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AvaTrade vs IFC Markets 2026

ForexBrokers.com

Written by ForexBrokers.com

February 05, 2025
  Fact Checked

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.

AvaTrade
4.5/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: $100
  • Trust Score: 96
  • Tradeable Symbols (Total): 1260
IFC Markets
4/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: $1
  • Trust Score: 73
  • Tradeable Symbols (Total): 630

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.

Regulation

AvaTrade and IFC Markets were both founded in 2006, and neither is publicly traded or operates as a bank. Where they differ most is in regulation and trust ratings: AvaTrade holds 4 Tier-1 licenses and 4 Tier-2 licenses, giving it a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 96 out of 99, which puts it in the highly trusted range. IFC Markets has 1 Tier-1 license and no Tier-2 licenses, with a Trust Score of 73 out of 99, which falls into the average-risk category.

For traders comparing online brokers, the regulatory setup gives AvaTrade a clear edge on safety and oversight. IFC Markets is still a regulated broker, but its lower number of top-tier licenses and weaker Trust Score may matter more to cautious investors who want a higher level of protection.

Feature AvaTrade logoAvaTrade
IFC Markets logoIFC Markets
Year Founded info 2006 2006
Publicly Traded (Listed) info No No
Bank info No No
Tier-1 Licenses info 4 1
Tier-2 Licenses info 4 0
Tier-3 Licenses info 1 0
Tier-4 Licenses info 1 5

Fees

AvaTrade comes out ahead of IFC Markets on commissions and fees overall. AvaTrade is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #14 out of 36 brokers for this category at ForexBrokers.com. Its standard spreads are close to the industry average, with EUR/USD pricing at about 0.9 pips as of June 2024. That is a little higher than some low-cost rivals, but AvaTrade’s Professional account can be more competitive at 0.6 pips for traders who qualify.

IFC Markets is a bit less competitive on pricing, with a 4 out of 5 stars rating and a #32 out of 36 ranking for commissions and fees. Its average EUR/USD spread is 1.44 pips, which is above the industry average of 1.08 and makes it slightly more expensive for typical trades. For active traders, IFC Markets may be more appealing thanks to its ECN account, where effective spreads are about 1.1 pips after commission, plus the broker does not charge inactivity fees and offers active trader discounts.

In simple terms, AvaTrade is the better pick if you want lower overall trading costs and stronger value in this category, while IFC Markets may suit traders who can benefit from its ECN pricing or fee perks like no inactivity charge. Both brokers have their advantages, but AvaTrade is the clearer winner for commissions and fees based on rating, ranking, and average spread.

Feature AvaTrade logoAvaTrade
IFC Markets logoIFC Markets
Minimum Deposit info $100 $1
Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account info 0.93 info 1.44 info
All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active info 0.61 info 1.1 info
Non-wire bank transfer info No No
PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes No
Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes No
Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes Yes

Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.

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Range of investments

AvaTrade offers a wider range of investments than IFC Markets overall. AvaTrade provides 1,260 tradeable symbols and 53 forex pairs, compared with IFC Markets’ 630 symbols and 49 forex pairs. Both brokers let clients trade forex as CFDs or spot contracts, and both support copy trading as well as cryptocurrency CFDs. Neither broker lets clients buy actual delivered cryptocurrency or exchange-traded U.S. shares.

Where IFC Markets stands out is that it also offers access to exchange-traded securities on international exchanges, such as shares listed outside the U.S., while AvaTrade does not. In ratings for range of investments, AvaTrade scores 4 out of 5 stars and ranks 26th out of 36 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while IFC Markets scores 3.5 stars and ranks 31st, making AvaTrade the broader choice for most traders looking for more market options.

Feature AvaTrade logoAvaTrade
IFC Markets logoIFC Markets
Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) info Yes Yes
Tradeable Symbols (Total) info 1260 630
Forex Pairs (Total) info 53 49
U.S. Stocks (Shares) info No No
Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) info No Yes
Copy Trading info Yes Yes
Cryptocurrency (Underlying) info No No
Cryptocurrency (CFDs) info 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.

Trading platforms and tools

AvaTrade and IFC Markets both give traders a strong set of platform choices, including a free demo account, a proprietary platform, Windows desktop software, web-based trading, copy trading, and support for both MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5. Each broker also lets users trade directly from charts, making it easier to act on market moves without switching screens. For traders who want flexibility across devices and styles, both brokers cover the main tools most people look for.

