Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of IC Markets vs ActivTrades, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Between 51% and 89% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
Established in 2007, IC Markets is a noteworthy online broker with a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 84, placing it in the trusted category. It operates privately and is not a bank. IC Markets is backed by two Tier-1 licenses, signaling its strong regulatory standing in the financial landscape.
ActivTrades, founded in 2001, joins IC Markets as a trusted broker, boasting a Trust Score of 81. Like IC Markets, ActivTrades is a private company and not a banking institution. It holds two Tier-1 licenses as well as an additional Tier-2 license, which enhances its credibility and compliance in the market.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2007 | 2001 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 3 | 2 |
Comparing commissions and fees, IC Markets tends to be cheaper overall than ActivTrades, especially for active forex traders. IC Markets earned 5 stars and ranks #5 of 63 for Commissions & Fees, while ActivTrades holds 4 stars and ranks #29 of 63. Both brokers’ pricing can vary by platform, account type, and the assets you trade, but IC Markets’ all-in costs are generally closer to the lowest-cost brokers in the industry.
IC Markets offers three accounts: Standard (spread-only) and two commission-based options, Raw Spread (MT4/MT5) and cTrader Raw. On cTrader, the commission is $3.00 per side per 100,000 units ($6.00 round turn); on MT4/MT5 it’s $3.50 per side ($7.00 round turn). IC Markets lists an average EUR/USD spread of 0.02 pips (Aug 2022); after commissions, the all-in cost is about 0.62 pips on cTrader or 0.72 on MetaTrader. The Standard account averages 0.62 pips with no commission. There’s a low deposit requirement for commission-based accounts and discounts for traders exceeding 100 standard lots per month. IC Markets also earned Best in Class honors for Commissions & Fees in the 2024 Annual Awards.
ActivTrades uses one main “Individual” account, plus Professional and Islamic options; spreads are the same across account types, and there’s no high-volume or active-trader pricing. Actual costs depend on the asset and platform you use. For reference, the average EUR/USD spread was 0.98 pips in May 2024—slightly better than the industry average, but not as low as leading discount competitors. In short, ActivTrades is competitive for casual traders, while IC Markets typically offers tighter all-in pricing, more choice between spread-only or commission models, and better value for frequent traders.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $200 | $0 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.62 | 0.98 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.62 | N/A |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
IC Markets offers a wider range of markets than ActivTrades, with 3,583 tradeable symbols versus 1,267. For forex, IC Markets lists 61 currency pairs compared with ActivTrades’ 49. Both brokers support forex trading as CFDs or spot, and both let you trade cryptocurrency via CFDs, though neither allows buying actual coins.
When it comes to shares, neither broker offers exchange-traded U.S. stocks, but both let you buy exchange-traded shares on international exchanges (for example, London-listed Vodafone). Copy trading is available at both. For range of investments, ForexBrokers.com rates IC Markets 4.5/5 (ranked 26th of 63) and ActivTrades 4/5 (ranked 32nd of 63).
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 3583 | 1267 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 61 | 49 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | No |
| Cryptocurrency (CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Disclaimers | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). |
Dive deeper: Best Copy Trading Platforms.
IC Markets and ActivTrades both check key boxes for everyday traders: each offers a free demo (paper trading), web-based and Windows desktop platforms, MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5), copy trading, and the ability to place trades directly from charts. The main difference is platform lineup: IC Markets does not have an in-house platform, while ActivTrades adds its own proprietary platform alongside MT4/MT5. Indicator counts and watchlist fields can vary by platform.
For Trading Platforms and Tools, both brokers earn 4 out of 5 stars. However, in ForexBrokers.com’s category rankings, IC Markets places #16 out of 63 brokers, while ActivTrades ranks #32. If you want an in-house platform option, ActivTrades fits the bill; if you prefer a broker focused on widely used third-party platforms and a higher category ranking, IC Markets may be the better match.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | No | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
IC Markets vs ActivTrades for mobile trading apps: both brokers offer iPhone and Android apps, plus price alerts to help you track moves. Charting is on par, with 30 technical studies each, the ability to draw trendlines, and drawings that auto-save. One notable gap for both: watchlist symbol syncing isn’t supported, so changes on mobile won’t sync with your web platform watchlists.
