Comparison of Dukascopy Europe and IG
| Feature | Dukascopy Europe | IG |
|---|---|---|
| Broker | ||
| Year Founded | 2011 | 1974 |
| Broker Type | ECN | MM, DMA |
| Dealing | A-book | B-book, A-book |
| Execution | Market | Market |
| Regulation | FCMC | FCA, BMA, BaFin, FSAN, AFM, CONSOB, CNMV, ACPR, FI, FINMA, NFA, CFTC, ASIC, NZ FMA, JFSA, JFFA, MAS, FSCA, DFSA |
| Platforms | JForex, MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | MetaTrader 4 (MT4), IG Trading Platform, L2 Dealer |
| Spread | ⬊ Low | ⮕ Average |
| Maximum Leverage | 1:30 | 1:200 |
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | $1 |
| Base Currencies | USD, EUR, GBP, CHF, PLN | USD, EUR, GBP, CHF, AUD, NZD, JPY, NOK, SEK, SGD, HKD |
| Funding Methods | Bank Wire (SEPA/SWIFT), Credit/Debit Card | Bank Wire, Credit Card, Debit Card, PayPal |
| Inactivity Fee | Up to €50 per 180 days of inactivity after the initial 180-day grace period | $18 per month after 24 months |
| Interest on Margin | ✖ | ✖ |
| Withdrawal Fee | Varies by method; bank/third-party charges and currency conversion may apply | ✖ |
| Investor Protection | Latvian Investor Protection System | UK Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS), Investor Compensation Fund (ICF), Financialcommission.org |
| Protection Size | €20 000 | £85 000 / €20 000 |
| Segregated Accounts | ✔ | ✔ |
| Negative Balance Protection | ✔ | ✔ |
| Guaranteed Stop Loss | ✖ | ✔ |
| Copy Trading | ✖ | ✖ |
| VPS | ✖ | ✖ |
| MAM/PAMM | ✖ | ✖ |
| Scalping Allowed | ✔ | ✖ |
| EAs/Robots | ✔ | ✔ |
| Depth of Market (DOM) | ✔ | ✔ |
| Tradable Assets (CFDs) | Forex, Metals, Indices, Stocks (CFDs), ETFs, Bonds, Energies, Soft Commodities, Crypto CFDs | Currencies, Indices, Stocks, ETFs, Bonds, Cryptocurrencies, Metals, Energies, Soft Commodities |
| Review | Dukascopy Europe Review | IG Review |
About Dukascopy Europe
Dukascopy Europe is the EU subsidiary of the Swiss Dukascopy Group, offering ECN trading with transparent, volume-based commissions and ESMA-compliant safeguards. Clients trade on JForex 4 or MT4/MT5 with access to eight asset classes and 1,500+ instruments on the JForex stack, while EU retail leverage is capped at up to 1:30 with negative balance protection.
Pros
- EU-licensed, supervised by the Bank of Latvia
- True ECN model with tiered commissions
- JForex 4 with Java API
- 1,200+ instruments on JForex
Cons
- Retail leverage limited to 1:30 under ESMA rules
- Inactivity fee may apply after prolonged dormancy
About IG
IG is one of the most established and reputable brokers in the forex and CFD trading industry, having been founded in 1974. Regulated by top-tier financial authorities, including the FCA (UK) and ASIC (Australia), IG offers a wide range of trading instruments, including forex, indices, commodities, and shares. The broker is well-suited for both beginner and professional traders, providing access to an advanced trading platform, competitive spreads, and a comprehensive suite of educational resources. IG's long-standing presence in the market and robust regulatory compliance make it a trusted choice for traders worldwide. In addition to its proprietary platform, IG supports MetaTrader 4 (MT4), which is ideal for traders who prefer algorithmic strategies or a familiar interface. The broker also excels in market research and analysis, providing clients with detailed insights, trading signals, and technical tools. However, while IG offers extensive features, its services might not be ideal for smaller retail traders due to higher minimum deposit requirements in some regions. Furthermore, the absence of certain features like cent accounts or high leverage options may deter specific trading styles.
Pros
- Highly regulated by top-tier financial authorities (FCA, ASIC, etc.)
