How IG Trading Works (Step-by-Step Guide)

IG is one of the UK’s most established platforms for share dealing and investing. It has a wide range of UK and international stocks and ETFs, but the platform looks and feels a bit more “old-school” than modern investing apps like Freetrade or Trading 212. Below is a simple guide to help you buy your first shares on IG and also claim their current sign-up bonus.

Step 1 – Open Your Account

• Sign up to IG Trading - here is a link to the current sign up bonus.
• Choose Share Dealing (you can open an ISA, GIA, or SIPP).
• Complete the sign-up process and verify your identity.

Step 2 – Add Funds

• Deposit at least £50 into your account (needed for the bonus).
• You can fund your account via bank transfer or debit card.

Step 3 – Search for a Share or ETF

• Use the Search Bar at the top to type the name of a company (e.g. “Lloyds” or “Apple”).
• Select the correct listing (e.g. “Lloyds Banking Group – London Stock Exchange”).

Step 4 – Place a Buy Order

This is where IG can feel a bit old-school, so here’s exactly what to do:

1. Click on the company you want to buy.
2. A trade ticket will pop up.
3. You’ll see two main fields: Order Level= The price you’re buying the share at. If you just click the + button once, it will automatically set to the current market price. Size= The number of shares you want to buy. For example, “10” if you want 10 shares.
4. Order Level= The price you’re buying the share at. If you just click the + button once, it will automatically set to the current market price.
5. Size= The number of shares you want to buy. For example, “10” if you want 10 shares.
6. Make sure Buy is selected (rather than Sell).
7. At the bottom you’ll see the Total (the full amount you’ll pay for this order).
8. Press Preview Order, then confirm to complete your purchase.

✅ That’s it — you’ve officially bought your first shares on IG!

Step 5 – Avoiding the Custody Fee

IG charges a £24 quarterly custody fee unless you make 3+ trades per quarter.

• To avoid it, simply buy at least 3 shares or ETFs each quarter (January–March, April–June, July–September, October–December).
• Tip: You can buy very cheap shares (like Lloyds, usually under £1) just to meet the requirement.

The Current IG Sign-Up Bonus:

New users can currently claim a free share worth between £40 and £200.

How it works:

Reward breakdown:

• £40–50 value share = 60% chance
• £50–100 value share = 30% chance
• £100–150 value share = 6% chance
• £150–200 value share = 4% chance