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IG Index review and offers

Chris Harvey
By Chris Harvey·Updated 1 Jun 2026

IG is a UK investment platform offering share dealing, ISAs, GIAs, and SIPPs. The service is provided through IG Trading and Investments Limited, a UK-regulated subsidiary of FTSE 100-listed IG Group plc, which has been operating in financial services since 1974. The share dealing platform itself launched in 2014, and now covers shares, ETFs, and funds across major global markets with no commission on equity trades.

Customers

740k

UK accounts

Founded

1974

52 years old

App Store

4.6 ★

33k reviews

Google Play

4.3 ★

22.6k reviews

Live offers

1

Worth £50

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IG Trading and Investments Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN 944492). Eligible investments are protected by the FSCS up to £85,000 per person.

IG Index at a glance

A serious low-cost home for an ISA or general account if you're happy with a feature-rich platform. Quidsy currently lists two live IG offers, including a sizeable bonus shares promo. Best for buy-and-hold investors. Be aware IG also runs spread betting and CFDs through separate parts of the business.

Updated:

Current IG Index offers

1 verified
IG IndexStocks & Shares ISA or general account

£50 Free Cash

Value

£50

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Review notes· 5 min read

IG Index details

IG is a UK investment platform offering share dealing, ISAs, GIAs, and SIPPs. The service is provided through IG Trading and Investments Limited, a UK-regulated subsidiary of FTSE 100-listed IG Group plc, which has been operating in financial services since 1974. The share dealing platform itself launched in 2014, and now covers shares, ETFs, and funds across major global markets with no commission on equity trades.

The fee structure suits cost-conscious investors. Equity trades are commission-free, and as of January 2026 the ISA and GIA have no ongoing platform fees at all. That makes IG a serious option for buy-and-hold investors who don't want their returns chipped away each year.

It's less compelling if you mainly want a pension wrapper (the SIPP carries a separate annual admin fee through Options UK) or if you want a stripped-back beginner app. The IG platform is feature-rich and assumes a degree of comfort with markets, so people considering Freetrade or Trading 212 for simpler ISA investing may find IG more capable than they need.

Is IG safe?

Yes. Your investments with IG are held by IG Trading and Investments Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (firm reference number 944492). Eligible investments are protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) up to £85,000 per person per firm.

The legal entity that holds share-dealing accounts (IG Trading and Investments Ltd, company number 11628764) was incorporated in 2018 and took over the investment business from IG Markets Ltd in 2022. That sounds new, but the underlying operation is part of IG Group plc, which has been in financial services since 1974 and has been listed on the London Stock Exchange since 2000.

IG Group is currently a constituent of the FTSE 100, having been promoted from the FTSE 250 in the March 2026 review. That adds another layer of scrutiny through public reporting requirements.

A couple of honest caveats. FSCS protection covers the failure of the firm, not investment losses. If the value of your shares falls, that's market risk and it sits with you.

And IG also offers spread betting and CFDs through separate legal entities, which are very different products with different risk profiles. This page is about the share dealing side, not those.

Who is IG for?

IG’s share dealing service suits cost-conscious investors who want zero commission on equity trades and no platform fees on ISA or GIA accounts. It works well if you want access to a wide range of global markets from a well-established provider. The platform is more feature-rich than beginner apps like Freetrade or Trading 212, which may appeal to confident investors but could feel complex for absolute beginners.

What does IG do?

  1. Commission-free share dealing

    Buy and sell UK and global shares, ETFs, and investment trusts with no dealing commission on equity trades.

  2. No platform fees on ISA and GIA

    As of January 2026, IG's Stocks and Shares ISA and general investment account carry no ongoing platform or custody fees.

  3. Wide market access

    Trade across UK, US, European, and Asian exchanges, with thousands of shares, ETFs, and funds available in one account.

  4. Tax-efficient wrappers

    Hold investments in an ISA (£20,000 annual allowance), a self-invested personal pension (SIPP), or a general investment account.

