IG
td ameritrade
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Overview
IG was founded in 1974 and is headquartered in UK, while td ameritrade was established in 2016 and is based in Malta. Both brokers are regulated by Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), among other authorities. IG serves 178,500+ clients worldwide; td ameritrade has 10,000+. The minimum deposit is $200 at IG and $250 at td ameritrade.
| Feature | IG | td ameritrade |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $200 | $250 |
| Regulation | Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC) | Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC), Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA), Pepperstone Markets Limited is incorporated in The Bahamas (number 177174 B), Licensed by the Securities Commission of The Bahamas (SCB) number SIA-F319 |
| Founded | 1974 | 2016 |
| Country | UK | Malta |
| Clients | 178,500+ | 10,000+ |
Fees
Fees are a critical factor when choosing between IG and td ameritrade, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. IG has a lower barrier to entry with a minimum deposit of $200 (vs $250 at td ameritrade). Neither broker charges withdrawal fees. Overall, IG scores higher on fees in our assessment.
| Feature | IG | td ameritrade |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $200 | $250 |
| Withdrawal Fees | No | No |
| Inactivity Fees | No | No |
| Deposit Fees | No | No |
| CFD Fees | No | No |
Platforms
IG offers MT4, MT5, cTrader, while td ameritrade supports MT4, MT5, cTrader. Both brokers provide mobile trading apps for iOS and Android. IG supports social and copy trading features, which td ameritrade does not offer. The two brokers are closely matched on platform offering.
| Feature | IG | td ameritrade |
|---|---|---|
| MT4 | Yes | Yes |
| MT5 | Yes | Yes |
| cTrader | Yes | Yes |
| Windows App | Yes | Yes |
| iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | MT4, Mac, Web Trader, L2 Dealer, Tablet & Mobile apps | MT4, MT5, Mac, ZuluTrade, Web Trader, cTrader, Tablet & Mobile apps |
Education & Research
Education and research tools help traders at every level make more informed decisions, and here's how IG and td ameritrade compare. IG runs regular live webinars; td ameritrade does not. IG has a video library; td ameritrade does not. IG publishes daily market commentary; td ameritrade does not. IG integrates third-party research tools (Trading Central); td ameritrade does not. IG maintains an archive of past webinars for on-demand viewing. IG scores higher overall in education and research.
| Feature | IG | td ameritrade |
|---|---|---|
| Forex Education | No | No |
| CFD Education | Yes | No |
| Weekly Webinars | Yes | No |
| Daily Commentary | Yes | No |
| Trading Central | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | No | No |
Deposits & Withdrawals
Convenient deposit and withdrawal options reduce friction for traders, especially important when managing positions across time zones. IG accepts 3 of the tracked payment methods (bank transfer, credit/debit card, PayPal), while td ameritrade supports 5 (bank transfer, credit/debit card, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller). td ameritrade uniquely supports Skrill and Neteller among the two brokers. td ameritrade scores higher on deposit and withdrawal flexibility.
| Feature | IG | td ameritrade |
|---|---|---|
| Bank Transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Credit Card | Yes | Yes |
| PayPal | Yes | Yes |
| Skrill | No | Yes |
| Neteller | No | Yes |
Support
Responsive customer support matters most when you're locked out of your account or need urgent help with a trade. Both IG and td ameritrade offer live chat support. Both provide phone support. Email support is available at both brokers. IG supports 5 languages and td ameritrade supports 8, giving td ameritrade broader global reach. Both brokers are comparable on support quality.
| Feature | IG | td ameritrade |
|---|---|---|
| Live Chat | Yes | Yes |
| Phone Support | Yes | Yes |
| Email Support | Yes | Yes |
| Languages | English, French, German, Spanish, and Portuguese | English, Spanish, Polish, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, and Arabic |