IG Share Dealing Review 2026: Free to Invest, Expensive to Retire
Score: 70/100. Rank 6 of 10. Verified 19 September 2026.
Cost 30% | Accounts 15% | Range 15% | Research 10% | App 10% | Cash 10% | Trust 10% |
6.0 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 |
Verdict in one paragraph
Take an investor who holds a £20,000 ISA at IG in global ETFs and adds £500 a month. Over 20 years IG costs them £591 in true terms, third cheapest on our list. Now move the same investor into an IG SIPP with £100,000 and £1,000 a month. The cost jumps to £9,287, because IG's pension is administered by Options UK for a fixed £210 a year, more than AJ Bell's capped SIPP charge and far more than the zero at Trading 212 or InvestEngine. IG is a FTSE 250 trading house that has turned its investing arm into a genuinely competitive commission-free ISA and dealing service with the best charting tools of the ten and 3.75% on cash. Use it for the ISA and dealing account. Think hard before using it for your pension.
Who it is for
Active share and ETF investors who want professional charts, fast execution and good cash interest in an ISA or general account. Also worth a look for anyone already using IG for trading who wants investing under the same login.
IG Fees
Item | Charge |
Platform, custody, inactivity | Free |
Commission on UK, US, European and Australian shares and ETFs | Free with automatic currency conversion |
FX on automatic conversion | 0.7% added to the exchange rate |
Manual currency conversion option | No FX fee, but commission applies: UK £3, US 3¢ a share (min $15), Europe 0.1% (min €10) |
SIPP administration | £210 a year (stated as £205 on another IG page), paid to Options UK |
Transfers in and out | Free |
Interest on uninvested cash | 3.75% AER variable on balances up to £100,000, provided you have traded in the last 30 days |
The 0.7% FX is the real cost of "free". Buying £1,000 of US shares costs £7 in FX, and selling costs another £7. Trading 212 charges £1.50 each way for the same trade. Hold multi-currency balances and use manual conversion and you avoid the FX charge but pay commission instead.
Accounts
Share Dealing account, Stocks and Shares ISA, Junior ISA, and a SIPP (Share Dealing SIPP or Smart Portfolio SIPP) through Options UK. No Lifetime ISA. Smart Portfolios offer five ready-made portfolios for hands-off investors.
Investment range
Over 20,000 shares, ETFs and investment trusts across major global markets. No OEIC or unit trust funds, which IG states plainly. Fractional shares are not offered on the investing side.
Research and tools
The strongest charting of any platform here: ProRealTime and IG's own charts, technical indicators, news, and analyst content from a house that lives on market data. If you trade on technicals, this is home.
Cash interest
3.75% AER on up to £100,000, paid daily. The activity condition (a trade in the previous 30 days) is easy to meet for anyone who invests monthly, but a buy-and-hold investor who forgets to trade will earn nothing that month.
The catches
The SIPP fee. £210 a year on a £50,000 pension is 0.42%, worse than HL.
0.7% FX unless you manage currencies manually.
No funds.
Interest activity rule.
Inconsistent SIPP fee disclosure (£205 on one page, £210 on another); confirm before opening.
US persons: IG requires a Form W-9 and applies restrictions on some holdings for US persons. It is workable but not straightforward; confirm directly.
Trust
IG Group Holdings plc is a FTSE 250 company, FCA-authorised, with FSCS investment cover of £85,000. It has run trading businesses since 1974 and acquired Freetrade in April 2025. Trustpilot rates IG around 3.9 out of 5, reflecting its much larger CFD and spread-betting client base as well as investors.
Pros and cons
Pros: zero platform and dealing fees; 3.75% on cash; best charting; 20,000+ instruments; strong parent. Cons: £210 SIPP fee; 0.7% FX; no OEIC funds; no fractional shares; interest needs recent activity; mixed satisfaction scores.
Frequently asked questions
Is IG really commission-free for investing? Yes for UK, US, European and Australian shares and ETFs, provided you let IG convert currency automatically at 0.7%. Choose manual conversion and commission applies instead.
How much does the IG SIPP cost? £210 a year (one IG page says £205), paid to the administrator Options UK, plus any FX on non-GBP holdings. There is no percentage platform fee.
Does IG pay interest on cash? 3.75% AER variable on uninvested cash up to £100,000, paid daily, if you have bought or sold an investment in the past 30 days.
Sources
Costs and fees: https://www.ig.com/uk/investments/share-dealing/costs-fees
Charges overview: https://www.ig.com/uk/charges
US-person handling: https://www.momofinance.co.uk/us-citizens-in-the-uk/investment-brokerage/
Freetrade acquisition: https://www.iggroup.com/investor-relations/press-releases/2025/acquisition-of-freetrade-april-1
Trustpilot: https://www.trustpilot.com/review/ig.com
Alpesh Patel is a fund manager and the founder of Campaign for a Million. This page is information and opinion, not a personal recommendation or financial advice. Capital is at risk. Tax treatment depends on individual circumstances and may change. Campaign for a Million receives no payment from any platform listed.
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