Side by side
IG vs CMC Markets vs XTB
Choose up to four firms. We compare what matters when things go wrong: licences, compensation, legal protections, track record, then platforms and products.
| Firm | IG | CMC Markets | XTB |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protection Score | 90 | 82 | 82 |
| Licence status | EU/EEA licence | EU/EEA licence | EU/EEA licence |
| European licences | FCA BaFin FINMA | FCA BaFin | KNF FCA CySEC |
| Other licences | ASIC MAS FSA Japan DFSA (Dubai) FMA NZ | ASIC MAS FMA NZ CIRO | DFSA (Dubai) FSC Belize |
| Compensation via EU/UK/CH entity | FCA: Up to £85,000 per person per firm for investments BaFin: 90% of the claim, up to €20,000 per investor (investment firms) FINMA: Securities are separated from the bank's own assets; cash is covered by deposit protection | FCA: Up to £85,000 per person per firm for investments BaFin: 90% of the claim, up to €20,000 per investor (investment firms) | KNF: 100% up to €3,000, 90% above, with total compensation capped at €20,100 per investor FCA: Up to £85,000 per person per firm for investments CySEC: 90% of the covered claim, capped at €20,000 per investor |
| Negative balance protection (retail) | Yes, by law via EU/UK entity | Yes, by law via EU/UK entity | Yes, by law via EU/UK entity |
| Headquarters |  United Kingdom | United Kingdom |  Poland |
| Founded | 1974 | 1989 | 2002 |
| Type | Forex & CFD brokers | Forex & CFD brokers | Forex & CFD brokers |
| Listed / bank | Listed group, Banking licence | Listed group | Listed group |
| Platforms | Own platform, MetaTrader 4, ProRealTime, TradingView | Own platform, MetaTrader 4, TradingView | Own platform |
| Products | Forex, CFDs, Spread betting, Stocks, Options, Futures | Forex, CFDs, Spread betting, Stocks | Forex, CFDs, Stocks, ETFs |
| Features | Professional accounts, Direct market access | Professional accounts | Savings plans, Fractional shares |
| Full profile | Full profile | Full profile |
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