XS vs IG for US stocks
IG gives you the actual share; XS gives leveraged exposure to the price without ownership. That is not a preference — it is a different product, with different tax, dividend and risk treatment.
Pick XS if non-US residents who want a wide US share-CFD list on MetaTrader 4 or 5. Pick IG if UK and AU investors.
CFD — no ownershipA multi-asset CFD broker, not a US stockbroker. It is on this site because it gives non-US traders leveraged exposure to several hundred US share prices with no minimum deposit.
Visit XSOne of the few names offering genuine share dealing and CFDs under one login, with the rules changing by jurisdiction.
Visit IGSide by side
| XS | IG | |
|---|---|---|
| What you hold | A CFD on the price | The share |
| US stock access | 550+ US share CFDs | US share dealing plus a large US share CFD list |
| Minimum deposit | None | None |
| Fractional shares | n/a | No |
| Published pricing | US share CFDs on the Standard account trade on a floating spread with no separate commission; swaps apply to positions held overnight and are tripled on Fridays. | US share dealing commission is reduced or waived above a monthly trade count in supported regions; CFD costs are separate. |
| Platforms | MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, XS Trading App | IG web, IG mobile, ProRealTime, MetaTrader 4 |
| Extended hours | Regular US session only, per its published trading hours | Out-of-hours pricing on selected US shares |
| Regulation | ASIC 374409, CySEC 412/22, FSCA 53199, CMA 20200000339, FSA SD089, LFSA MB/21/0081, FSC GB25204786 | FCA 195355, ASIC 220440, MAS CMS100519 |
| Founded | 2010 | 1974 |
Where each one wins
XS
- Non-US residents who want a wide US share-CFD list on MetaTrader 4 or 5
- Starting with no minimum deposit on the Standard account
- Traders who want an entity licensed in the UAE, South Africa or Labuan
- CFDs are leveraged: you do not own the share, get no shareholder rights, and can lose all your capital
- XS says its website is not directed at residents of the United States, the European Union, Australia or Japan
- Which XS entity holds your account depends on where you live, and investor protection differs by entity — confirm it before depositing
- Dividends arrive as cash adjustments on open CFD positions, not as shareholder dividends
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
XS or IG — which is better for US stocks?
IG gives you the actual share; XS gives leveraged exposure to the price without ownership. That is not a preference — it is a different product, with different tax, dividend and risk treatment. XS: non-US residents who want a wide US share-CFD list on MetaTrader 4 or 5. IG: UK and AU investors.
Which is cheaper?
XS: US share CFDs on the Standard account trade on a floating spread with no separate commission; swaps apply to positions held overnight and are tripled on Fridays. 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?
XS is authorised by ASIC, CySEC, FSCA, CMA, FSA, LFSA, FSC; IG by FCA, ASIC, MAS. What matters is which entity holds your account, since that determines your compensation scheme and leverage limits.
Reviewed October 2026. Figures restated from each broker's published pages.