In terms of quality scores, both mobile apps earn 4 out of 5 stars. Looking at the ForexBrokers.com category ranking, ActivTrades places slightly higher at 19th out of 63 brokers, while IC Markets ranks 22nd. Since features are closely matched, your choice may come down to app feel and personal preference.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | No | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
IC Markets and ActivTrades both cover the basics for market research. Each provides daily market commentary, forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, an economic calendar, and a sentiment tool that shows the ratio of long vs. short positions. These shared features make it easy to track headlines, plan around key events, and gauge crowd positioning across currency pairs and other instruments.
The main difference is in built-in analysis tools. IC Markets adds extras such as Autochartist and Trading Central for technical and fundamental insights, while ActivTrades does not include these providers. Neither broker offers TipRanks or Acuity Trading tools. Both earn a 4-star Research rating, but in ForexBrokers.com’s rankings IC Markets places #23 out of 63 brokers, compared with ActivTrades at #31. If you want more ready-made trade ideas and screening tools, IC Markets has the edge; if you only need news, commentary, sentiment, and a calendar, both platforms deliver.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
| Trading Central | Yes | No |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
For beginners who want clear, step‑by‑step learning, both IC Markets and ActivTrades deliver strong forex and CFD education. Each broker provides a library with at least 10 educational pieces, plus ongoing client webinars held at least monthly. New traders can dive into 10+ beginner videos that explain core topics, then move on to 10+ advanced videos as their skills grow. Overall, both brands earn 4 out of 5 stars for Education, reflecting solid coverage across articles, videos, and webinars.
Where they differ is in third‑party rankings: IC Markets is ranked #16 out of 63 brokers for Education by ForexBrokers.com, while ActivTrades sits at #38. If you’re choosing based on education alone, IC Markets has the edge, but either broker offers enough beginner‑friendly content to help you learn the basics, join live sessions, and progress toward more advanced trading concepts.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 63 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that IC Markets is better than ActivTrades. IC Markets finished with an overall rank of #20, while ActivTrades finished with an overall rank of #33.
IC Markets’ competitive pricing and scalable execution make it an excellent option for algorithmic traders. Though it supports an impressive range of third-party tools and plugins, IC Markets’ research and education offerings are not as impressive as those offered by industry leaders.
| Feature |
IC Markets
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ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 84 | 81 |
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IC Markets vs ActivTrades: neither broker offers buying actual (delivered) cryptocurrency, but both provide cryptocurrency CFDs for trading price movements.
Comparing deposit and withdrawal options, IC Markets and ActivTrades both support Skrill and bank wire transfers and do not offer ACH or SEPA transfers, but only IC Markets supports PayPal, while Visa/Mastercard availability is not specified for either broker.
Please note:
We review each broker’s overall global offering – a “Yes” checkmark in our Compare Tool does not guarantee the availability of any specific features in your country of residence. To verify the availability of any features within your country of residence, please contact the broker directly.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | IC Markets | ActivTrades | |
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| Trust Score | 84 | 81 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IC Markets Review | ActivTrades Review |
| Broker Screenshots | IC Markets | ActivTrades | |
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| Regulation | IC Markets | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 84 | 81 | |
| Year Founded | 2007 | 2001 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | ||
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 2 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 3 | 2 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | IC Markets | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | No | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | No | ||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | No | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | IC Markets | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | ||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | No | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | No | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No |
| Investments | IC Markets | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 3583 | 1267 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 61 | 49 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Disclaimers | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). |
| Cost | IC Markets | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.62 | 0.98 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.62 | N/A | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | Yes | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | IC Markets | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $200 | $0 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | IC Markets | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | No | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes | |
| cTrader | Yes | No |
| Trading Tools | IC Markets | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 30 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | IC Markets | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | No | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | IC Markets | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | IC Markets | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | IC Markets | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | IC Markets Review | ActivTrades Review |
| Overall | IC Markets | ActivTrades | |
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| Trust Score | 84 | 81 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IC Markets Review | ActivTrades Review |
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