Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of IC Markets vs Axi, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
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Founded in 2007, both IC Markets and Axi have established themselves as respected online brokers. Neither of these companies is publicly traded or operates as a bank. When it comes to regulatory trustworthiness, IC Markets and Axi each hold two Tier-1 licenses, which indicates a high level of trust, according to ForexBrokers.com. However, Axi also holds one Tier-2 license, adding another layer of regulated credibility. These licenses help ensure that the brokers operate in a secure, reliable manner for traders.
In terms of overall trust scores from ForexBrokers.com, IC Markets edges out Axi with a score of 84 compared to Axi's 82, placing both brokers within the "trusted" category. While there are slight differences in their regulatory licenses and trust scores, both IC Markets and Axi offer reliable options for those exploring this field. Traders can feel confident knowing that both brokers are held to high standards that prioritize user security and trust.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
Axi
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2007 | 2007 |
| 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 | 1 |
When comparing the commissions and fees of online brokers IC Markets and Axi, IC Markets clearly stands out. With a 5-star rating in the Commissions & Fees category, IC Markets is ranked #5 out of 63 brokers. This result highlights its competitive low trading costs, thanks to its small effective spreads and relatively modest deposit requirements for commission-based accounts. IC Markets offers a variety of account types and platforms, ensuring flexibility to meet the needs of different traders. Its cTrader Raw Spread account, for instance, features a lower commission at $3.0 per side for every 100,000 units compared to its MetaTrader option, which charges $3.5 per side.
In contrast, Axi holds a 4-star rating and a #44 ranking in the same category. The specific spread data for Axi isn't available, which makes direct comparisons more challenging. However, IC Markets offers clear benefits with average spreads on popular currency pairs like EUR/USD starting as low as 0.02 pips and maintaining competitive overall costs after commissions.
IC Markets also offers attractive incentives for active traders, providing discounts when trading over 100 standard lots per month. Moreover, the flexibility across its three account types — commission-free Standard, Raw Spread, and cTrader Raw Spread — caters to a range of trading preferences. With these benefits, IC Markets aligns itself closely with market leaders such as IG and CMC Markets, delivering cost-effectiveness and variety that Axi doesn't fully match.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
Axi
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $200 | $0 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.62 | N/A |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.62 | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | No |
| 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.
Comparing the range of investments at IC Markets vs Axi, IC Markets offers far more total instruments (3,583 vs 175). Axi slightly leads in forex pairs (65 vs 61), and both brokers let you trade forex as CFDs or spot contracts. Each supports copy trading and offers cryptocurrency derivatives, but neither lets you buy actual crypto.
For shares, neither broker provides access to U.S.-listed stocks, but IC Markets does offer exchange-traded shares on international exchanges, whereas Axi does not. Reflecting this breadth, IC Markets earns 4.5/5 stars for Range of Investments and ranks 26th out of 63 brokers, while Axi scores 3.5/5 stars and ranks 57th. Choose IC Markets if you want more markets and international share dealing; pick Axi if you prefer a smaller lineup with slightly more forex pairs.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
Axi
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 3583 | 175 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 61 | 65 |
| 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 Axi both make it easy to test strategies with a free demo account and both rely on third‑party platforms rather than proprietary software. Each offers a Windows desktop download and a web-based platform, supports MetaTrader 4 (MT4), and lets you place trades directly from charts. IC Markets also supports MetaTrader 5 (MT5), while Axi does not. Both brands offer copy trading and ZuluTrade, but not DupliTrade. For charting, each provides 15 drawing tools and 7 watchlist columns; the exact number of built-in technical indicators isn’t specified for either.
In independent testing of trading platforms and tools, IC Markets earned 4 stars and ranks #16 out of 63 brokers, while Axi earned 3.5 stars and is ranked #64 by ForexBrokers.com. If you want MT5 alongside MT4, IC Markets is the pick; if you only need MT4 with similar charting and copy-trading options, both can fit—use their demo accounts to see which workflow you prefer.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
Axi
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | No | No |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | Yes | Yes |
| 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.
