Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of AvaTrade vs IFC 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.
AvaTrade and IFC Markets, both founded in 2006, offer online trading platforms but differ significantly in regulatory standing. AvaTrade holds a notable advantage with four Tier-1 licenses, which ForexBrokers.com considers highly trusted, alongside three Tier-2 licenses. This contributes to AvaTrade's impressive Trust Score of 94 out of 99, indicating it's highly trusted in the industry. In contrast, IFC Markets does not possess any Tier-1 licenses and holds only one Tier-2 license, resulting in a Trust Score of 73. This places IFC Markets in the average risk category for traders.
Neither AvaTrade nor IFC Markets is publicly traded or operates as a bank, which is common among many online brokers. However, AvaTrade's superior regulatory approvals and higher Trust Score could offer greater assurance to traders seeking a secure trading partner. While both platforms enable access to a wide range of financial markets, AvaTrade's regulatory credentials and trust ratings might make it a preferred choice for those prioritizing safety and reliability.
| Feature |
AvaTrade
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2006 | 2006 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 0 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 3 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
When it comes to commissions and fees, AvaTrade offers a competitive edge with spreads that sit close to the industry average, currently at 0.9 pips as of June 2024. This positions AvaTrade slightly higher than entry-level accounts from some other brokers like CMC Markets and Tickmill. Professional traders, however, can access an even better rate of 0.6 pips on AvaTrade’s Professional account, making it a compelling option that holds its own against brokers like FP Markets. AvaTrade is highly regarded, earning a 4.5-star rating for its fee structure and ranking 12th out of 63 brokers in the Commissions and Fees category by ForexBrokers.com.
In comparison, IFC Markets provides an average spread of 1.44 for EUR/USD, which is somewhat above the industry average of 1.08. While this makes IFC Markets slightly less competitive on typical accounts, their new ECN account offers more attractive conditions for active traders. This account delivers effective spreads of 1.1 pips, which becomes possible after factoring in the 0.005% commission charged on each side of a trade. IFC Markets also stands out with no inactivity fees and offers active trader discounts, which adds financial benefits for consistent traders. Despite these advantages, IFC Markets is rated 4 stars and ranked 39th out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com.
| Feature |
AvaTrade
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | $1 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.93 | 1.44 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.61 | 1.1 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
When comparing AvaTrade and IFC Markets in terms of available investment options, AvaTrade distinguishes itself with a more extensive range of tradeable symbols, offering 1260 compared to IFC Markets' 630. Both brokers provide forex trading through CFDs or spot contracts, with AvaTrade offering slightly more forex pairs, totaling 53 against IFC Markets' 49. Unfortunately, neither platform allows clients to purchase actual exchange-traded securities on U.S. exchanges, such as Apple shares, nor do they offer the ability to buy actual cryptocurrencies. However, they both provide options for cryptocurrency derivatives, catering to traders seeking alternative digital asset investments. AvaTrade also excels in offering copy trading, a feature mirrored by IFC Markets, providing investors with opportunities to mirror successful trades.
Although both brokers share several similarities, AvaTrade holds a slight edge in the market for range of investments. This is reflected in their rankings by ForexBrokers.com, with AvaTrade sitting at position #32, while IFC Markets is placed at #43. AvaTrade garners a four-star rating, while IFC Markets receives a slightly lower rating of 3.5 stars. Additionally, while AvaTrade lacks support for international exchange-traded securities, IFC Markets provides access to these markets, allowing clients, for example, to purchase shares of international companies like Vodafone. Overall, both platforms have unique advantages that cater to different types of investors, with AvaTrade providing a broader array of trading instruments and IFC Markets offering international exchange-traded options.
| Feature |
AvaTrade
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1260 | 630 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 53 | 49 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | Yes |
| 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). |
Dive deeper: Best Copy Trading Platforms.
When comparing the trading platforms and tools of AvaTrade and IFC Markets, both brokers offer features appealing to various trading styles. AvaTrade and IFC Markets provide simulated trading through free virtual demo accounts, allowing beginners and experienced traders to practice strategies without financial risk. They also each offer proprietary platforms alongside popular ones like MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, ensuring users have access to multiple trading options. Both brokers provide platforms accessible via Windows desktop downloads and web browsers, enhancing client flexibility. Additionally, AvaTrade and IFC Markets support copy trading, enabling traders to replicate the strategies of successful traders.
However, AvaTrade offers additional tools like DupliTrade and ZuluTrade, which are not available with IFC Markets. When it comes to charting, AvaTrade provides 13 drawing tools, slightly fewer than IFC Markets' 15. Both offer the capability to trade directly from stock charts. In the watch list category, both brokers demonstrate parity with seven columns for customizing fields. Despite these similarities, AvaTrade edges out IFC Markets with a 4.5-star rating for trading platforms and tools versus IFC Markets' 4-star rating. This higher rating is reflected in AvaTrade's ranking as #13 out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, compared to IFC Markets, which holds the #36 position.
| Feature |
AvaTrade
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | 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 | Yes | No |
| ZuluTrade | Yes | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 80 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 13 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Both AvaTrade and IFC Markets provide mobile apps for iPhone and Android users, catering to traders who need access to features like price alerts and watchlist symbol syncing. Although both platforms allow users to draw trendlines and view multiple time frames on stock or forex charts, IFC Markets stands out with its ability to auto-save chart drawings—a feature absent in AvaTrade's app. In terms of technical studies, however, AvaTrade takes the lead by offering a diverse range of 73 technical studies, compared to IFC Markets' 30. Both apps support creating watchlists with real-time quotes, ensuring a dynamic trading experience.
