Quick summary: IG review 2026
- Score8.4/10 — our #2 CFD choice for traders
- Broker typeCFD broker, not a dedicated futures broker
- Founded1974 — over 50 years in the market
- MarketsOver 17,000 markets, including indices, stocks, commodities, currencies and crypto
- PlatformsIG Web Platform, mobile app, TradingView, MetaTrader 4, ProRealTime and L2 Dealer
- Best forExperienced CFD traders who want broad market coverage and advanced tools
What is IG?
IG is one of the world's most established CFD brokers. The company was founded in London in 1974, and IG Norge describes the broker as a world-leading CFD provider by revenue. IG is relevant for Norwegian traders because the platform combines broad market access, professional analysis tools and Norwegian-language support.
At IG you can trade CFDs on indices, stocks, ETFs, currencies, commodities, cryptocurrency, interest rates and bonds, among others. IG also offers barriers and vanilla options, but this review assesses IG primarily as a CFD broker.
IG is not a futures broker in the usual sense. You can get exposure to futures prices through CFDs, but you aren't trading exchange-listed futures contracts cleared on CME or other derivatives exchanges. For genuine futures trading, EdgeClear, Saxo Bank and NinjaTrader are better choices, with AMP Futures and StoneX as further options in our top 5 list.
Regulation and safety
IG Group operates several separate, locally regulated companies depending on market. IG's UK entities, IG Markets Limited and IG Index Limited, are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in the UK. Other entities in the group are regulated by BaFin in Germany, FINMA in Switzerland (as a bank), and ASIC in Australia, among others.
Investor protection follows the entity a client holds an account with — UK clients are normally covered by the FSCS scheme, as with most other FCA-regulated brokers. Worth knowing: IG also doesn't offer CFD trading to US clients. The US business instead operates under the brand names tastytrade and tastyfx, which are FINRA/NFA-regulated and offer stocks, options and futures instead of CFDs.
IG for Norwegian traders
IG has a Norwegian-language website, a Norwegian phone number and Norwegian-speaking customer service on weekdays. For Norwegian users, the customer relationship runs through IG Europe GmbH, which IG Norge states is authorised and regulated by BaFin and Deutsche Bundesbank.
Norwegian contact
IG Norge lists a Norwegian phone number, email and Norwegian-speaking customer service Monday to Friday. That makes the broker more accessible than many global CFD players.
European regulation
IG Europe GmbH is regulated by BaFin and Deutsche Bundesbank. Retail clients also have negative balance protection.
Huge market range
IG states over 17,000 markets, which is clearly broader than most CFD brokers targeting the Nordics.
Not our #1 CFD
Skilling remains our first choice for Norwegian CFD beginners. IG suits you better when you want more market breadth and more advanced platforms.
IG's platform lineup is broad and professional
IG offers several platforms, from its own web platform and mobile app to TradingView, MT4, ProRealTime and L2 Dealer. That makes IG more interesting for experienced traders than for complete beginners.
Who is IG a good fit for?
Good fit
- Experienced CFD traders who need a broad market range
- Traders who trade indices, currencies, stocks and commodities from the same account
- Technical traders who want to use TradingView, ProRealTime or MT4
- Active traders who want more order types, alerts and risk tools
Less of a fit
- Norwegian beginners who want the simplest possible CFD start
- Traders who want to trade exchange-listed futures contracts directly
- Those who prioritise BankID-based onboarding over market breadth
- Long-term investors who don't need leveraged derivatives
IG vs Skilling
| Factor | IG | Skilling |
|---|---|---|
| Best use case | Broad market coverage and advanced platforms | Active CFD trading |
| BankID | No | Yes |
| Norwegian customer service | Yes | Yes |
| TradingView | Yes | Yes |
| cTrader | No | Yes |
| MT4 | Yes | Yes |
| CopyTrader | No | Yes, via cTrader Copy |
| Number of markets | 17,000+ | 1,200+ |
| CFDs | Yes | Yes |
| Crypto | Yes | Yes |
| Norwegian tax report | Not documented | Check the current solution |
| Best for | Experienced traders who need market breadth | Active CFD traders |
Choose IG if you:
- want access to over 17,000 markets
- use TradingView, MetaTrader 4 or ProRealTime
- want L2 Dealer and more direct market access
- are an experienced trader who needs broad market coverage
- want a broker with a long track record — IG was founded in 1974
Choose Skilling if you:
- want to use BankID
- want the simplest CFD start for Norwegian beginners
- want cTrader in addition to MetaTrader 4 and TradingView
- prioritise local onboarding over market breadth
- actively trade currencies, gold, oil or indices
CFD vs. futures at IG
IG is a good example of why CFDs and futures must be clearly distinguished. A CFD is a bilateral contract between you and the broker on the price movement of an underlying market. You don't own the instrument, and you aren't trading on a futures exchange.
