Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of AvaTrade vs IC Markets, 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.
When comparing AvaTrade and IC Markets, both brokers were founded close together in the mid-2000s, with AvaTrade launching in 2006 and IC Markets in 2007. Neither company is publicly traded or operates as a bank. From a trust and regulation point of view, AvaTrade has the edge: it holds 4 Tier-1 licenses and 4 Tier-2 licenses, while IC Markets holds 2 Tier-1 licenses and no Tier-2 licenses.
That regulatory difference is reflected in their ForexBrokers.com Trust Scores. AvaTrade scores 96 out of 99, placing it in the highly trusted range, while IC Markets scores 83 out of 99, which still falls in the trusted range but below AvaTrade. For traders comparing online brokers, AvaTrade may offer greater peace of mind on regulation, while IC Markets remains a well-regarded option with a solid trust rating.
| Feature |
AvaTrade
|
IC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2006 | 2007 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 4 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 3 |
AvaTrade offers pricing that is close to the industry average, with spreads of about 0.9 pips as of June 2024. That makes it a solid choice for many everyday traders, though its spreads are a little higher than some low-cost rivals such as CMC Markets and Tickmill. For professional traders who qualify, AvaTrade’s Professional account is more competitive, with spreads around 0.6 pips, which puts it closer to brokers like FP Markets. In ForexBrokers.com’s Commissions & Fees category, AvaTrade is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranked #14 out of 36 brokers.
IC Markets is generally the stronger pick for low trading costs. Its commission-based Raw Spread and cTrader Raw Spread accounts are built for tight pricing, and its effective costs can be very low, especially for active forex traders. IC Markets also offers a commission-free Standard account, giving traders a simpler spread-only option. In the Commissions & Fees category, IC Markets earned 5 out of 5 stars and ranked #4 out of 36 brokers.
Overall, AvaTrade is a reasonable middle-ground broker on fees, while IC Markets stands out as the lower-cost option for traders who want tighter spreads and are willing to use commission-based accounts. If keeping trading costs down is a top priority, IC Markets has the edge.
| Feature |
AvaTrade
|
IC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | $200 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Spread-only account | 0.93 | 0.8 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | 0.61 | 0.72 |
| Non-wire bank transfer (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
AvaTrade and IC Markets both give traders access to forex as CFDs or spot contracts, along with copy trading and cryptocurrency CFDs. Neither broker offers exchange-traded shares on U.S. or international exchanges, and neither lets clients buy actual, delivered cryptocurrency. For everyday traders looking for forex and CFD markets, both platforms cover the basics well.
Where they differ most is in choice. AvaTrade offers 1,260 tradeable symbols and 53 forex pairs, while IC Markets provides a much wider selection with 7,435 tradeable symbols and 61 forex pairs. That larger menu helps explain why IC Markets is rated higher for range of investments, with 4.5 out of 5 stars and a ForexBrokers.com ranking of #22, compared with AvaTrade’s 4 stars and #27 ranking.
| Feature |
AvaTrade
|
IC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1260 | 7435 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 53 | 61 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | No |
| 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.
AvaTrade and IC Markets both make it easy for traders to get started with free demo accounts, and each broker supports popular choices like MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, desktop downloads, web trading, and copy trading. Both also let users place trades directly from charts, which can be helpful for active traders who want a quicker workflow. In short, the two platforms cover the main tools most traders look for, whether they prefer trading on a browser, a computer, or by following other traders.
The biggest difference is that AvaTrade also offers its own in-house platform, while IC Markets does not. That extra option may appeal to beginners who want a simpler experience or to traders who like having more than one platform choice. In independent ratings, AvaTrade scores 4.5 out of 5 for Trading Platforms and Tools and ranks #13 out of 36 brokers, while IC Markets scores 4 out of 5 and ranks #17, giving AvaTrade a slight edge overall in this category.
| Feature |
AvaTrade
|
IC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | No |
| 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) | 80 | 32 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
AvaTrade and IC Markets both offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, and each one includes stock or forex price alerts plus the ability to draw trendlines on charts. For traders who want more charting tools on the go, AvaTrade has the edge with 73 technical studies in its app, compared with 32 at IC Markets. AvaTrade also earns a higher mobile trading apps rating from ForexBrokers.com, with 4.5 out of 5 stars and a #13 ranking out of 36 brokers, while IC Markets scores 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #22.