IC Markets and Axi both offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, with price alerts and real-time quote watchlists. Their charting tools are evenly matched: each provides 30 technical studies, supports drawing trendlines, and lets you switch among multiple time frames for forex and other markets. One key difference is chart annotations—IC Markets automatically saves your drawings, while Axi does not. Neither broker syncs watchlist symbols between the mobile app and the online account.
In overall mobile experience, IC Markets scores higher with a 4-star rating and a #22 ranking out of 63 brokers for Mobile Trading Apps on ForexBrokers.com. Axi earns 3.5 stars and ranks #60. If keeping your chart edits saved matters to you, IC Markets has the edge; if you just need solid charting, alerts, and watchlists on both iPhone and Android, both brokers deliver the essentials.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
Axi
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | No |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
In the IC Markets vs Axi market research comparison, IC Markets comes out ahead for most traders. IC Markets provides daily market commentary (Axi does not), streams forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg or Reuters (Axi does as well), and includes Autochartist on both brokers. A key difference: IC Markets also offers Trading Central tools, while Axi does not. Both brokers feature a sentiment tool that shows long/short positioning and an economic calendar. IC Markets does not include TipRanks or Acuity Trading tools; Axi’s support for TipRanks and Acuity isn’t specified.
Independent ratings back up the gap: IC Markets earns 4 stars for Research and ranks #23 out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, while Axi scores 3 stars and ranks #56. If you value daily commentary plus Trading Central alongside headline news and Autochartist, IC Markets is the stronger choice. If you mainly need essential news, Autochartist, sentiment data, and a calendar, Axi covers the basics.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
Axi
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | No |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | No |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When comparing IC Markets and Axi, both online brokers provide a substantial amount of educational material tailored for beginners interested in forex and CFDs trading. IC Markets excels with a better variety, including a comprehensive archive of recorded webinars—an advantage Axi doesn't match. Both platforms offer monthly webinars and more than ten beginner-friendly videos, which are essential for new traders transitioning into the market.
However, IC Markets stands out with additional educational resources for more experienced traders, as well as a detailed investor dictionary with over 50 trading terms. This broader range of educational tools earns IC Markets a higher education rating of 4 stars versus Axi's 3 stars. Consequently, IC Markets is ranked 16th out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com in the Education category, outperforming Axi, which holds the 27th position.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
Axi
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| 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 IC Markets is better than Axi. IC Markets finished with an overall rank of #20, while Axi finished with an overall rank of #49.
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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Axi
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 84 | 82 |
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Both IC Markets and Axi do not provide the option to purchase actual delivered cryptocurrencies, but they both offer the ability to trade cryptocurrency derivatives.
When comparing the online brokers IC Markets and Axi, it is notable that while both offer Skrill, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wire options for depositing and withdrawing funds, only IC Markets provides PayPal as a payment method, whereas 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 | IC Markets | Axi | |
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| Trust Score | 84 | 82 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IC Markets Review |
| Broker Screenshots | IC Markets | Axi | |
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| Regulation | IC Markets | Axi | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 84 | 82 | |
| Year Founded | 2007 | 2007 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 2 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 3 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | IC Markets | Axi | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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) | |||
| 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 | No |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | IC Markets | Axi | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | No | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | IC Markets | Axi | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 3583 | 175 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 61 | 65 | |
| 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 | Axi | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.62 | N/A | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.62 | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | IC Markets | Axi | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $200 | $0 | |
| 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 | No |
| Trading Platforms | IC Markets | Axi | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | No | No | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No | |
| cTrader | Yes | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Tools | IC Markets | Axi | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Axi | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | No | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | No |
| Research | IC Markets | Axi | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | No | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | No | ||
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | IC Markets | Axi | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | IC Markets | Axi | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Overall | IC Markets | Axi | |
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| Trust Score | 84 | 82 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IC Markets Review |
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