IG UK Autumn Welcome Share Promotion: Free Shares Worth Up to £200 (September 2025)
IG UK has launched an attractive autumn promotion offering investors free UK shares worth up to £200 when they make their first investment of just £50 during September 2025. We analyzed this promotion to help you understand whether it represents good value and how to claim it effectively.
Our Verdict: Is This Worth It?
Based on our analysis, this promotion offers solid value for new investors looking to start their journey with IG. The £50 minimum investment is accessible, and the potential return of up to £200 in free shares represents up to a 400% bonus on your initial deposit.
What makes this offer particularly interesting is the selection of established UK companies included in the share bundle. Rather than speculative stocks, you receive shares from FTSE-listed companies with strong market positions.
How the Promotion Works
The mechanics are straightforward: invest a minimum of £50 in any IG share dealing account (GIA, ISA, or SIPP) during September 2025, and you'll receive a randomly allocated bundle of UK shares. The promotion runs until 30th September 2025, giving new investors the full month to participate.
Your free shares will include stocks from 15 major UK companies, including AstraZeneca, Tesco, Unilever, GSK, and Burberry. The exact combination you receive depends on a weighted random allocation system that IG uses to distribute the shares.
What You Actually Get
The share allocation uses a tiered system with different probability weightings:
- 60% chance of receiving £40-£50 worth of shares
- 30% chance of receiving £50.01-£100 worth of shares
- 6% chance of receiving £100.01-£150 worth of shares
- 4% chance of receiving £150.01-£200 worth of shares
While the headline figure mentions up to £200, our analysis shows most participants (60%) will receive shares worth £40-£50. This still represents an 80-100% bonus on the minimum £50 investment, which we consider reasonable for a welcome promotion.
Key Terms and Restrictions
We reviewed the full terms and conditions to identify important restrictions you should know about:
The most significant requirement is holding your initial investment until 31st October 2025. This means your £50 must remain invested for at least one month beyond the promotion period. If you withdraw early, you forfeit the free shares.
Your free shares will be credited to a General Investment Account (GIA), regardless of whether you initially invest through an ISA or SIPP. This has tax implications, as shares in a GIA are subject to capital gains tax and dividend tax, unlike ISA holdings.
The promotion is limited to one per person, even if you open multiple account types. UK residents aged 18 and over are eligible, and the offer cannot be combined with other IG promotions.
IG's Investment Platform Features
Beyond the promotion, we examined what IG offers as an investment platform. The broker provides several attractive features that support the promotional offer:
Zero commission trading on UK stocks and ETFs helps maximize your investment returns. This fee structure means your £50 investment goes entirely toward purchasing shares rather than paying trading costs.
IG pays 4% variable interest on uninvested cash balances up to £100,000. This feature helps your money grow even between investment decisions, though you must maintain an open position or have traded during the month to earn interest.
The platform supports three account types: General Investment Account (GIA), Individual Savings Account (ISA), and Self-Invested Personal Pension (SIPP). Each serves different investment goals and tax situations.
Who Should Consider This Offer
This promotion suits several investor profiles based on our analysis. New investors benefit from the low £50 minimum and receive exposure to established UK companies without researching individual stocks.
Cost-conscious investors appreciate the zero commission structure combined with the free share bonus. The mathematics work particularly well if you plan to build a UK stock portfolio over time.
ISA investors might find value despite the shares being credited to a GIA. You can potentially transfer the shares to an ISA later, subject to annual allowance limits and IG's transfer procedures.
The offer also appeals to those seeking UK market exposure specifically. All 15 companies in the share bundle are UK-listed firms, providing geographic diversification within the domestic market.
Claiming Your Free Shares
The process requires opening an IG account and making your first trade worth at least £50 during September 2025. We recommend ensuring you understand IG's platform before investing, as you'll need to hold your position until 31st October 2025.
Account opening typically takes 1-2 business days, including identity verification. Fund your account via bank transfer, debit card, or other accepted methods before placing your first trade.
Remember that your free shares arrive by 30th November 2025, so there's a delay between meeting the requirements and receiving the bonus. Plan accordingly if you're expecting immediate access to the additional shares.
Important Considerations
While this promotion offers genuine value, consider several factors before participating. The share allocation is random, meaning you cannot choose which companies you receive. This might not align with your investment strategy or risk tolerance.
Tax implications deserve attention since free shares are credited to a GIA. You'll be responsible for any capital gains tax when selling, and dividends will be subject to income tax after allowances.
The holding period requirement means your initial £50 remains invested for at least a month. Market movements could affect your investment value during this period, potentially offsetting some promotion benefits.
IG's platform includes various fees beyond trading commissions. Review their custody fees, foreign exchange costs, and other charges that might apply to your investment activities.
Our Bottom Line
IG's Autumn Welcome Share Promotion represents solid value for new investors willing to commit £50 for at least one month. The combination of zero commission trading, attractive cash interest rates, and established UK companies in the share bundle creates a compelling package.
The weighted allocation system means most participants receive £40-£50 in free shares, delivering an 80-100% bonus on the minimum investment. While not everyone will receive the maximum £200, the guaranteed minimum provides reasonable value.
We recommend this promotion for investors comfortable with UK stock exposure who plan to use IG as their primary investment platform. The zero commission structure and platform features support long-term investing beyond the initial promotion.
How Does IG Compare to Other Brokers?
IG is one of several UK brokers offering competitive investment services. To see how it compares across fees, features, and account types, consider using our broker comparison tool to find the platform that best matches your investment needs.
IG also made history becoming the first UK-listed broker to offer crypto trading.
You might also what to take advantage of the Trading 212 bonus which offers a free fractionalsShare up to €100/£100.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if I withdraw my initial £50 investment before 31st October 2025?
If you withdraw your initial investment before the required holding period ends, you'll forfeit your eligibility for the free shares. IG requires you to maintain your £50 investment until 31st October 2025 to receive the share bonus.
Can I choose which companies I receive shares in?
No, the share allocation is randomly determined by IG using their weighted probability system. You'll receive a combination of shares from their list of 15 UK companies, but cannot specify which ones you prefer.
Why are the free shares credited to a GIA instead of my ISA?
IG credits all promotional shares to General Investment Accounts regardless of where you made your initial investment. This is standard practice for bonus shares, though it does create tax implications since GIA holdings are subject to capital gains and dividend taxes.
Can I participate if I already have an IG account?
This promotion is specifically for first-time investors with IG. If you've previously placed trades in any IG account type (GIA, ISA, or SIPP), you're not eligible for the welcome bonus.
What are the tax implications of receiving free shares?
Since the shares are credited to a GIA, you'll be responsible for capital gains tax on any profits when you sell (after the annual CGT allowance), and dividend income will be subject to income tax after the £500 annual dividend allowance.
How long does it take to receive the free shares?
IG will credit the free shares to your account by 30th November 2025. There's approximately a two-month delay between meeting the promotion requirements and receiving your bonus shares.
Can I transfer the free shares to my ISA later?
While theoretically possible, transferring shares from a GIA to an ISA would count toward your annual ISA allowance and may involve additional procedures. Check with IG directly about their share transfer process and any associated costs.
Risk Disclaimer. Trading involves significant risk and may not be suitable for all investors. The value of investments can go down as well as up, and you may lose some or all of your initial investment. Past performance is not indicative of future results. We recommend only investing money you can afford to lose and ensuring you fully understand the risks involved before trading.