AvaTrade holds a slightly higher user rating of 4.5 stars compared to IFC Markets' 4 stars. According to ForexBrokers.com, this translates to AvaTrade securing the 13th spot among 63 brokers for mobile app performance, while IFC Markets ranks at 52nd. If you value comprehensive technical analysis tools and a broader range of study options, AvaTrade might be the better choice. However, IFC Markets' auto-save drawing feature could appeal to traders who frequently mark up their charts. Overall, both apps offer a quality mobile trading experience with unique strengths catering to different trading needs.
| Feature |
AvaTrade
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 73 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | No | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When comparing the market research offerings of online brokers AvaTrade and IFC Markets, several differences become apparent. AvaTrade provides forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, offering traders high-quality insights. While IFC Markets does not offer this type of news, it compensates with daily market commentary to keep traders informed. Another key distinction is that AvaTrade features technical analysis tools from Trading Central, which IFC Markets lacks. Both brokers offer sentiment-based trading tools and maintain economic calendars showcasing important global events. However, neither broker provides tools from Autochartist, TipRanks, or Acuity Trading.
Considering these differences, AvaTrade receives a slightly higher research rating of 4 stars compared to IFC Markets' 3.5 stars. This difference in rating echoes their rankings by ForexBrokers.com, where AvaTrade is positioned at 34th, surpassing IFC Markets at 40th place. These ratings reflect the wider range of advanced research tools offered by AvaTrade, making it a strong choice for traders seeking comprehensive market insights. Meanwhile, IFC Markets stands firm with its daily commentary and reliable research basics, appealing to traders who prioritize staying abreast of daily market shifts.
| Feature |
AvaTrade
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | No | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | No |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
AvaTrade and IFC Markets both provide a comprehensive range of educational resources aimed at helping beginners delve into the world of forex and CFDs trading. They each offer a minimum of ten educational pieces such as articles and videos focused on forex or CFDs, allowing newcomers to gain foundational knowledge. Additionally, both platforms provide over ten beginner videos specifically crafted to ease newcomers into trading topics. AvaTrade, however, stands out with its offering of monthly online educational webinars and a searchable archive of recorded sessions, a feature not available with IFC Markets. This can be particularly beneficial for those looking for interactive learning and the opportunity to revisit past sessions at their convenience.
For more advanced learners, both AvaTrade and IFC Markets supply a range of over ten advanced educational videos designed to further enhance trading skills. An investor dictionary provided by each platform includes more than 50 investing terms to assist users in understanding essential concepts. Although both brokers excel in their educational offerings, AvaTrade consistently receives higher ratings, with a four-star education rating compared to IFC Markets' 3.5 stars. In rankings, AvaTrade holds a prestigious #2 position among 63 brokers for education, whereas IFC Markets is positioned at #30, indicating a stronger overall educational package and user experience for AvaTrade.
| Feature |
AvaTrade
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | 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 IFC Markets. AvaTrade finished with an overall rank of #13, while IFC Markets finished with an overall rank of #45.
AvaTrade is a trusted global brand best known for offering an extensive selection of trading platforms for forex and CFD traders, as well as exceptional educational content that helped it nab Best in Class honors for Beginners in the ForexBrokers.com 2025 Annual Awards.
| Feature |
AvaTrade
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
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| Trust Score | 94 | 73 |
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Both AvaTrade and IFC Markets do not allow the purchase of actual (delivered) cryptocurrency but do offer the option to trade cryptocurrency derivatives.
When comparing online brokers AvaTrade and IFC Markets, AvaTrade stands out by offering PayPal and Skrill as options for depositing or withdrawing account funds, in addition to Visa, Mastercard, and bank wires, while IFC Markets, also allowing for Visa, Mastercard, and bank wires, does not provide the option to use PayPal or Skrill; neither broker supports ACH or SEPA transfers.
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 | IFC Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 94 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | AvaTrade Review |
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| Regulation | AvaTrade | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 94 | 73 | |
| Year Founded | 2006 | 2006 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 0 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 3 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 1 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | AvaTrade | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | Yes | 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) | AvaTrade | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | AvaTrade | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1260 | 630 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 53 | 49 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | Yes | |
| 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). |
| Cost | AvaTrade | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.93 | 1.44 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.61 | 1.1 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | AvaTrade | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | $1 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | AvaTrade | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | 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 | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | Yes | No | |
| ZuluTrade | Yes | No |
| Trading Tools | AvaTrade | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 80 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 13 | 15 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | AvaTrade | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 73 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | AvaTrade | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | No | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | AvaTrade | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | AvaTrade | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | AvaTrade Review |
| Overall | AvaTrade | IFC Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 94 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | AvaTrade Review |
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