IG vs tastytrade (2026): regulation, platforms and costs compared

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Data refreshed 25 Aug 2026 · Compiled by David Ispiryan

IG

Trust rank #15 · Founded 1974

IG is a well-regarded forex broker that provides broad access to currency pairs, multiple trading platforms, and extensive research and education within a regulated framework. It emphasizes transparent pricing, diverse order types,…

Read the IG review

tastytrade

Trust rank #22 · Editorial rating 9.1 / 10 · Founded 2017

tastytrade provides forex trading through its tastyfx platform, offering access to a wide range of currency pairs on an intuitive interface with built-in tools and education. It delivers a focused, platform-driven forex…

Read the tastytrade review

IG (United Kingdom, founded 1974) holds 13 regulatory licences (ASIC, BaFin, BMA, CFTC, Deutsche Bundesbank…), 9 of them tier-1, offers MT4, Proprietary, ProRealTime and sits in our low-fee bracket. tastytrade (United States, founded 2017) holds 2 regulatory licences (CFTC, NFA), 2 of them tier-1, offers Proprietary and sits in our medium-fee bracket. The two overlap in 54 countries; IG is available in 176 countries where tastytrade is not, and tastytrade in 2 where IG is not.

Verdict at a glance

  • IG leads on trust rank, track record, regulatory coverage, platform choice, instrument range, country coverage, fee level and tier-1 licences.

Scored on 8 measurable dimensions where both brokers have verified data. Dimensions missing for either side are excluded rather than guessed. This is a data summary, not a recommendation.

IG vs tastytrade: side-by-side data

CriteriaIGtastytrade
Editorial ratingNot verified9.1 / 10
Trust rank#15#22
Founded19742017
HeadquartersUnited KingdomUnited States
RegulatorsASIC, BaFin, BMA, CFTC, Deutsche Bundesbank, DFSA, FCA, FINMA, FMA, FSCA, JFSA, MAS, NFACFTC, NFA
Broker typeMarket MakerMarket Maker
PlatformsMT4, Proprietary, ProRealTimeProprietary
InstrumentsCommodities, Cryptocurrencies, Forex, Indices, MetalsForex
Countries accepted230 countries56 countries
Fee levelLowMedium
Trading typesCFD Trading, Spot TradingSpot Trading
Best-for use casesProfessional Trading, Retail TradingRetail Trading

Highlighted cells mark the stronger value where a direction is objectively better (e.g. more licences, lower fees). "Not verified" means the field is not yet in our catalogue for that broker — we never fill gaps with estimates.

Pros

IG

  • Tier-1 regulation (FCA, ASIC, NFA/CFTC) with segregated client funds
  • Competitive spreads and deep liquidity
  • Fast, reliable execution and high uptime
  • Advanced platforms (IG web/mobile, MT4, ProRealTime) with GSLO and advanced order types
  • Wide FX pair coverage and strong research/education

tastytrade

  • NFA/CFTC-regulated US forex trading
  • Competitive, spread-only pricing
  • Fast execution on robust web and mobile platforms
  • Broad selection of major, minor, and exotic pairs
  • Rich trader education and market content

Cons

IG

  • No MetaTrader 5 or cTrader support
  • Inactivity fee for dormant accounts
  • DMA/L2 access restricted to professional clients
  • Leverage capped by regional regulations
  • Market-maker model for retail accounts

tastytrade

  • No spot forex (futures-only FX)
  • Limited FX pairs vs spot brokers
  • No MetaTrader/cTrader (proprietary platform only)
  • Higher costs per trade (exchange/clearing/NFA fees)
  • Fixed contract sizes; no micro-lot position sizing

Key features

IG

  • Top tier regulation and segregated client funds
  • Negative balance protection and guaranteed stop loss
  • CFDs spread betting and options on forex indices commodities shares and crypto
  • Advanced trading platforms IG web and mobile MetaTrader 4 and ProRealTime
  • Fast execution deep liquidity and competitive spreads
  • API and algorithmic trading support

tastytrade

  • CFTC and NFA regulated RFED via IG US LLC
  • Spot forex only no CFDs
  • US compliant leverage 50 to 1 majors 20 to 1 minors
  • Proprietary tastyfx platforms with advanced charting
  • Two factor authentication for account access
  • Spread only pricing with variable spreads

Country availability: IG vs tastytrade

Available at both (54): Andorra, Argentina, Austria, Bahrain, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Czechia, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, French Polynesia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Isle of Man, Israel, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania and 14 more.

Only IG (176): Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, American Samoa, Angola, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Aruba, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bermuda, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bonaire, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso and 151 more.

Only tastytrade (2): Belgium, United States of America.

Availability reflects the countries each broker declares it serves. Local rules change; confirm on the broker's own site before signing up.

IG vs tastytrade: common questions

Which broker is more regulated, IG or tastytrade?

IG holds more regulatory licences: IG (ASIC, BaFin, BMA, CFTC, Deutsche Bundesbank, DFSA, FCA, FINMA, FMA, FSCA, JFSA, MAS, NFA) versus tastytrade (CFTC, NFA). Tier-1 licences: IG 9, tastytrade 2.

Which trading platforms do IG and tastytrade offer?

IG offers MT4, Proprietary, ProRealTime; tastytrade offers Proprietary.

Which has lower fees, IG or tastytrade?

IG is in the lower fee bracket (low vs medium) in our catalogue.

Which is older, IG or tastytrade?

IG is the older of the two, founded in 1974; tastytrade was founded in 2017.

Are IG and tastytrade available in the same countries?

They overlap in 54 countries. IG is additionally available in 176 countries (Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, American Samoa, Angola, Anguilla and 170 more) and tastytrade in 2 countries (Belgium, United States of America).

Keep comparing

IG

tastytrade

Risk warning: CFDs and forex are complex, leveraged instruments and carry a high risk of losing money rapidly. A majority of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. Nothing on this page is financial advice; verify licence status on the regulator's register before depositing. Full risk disclosure.