IG vs UZFX 2026: Two ASIC-Regulated Brokers, Two Very Different Traders
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IG and UZFX sit at opposite ends of the retail CFD spectrum in 2026. IG is a 38-year-old global financial services company listed on the London Stock Exchange, with 30+ licensed entities and a 17,000-instrument retail catalogue. UZFX is a focused APAC specialist with a single ASIC AFSL licence and a 46+ instrument shelf.
Both brokers are ASIC-regulated in the Australian entity, both charge retail on a spread-only model, and both do not offer MT4 or MT5. The differences that actually matter are the minimum deposit, the platform stack, the language coverage, and the product shelf depth — not the headline leverage number.
This review compares them head-to-head from an independent editorial standpoint, using live regulator register data as of September 2026.
Research date: 18 September 2026.
Company Overview
| Attribute | IG Group | UZFX |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1969 (as International Geographical) | 2020 |
| Listing | LSE: IG (London Stock Exchange) | Not publicly listed |
| HQ | London, United Kingdom | Regional HQ with ASIC-licensed Australian entity |
| Regulators | FCA, ASIC, NFA/CFTC, BAFIN, FINMA, AMF, CNMV, SCB, SFC, MAS | ASIC (AFSL 001291473) |
| Retail entities | 30+ global entities | Single ASIC entity |
| Customers | 18+ million registered | Growth-stage |
| Instruments | 17,000+ including stocks, ETFs, indices, forex, commodities, crypto | 46+ across forex, gold, energy, crypto, indices, stocks |
| Platforms | IG Chart, WebTrader, ProRealTime | Web Terminal, H5, iOS, Android, Windows, Mac |
| MT4 / MT5 | No | No |
IG’s edge is institutional scale — 17,000 instruments means you can hedge gold against a single Apple stock position or roll an S&P futures contract against an oil CFD, all in the same account. UZFX’s edge is narrowness by design: 46 instruments and a mobile-first product built for a specific trader persona in Southeast Asia and China.
Trading Conditions
| Dimension | IG | UZFX |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | £1 (retail CFD), £1,000 (Forex Direct DMA) | $10 |
| Account types | Standard CFD, Premium CFD, Forex Direct DMA | Standard (single account type) |
| EUR/USD raw spread | 0.55 pips | Not offered |
| EUR/USD standard spread | 0.91 pips | 1.5 pips |
| Commission | £0 (spread-only) on Standard, $5.95 per lot on Premium raw | $0 (spread-only, all pairs) |
| Max retail leverage (UK/FCA) | 1:30 | 1:30 (ASIC mirrors FCA caps) |
| Max retail leverage (US/NFA) | 1:20 | Not US-facing |
| Stock CFDs | Yes, 17,000+ | Yes, 3 |
| Stock index CFDs | 100+ global | 7 |
| Crypto CFDs | 30+ | 3 |
| Gold / Silver | Yes | Yes |
| Energy (WTI, Brent) | Yes | Yes |
| Slippage guarantee | Yes on Premium (Market Close Guarantee) | Standard execution only |
| Zero commission | Standard account | All pairs |
Where IG wins: The raw-spread product is genuinely best-in-class. 0.55 pips on EUR/USD beats UZFX’s 1.5 pips on the paper by more than 2x. For scalpers and day traders running 30+ trades a day, the spread difference compounds.
Where UZFX wins: The $10 minimum is a real barrier-remover for traders with small capital. Zero commission across all pairs removes one line from the cost model. And the 46-instrument shelf is honestly sized for the persona UZFX serves — you don’t need 17,000 instruments if you trade EUR/USD, gold, WTI and a couple of indices.
IG retail leverage caps are identical to UZFX under ASIC rules: 1:30. Under the US NFA, IG is capped at 1:20 — lower than UZFX’s ASIC ceiling, but UZFX does not serve US retail so this is a moot comparison.
You can verify both brokers’ ASIC licences here: ASIC Market Licence register.
Trading Platforms
IG’s platform stack:
- IG Chart — desktop, web and mobile. Full charting, 100+ indicators, custom alerts.
- IG WebTrader — legacy trading interface, still supported for existing clients.
- ProRealTime — premium execution platform for institutional-style traders.
- IG Trade App — mobile apps on iOS and Android.
- No MT4, no MT5. IG built its own stack and retired MetaQuotes licenses years ago.
UZFX’s platform stack:
- Web Terminal — browser-based full trading UI.
- H5 mobile web — responsive mobile web app.
- Native iOS app
- Native Android app
- Windows desktop
- Mac desktop
- No MT4, no MT5. Proprietary stack only.
The verdict: Both brokers are MT4/MT5-free, so this is not a MetaQuotes-versus-nobody fight. IG’s charting is deeper (100+ indicators, backtesting, order types like Market Close Guarantee). UZFX’s app stack is broader across operating systems (6 platforms vs 4) and better localised into 12 languages including Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, Indonesian, Thai, Malay, Spanish, Portuguese and Arabic.
If you code in MQL, neither broker is your answer — look at Pepperstone or IC Markets instead.
Product Range
IG’s shelf is the largest in the retail CFD market:
- Stock CFDs — 17,000+ across 40+ global exchanges including Tesla, NVIDIA, Apple, ASML, Toyota
- Stock index CFDs — 100+ global indices including S&P 500, Nasdaq, FTSE, DAX, Nikkei, ASX 200, HSI
- Forex — 80+ pairs
- Commodities — gold, silver, platinum, palladium, WTI, Brent, natural gas
- Crypto — 30+ coins
- ETF CFDs — hundreds
- Bonds — sovereign and corporate
- Bonds options, event contracts — speciality products
UZFX’s shelf is a deliberate subset:
- Forex — 26 pairs (major, minor, exotic)
- Precious metals — 4 (gold, silver, platinum, palladium)
- Energy — 3 (WTI, Brent, natural gas)
- Crypto — 3 (BTC, ETH, one more)
- Stock indices — 7
- Single-stock CFDs — 3
IG is closer to a mini-futures commission merchant. UZFX is closer to a well-curated retail CFD product for traders who don’t need 17,000 instruments.
