Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of IC Markets vs BDSwiss, 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.
Founded in 2007, IC Markets is a well-established online broker known for its high level of trust. With a Trust Score of 84 as rated by ForexBrokers.com, IC Markets is considered a trusted platform, holding two Tier-1 licenses for its operations. Although it is not publicly traded or affiliated with a bank, the company's reliable regulatory status makes it a favored choice among many traders seeking a secure trading environment.
In comparison, BDSwiss, which was founded in 2012, holds a Trust Score of 73, categorizing it as an average-risk broker. While not publicly traded or a bank, BDSwiss manages to maintain a presence in the trading world with one Tier-1 license. Despite both brokers not harboring Tier-2 licenses, their regulatory standing offers prospective clients a clear picture, with IC Markets having an edge in terms of trust and regulatory compliance.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2007 | 2012 |
| 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 | 2 |
Comparing commissions and fees, IC Markets generally delivers lower all-in trading costs than BDSwiss. IC Markets earned 5 out of 5 stars and ranks #5 of 63 for Commissions & Fees (Best in Class in 2024), while BDSwiss holds 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #31 of 63. IC Markets’ low effective spreads and low minimum deposit for its commission-based accounts help it compete with the cheapest forex brokers.
IC Markets offers three account types: Standard (spread only, no commission), Raw Spread (MT4/MT5), and cTrader Raw Spread. Commissions on the cTrader Raw Spread account are $3.00 per side per 100k ($6 round turn), versus $3.50 per side on MT4/MT5 ($7 round turn). IC Markets lists an average raw spread of 0.02 pips on EUR/USD (Aug 2022); after commission, the all-in cost is about 0.62 pips on cTrader and 0.72 pips on MetaTrader Raw. The Standard account averages 0.62 pips with no commission. Pricing can vary by platform, account, and whether you’re onboarded under its European, Australian, or Seychelles entity. Active traders who exceed 100 standard lots per month can qualify for discounts.
BDSwiss’ pricing is straightforward but higher on average. The Classic account shows about 1.5 pips on EUR/USD, and the VIP account about 1.2 pips. The Raw account quotes 0.3 pips plus a $5 commission per side, bringing the effective EUR/USD cost to roughly 1.3 pips. While BDSwiss highlights good execution statistics, its spreads and total costs are typically higher than leaders like IC Markets, which helps explain the difference in star ratings and category rankings.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $200 | $10-$5000 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.62 | 1.6 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.62 | 1.3 |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | Yes |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
IC Markets vs BDSwiss: both let you trade forex as CFDs and in spot form, and both support copy trading and crypto CFDs (but not actual, delivered crypto). IC Markets offers a wider catalog with 3,583 tradeable symbols and 61 forex pairs, compared with BDSwiss at 1,081 symbols and 53 pairs. Neither broker lets you buy U.S.-listed shares directly (not CFDs), but IC Markets does offer access to international exchange-traded shares, while BDSwiss does not.
For range of investments, IC Markets earns 4.5 stars and ranks 26th out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while BDSwiss scores 4 stars and ranks 35th. If you want more markets and access to international shares, IC Markets is the stronger pick; if you’re focused on core CFDs, forex, and copy trading, BDSwiss covers the essentials.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 3583 | 1081 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 61 | 53 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | 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.
IC Markets and BDSwiss both check the key boxes for trading platforms and tools. Each offers a free demo account for paper trading, Windows desktop and web platforms, copy trading, and the popular MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5). You can trade directly from charts with either broker. A key difference: BDSwiss provides its own proprietary platform in addition to third-party options, while IC Markets relies on third-party platforms only.
Both brokers deliver strong charting and watchlist features across their platforms, though the exact number of indicators and watchlist fields depends on the platform you use. For Trading Platforms and Tools, both earn 4 stars, with IC Markets ranked #16 of 63 and BDSwiss ranked #24 of 63 by ForexBrokers.com. If you prefer a broker-built platform, consider BDSwiss; if you want third-party platforms with a slightly higher category ranking, IC Markets edges ahead.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | No | Yes |
| 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) | 30 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
If you’re choosing between IC Markets and BDSwiss for trading on the go, both brokers offer full-featured iPhone and Android apps with price alerts and identical 4-star ratings for mobile trading. According to ForexBrokers.com, IC Markets ranks slightly higher in the Mobile Trading Apps category (#22 out of 63) than BDSwiss (#24), which may matter if you want the broker with the stronger standing in this specific area.
