Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of IC Markets vs ACY Securities, 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.
IC Markets, established in 2007, and ACY Securities, founded in 2011, are both private online brokerage firms not publicly traded nor functioning as banks. A critical aspect for potential traders is the regulatory standing of these brokers. IC Markets holds two Tier-1 licenses, which are highly trusted according to ForexBrokers.com, whereas ACY Securities maintains one such license. The Trust Score further differentiates the two: IC Markets achieves a Trust Score of 84, indicating it is considered trusted, while ACY Securities has a Trust Score of 75, placing it within the average risk category according to ForexBrokers.com ratings.
Neither IC Markets nor ACY Securities holds any Tier-2 licenses, which are also recognized for being trusted by ForexBrokers.com. Despite both brokers being well-established players in the online trading arena, prospective clients might favor IC Markets due to its higher Trust Score and a greater number of high-trust licenses. When selecting an online broker, these regulatory insights can be instrumental for making an informed decision.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
ACY Securities
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2007 | 2011 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 3 | 1 |
In terms of commissions and fees, IC Markets stands out as a top choice for traders who prioritize low trading costs. The broker offers three account types, each catering to different trading preferences. Notably, the Raw Spread account using MetaTrader 4 or 5 comes with a commission of $3.5 per side for every 100,000 units traded, while the cTrader Raw Spread account is slightly cheaper at $3.0 per side. IC Markets also excels with its average spread on the EUR/USD, which is as low as 0.02 pips. When combined with the commission, the all-in cost is highly competitive, reaching 0.62 pips for the cTrader account and 0.72 pips for the MetaTrader accounts. Furthermore, the commission-free Standard account offers a spread of 0.62 pips without any additional charges. With these offerings, IC Markets earned a 5-star rating and is ranked fifth out of 63 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com.
Conversely, ACY Securities provides a range of accounts designed for various types of traders. The Standard account is commission-free with a spread averaging 1.2 pips for the EUR/USD, although it does have higher spreads compared to the industry average. For those seeking tighter spreads, the ProZero and Bespoke accounts are commission-based and offer more competitive costs. The ProZero account requires a deposit of $200 with a commission of $6 per round turn, while the Bespoke account starts at $10,000, reducing the commission to $5 per round turn. Notably, Australian residents benefit from a reduced ProZero account commission of $3 per round turn, achieving effective spreads around 0.55 pips. ACY Securities receives a commendable 4.5 stars and ranks 21st in the Commissions and Fees category.
Overall, both IC Markets and ACY Securities provide compelling options for traders focused on minimizing costs, though IC Markets leads slightly in both ratings and rankings. IC Markets’ varied account offerings and competitive fees make it a strong contender for traders worldwide, while ACY Securities remains a solid choice, especially appealing to traders within Australia who benefit from reduced fees. Both brokers enable traders to approach the forex market with cost-efficient options suitable for varying levels of trading activity.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
ACY Securities
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $200 | $50 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.62 | 1.2 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.62 | 0.85 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | Yes |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
IC Markets and ACY Securities both offer forex trading as CFDs or spot contracts, catering to those interested in currency trading. IC Markets provides a notably broad selection with 3,583 tradeable symbols, whereas ACY Securities offers 2,200, ensuring a wide range of choices for investors at both platforms. While ACY Securities offers a few more forex pairs (66 compared to IC Markets' 61), IC Markets impressively surpasses in the variety of symbols available. Neither broker allows the trading of U.S. exchange-traded securities but IC Markets stands out by offering exchange-traded securities from international exchanges, such as London, where investors can purchase shares like Vodafone.
Both brokers support copy trading and offer cryptocurrency derivatives, though not actual cryptocurrencies. Customer reviews have rated IC Markets slightly higher than ACY Securities in terms of Range of Investments, with IC Markets receiving 4.5 stars against ACY Securities' 4 stars. In a comparison by ForexBrokers.com, IC Markets ranks at #25, just ahead of ACY Securities at #30 among 63 brokers. For investors focused on a diverse range of investments, IC Markets maintains a slight edge in this competitive space.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
ACY Securities
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 3583 | 2200 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 61 | 66 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | No | No |
| Cryptocurrency (Derivative) | 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 ACY Securities both provide traders with a comprehensive suite of platforms and tools. While both brokers offer simulated trading with free virtual demo accounts, they differ in their proprietary offerings. ACY Securities provides a proprietary trading platform, whereas IC Markets does not. Both brokers offer MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, catering to traders who prefer these popular platforms. They also support trading via Windows-based desktop downloads and web browsers, ensuring accessibility across devices. However, only IC Markets integrates ZuluTrade, providing additional options for those interested in copy trading.
