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Interactive Brokers vs IG for US stocks
Both give you real share ownership, so the decision comes down to cost, country eligibility and platform.
Pick Interactive Brokers if real share ownership from almost any country. Pick IG if UK and AU investors.
The default answer for a non-US investor who wants to actually own US shares rather than a derivative of them.
Visit Interactive BrokersOne of the few names offering genuine share dealing and CFDs under one login, with the rules changing by jurisdiction.
Visit IGSide by side
| Interactive Brokers | IG | |
|---|---|---|
| What you hold | The share | The share |
| US stock access | Full US listed market (NYSE, Nasdaq, AMEX) plus 150+ global markets | US share dealing plus a large US share CFD list |
| Minimum deposit | None | None |
| Fractional shares | Yes | No |
| Published pricing | IBKR Lite offers $0 commission on US listed stocks and ETFs for eligible clients; IBKR Pro is tiered/fixed per-share pricing. | US share dealing commission is reduced or waived above a monthly trade count in supported regions; CFD costs are separate. |
| Platforms | Trader Workstation, IBKR Desktop, IBKR Mobile, Client Portal, API | IG web, IG mobile, ProRealTime, MetaTrader 4 |
| Extended hours | Pre-market and after-hours routing available | Out-of-hours pricing on selected US shares |
| Regulation | SEC SIPC member, FCA 208159, CBI C423427 | FCA 195355, ASIC 220440, MAS CMS100519 |
| Founded | 1978 | 1974 |
Where each one wins
Interactive Brokers
- Real share ownership from almost any country
- Multi-currency accounts
- Options, futures and international listings in one account
- The desktop platform is dense and unforgiving for first-timers
- Data subscriptions are billed separately
IG
- UK and AU investors
- Traders who want share dealing and CFDs side by side
- Inactivity fees on dormant accounts
- Product mix differs sharply by country
Frequently asked questions
Interactive Brokers or IG — which is better for US stocks?
Both give you real share ownership, so the decision comes down to cost, country eligibility and platform. Interactive Brokers: real share ownership from almost any country. IG: UK and AU investors.
Which is cheaper?
Interactive Brokers: IBKR Lite offers $0 commission on US listed stocks and ETFs for eligible clients; IBKR Pro is tiered/fixed per-share pricing. IG: US share dealing commission is reduced or waived above a monthly trade count in supported regions; CFD costs are separate. Both figures are restated from each broker's own pricing page; for small non-USD accounts, currency conversion usually costs more than commission does.
Which is better regulated?
Interactive Brokers is authorised by SEC, FCA, CBI; IG by FCA, ASIC, MAS. What matters is which entity holds your account, since that determines your compensation scheme and leverage limits.
Reviewed August 2026. Figures restated from each broker's published pages.