Choosing the right online trading broker in 2025 is critical for retail and professional traders alike. With a growing range of platforms and tools, it can be challenging to decide which broker is best suited to your goals. In this in-depth comparison, we analyze IG and Trive, two brokers that serve the CFD trading community but differ significantly in terms of regulation, market access, trading tools, and overall value.
Broker Review Contents
Broker Overview
| Feature | IG | Trive |
|---|---|---|
| Broker Type | CFD & Stock Broker | CFD & Spread Betting Broker |
| Founded | 1974 | Newer Entrant |
| Regulation | FCA, ASIC, BaFin, others | Malta Only |
| Markets Available | Forex, Stocks, Indices, Crypto, ETFs | Forex, Stocks (CFDs), Indices, Commodities |
| Platforms | Proprietary, MT4 | MT4, MT5, Mobile App |
| Overall Score | 65/100 | 49/100 |
Regulation and Client Protection
IG is one of the most trusted brokers in the industry with multi-jurisdictional regulation from leading authorities like:
- FCA (UK)
- ASIC (Australia)
- BaFin (Germany)
These offer strong protections such as segregated funds and eligibility for investor compensation schemes. In contrast, Trive is regulated only in Malta, which lacks the recognition of tier-1 regulators.
🏆 Winner: IG
Market Coverage Comparison
| Asset Class | IG | Trive |
| Forex | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Indices | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Stocks | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes (CFDs) |
| Commodities | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Cryptocurrencies | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| ETFs | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Spread Betting | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
IG offers a more diverse range of instruments, including access to cryptocurrency trading and ETFs. Trive’s inclusion of spread betting appeals to UK-based traders due to tax efficiency.
🏆 Winner: IG
Trading Platform Comparison
| Platform Feature | IG | Trive |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Mobile App | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| TradingView | ❌ No | ❌ No |
IG lacks MT5 support but makes up for it with a refined proprietary trading platform. Trive supports both MT4 and MT5, making it appealing to traders who prefer MetaTrader.
🏆 Draw
Trading Costs and Fees
| Fee Type | IG | Trive |
| EUR/USD Spread | 0.6 pips | 0.5 pips |
| Inactivity Fee | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Deposit Fees | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| Withdrawal Fees | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| Commissions | ✅ On some markets | ❌ No commissions |
Trive offers lower entry costs on paper but charges fees on deposits and withdrawals. IG has a more transparent fee structure and no funding charges.
🏆 Draw
Account Types
| Account Type | IG | Trive |
| Demo Account | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Islamic Account | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| VIP Account | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| API Access | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
IG caters better to professional and algo traders. Trive offers swap-free Islamic accounts, which is an advantage for Muslim traders.
🏆 Winner: IG
Trade Execution Models
| Execution Type | IG | Trive |
| Market Maker | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| STP | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| ECN | ❌ No | ❌ No |
| DMA | ✅ Yes (select assets) | ❌ No |
IG’s hybrid model with DMA access is a major advantage for serious traders.
🏆 Winner: IG
Trading Tools and Features
| Feature | IG | Trive |
| VPS Hosting | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Expert Advisors (EAs) | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Trailing Stops | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Price Alerts | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| One-Click Trading | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
Both brokers offer a full set of features, but IG’s inclusion of VPS services gives it the edge for automation-focused traders.
🏆 Winner: IG
Deposit & Withdrawal Options
| Payment Method | IG | Trive |
| Credit/Debit Card | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Bank Transfer | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| PayPal | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Skrill/Neteller | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| Bitcoin | ❌ No | ❌ No |
Both brokers support popular fiat options, but the absence of crypto funding is a drawback in 2025.
🏆 Draw
Final Verdict: Should You Choose IG or Trive?
| Category | Winner |
| Regulation | IG |
| Market Access | IG |
| Trading Platforms | Draw |
| Fees & Costs | Draw |
| Account Options | IG |
| Execution Models | IG |
| Trading Tools | IG |
| Payment Methods | Draw |
🎯 Overall Winner: IG
IG leads in nearly every major category and is the better choice for traders prioritizing safety, professional tools, and global market access. Trive, while more limited, offers an accessible entry point for UK-based spread bettors and MetaTrader fans.
