Axi vs IG: Two CFD Broker Philosophies
Axi and IG have different visions of the brokerage business. Axi, founded in Sydney in 2007, is a MetaTrader specialist: one platform, low fees, and an original funding program, Axi Select. IG, born in London in 1974, is the dean of CFD brokers: multiservice, publicly traded, over 17,000 markets, and a modern web platform. This 2026 comparison contrasts the two approaches point by point: fees, platforms, instruments, regulation, and deposits. Full details are in our Axi review and our IG review.
Identity Card: Axi vs IG
| Element | Axi | IG |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2007, Sydney | 1974, London |
| Headquarters | Sydney, Australia | London, United Kingdom |
| Regulation | 5 authorities including ASIC and FCA | FCA, ASIC, MAS, FINMA, FSCA (about a dozen licenses) |
| Publicly traded | No | Yes (London Stock Exchange, IGG) |
| Clients | Not disclosed | Over 300,000 active |
| Platforms | MT4, MT4 WebTrader | Web, mobile, MT4, ProRealTime, L2 Dealer |
| Funded program | Axi Select (up to 1 M$) | None |
Two solid models: IG provides the financial transparency of a publicly traded group, Axi the agility of a specialist. Both are regulated by the FCA, a shared guarantee of reliability.
Fees and accounts: The rate match
| Item | Axi | IG |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | None | Not disclosed (a few hundred in practice) |
| EUR/USD Spread | from 0.4 pip (Standard), 0.0 pip (Pro) | from 0.6 pip |
| Commission | 7 $/lot round turn on Pro | Commission on CFD stocks (~0.05 %) |
| Accounts | Standard, Pro, Elite | Standard, share dealing, professional |
| Inactivity fees | 10 $/month after 12 months | None on CFDs |
| Overnight swaps | displayed in MT4 | published instrument by instrument |
On pure forex, Axi takes the lead: its Pro account displays raw spreads from 0.0 pip for 7 $ per round-turn lot, whereas IG starts from 0.6 pip without an equivalent raw option. An EUR/USD scalper will therefore find a lower cost per position at Axi, comparable to the raw accounts of IC Markets or Pepperstone. On indices and stocks, the trend reverses: IG charges via tight spreads on major indices and offers more than 12,000 stocks in CFDs or real shares. Axi's inactivity fee (10 $ per month after one year) penalizes dormant accounts, an expense that IG does not charge.
Platforms: MT4 specialist versus multi-platform
| Platform | Axi | IG |
|---|---|---|
| MetaTrader 4 | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 | No | No |
| Web platform | MT4 WebTrader only | Web TradingView + mobile app |
| ProRealTime | No | Yes (Premium version) |
| Direct Market Access (DMA) | No | Yes (L2 Dealer) |
| Free VPS | Yes (eligible accounts) | No |
Axi bets everything on MetaTrader: optimized MT4 execution, free VPS for expert advisors, Autochartist, and PsyQuation as add-ons. If you trade in
automatic, it is a clean and proven environment. IG also offers MT4, but its real strength lies elsewhere: a web platform powered by TradingView, native integration of ProRealTime (the benchmark for French charting), and DMA access via L2 Dealer, a rarity among retail brokers. The discreet trader who charts with a mouse will prefer IG; the algorithmic trader will stick with Axi.Instruments: 370 versus over 17,000
| Class | Axi | IG |
|---|---|---|
| Forex | 70+ pairs | 68 pairs |
| Indices | ~30 | 100+ |
| Stocks | Limited, depending on entity | Over 12,000 (CFD and shares) |
| Commodities | Metals, energies, softs | Approximately 47 |
| Crypto | CFD and 150+ perpetuals | Dozens of CFD |
This is the sharpest point of divergence. Axi covers approximately 370 instruments, which is more than enough for forex and indices, but insufficient for diversifying into stocks. IG, with over 17,000 markets, is one of the most extensive offerings on the market, on par with Interactive Brokers. Regarding cryptos, it is the opposite: Axi’s crypto perpetuals (over 150 since 2025) dwarf IG’s dozen or so crypto CFDs.
Regulation and fund protection
Both brokers display top-tier oversight. Axi holds five licenses, including ASIC and FCA; IG holds around ten, including FCA, MAS, and FINMA, with AMF registration for France. European clients of both brokers are covered by ESMA protections: negative balance protection and retail leverage capped at 30:1 on majors. Axi’s and IG’s UK clients benefit from the FSCS. Neither broker presents any regulatory red flags: on this criterion, it is a near-perfect tie.
Deposits, withdrawals, and funding
Axi imposes no minimum deposit and credits cards and wallets the same day; IG does not display an official minimum (expect a few hundred euros) and processes withdrawals in 1 to 3 business days, free of charge. No deposit fees on either side. The real difference appears after the deposit: Axi offers Axi Select, a program that can fund your performance with up to $1,000,000 with 90% of profits paid out, after progressing through stages on a real account. IG has no equivalent: at IG, you only trade your own capital. This is the prop firm model, which you can also find in our prop firm comparison tool.
Leverage and customer service: the details that matter
At both brokers, European retail leverage is governed by ESMA: 30:1 maximum on majors, 20:1 on indices and gold, 5:1 on stocks. Axi advertises a maximum leverage of 500:1, but this level only applies to certain entities outside of Europe: a French or British client remains capped by regulation, and that is for the best. Regarding service, IG has French-speaking client support based in Paris, a real plus for French traders; Axi responds mainly in English, with broad hourly coverage linked to its Australian and British time zones. Both offer a free demo: take advantage of it to compare EUR/USD spreads live at the same time of day; that is the only test that truly counts.
Axi vs IG: which broker to choose in 2026?
| Profile | Our choice |
|---|---|
| Forex scalper, MT4 algo, tight budget | Axi (Pro account, no minimum deposit) |
| Stock/index diversification, web charting | IG (17,000 markets, TradingView) |
| French trader attached to ProRealTime | IG |
| Profile aiming for funded capital | Axi (Axi Select up to $1M) |
| Dormant account p ossible | IG (no inactivity fees) |
In summary: Axi wins on forex fees, accessibility (no minimum deposit), and the originality of Axi Select; IG wins on market coverage, platforms, and the absence of inactivity fees. Both are regulated at the highest level, so the choice depends on your style, not the risk. Test the free demo of each broker, re-read our Axi and IG broker profiles, our IG 2026 review, and the Swissquote vs IG comparison for a same-tier regulatory alternative.
