Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Capital.com vs IC 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.
Capital.com vs IC Markets: for safety and regulation, both brokers are privately held and not banks, and neither is publicly traded. Capital.com was founded in 2016, while IC Markets dates back to 2007.
On ForexBrokers.com’s Trust Score scale (90–99 highly trusted, 80–89 trusted, 70–79 average risk, 60–69 high risk, under 59 not trusted), Capital.com scores 89 and IC Markets scores 83—both considered trusted. Capital.com holds three Tier-1 licenses (highly trusted) and three Tier-2 licenses (trusted). IC Markets holds two Tier-1 licenses and no Tier-2 licenses, a difference to weigh if you prioritize broader top-tier oversight.
| Feature |
Capital.com
|
IC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2016 | 2007 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 3 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 3 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 3 |
When it comes to commissions and fees, both Capital.com and IC Markets are among the better-priced brokers, but they take slightly different approaches. Capital.com earns a 5-star rating and ranks #3 out of 36 brokers for Commissions and Fees. Its pricing is a little better than the industry average, and its EUR/USD spread averaged about 0.67 pips, which makes it a low-cost choice for forex traders. Capital.com offers a standard retail account and a professional account for traders who qualify, though professional clients do not receive the same protections as retail clients.
IC Markets also earns a 5-star rating, but it ranks #5 out of 36 brokers in this category. It is known for very low trading costs, especially on its commission-based accounts. Traders can choose between the commission-free Standard account and the Raw Spread or cTrader Raw Spread accounts, which use tight spreads plus a commission. For example, IC Markets’ cTrader Raw Spread account can work out to about 0.62 pips all-in on EUR/USD, while the MetaTrader Raw Spread account is around 0.72 pips all-in.
In simple terms, Capital.com is a strong pick if you want straightforward pricing with no added commission on most retail trading, while IC Markets may appeal more to active traders who want very tight spreads and are comfortable with commission-based pricing. Both brokers are competitively priced, but IC Markets offers more account choices and potential discounts for high-volume traders who trade over 100 standard lots per month.
| Feature |
Capital.com
|
IC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $20 | $200 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.64 | 0.62 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.67 | 0.62 |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
When it comes to range of investments, Capital.com and IC Markets both give traders access to forex as CFDs or spot contracts, plus cryptocurrency CFDs. Capital.com lists a wider selection overall, with 5,585 tradeable symbols and 125 forex pairs, compared with IC Markets’ 3,583 symbols and 61 forex pairs. Neither broker offers direct U.S.-listed shares, and Capital.com also does not provide access to international exchange-traded securities.
IC Markets has an edge for investors who want more than CFDs, since it does offer international exchange-traded securities and copy trading, while Capital.com does not. Even so, both brokers are rated 4.5 out of 5 stars for Range of Investments. In ForexBrokers.com’s ranking, Capital.com sits at #18 out of 36 brokers, ahead of IC Markets at #22.
| Feature |
Capital.com
|
IC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 5585 | 3583 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 125 | 61 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | 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.
Capital.com and IC Markets both give traders a solid mix of platform choices, including free demo accounts, web-based trading, Windows desktop downloads, MetaTrader 4, and MetaTrader 5. Each also lets users place trades directly from charts. Capital.com stands out for its own in-house platform, while IC Markets does not offer a proprietary platform. If copy trading matters to you, IC Markets has it, but Capital.com does not.
When it comes to ratings, Capital.com comes out ahead in the Trading Platforms and Tools category, with 4.5 out of 5 stars and a #10 ranking out of 36 brokers from ForexBrokers.com. IC Markets scores 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #17 out of 36. For traders comparing platform quality and built-in tools, both brokers cover the basics well, but Capital.com has the edge overall, while IC Markets may appeal more to those who want copy trading alongside the standard platform options.
| Feature |
Capital.com
|
IC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | No |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 97 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Capital.com and IC Markets both make it easy to trade on the go, with iPhone and Android apps, price alerts, 30 technical studies, and chart tools that let users draw trendlines. Both apps also save chart drawings automatically. One area where they match closely is watchlist syncing: neither broker currently syncs mobile watchlists with the client’s online account.
That said, Capital.com has the edge in mobile trading apps overall. It earns a 4.5-star rating, compared with 4 stars for IC Markets, and ranks #11 out of 36 brokers for mobile trading apps, while IC Markets comes in at #22. For traders who want a slightly better-rated mobile experience, Capital.com is the stronger choice, though both brokers offer the key app features most people need.
| Feature |
Capital.com
|
IC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| 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.
Capital.com and IC Markets both give traders useful market research tools, including daily market commentary, forex news from major sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, a sentiment tool that shows long and short positions, and an economic calendar for upcoming global events. This means both brokers cover the basics well for traders who want to stay on top of market moves and news-driven changes.
The main difference is that IC Markets goes further with research add-ons from Autochartist and Trading Central, while Capital.com does not offer those tools. Even so, Capital.com comes out ahead overall in research, with a 4.5-star rating and a #14 ranking out of 36 brokers from ForexBrokers.com, compared with IC Markets’ 4-star rating and #21 rank.
| Feature |
Capital.com
|
IC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | Yes |
| Trading Central | No | Yes |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
For beginners looking for learning support, both Capital.com and IC Markets offer a solid range of trading education. Each broker provides at least 10 beginner videos, plus at least 10 advanced videos for more experienced traders, and both also have forex or CFDs education with 10 or more relevant learning pieces. That said, IC Markets has an edge in live learning because it offers online client webinars at least once a month, while Capital.com does not.
When it comes to overall education quality, Capital.com comes out ahead. It holds a 4.5-star Education rating and ranks #8 out of 36 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, compared with IC Markets’ 4-star rating and #16 ranking. So if you want a wider mix of educational tools and a stronger overall score, Capital.com is the better pick, while IC Markets is still a good choice if regular webinars matter to you.
| Feature |
Capital.com
|
IC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | No | 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 Capital.com is better than IC Markets. Capital.com finished with an overall rank of #12, while IC Markets finished with an overall rank of #21.
Capital.com stands out for its quality research, strong educational content, and innovative web platform. Capital.com holds fewer regulatory licenses and offers a narrower range of markets than some of the best brokers, but still significantly outperforms the industry average.
| Feature |
Capital.com
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IC Markets
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| Trust Score | 89 | 83 |
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In a head-to-head comparison, online brokers Capital.com and IC Markets do not support buying actual (delivered) cryptocurrencies, but both offer cryptocurrency CFD trading.
Capital.com vs IC Markets: Both brokers support PayPal, Skrill, and bank wire deposits and withdrawals, but neither offers 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 | Capital.com | IC Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 89 | 83 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Capital.com Review | IC Markets Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Capital.com | IC Markets | |
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| Regulation | Capital.com | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 89 | 83 | |
| Year Founded | 2016 | 2007 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 3 | 2 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 3 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 3 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Capital.com | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (FSA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | No | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | |||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| 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) | Capital.com | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | No | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or CMA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | Capital.com | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 5585 | 3583 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 125 | 61 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | 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 | Capital.com | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.64 | 0.62 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.67 | 0.62 | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | No | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Capital.com | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $20 | $200 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | Capital.com | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | No | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | Yes |
| Trading Tools | Capital.com | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 97 | 30 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Capital.com | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Capital.com | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | Yes | |
| Trading Central | No | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Capital.com | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | No | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Capital.com | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | Capital.com Review | IC Markets Review |
| Overall | Capital.com | IC Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 89 | 83 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Capital.com Review | IC Markets Review |
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