In terms of charting tools, both IC Markets and ACY Securities come equipped with 15 drawing tools, enabling detailed technical analysis. Traders can execute trades directly from stock charts on either platform, and each broker offers seven columns for creating detailed watch lists. Both brokers achieved a commendable four-star rating for their trading platforms and tools, according to ForexBrokers.com. Ranking-wise, IC Markets stands out at #16, while ACY Securities holds the #41 position among 63 brokers, indicating variations in trader preference and overall satisfaction with their offerings.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
ACY Securities
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | No | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | Yes | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 15 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Both IC Markets and ACY Securities provide convenient and versatile mobile trading apps available on both iPhone and Android devices, catering to the needs of traders on the go. Each platform offers stock and forex price alerts and the capability to draw trendlines on charts, essential tools for technical analysis. Additionally, they both allow users to view multiple time frames, such as daily, weekly, or intraday, and automatically save chart drawings. While they do not offer syncing features for watchlists between mobile apps and online accounts, both apps allow traders to create watchlists with real-time quotes, enhancing their trading experiences.
When it comes to technical analysis within the apps, IC Markets and ACY Securities offer an equal number of 30 technical studies, providing ample resources for analyzing market trends. Both companies earn 4 out of 5-star ratings for their mobile trading platforms, indicating a high level of user satisfaction. However, IC Markets has a slight edge, ranked #22 among 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com for mobile trading apps, compared to ACY Securities' ranking at #40. This suggests IC Markets may have a marginal advantage in user preference but both platforms offer solid mobile trading experiences.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
ACY Securities
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When it comes to market research, IC Markets and ACY Securities both provide daily market commentary and maintain an economic calendar to keep traders informed of upcoming global news events. However, IC Markets stands out with its exclusive features, offering forex news from reputable sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, which is not available through ACY Securities. Additionally, IC Markets provides more comprehensive technical analysis tools through Autochartist and Trading Central, along with a sentiment-based trading tool to gauge market positions, giving traders a wider array of resources to help inform their strategic decisions.
Despite both brokers offering valuable market insights, these additional tools contribute to IC Markets receiving a slightly higher research rating than ACY Securities. IC Markets is rated 4 stars, ranking 23rd out of 63 brokers, while ACY Securities trails closely with a 3.5-star rating, positioned at 44th. This makes IC Markets an appealing choice for traders seeking in-depth research resources to enhance their trading experience. Meanwhile, ACY Securities provides a more simplified package, which may be preferable for those who do not require as many features.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
ACY Securities
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | No |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
IC Markets and ACY Securities both offer substantial educational resources tailored for those entering the world of forex and CFDs trading. Each provides more than 10 educational pieces that include articles, videos, and archived webinars. Additionally, both platforms conduct online educational client webinars at least once a month, complemented by easy access to archives of past webinars, facilitating a comprehensive learning experience. For video content, each broker ensures at least 10 beginner-friendly videos that cover essential trading topics. However, when it comes to more advanced educational videos, IC Markets pulls ahead, offering over 10 advanced videos specifically designed for seasoned traders, whereas ACY Securities falls short in this area.
IC Markets further enhances its educational offerings with an investor dictionary containing definitions for more than 50 investing terms, a feature ACY Securities does not offer. These educational advantages contribute to IC Markets receiving a higher education rating of 4 stars compared to ACY Securities' 3.5 stars. As ranked by ForexBrokers.com, IC Markets holds the 16th position among 63 brokers in the Education category, while ACY Securities is positioned at 43rd. This comparative analysis indicates that while both platforms provide solid foundational resources for beginners, IC Markets offers a more comprehensive suite of educational tools for both novice and advanced traders.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
ACY Securities
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | No |
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 ACY Securities. IC Markets finished with an overall rank of #20, while ACY Securities finished with an overall rank of #41.
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
|
ACY Securities
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 84 | 75 |
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Both IC Markets and ACY Securities do not provide the ability to purchase actual delivered cryptocurrency, but they do offer the option to trade cryptocurrency derivatives.
IC Markets and ACY Securities both support Skrill, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wires for deposits and withdrawals, but IC Markets allows PayPal and lacks ACH or SEPA transfers, while ACY Securities supports ACH and SEPA but does not accept PayPal.
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 | ACY Securities | |
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| Trust Score | 84 | 75 | |
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| Review | IC Markets Review | ACY Securities Review |
| Broker Screenshots | IC Markets | ACY Securities | |
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| Regulation | IC Markets | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 84 | 75 | |
| Year Founded | 2007 | 2011 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 3 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | IC Markets | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| 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 | No | |
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | No | No | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | No | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | IC Markets | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | No | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | No | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | IC Markets | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 3583 | 2200 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 61 | 66 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | No | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (Derivative) | 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 | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.62 | 1.2 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.62 | 0.85 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | No |
| Funding | IC Markets | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $200 | $50 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | IC Markets | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | No | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes | |
| cTrader | Yes | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | Yes | No |
| Trading Tools | IC Markets | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 15 | 15 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | IC Markets | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | No |
| Research | IC Markets | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | IC Markets | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | IC Markets | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/JPY | Yes | Yes | |
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CAD | Yes | Yes | |
| NZD/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| AUD/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| Review | IC Markets Review | ACY Securities Review |
| Overall | IC Markets | ACY Securities | |
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| Trust Score | 84 | 75 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IC Markets Review | ACY Securities Review |
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