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 and IC Markets are both prominent online brokers that have carved out strong presences in the trading world. Founded in 2016, Capital.com is a relatively newer player compared to IC Markets, which was established in 2007. Both companies are privately owned and do not operate as banks. Capital.com takes the lead in regulatory oversight with 3 Tier-1 licenses and 1 Tier-2 license, signaling a solid level of trust with a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 87. In contrast, IC Markets holds 2 Tier-1 licenses and maintains a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 84.
While neither broker is publicly traded, Capital.com shows slightly higher regulatory strength and trust, making it a trusted choice for those emphasizing security and compliance in their trading practices. IC Markets, with its two Tier-1 licenses, also provides a trusted environment, though its Trust Score is slightly lower than that of Capital.com. These factors make each platform appealing based on individual user needs and preferences over regulatory assurance, security, and longevity.
| 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 | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 3 |
When it comes to evaluating online brokers based on commissions and fees, both Capital.com and IC Markets emerge as top contenders, each offering competitive rates and excellent services for traders. Capital.com, with its 5-star rating, is ranked #3 by ForexBrokers.com in the Commissions and Fees category. It provides a universal account suitable for retail traders and a professional account for elective professional traders, noting that regulatory protections differ between these accounts. With an average dynamic spread of 0.67 pips for EUR/USD, Capital.com stands out for low-cost forex trading, making it an attractive option for those seeking cost-effective solutions.
IC Markets, which also holds a 5-star rating and ranks #5 among 63 brokers, extends its appeal through small effective spreads and low deposit requirements for commission-based accounts. IC Markets offers three regulatory entities based in Europe, Australia, and Seychelles, and provides three account types: the commission-free Standard account and the commission-based Raw Spread and cTrader Raw Spread accounts. Notably, cTrader Raw Spread accounts benefit from a slightly lower commission than MetaTrader accounts, with an all-in cost of 0.62 pips, making them an enticing choice for budget-conscious traders.
Both brokers excel in offering cost-effective trading solutions. Capital.com wins points for its consistency in low spreads, while IC Markets is recognized for competitive pricing across varying account structures. Moreover, IC Markets delivers additional value with discounts for active traders exceeding 100 standard lots per month, underscoring its commitment to providing enticing financial offerings for frequent traders. Both brokers clearly position themselves as leaders in this domain, catering to diverse trading preferences with their competitive fees and spreads.
| Feature |
Capital.com
|
IC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $10 | $200 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.67 | 0.62 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.67 | 0.62 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| 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 Capital.com and IC Markets based on their available range of investments, both brokers offer forex trading options in the form of CFDs, although Capital.com presents a more extensive selection with 125 forex pairs compared to IC Markets’ 61 pairs. In terms of overall tradeable symbols, Capital.com also provides a wider variety with 5,585 choices against IC Markets' 3,583. Neither of these brokers offers the opportunity to purchase U.S. exchange-traded securities directly, such as Apple shares.
On the international front, IC Markets stands out by allowing clients to access non-CFD exchange-traded securities, providing options like Vodafone shares from the London Stock Exchange, which Capital.com does not. Furthermore, IC Markets supports copy trading, enhancing its appeal for investors looking to follow and replicate successful trading strategies, unlike Capital.com. Both platforms offer cryptocurrency derivatives but not the direct purchase of actual cryptocurrencies. Despite their differences, both Capital.com and IC Markets earn a 4.5-star rating for their range of investments, with Capital.com ranked slightly higher at #21 compared to IC Markets at #25, according to ForexBrokers.com.
| Feature |
Capital.com
|
IC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 5585 | 3583 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 125 | 61 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | 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 it comes to trading platforms and tools, Capital.com and IC Markets each offer unique features tailored to different trading styles. Both brokers provide simulated trading experiences with free virtual demo accounts, allowing users to practice risk-free. Capital.com stands out with its proprietary platform, developed in-house, an option not available with IC Markets, which leans on established platforms like MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5). While both brokers offer Windows-based desktop and web-based platforms, Capital.com does not support popular copy trading services such as ZuluTrade, which IC Markets offers. However, IC Markets provides a wider range of trading tools such as copy trading via ZuluTrade and MetaTrader 5 compatibility, whereas Capital.com offers greater versatility in charting with 60 drawing tools compared to IC Markets' 15.
Both brokers enable trading directly from stock charts and cater to traders with different needs through multiple watch list configurations. Capital.com gives users the option of 11 columns for watch lists while IC Markets offers 7. Despite some differences in available tools, both brokers are highly rated for their trading platforms—Capital.com receiving 4.5 stars and IC Markets a commendable 4 stars in Trading Platforms and Tools. When ranked among 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, Capital.com takes the 10th spot while IC Markets holds the 16th position, reflecting their respective strengths in this domain.
| Feature |
Capital.com
|
IC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | No |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 97 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 60 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 11 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Both Capital.com and IC Markets provide comprehensive mobile trading apps compatible with iPhone and Android devices. They offer features crucial for traders such as stock and forex price alerts, the ability to draw trendlines, view multiple time frames on charts, and create watchlists with real-time quotes. Both apps allow for technical charting with 30 studies and auto-save drawings for uninterrupted analysis. However, neither supports watchlist synchronization between the mobile app and the online account, meaning changes in app watchlists remain locally stored.
