IG
Uphold
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Overview
IG was founded in 1974 and is headquartered in UK, while Uphold was established in 2013 and is based in United States. IG holds licences including Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), while Uphold is regulated by FCA and FINCEN: Uphold Europe Limited among others. IG serves 178,500+ clients worldwide; Uphold has 4,000,000+. The minimum deposit is $200 at IG and $1 at Uphold.
| Feature | IG | Uphold |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $200 | $1 |
| Regulation | Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC) | FCA and FINCEN: Uphold Europe Limited, Reg No. 09281410. Uphold HQ Inc. NMLS ID No. 1269875 |
| Founded | 1974 | 2013 |
| Country | UK | United States |
| Clients | 178,500+ | 4,000,000+ |
Fees
Fees are a critical factor when choosing between IG and Uphold, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. Uphold has a lower barrier to entry with a minimum deposit of $1 (vs $200 at IG). Neither broker charges withdrawal fees. Overall, Uphold scores higher on fees in our assessment.
| Feature | IG | Uphold |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $200 | $1 |
| Withdrawal Fees | No | No |
| Inactivity Fees | No | No |
| Deposit Fees | No | No |
| CFD Fees | No | No |
Platforms
IG offers MT4, MT5, cTrader, while Uphold supports a proprietary platform. Both brokers provide mobile trading apps for iOS and Android. IG supports social and copy trading features, which Uphold does not offer. IG edges ahead on platform breadth and functionality in our scoring.
| Feature | IG | Uphold |
|---|---|---|
| MT4 | Yes | No |
| MT5 | Yes | No |
| cTrader | Yes | No |
| Windows App | Yes | Yes |
| iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | MT4, Mac, Web Trader, L2 Dealer, Tablet & Mobile apps | Web, Desktop & Mobile Apps |
Education & Research
Education and research tools help traders at every level make more informed decisions, and here's how IG and Uphold compare. Both brokers run regular live webinars. Both provide video tutorials, including advanced content. IG publishes daily market commentary; Uphold does not. IG integrates third-party research tools (Trading Central); Uphold does not. Archived webinars are available at both brokers for self-paced learning. IG scores higher overall in education and research.
| Feature | IG | Uphold |
|---|---|---|
| Forex Education | No | No |
| CFD Education | Yes | No |
| Weekly Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| 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 Uphold supports 2 (bank transfer, credit/debit card). IG uniquely supports PayPal among the two brokers. IG scores higher on deposit and withdrawal flexibility.
| Feature | IG | Uphold |
|---|---|---|
| Bank Transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Credit Card | Yes | Yes |
| PayPal | Yes | No |
| Skrill | No | No |
| Neteller | No | No |
Support
Responsive customer support matters most when you're locked out of your account or need urgent help with a trade. Both IG and Uphold offer live chat support. IG offers phone support; Uphold does not. Email support is available at both brokers. IG supports 5 languages and Uphold supports 1, giving IG broader global reach. IG scores higher overall on customer support in our assessment.
| Feature | IG | Uphold |
|---|---|---|
| Live Chat | Yes | Yes |
| Phone Support | Yes | No |
| Email Support | Yes | Yes |
| Languages | English, French, German, Spanish, and Portuguese | English |