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 highlight that IG DMA Trading offers direct market access primarily for equities, allowing trading of DMA shares as CFDs. While the platform provides a wide range of equity DMA CFDs and level-2 pricing, it lacks access to futures and options, which may limit some traders' strategies. The introduction of the IG Pro account allows experienced investors to bypass certain regulatory restrictions, but it comes with increased risks and reduced protections.
- Across 746 user reviews on Good Money Guide, averaging 4/5, customers frequently commend the platform's ease of use, reliability, and comprehensive range of products. Many users appreciate the seamless integration of various investment options, including crypto, and highlight the platform's strong educational resources. However, some users express concerns about occasional technical issues and the need for improved execution speed during high-demand periods.
IG DMA Trading Expert rating
Our expert rating is the average of the areas listed here, each scored out of 5 by our team.- Pricing4.0
- Market Access4.0
- Online Platform4.0
- Customer Service4.0
- Research & Analysis4.0
Pros
- Wide range of equity DMA CFDs
- Voice brokerage
- DMA & level-2 pricing
Cons
- No futures and options
See full expert review
Our verdict
IG’s L2 Dealer lets you trade on over 12,000 shares and 80 forex pairs against multiple liquidity venues, including primary exchanges, multilateral trading facilities (MTFs), dedicated market makers and dark pools.
70% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs and spread bets with this provider.
Is IG a DMA broker with a professional trading account?
You can trade DMA with IG, but they only offer direct market access to equities. You can trade DMA shares with IG via IG markets as a CFD, but you cannot trade on exchange futures and options. If you want DMA access to futures exchanges, you will need a futures broker like Saxo or Interactive Brokers.
When the new ESMA rules came into place, IG Pro was introduced as one of a number of accounts which help investors get around new European restrictions on trading, but is it worth the risk?
In 2020 European restrictions had financial spread betting companies finding new ways to keep the revenue coming in. IG Group's approach was to introduce its IG Pro account which allows experienced and professional investors to continue trading financial spreads.
It is a way to get around the rules, but it does not come without risk. So, before choosing an IG Pro Account, you need to be clear about what you’re letting yourself in for.
Going Pro
By opening an IG Pro account, you will not be subject to the ESMA’s restrictions and can continue trading these products as before. In order to do so, you’ll have to be able to answer ‘yes’ to these questions:
- Have you traded leveraged derivatives in significant quantities over the past four quarters?
- Do you have a portfolio size of more than €500 Euros?
- Have you worked in the financial sector, in a professional position requiring a knowledge of the derivatives trading for at least a year?
The rules are there to try and ensure the only people trading in these high-risk instruments are those who understand the risks they are taking. If you do qualify, you will continue trading many of these restricted products such as the Digital 100s, use up to 95% of your share collateral as margin and secure a higher margin on your trades thanks to the greater flexibility this offers. In addition, the account means you will be eligible for a range of additional features open only to professional investors.
Now come the downsides. When you use the professional platform, you forego some of the protections which are normally open to professional clients. There will be no negative balance protection – losses can exceed the balance in your account, and the platform may not go out of its way to use clear and easy to understand language. It will assume a certain level of professionalism on your part and expect you to understand sophisticated terminology. They may also prioritise factors such as speed and likelihood of execution over the best price.
This is something to come into with your eyes open. It allows you continue trading restricted products and to get around new regulations. At the same time, though, this is only a platform for someone who really knows what they are doing and is prepared to accept the risk.
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
Reliable
IG combines ease of use with professional-grade tools at competitive prices. The platform works for beginners and experts alike and has the best comprehensive features across ISAs, and shares. As a FTSE-listed company with 50+ years of history, IG provides trust and reliability, while zero commission on UK shares and interest on cash deliver strong value. Fast execution, responsive support, and access to wide-ranging markets on one platform make it complete.
Value for money
definitely the best zero commission app out there, love the pre-ipo product too
Professional
Trustworthy and reliable
Easy to use
IG is an innovative, forward-thinking brand, which cares about their clients.
trust
I love their new brand campaigns and how they talk to clients
plus the podcast
they also work a lot on their proposition
established and trusted
access to 10k+ stocks. No commission on trades. great customer service.
Trustworthy
IG combines a powerful, professional-grade trading platform with clear pricing, strong regulation, and consistently reliable execution. The range of markets is excellent across investing and trading, and the tools, research, and education make it easy to move from beginner to advanced without switching providers. Customer support is responsive, the platform is stable even in volatile markets, and everything feels built for serious investors rather than gimmicks.
Well-rounded
Perfect balance of low-fee provider backed with 50+ years of experience, giving you that element of trust
Trusted
IG have a great set of core products that cater for my financial needs. I trust them with my accounts, and they have great content to help build my financial understanding and progress.
Very good
Used for CFDs for years. Excellent product.
Very good investment platform
IG has a huge selection of instruments for investments/ trading, both UK and USA. Excellent
Clear, informative and easy to use
IG is a clear, simple, informative and easy to use platform.
Easy to use
Great platform with charting facilities
Easy to use platform -...
Easy to use platform - higher minimums
easy to use, good value
easy to use, good value
Not interested
Not interested
Extensive for CFDs or SBT
Extensive for CFDs or SBT
4/5
good
good
5/5
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.