When it comes to ratings, Capital.com's mobile trading app is rated slightly higher at 4.5 stars compared to IC Markets' 4 stars. Moreover, out of 63 brokers reviewed on ForexBrokers.com, Capital.com is ranked 11th, while IC Markets is positioned at 22nd in the mobile trading app category. This suggests that while both platforms offer solid trading app functionalities, traders might find a slightly more refined experience with Capital.com’s mobile app according to user ratings and industry rankings.
| Feature |
Capital.com
|
IC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| 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.
Capital.com and IC Markets both provide daily market commentary and access to forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg and Reuters. However, IC Markets offers a more extensive suite of technical analysis tools, including Autochartist and Trading Central, which are not available on Capital.com. On the other hand, Capital.com provides unique tools like market research from TipRanks, a feature IC Markets does not offer. Both brokers give traders access to sentiment-based trading tools and economic calendars to help navigate various market events.
When it comes to research ratings, Capital.com scores slightly higher with a 4.5-star rating compared to IC Markets' 4-star rating, according to ForexBrokers.com. This higher rating aligns with Capital.com's ranking as the 14th broker out of 63 in the Research category, while IC Markets is ranked 23rd. Both platforms have their own strengths, but your choice may depend on the specific tools you value for your trading strategy.
| Feature |
Capital.com
|
IC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | Yes |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | Yes |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | Yes | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When comparing the educational resources provided by Capital.com and IC Markets for beginners, both platforms offer more than 10 educational pieces dedicated to forex or CFDs. Beginner traders can access a wealth of articles, videos, and archived webinars to enhance their knowledge. Both brokers also feature searchable archives of past webinars, ensuring that users can catch up at their convenience. However, one key difference is that IC Markets offers regular monthly webinars to support ongoing learning, while Capital.com does not provide this monthly live interaction.
In terms of video resources, both platforms excel by offering at least 10 beginner and 10 advanced videos covering various trading topics. Investing newcomers and seasoned traders alike will appreciate Capital.com's and IC Markets' extensive video libraries. Additionally, both platforms provide an investor dictionary with definitions for over 50 investing terms, further aiding learning. Ranked 8th by ForexBrokers.com, Capital.com edges out IC Markets in educational quality, earning a rating of 4.5 stars compared to IC Markets' 4-star rating, which is ranked 16th. This makes Capital.com slightly more attractive for beginners seeking a rich educational experience.
| Feature |
Capital.com
|
IC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | No | 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 Capital.com is better than IC Markets. Capital.com finished with an overall rank of #10, while IC Markets finished with an overall rank of #20.
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
|
IC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
|
| Trust Score | 87 | 84 |
| Range of Investments |
|
|
| Commissions & Fees |
|
|
| Platforms & Tools |
|
|
| Research |
|
|
| Mobile Trading |
|
|
| Education |
|
|
Capital.com and IC Markets both do not offer the option to buy actual delivered cryptocurrency, but they do provide the ability to trade cryptocurrency derivatives.
Capital.com and IC Markets both offer PayPal, Skrill, Visa or Mastercard, and bank wires as options for depositing or withdrawing funds, but neither 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.
Select Brokers
↓×Compare
0 of 5| Overall Rating | Capital.com | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Commissions & Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Platforms & Tools |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 87 | 84 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Capital.com Review | IC Markets Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Capital.com | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trading Platforms Gallery (click to expand) |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading Gallery (click to expand) |
|
| |
| Research Gallery (click to expand) |
|
| |
| Education Gallery (click to expand) |
|
|
| Regulation | Capital.com | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 87 | 84 | |
| 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 | 1 | 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 (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | No | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| 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) | 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 | Capital.com | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 5585 | 3583 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 125 | 61 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | 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 | Capital.com | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.67 | 0.62 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.67 | 0.62 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Capital.com | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $10 | $200 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| 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 | Capital.com | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | No | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | Yes | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | Yes |
| Trading Tools | Capital.com | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 11 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 97 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 60 | 15 | |
| 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 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 | Capital.com | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | Yes | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | Yes | |
| TipRanks | Yes | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Capital.com | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | No | 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 | Capital.com | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Capital.com Review | IC Markets Review |
| Overall | Capital.com | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Commissions & Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Platforms & Tools |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 87 | 84 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Capital.com Review | IC Markets Review |
IG
CMC Markets
FOREX.com
XTB
eToro
AvaTrade
Plus500
Pepperstone
FP Markets
Tickmill