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 |
IC Markets and BDSwiss offer different experiences when it comes to commissions and fees. IC Markets stands out as a top choice for those seeking low-cost forex trading. With its competitive spreads and three account options, including two commission-based accounts, IC Markets keeps costs manageable. For instance, their cTrader Raw Spread account offers a commission of $3 per side for every 100,000 units, perfectly suited for traders wanting minimal costs. Complemented by an effective spread of just 0.62 pips for EUR/USD on the cTrader account, IC Markets excels with a 5-star rating and is ranked #5 among 63 brokers in the Commissions & Fees category.
On the other hand, BDSwiss provides acceptable order execution performance, although its spreads don't quite measure up to industry leaders. The Classic account features a spread of 1.5 pips on EUR/USD, which is relatively high. The Raw account is more appealing with a spread of 0.3 pips plus a $5 commission per side, amounting to an effective spread of 1.3. Meanwhile, the VIP account offers a slightly better deal with a total effective spread of 1.2 pips. With a 4-star rating, BDSwiss is ranked #30 out of 63 brokers in the Commissions & Fees category.
The main distinction between these brokers lies in pricing and account variety. IC Markets caters to both beginners and active traders by offering discounts on high-volume trading, whereas BDSwiss provides a simple, yet pricier, alternative. Overall, IC Markets maintains a competitive edge in cost-effectiveness, making it a premier choice for those focused on minimizing trading expenses.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $200 | $10-$5000 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.62 | 1.6 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.62 | 1.3 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | Yes |
| 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.
When comparing IC Markets and BDSwiss for their range of investment options, it’s clear that both offer a comprehensive selection, but with some differences. IC Markets provides an impressive array of 3,583 tradeable symbols, considerably more than the 1,081 symbols offered by BDSwiss. Both platforms allow forex trading as CFDs or spot contracts, with IC Markets offering access to 61 forex pairs compared to BDSwiss's 53. Neither broker offers exchange-traded securities on U.S. exchanges, though IC Markets does provide access to international securities such as those on the London Stock Exchange, which BDSwiss does not.
In the realm of cryptocurrencies, both IC Markets and BDSwiss offer cryptocurrency derivatives but not the option to purchase actual digital currencies. For investors interested in automated strategies, both platforms support copy trading. According to ForexBrokers.com, IC Markets holds a slightly higher rating of 4.5 stars for its range of investments, placing it at #25 out of 63 brokers, while BDSwiss earns 4 stars, ranking at #34. Overall, IC Markets offers a broader range of markets, making it a strong choice for those looking for diverse investment opportunities.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 3583 | 1081 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 61 | 53 |
| 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.
When comparing IC Markets and BDSwiss based on their trading platforms and tools, both brokers provide traders with a comprehensive suite of options. IC Markets and BDSwiss each offer a free virtual demo account, allowing users to practice trading without financial risk. Along with MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5), both brokers support Windows-based desktop and web-based trading platforms. However, while BDSwiss comes with its own proprietary platform, IC Markets leverages well-known third-party solutions. Additionally, both platforms offer a variety of copy trading features, although IC Markets extends its capabilities further by providing access to ZuluTrade. Both brokers empower traders to execute trades directly from charts and they each offer 15 drawing tools for chart analysis.
In terms of customization and analysis, IC Markets and BDSwiss offer seven columns for watch lists. Both brokers are rated four stars for their trading platforms and tools, reflecting a satisfying experience for most users. However, IC Markets holds a competitive edge in the ForexBrokers.com ranking, placing at number 16 compared to BDSwiss's position at number 24 out of 63 brokers. Despite these differences, both brokers provide a user-friendly and versatile environment for a range of traders’ needs, making them strong contenders in the realm of online trading.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | No | 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 | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | Yes | No |
| 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.
When comparing the mobile trading apps of IC Markets and BDSwiss, both brokers offer excellent options for iPhone and Android users. Both platforms allow traders to receive stock and forex price alerts, which ensures timely updates, and include the possibility of drawing trendlines on charts. Each app also supports multiple time frames, enabling traders to analyze daily, weekly, or intraday data conveniently. With 30 technical studies available in both apps, traders have plenty of tools to conduct in-depth chart analysis. Furthermore, the apps make it simple to create watchlists with real-time quotes, though neither provides watchlist symbol syncing between mobile and online accounts. Importantly, both apps auto-save chart drawings, so you don’t have to redo them every time.
In terms of user ratings, IC Markets and BDSwiss mobile apps both receive strong acknowledgment with a four-star rating out of five. However, when ranked by ForexBrokers.com in the Mobile Trading Apps category, IC Markets narrowly edges out BDSwiss, holding the 22nd position compared to BDSwiss's 24th out of 63 brokers. This suggests that while both apps offer substantial features and functionality, IC Markets might have a slight edge in user experience or additional offerings that make it marginally more favorable among traders. Whether you choose IC Markets or BDSwiss for mobile trading, both platforms provide comprehensive tools and features that cater to the needs of modern traders.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlist | 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 | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | Yes |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When comparing the educational resources offered by IC Markets and BDSwiss for beginners, both online brokers provide comprehensive learning materials to help newcomers to forex and CFDs trading. Each platform offers at least ten educational pieces in various formats, such as articles, videos, and archived webinars, ensuring a rich learning experience. Both brokers conduct at least one online educational webinar each month and maintain a searchable archive of these sessions. They also provide an investor dictionary with definitions of over 50 investing terms, making complex jargon more accessible to beginners.
IC Markets and BDSwiss each offer a selection of at least ten beginner-friendly videos that cover essential trading topics, as well as a series of advanced videos tailored for more experienced traders. Both brokers are rated four out of five stars for education, indicating the strength of their educational offerings. However, IC Markets holds a slightly higher position in the ForexBrokers.com Education category, ranking at #16 out of 63 brokers, while BDSwiss ranks #19. This subtle difference highlights IC Markets' slightly stronger reputation for educational services, although both brokers are solid options for beginners seeking to enhance their trading knowledge.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| 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 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
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 84 | 73 |
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Both IC Markets and BDSwiss do not offer the ability to buy actual delivered cryptocurrency, but they do provide options for purchasing cryptocurrency derivatives.
IC Markets and BDSwiss both provide options for using Skrill, Visa or Mastercard, and bank wires to deposit or withdraw account funds, but only IC Markets supports PayPal transactions while BDSwiss uniquely offers ACH and SEPA transfers, positioning each broker distinctly in terms of funding flexibility.
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) | No | No | |
| 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) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | No | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | No | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | IC Markets | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 3583 | 1081 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 61 | 53 | |
| 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 | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.62 | 1.6 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.62 | 1.3 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | Yes | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | No |
| Funding | IC Markets | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $200 | $10-$5000 | |
| 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 | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | IC Markets | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | No | 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 | Yes | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | Yes | No |
| Trading Tools | IC Markets | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | IC Markets | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | IC Markets | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | IC Markets | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 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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