IG UK Free Shares: Get Up to £300 in UK Shares When You Invest £300 (2026)
IG UK is offering new investors a free share bundle worth £40 to £300 in UK-listed shares when they invest at least £300. Unlike previous one-month promos, this welcome bonus runs all the way through to 31 December 2026 and is available to new clients opening a Share Dealing Account, ISA, or SIPP. Use promo code WELCOME300 when signing up to qualify.
Invest £50 for the chance to receive up to £250 in US shares
IG's September offer is the lower-entry choice for new UK clients aged 18 or over who have never held an IG account before 15 September 2026. It is separate from WELCOME300, and the two offers cannot be combined.
Apply from 15 September through 30 September 2026 with code SEPSHARES250, then make a net investment of at least £50 in one eligible account by 23:59 UK time on 30 September. Eligible accounts are GIA, ISA, SIPP, Smart GIA, Smart ISA and Smart SIPP. Cash deposits, asset transfers and IPO-related instruments do not count. You also need a GIA because IG pays the reward into that account, even if you qualify through another wrapper.
Maintain an average invested value of at least £50 from 1 October through 31 December 2026. A market-only fall below £50 does not disqualify you if you met the terms, but sales or withdrawals can. You must also submit a W-8BEN form by 30 November 2026.
The reward is a random bundle of US-listed shares worth approximately £20 to £250, credited by 31 January 2027. The probabilities are 60% for £20 to £28, 25% for £29 to £45, 10% for £46 to £77, 4% for £78 to £136 and 1% for £137 to £250. Share prices and exchange rates mean the top of each band is not guaranteed.
Get Up to £250 in Bonus Shares
The value of investments can fall, and trading or foreign-exchange charges may apply.
Our Verdict
The new WELCOME300 offer replaces last year's FS500 free shares promo, and on balance it is a more accessible bonus for the typical UK investor. The minimum investment drops to £300 (down from £500), the shares awarded are UK-listed (so no W-8BEN tax form to complete), and the promotion runs all the way through to 31 December 2026 rather than a single month.
The trade-off is that the maximum bundle is now £300 rather than £500. That said, the bottom of the range starts at £40 on a £300 investment, which is still a useful kicker for anyone who was already considering opening an account with IG. As with all bundle promotions, the exact share value is randomly allocated, so there is a luck element involved. Even at the low end, getting £40 in free shares on a £300 deposit is a 13% return before any market movement.
The three-calendar-month holding period is reasonable. You only need to maintain a £300 average, not a perfect daily balance, which gives you flexibility to rebalance or adjust positions during that window. If you were already considering IG as your broker, the welcome bonus is a clean addition with no awkward mechanics.
How It Works
Open a new IG share dealing account between 16 March and 31 December 2026 and enter promo code WELCOME300 during sign-up. You can choose a General Investment Account, Stocks and Shares ISA, or SIPP. Once your account is open, invest a minimum of £300 in net trades by the end of the same calendar month as your first trade, which must be placed within 30 days of account activation.
The value of your free share bundle is randomly allocated between £40 and £300 in UK-listed shares. To qualify, you need to maintain an average of £300 invested for three full calendar months after the month of your first trade. Your free shares are then credited to your General Investment Account, regardless of which IG account type you opened.
Important Requirements
- Must be a new IG client (no existing IG share dealing account)
- Use promo code WELCOME300 when signing up
- Open your account between 16 March and 31 December 2026
- Invest a minimum of £300 in net trades by the end of the same calendar month as your first trade, which must be placed within 30 days of account activation
- Maintain an average of £300 invested for three full calendar months after the month of your first trade
- Free shares are UK-listed and credited to your GIA after the holding period
- Valid on GIA, ISA, and SIPP accounts
- Cannot be combined with other IG promotions, you can only use one
- UK residents aged 18 and over only
IG Platform Features
Beyond this welcome bonus, IG is one of the most established investment platforms in the UK with over 50 years of trading history. The share dealing platform offers commission-free trading on UK and US shares and ETFs, no platform or custody charges, and access to over 17,000 instruments across global markets. IG is FCA regulated and listed on the London Stock Exchange.
IG also pays 3.75% AER variable interest on uninvested GBP cash, on balances up to £100,000 across your GIA, ISA, and SIPP combined. To earn the interest, you need to either hold an open share position or place at least one buy or sell trade during the month. Only settled GBP cash earns interest.
Other IG Offers and Reviews
IG runs several promotions for new and existing clients. Here are some other IG articles you may find useful:
- IG UK Offers Hub: Free Shares and Cash Interest
- IG Zero Spread on FTSE 100 Shares
- IG Crypto Trading UK Review
Looking for more broker promotions? Check out our full list of broker bonuses or use BrokerMatch to find the best broker for your needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What promo code do I need for the IG welcome bonus?
You need to use promo code WELCOME300 when signing up for a new IG share dealing account. The offer runs from 16 March to 31 December 2026.
How much do I need to invest to get free shares from IG?
You need to invest a minimum of £300 in net trades by the end of the same calendar month as your first trade, which must be placed within 30 days of account activation. You then need to maintain an average of £300 invested for three full calendar months.
What shares will I receive from the IG WELCOME300 promotion?
You will receive a randomly allocated bundle of UK-listed shares worth between £40 and £300. The exact value is determined randomly by IG. Because the shares are UK-listed, no W-8BEN tax form is required.
When will I receive my free shares from IG?
Your free shares are credited to your General Investment Account (GIA) after you complete the three-month holding period, provided you have maintained the average £300 minimum throughout. The shares always go to a GIA, regardless of which IG account type you opened.
Which account types qualify for the welcome bonus?
The promotion is available on a General Investment Account (GIA), Stocks and Shares ISA, or Self-Invested Personal Pension (SIPP). The free shares are always credited to your GIA, regardless of which account type you originally opened.
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. Spread bets and CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 70% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading spread bets and CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how spread bets and CFDs work, and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money..png)