Where they differ is in third-party ratings and rankings. AvaTrade is rated 4.5 out of 5 for Trading Platforms and Tools and places #13 out of 36 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while IFC Markets is rated 4 out of 5 and ranks #29 out of 36. Based on these scores, AvaTrade has the edge overall, but both brokers offer a similar range of platform features for everyday trading.

Feature AvaTrade logoAvaTrade
IFC Markets logoIFC Markets
Virtual Trading (Demo) info Yes Yes
Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform info Yes Yes
Desktop Platform (Windows) info Yes Yes
Web Platform info Yes Yes
Copy Trading info Yes Yes
MetaTrader 4 (MT4) info Yes Yes
MetaTrader 5 (MT5) info Yes Yes
Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) info 80 30
Charting - Trade From Chart info Yes Yes

Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.

Forex trading apps

Both AvaTrade and IFC Markets offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, along with price alerts and watchlist syncing between the app and online account. Each app also lets users draw trendlines on charts, making it easy to track market moves on the go. In this area, the two brokers share many of the same basic mobile features, so either one can meet the needs of traders looking for simple mobile access.

Where AvaTrade stands out is in charting depth and overall mobile app quality. Its app includes 73 technical studies compared with 30 at IFC Markets, and ForexBrokers.com gives AvaTrade a higher mobile trading apps rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars, versus 4 stars for IFC Markets. AvaTrade is also ranked higher overall in this category, coming in at #13 out of 36 brokers, while IFC Markets is ranked #34. One edge for IFC Markets is that it automatically saves chart drawings in the mobile app, a feature AvaTrade does not offer.

Feature AvaTrade logoAvaTrade
IFC Markets logoIFC Markets
Android App info Yes Yes
Apple iOS App info Yes Yes
Mobile Price Alerts info Yes Yes
Mobile Watchlists - Syncing info Yes Yes
Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies info 73 30
Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines info Yes Yes
Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave info No Yes

Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.

Market research

AvaTrade and IFC Markets both give traders useful market research tools, but AvaTrade has the edge overall. AvaTrade provides forex news from trusted sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones, plus Trading Central research, a sentiment tool, and an economic calendar. It does not offer daily market commentary or Autochartist, but its research offering is rated 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #28 out of 36 brokers for Research.

IFC Markets also includes a sentiment tool and an economic calendar, and it stands out by offering daily market commentary. However, it does not include top-tier forex news, Trading Central, Autochartist, TipRanks, or Acuity Trading tools. Its research score is 3.5 out of 5 stars, and it ranks #30 out of 36, placing it slightly behind AvaTrade in this category.

Feature AvaTrade logoAvaTrade
IFC Markets logoIFC Markets
Daily Market Commentary (Articles) info No Yes
Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) info Yes No
Autochartist info No No
Trading Central info Yes No
Client sentiment data info Yes Yes
TipRanks info No No
Acuity Trading info No No
Economic Calendar info Yes Yes

Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.

Beginners and education

For beginners looking for trading education, AvaTrade has a clear edge over IFC Markets. AvaTrade offers forex and CFDs learning materials, monthly online webinars, and at least 10 beginner videos plus 10 advanced videos, giving new traders more ways to learn at their own pace. This stronger educational setup is reflected in its 4-star Education rating and its #2 ranking out of 36 brokers by ForexBrokers.com.

IFC Markets also provides forex and CFDs education, along with at least 10 beginner videos and 10 advanced videos, so it does give traders useful learning content. However, it does not offer monthly educational webinars, which may matter to beginners who prefer live guidance and regular Q&A sessions. Its Education score is 3.5 stars, and it ranks #25 out of 36 brokers, putting it behind AvaTrade for overall beginner learning support.

Feature AvaTrade logoAvaTrade
IFC Markets logoIFC Markets
Webinars info Yes No
Videos - Beginner Trading Videos info Yes Yes
Videos - Advanced Trading Videos info Yes Yes

Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.

Winner

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 #15, while IFC Markets finished with an overall rank of #33.

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 logoAvaTrade
IFC Markets logoIFC Markets
Overall Rating info 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Trust Score info 96 73
Range of Investments 4/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Trading Fees 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Trading Platforms 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Research 4/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Mobile Trading 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Education 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars

FAQs

Can you trade cryptocurrency with AvaTrade or IFC Markets?

In the AvaTrade vs IFC Markets comparison, both brokers do not offer buying actual (delivered) cryptocurrencies but do provide trading in cryptocurrency CFDs.

