frindly
Slick website design and app
Slick website design and app
Responsive platform has everything
Responsive platform has everything
Very good
Very good
Easy navigation
Easy navigation
All round ok
All round ok
Takes a bit of getting...
Takes a bit of getting used to
Good
Good
Richard is the founder of the Good Money Guide (formerly Good Broker Guide), one of the original investment comparison sites established in 2015. With a career spanning two decades as a broker, he brings extensive expertise and knowledge to the financial landscape.
Having worked as a broker at Investors Intelligence and a multi-asset derivatives broker at MF Global (Man Financial), Richard has acquired substantial experience in the industry. His career began as a private client stockbroker at Walker Crips and Phillip Securities (now King and Shaxson), following internships on the NYMEX oil trading floor in New York and London IPE in 2001 and 2000.
Richard’s contributions and expertise have been recognized by respected publications such as The Sunday Times, BusinessInsider, Yahoo Finance, BusinessNews.org.uk, Master Investor, Wealth Briefing, iNews, and The FT, among many others.
Under Richard’s leadership, the Good Money Guide has evolved into a valuable destination for comprehensive information and expert guidance, specialising in trading, investment, and currency exchange. His commitment to delivering high-quality insights has solidified the Good Money Guide’s standing as a well-respected resource for both customers and industry colleagues.