Futures are standardised exchange contracts with clearing and a transparent order book. That gives a different market structure, but also requires more capital, more knowledge and better risk management. IG therefore works best as a CFD alternative, not as an endpoint for serious futures trading.
Leverage caps for Norwegian retail clients
A regulation from Norway's Financial Supervisory Authority (Finanstilsynet) sets these maximum limits for CFD trading in Norway.
| Category | Max leverage |
|---|---|
| Major currency pairs (USD, EUR, JPY, GBP, CAD, CHF) | 30:1 |
| Gold and eight named indices (incl. S&P 500, DAX 30, FTSE 100) | 20:1 |
| Other commodities and indices | 10:1 |
| Individual stocks | 5:1 |
| Cryptocurrency | 2:1 |
The broker must also offer negative balance protection and automatically close your positions if your account falls below half of the total required margin. See the full rules
IG pros and cons
Pros
- Over 50 years of experience — IG was founded in 1974 and is one of the most established CFD players globally
- Over 17,000 markets — broad access to indices, stocks, currencies, commodities, crypto and more
- Many platforms — IG Web Platform, TradingView, MT4, ProRealTime and L2 Dealer
- Norwegian accessibility — Norwegian-language website, Norwegian phone number and Norwegian-speaking customer service
- Risk tools — including stop orders, limit orders and negative balance protection for retail clients
Cons
- CFD, not futures — not exchange-listed futures contracts with clearing
- 71% of retail clients lose money — leveraged CFDs carry a high level of risk
- More advanced than Skilling — not as simple as a first CFD platform for Norwegian beginners
- Costs vary — spread, commission on stock CFDs, currency conversion and any overnight financing can affect your result
Ready for exchange-listed futures?
IG is a solid CFD alternative. For genuine futures contracts, EdgeClear is our overall first choice.
Our assessment of IG
IG scores 8.4/10 with Best Futures. That's a high CFD score, but not high enough to beat Skilling for users who want the simplest possible start. IG wins on market breadth, platform choice and track record; Skilling wins on local simplicity.
Our conclusion is therefore clear: choose Skilling if you want a simple CFD start. Choose IG if you already understand CFD risk and want a more comprehensive trading environment with more markets and more professional tools. Choose a futures broker if the goal is genuine exchange-listed futures trading.
FAQ about IG
IG is an established and regulated broker. For Norwegian customers, IG Norge states that IG Europe GmbH is authorised and regulated by BaFin and Deutsche Bundesbank. That doesn't mean CFD trading is low risk.
You can trade CFDs that give exposure to futures prices, but that isn't the same as trading exchange-listed futures contracts directly. For real futures, we recommend EdgeClear, Saxo Bank or NinjaTrader, with AMP Futures and StoneX as other options in our top 5.
IG is strongest on market breadth, platform choice and analysis tools. The broker suits experienced CFD traders who need more than a simple starter platform.
Not for everyone. Skilling is our #1 CFD choice for Norwegian beginners. IG is better for more experienced traders who prioritise a broad product range, TradingView, ProRealTime or L2 Dealer.
The risk is high. 71% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should only trade CFDs if you understand the product and the risk.
Advertiser disclosure: Best Futures may receive a commission via links on this page. This does not affect our assessment.