  5. Interest on uninvested cash

    IG pays interest on uninvested GBP cash balances up to a published cap, across ISA, GIA, and SIPP accounts.

Pros and Cons

What stands out

4 pros
  • Zero commission on all equity trades
  • No ongoing platform fees on ISA or GIA (as of January 2026)
  • Wide range of UK and international shares, ETFs, and funds
  • FCA-regulated (FRN 944492) with FSCS protection up to £85,000 per person on eligible investments

Worth knowing

3 cons
  • The SIPP carries a separate annual admin fee through Options UK (the third-party administrator), so it's less competitive than the ISA and GIA
  • The platform is feature-rich and can feel complex compared to beginner-focused apps like Freetrade or Trading 212
  • A 0.7% FX charge applies to international share trades, which adds up if you hold a lot of US or European stocks
Chris

Is IG worth it?

Chris · Co-founder, Quidsy

IG is worth a serious look if you want a low-cost home for an ISA or general investment account, and you're comfortable navigating a feature-rich platform. The combination of zero commission on equity trades and no ongoing platform fees on the ISA and GIA is hard to beat for buy-and-hold investors. Over a long timeframe, those saved fees compound into real money.

I'd be more cautious if you mainly want a SIPP. The pension wrapper has its own admin-fee structure through Options UK, and there are providers with simpler all-in pricing for pensions specifically. I'd also be cautious if you're new to investing. The IG platform was built with experienced traders in mind, and a beginner-focused app like Freetrade or Trading 212 may give you a less intimidating start.

One last thing worth flagging. IG also runs spread betting and CFDs through separate parts of the business. Those products are not what we're recommending here.

If you came for the share dealing offer, stick to the share dealing side. The investment platform is the value.

If IG sounds right for you, the current investment offer above is a sensible way to test the platform with a smaller amount before committing more.

Recent ended IG Index offers

  • Up to 1% Cashback on Transfers

    Ended 23 Jun 2026

    £100
  • £40 Free Shares

    £40
  • £50 Free Cash

    Ended 30 Apr 2026

    £50

IG Index FAQs

IG's investment business earns money in a few ways. It takes interest on uninvested customer cash held in accounts (passing a portion through to clients), charges a foreign exchange fee of around 0.7% on international share trades, passes through fund manager charges where you invest in third-party ETFs or funds, and earns from stock-lending where applicable. It does not charge commission on UK or US share trades themselves. The wider IG Group also earns from spread betting and CFD trading, which are run through separate legal entities.
There is no minimum deposit to open an IG share dealing account, ISA, or GIA. You can fund the account with any amount, although you'll need enough to actually buy a share or fraction. To qualify for IG's current new-customer bonus shares promotion (live as of May 2026), the threshold is £1,000 invested within the qualifying window. Always check the current terms on the offer page above before committing.
Yes. IG is an investment platform, and the value of your investments can go down as well as up. Losses on the shares, ETFs, or funds you choose to hold are not covered by FSCS protection: FSCS covers the failure of the firm, not market losses. IG also offers spread betting and CFD trading through separate parts of the business, both of which carry significantly higher risk than share dealing. The majority of retail clients lose money on CFD trading. This page is about the share dealing service, not those products.
For UK share dealing in an ISA or GIA, IG charges no commission on equity trades and no ongoing platform fee. The previous £24 per quarter custody fee was removed on 8 January 2026. A foreign exchange charge of around 0.7% applies on international share trades. The SIPP carries a separate annual admin fee paid to Options UK (the third-party administrator), along with Options UK's own schedule of transfer-out and drawdown fees. Fund manager charges may also apply if you invest in third-party ETFs or funds. The full fee schedule is on IG's own UK costs and charges page.

Next step

Choose your route with IG Index

£50 Free Cash is the strongest live IG Index route we have listed right now.

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