One key difference is watchlist syncing: AvaTrade lets mobile watchlists stay synced with the client’s online account, so changes update across devices, while IC Markets does not. IC Markets does have one useful advantage, though, since it auto-saves chart drawings in the mobile app, which AvaTrade does not. Overall, AvaTrade looks stronger for mobile app features and charting depth, while IC Markets still covers the basics well for traders who want a simple app experience.
| Feature |
AvaTrade
|
IC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 73 | 32 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | No | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When comparing AvaTrade and IC Markets for market research, both brokers give traders access to useful tools and news. Each offers forex news from major providers, Trading Central research, sentiment data showing long and short positioning, and an economic calendar with upcoming global events. Both are also rated 4 out of 5 stars for research by ForexBrokers.com.
The main differences are in daily commentary and extra research coverage. IC Markets offers daily market commentary, while AvaTrade does not, and IC Markets also includes TipRanks research, which AvaTrade lacks. Neither broker offers Autochartist or Acuity Trading tools. On ForexBrokers.com’s research ranking, IC Markets places higher at #21 out of 36 brokers, compared with AvaTrade at #30 out of 36.
| Feature |
AvaTrade
|
IC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | No | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central | Yes | Yes |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | Yes |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When it comes to beginner-friendly learning, both AvaTrade and IC Markets give new traders plenty of ways to get started. Each broker offers forex and CFDs education with at least 10 learning pieces, plus online educational webinars at least once a month. They also each provide at least 10 beginner videos and at least 10 advanced videos, so traders can keep learning as their skills grow.
That said, AvaTrade stands out a bit more for education overall. Both brokers are rated 4 out of 5 stars for Education, but AvaTrade is ranked #2 out of 36 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, while IC Markets is ranked #16. For beginners looking for a broker with stronger educational support, AvaTrade has the edge, though IC Markets still offers a solid library of helpful learning materials.
| Feature |
AvaTrade
|
IC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 AvaTrade is better than IC Markets. AvaTrade finished with an overall rank of #15, while IC Markets finished with an overall rank of #21.
AvaTrade is a trusted global brand best known for offering an extensive selection of trading platforms for forex and CFD traders, along with strong educational resources and copy trading support.
| Feature |
AvaTrade
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IC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 96 | 83 |
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AvaTrade vs IC Markets: both brokers support buying cryptocurrency CFDs, but neither offers the ability to buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrency.
AvaTrade vs IC Markets: both brokers do not offer ACH or SEPA transfers, both support PayPal, Skrill, and bank wire deposits and withdrawals, and Visa/Mastercard availability is not specified.
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 | AvaTrade | IC Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 96 | 83 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | AvaTrade Review | IC Markets Review |
| Broker Screenshots | AvaTrade | IC Markets | |
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| Regulation | AvaTrade | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 96 | 83 | |
| Year Founded | 2006 | 2007 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 2 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 4 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 1 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 3 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | AvaTrade | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (FSA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | No | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | |||
| 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 | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | AvaTrade | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or CMA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | AvaTrade | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1260 | 7435 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 53 | 61 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | No | |
| 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 | AvaTrade | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Spread-only account | 0.93 | 0.8 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | 0.61 | 0.72 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Agency | No | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | AvaTrade | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | $200 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | AvaTrade | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | No | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | Yes |
| Trading Tools | AvaTrade | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 80 | 32 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | AvaTrade | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 73 | 32 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | AvaTrade | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | No | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central | Yes | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | Yes | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | AvaTrade | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | AvaTrade | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| Review | AvaTrade Review | IC Markets Review |
| Overall | AvaTrade | IC Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 96 | 83 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | AvaTrade Review | IC Markets Review |
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