Customer Support
IG support:
- 24/7 live telephone in English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Japanese, Korean, Chinese (Simplified and Traditional)
- Live chat 24/5 in English
- Educational library: extensive, including free IG Academy courses
- Daily market analysis and webinars
UZFX support:
- 24/5 live chat in 12 languages
- Regional telephone desks (APAC, EMEA)
- Education: guides on risk management, technical analysis, and account setup
IG’s education library is the deepest we have seen at any major broker. UZFX’s support is broader in language coverage for the Asia-Pacific region.
Pros and Cons
IG pros
- Widest product shelf in retail CFD (17,000+ instruments)
- Best-in-class raw spreads (0.55 pips EUR/USD)
- Deep education library and daily analysis
- Tier-1 regulator breadth (FCA, ASIC, NFA, BAFIN, FINMA, MAS)
- LSE-listed, audited financials
IG cons
- No MT4/MT5 — proprietary stack only
- US retail leverage capped at 1:20
- Practical minimum for meaningful CFD trading is closer to £1,000
- No APAC-first language support (only major languages)
UZFX pros
- $10 minimum deposit
- Zero commission across all pairs
- Native apps on 6 platforms (Web, H5, iOS, Android, Windows, Mac)
- 12-language support including Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, Indonesian, Thai, Malay
- ASIC AFSL licence
UZFX cons
- 46-instrument shelf is narrow by design
- 1.5 pips EUR/USD is wider than IG raw
- No MT4/MT5
- Smaller brand, shorter operating history
IG vs UZFX at a Glance
| Trader profile | Winner |
|---|---|
| Scalper running 30+ trades/day | IG (0.55 pips raw) |
| Day trader with £5,000+ capital | IG (spread + education library) |
| Small-account trader (< $500) | UZFX ($10 minimum) |
| Trader who wants zero commission simplicity | UZFX |
| Trader who needs Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, Indonesian, Thai, Malay support | UZFX |
| Trader who wants 17,000+ stock CFDs | IG |
| Trader who wants 3 single-stock CFDs + forex + gold + oil + indices | UZFX |
| Trader with LSE-listed institutional brand preference | IG |
| Mobile-first trader across iOS, Android, Windows, Mac | UZFX |
| Trader who codes MQL4/MQL5 EAs | Neither — try Pepperstone or IC Markets |
Neither is a scam. Both are ASIC-regulated in the Australian entity. The comparison is really about the trader persona each broker was designed for.
FAQ
Q1: Which is more regulated — IG or UZFX? IG is regulated across 30+ jurisdictions including FCA, ASIC, NFA/CFTC, BAFIN, FINMA, MAS. UZFX is ASIC-regulated with AFSL 001291473. Both are tier-1 in the Australian entity, but IG is broader and UZFX is more focused.
Q2: What is the minimum deposit at each broker? IG has no minimum for retail CFD accounts (£1 for bank funding, ~£1,000 for the Forex Direct DMA account). UZFX requires a $10 minimum. UZFX is genuinely easier to open.
Q3: Which has the better platform? IG’s IG Chart is deeper for charting, indicators and order types (Market Close Guarantee). UZFX’s stack is broader across operating systems (6 platforms vs 4) and better localised in 12 Asian and Latin American languages. Neither offers MT4 or MT5.
Q4: Who has the tighter spreads? IG raw-spread EUR/USD is 0.55 pips with $5.95 per lot commission. IG standard-spread EUR/USD is 0.91 pips with zero commission. UZFX spread-only EUR/USD is 1.5 pips with zero commission. IG wins on paper cost for scalping; UZFX wins on cost-model simplicity.
Q5: Do IG and UZFX offer MT4/MT5? Neither does. IG uses IG Chart and WebTrader. UZFX uses Web Terminal, H5, and native apps. If you require MetaTrader, look at Pepperstone, IC Markets, or OANDA (MT4 only).
Final Verdict
IG is the better broker for the majority of English-speaking traders with £5,000+ capital who want the widest product shelf and the tightest spreads. It is a global financial services company, not a niche CFD shop.
UZFX is the better broker for APAC traders who want a $10 minimum, zero commission, and native mobile apps in their own language. It is a focused product built for a specific trader persona, and the trade-off is a smaller product shelf.
If you are a professional scalper with heavy volume, IG is the safer long-term partner. If you are a Southeast Asian or Chinese trader starting with a $100 account and trading EUR/USD, gold and WTI, UZFX is the better fit.
Neither is a universal answer. Match the broker to the trader you actually are.
Risk Disclaimer
CFDs are complex, leveraged instruments and carry a high level of risk to your capital. Trading on margin amplifies both gains and losses, and it is possible to lose more than your initial deposit on certain products. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. This article is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Before opening a position, review the full risk disclosures from the broker’s regulated entity and consider whether leveraged trading is suitable for your financial situation. Independent regulatory verification is always available at ASIC, FCA and NFA.
Last reviewed: 18 September 2026. Editorial team: MarketCFD Independent Broker Review Desk.
Related: UZFX vs IC Markets 2026 — ASIC Broker Comparison, UZFX vs Pepperstone 2026 — ASIC ECN Broker Comparison, 10 Minimum Deposit Forex Broker 2026 — UZFX Guide.