- Wide range of tradable assets, including over 99 forex pairs
- Advanced proprietary platform and support for MetaTrader 4 (MT4)
- Comprehensive market research and educational resources
- Long-standing reputation with nearly five decades of experience
- Competitive spreads and reliable trade execution
Cons
- Limited high-leverage options compared to some competitors
- No support for cent accounts, which may not suit small-scale traders
- Inactivity fees for dormant accounts
- Customer support may not be available 24/7 for all regions
Dukascopy Europe & IG Regulation
| Feature | Dukascopy Europe | IG |
|---|---|---|
Companies | Dukascopy Europe IBS AS | IG Markets Ltd, IG International Limited, IG Europe GmbH, IG Bank SA, IG US LLC, IG Australia Pty Ltd., IG Securities Limited, IG Asia Pte Ltd, IG Markets South Africa Limited, IG Limited |
Countries | Latvia | United Kingdom, Bermuda, Germany, Switzerland, United States, Australia, Japan, Singapore, South Africa, United Arab Emirates |
Regulators | FCMC | FCA, BMA, BaFin, FSAN, AFM, CONSOB, CNMV, ACPR, FI, FINMA, NFA, CFTC, ASIC, NZ FMA, JFSA, JFFA, MAS, FSCA, DFSA |
Investor Protection | Latvian Investor Protection System | UK Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS), Investor Compensation Fund (ICF), Financialcommission.org |
Investor Protection Size | €20 000 | £85 000 / €20 000 |
Publicly Traded | ||
Segregated Accounts | ||
Guaranteed Stop Loss | ||
Negative Balance Protection |
Account Types
| Account | Dukascopy Europe | IG |
|---|---|---|
Market Maker Account | ||
| Account Name | — | CFD |
| Min Deposit | — | $1 |
| Lot Size | — | 0.01 |
| Spread Type | — | Floating |
| Execution | — | Market |
| Min Spread | — | 0.6 |
| Fee | — | No |
| Max Leverage | — | 1:200 |
| Stop Out | — | 50% |
| Margin Call | — | 100% |
ECN Account | ||
| Account Name | ECN | — |
| Min Deposit | $100 | — |
| Lot Size | 0.01 | — |
| Spread Type | Floating | — |
| Execution | Market | — |
| Min Spread | 0.1 | — |
| Fee | $7 per 1 lot | — |
| Max Leverage | 1:30 | — |
| Stop Out | 50% | — |
| Margin Call | 100% | — |
DMA Account | ||
| Account Name | — | DMA |
| Min Deposit | — | $1000 |
| Lot Size | — | 0.01 |
| Spread Type | — | Floating |
| Execution | — | Market |
| Min Spread | — | 0.16 |
| Fee | — | $12 per 1 lot |
| Max Leverage | — | 1:200 |
| Stop Out | — | 20% |
| Margin Call | — | 50% |
| Additional Features | ||
| Demo Account | ||
| VIP Account | ||
| Swap-Free Account | ||
| Copy Trading | ||
| VPS | ||
| PAMM/MAM Accounts | ||
Funding and Fees
| Feature | Dukascopy Europe | IG |
|---|---|---|
Base currencies | USD, EUR, GBP, CHF, PLN | USD, EUR, GBP, CHF, AUD, NZD, JPY, NOK, SEK, SGD, HKD |
Deposit and withdrawal methods | Bank Wire (SEPA/SWIFT), Credit/Debit Card | Bank Wire, Credit Card, Debit Card, PayPal |
Inactivity fee | Up to €50 per 180 days of inactivity after the initial 180-day grace period | $18 per month after 24 months |
Interest on margin | ||
Withdrawal fee | Varies by method; bank/third-party charges and currency conversion may apply |
Trading Platforms and Conditions
| Feature | Dukascopy Europe | IG |
|---|---|---|
Trading Platforms | JForex, MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | MetaTrader 4 (MT4), IG Trading Platform, L2 Dealer |
Execution Speed | - | - |
Scalping | ||
Expert Advisors (EAs) | ||
Depth of Market (DOM) | ||
Spread | low | average |
Trading Assets
| Asset | Dukascopy Europe | IG |
|---|---|---|
Currencies | 59 | 99 |
Indices | 21 | 46 |
Stocks | 1081 | 13000 |
Cryptocurrencies | 18 | 15 |
Bonds | 3 | 19 |
Metals | 5 | 11 |
Energies | 4 | 9 |
Soft Commodities | 6 | 20 |
ETFs | 51 | 5400 |
Education and Analytics
| Feature | Dukascopy Europe | IG |
|---|---|---|
Economic Calendar | ||
Indicators | ||
Robots | ||
Signals | ||
Autochartist | ||
Expert Analytics | ||
News Feed | ||
Education Articles | ||
Webinars | ||
Seminars |
Customer Support
| Contact | Dukascopy Europe | IG |
|---|---|---|
Email | support@dukascopy.eu | newaccounts.uk@ig.com |
Phone | +371 67 399 000 | +442076335430 |
Facebook | — | |
LinkedIn | — | |
YouTube | YouTube | YouTube |
Twitter | — |
Which Broker is Better?
After comparing Dukascopy Europe and IG, IG comes out ahead as our overall pick. It ranks higher in our internal scoring and delivers a stronger balance of pricing (spreads/fees), platform experience, and product range. That said, the runner-up may still be a better fit if you prioritize specific needs—like a particular account type, funding method, or niche instruments. This is not financial advice; always choose a broker that matches your goals and local regulatory requirements.
More Comparisons
Andriy Bondarenko
Broker Analyst
Andriy is a seasoned expert in broker reviews with over a decade of experience in finance and trading. Under his leadership, the team produces in-depth and unbiased analyses of leading trading platforms.