What funding options does each broker offer?

AvaTrade vs IFC Markets: neither broker offers ACH or SEPA transfers, both support bank wires for deposits and withdrawals, only AvaTrade provides PayPal and Skrill (IFC Markets does not), and Visa/Mastercard availability is not specified for either.

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Overall Rating AvaTrade IFC Markets
Overall Rating info 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Trading Fees 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Range of Investments 4/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Trading Platforms 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Mobile Trading 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Research 4/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Education 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Trust Score info 96 73
Winner check_circle
Review AvaTrade Review
Broker Screenshots AvaTrade IFC Markets
Broker Gallery (click to expand) info
AvaTradeGo mobile app chart view AvaTrade web trader platform chart layout trading signals AvaTrade research within web platform new headlines AvaTrade Academy educational courses overview.
Regulation AvaTrade IFC Markets
Trust Score info 96 73
Year Founded info 2006 2006
Publicly Traded (Listed) info No No
Bank info No No
Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). info Yes info
Tier-1 Licenses info 4 1
Tier-2 Licenses info 4 0
Tier-3 Licenses info 1 0
Tier-4 Licenses info 1 5
Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) AvaTrade IFC Markets
Australia (ASIC Authorised) info Yes
Canada (CIRO Authorised) info Yes
Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) info No
Japan (FSA Authorised) info Yes
Singapore (MAS Authorised) info No
Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) info
United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) info No
USA (CFTC Authorized) info No
New Zealand (FMA Authorised) info No
Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). info Yes info
Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) AvaTrade IFC Markets
Kenya (CMA Authorised) info Yes
Israel (ISA Authorised) info Yes
South Africa (FSCA Authorised) info Yes Yes
UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or CMA Authorised) info Yes
India (SEBI Authorised) info No
Jordan (JSC Authorised) info
Investments AvaTrade IFC Markets
Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) info Yes Yes
Tradeable Symbols (Total) info 1260 630
Forex Pairs (Total) info 53 49
U.S. Stocks (Shares) info No No
Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) info No Yes
Copy Trading info Yes Yes
Cryptocurrency (Underlying) info No No
Cryptocurrency (CFDs) info 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 account info 0.93 info 1.44 info
All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active info 0.61 info 1.1 info
Inactivity Fee info Yes No
Order execution: Agency info No Yes
Order execution: Market Maker info Yes Yes
Funding AvaTrade IFC Markets
Minimum Deposit info $100 $1
PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes No
Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes No
Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes Yes
Non-wire bank transfer info No No
Trading Platforms AvaTrade IFC Markets
Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform info Yes Yes
Desktop Platform (Windows) info Yes Yes
Web Platform info Yes Yes
Copy Trading info Yes Yes
MetaTrader 4 (MT4) info Yes Yes
MetaTrader 5 (MT5) info Yes Yes
cTrader info No No
Trading Tools AvaTrade IFC Markets
Virtual Trading (Demo) info Yes Yes
Price Alerts info Yes Yes
Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) info 80 30
Charting - Trade From Chart info Yes Yes
Charts can be saved info Yes Yes
Mobile Trading AvaTrade IFC Markets
Android App info Yes Yes
Apple iOS App info Yes Yes
Mobile Price Alerts info Yes Yes
Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] info
Mobile Watchlists - Syncing info Yes Yes
Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies info 73 30
Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines info Yes Yes
Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave info No Yes
Mobile Research - Economic Calendar info Yes Yes
Research AvaTrade IFC Markets
Daily Market Commentary (Articles) info No Yes
Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) info Yes No
Autochartist info No No
Trading Central info Yes No
TipRanks info No No
Client sentiment data info Yes Yes
Economic Calendar info Yes Yes
Education AvaTrade IFC Markets
Webinars info Yes No
Videos - Beginner Trading Videos info Yes Yes
Videos - Advanced Trading Videos info Yes Yes
Major Forex Pairs AvaTrade IFC Markets
GBP/USD [DELETED] info
USD/JPY [DELETED] info
EUR/USD info Yes Yes
USD/CHF [DELETED] info
USD/CAD [DELETED] info
NZD/USD [DELETED] info
AUD/USD [DELETED] info
Review AvaTrade Review
Overall AvaTrade IFC Markets
Overall Rating info 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Trading Fees 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Range of Investments 4/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Trading Platforms 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Mobile Trading 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Research 4/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Education 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Trust Score info 96 73
Winner check_circle
Review AvaTrade Review
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