Their charting tools are nearly the same: each app includes 30 technical studies, lets you draw trendlines, and automatically saves your drawings. One shared drawback is that watchlists don’t sync between mobile and the online account, so edits made in one place won’t appear in the other. With features largely tied and equal star scores, the main separator is the category ranking, where IC Markets holds a small edge.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | No | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
IC Markets and BDSwiss both provide daily market commentary and include an economic calendar showcasing global news events. When it comes to forex news, IC Markets stands out by accessing top-tier sources such as Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones, unlike BDSwiss, which lacks this feature. Both brokers utilize advanced technical analysis tools from Autochartist and Trading Central, thereby catering to traders looking for sophisticated research tools.
IC Markets offers a sentiment-based trading tool that gives insight into the ratio of long and short positions, a service not available with BDSwiss. Neither broker provides research tools from TipRanks or Acuity Trading. Both brokers are rated 4 out of 5 stars for research, with IC Markets slightly ahead in rankings, positioned at #23 out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, while BDSwiss is ranked at #24.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Central | Yes | Yes |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | No |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
Comparing IC Markets vs BDSwiss for education, both brokers deliver complete forex and CFD learning hubs that easily meet the “10+ pieces” benchmark. Each offers regular client webinars (at least once a month) and more than 10 beginner-friendly videos that explain trading basics in plain language. You’ll also find advanced video lessons at both brokers, so you can keep learning as your skills grow. These resources, along with articles and archived webinars, make either platform a solid pick for first-time traders who want clear, practical guidance.
On quality, both IC Markets and BDSwiss earn 4 out of 5 stars for Education. If you’re splitting hairs, IC Markets holds a higher category ranking (#16 of 63) than BDSwiss (#22 of 63) on ForexBrokers.com, suggesting a slight edge in overall depth and polish. For beginners seeking structured forex and CFD education with frequent webinars and plenty of starter videos, both are strong choices—IC Markets just nudges ahead in the rankings.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 IC Markets is better than BDSwiss. IC Markets finished with an overall rank of #20, while BDSwiss finished with an overall rank of #36.
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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BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
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| Trust Score | 84 | 73 |
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Comparing online brokers IC Markets and BDSwiss: neither allows you to buy actual delivered cryptocurrencies, but both offer cryptocurrency CFD trading.
Comparing online brokers IC Markets and BDSwiss: IC Markets supports deposits and withdrawals via PayPal, Skrill, and bank wire but not ACH/SEPA, whereas BDSwiss offers ACH/SEPA transfers, with availability of PayPal, Skrill, Visa/Mastercard, and bank wires 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 | IC Markets | BDSwiss | |
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| Trust Score | 84 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IC Markets Review | BDSwiss Review |
| Broker Screenshots | IC Markets | BDSwiss | |
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| Regulation | IC Markets | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 84 | 73 | |
| Year Founded | 2007 | 2012 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 3 | 2 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | IC Markets | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| 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 | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | IC Markets | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | No | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | IC Markets | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 3583 | 1081 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 61 | 53 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | 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 | IC Markets | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.62 | 1.6 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.62 | 1.3 | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | Yes | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | No |
| Funding | IC Markets | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $200 | $10-$5000 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | ||
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | ||
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | ||
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | IC Markets | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | No | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes | |
| cTrader | Yes | No |
| Trading Tools | IC Markets | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 30 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | IC Markets | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | No | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | IC Markets | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes | |
| Trading Central | Yes | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | IC Markets | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | IC Markets | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | IC Markets Review | BDSwiss Review |
| Overall | IC Markets | BDSwiss | |
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| Trust Score | 84 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IC Markets Review | BDSwiss Review |
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