Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Capital.com vs IFC 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, established in 2016, and IFC Markets, founded in 2006, both offer online brokerage services, yet differ significantly in their regulatory standings. Capital.com boasts a higher ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 87, marking it as a trusted platform. In comparison, IFC Markets holds a Trust Score of 73, placing it in the average risk category. Neither company is publicly traded or operates as a bank. However, Capital.com holds three Tier-1 licenses, renowned for high trust, while IFC Markets has none. Both brokers maintain one Tier-2 license, recognized as trusted but less stringent than Tier-1 regulations.
| Feature |
Capital.com
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2016 | 2006 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 3 | 0 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
When comparing commissions and fees, Capital.com comes out cheaper than IFC Markets for most forex traders. Capital.com earns 5 out of 5 stars and ranks #3 of 63 brokers for Commissions and Fees at ForexBrokers.com, while IFC Markets earns 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #40 of 63. The headline difference is pricing on EUR/USD: Capital.com’s average spread is lower, which can cut trading costs day to day.
Capital.com lists a dynamic EUR/USD spread of about 0.67 pips, and its verified April 2024 average was 0.6712 pips—lower than the industry average—making it a strong pick for low-cost forex trading. Pricing is slightly better than the industry average overall. Capital.com offers a universal account for retail traders as well as a professional account for eligible clients; note that professional clients do not receive the same regulatory protections as retail traders.
IFC Markets’ average EUR/USD spread is 1.44 pips, higher than the 1.08-pip industry average, so its standard pricing is less competitive. That said, active traders can find better value via the ECN account, where effective spreads are about 1.1 pips after a 0.005% commission is applied to both sides of a trade. IFC Markets also charges no inactivity fees and offers active trader discounts, which can help offset costs over time.
| Feature |
Capital.com
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $10 | $1 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.67 | 1.44 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.67 | 1.1 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
Capital.com vs IFC Markets: both brokers let you trade forex as CFDs or spot contracts, and each offers cryptocurrency derivatives (but not actual coins). Capital.com stands out for sheer variety with 5,585 tradeable symbols and 125 forex pairs, compared with IFC Markets’ 630 symbols and 49 pairs. Neither broker offers U.S. exchange traded securities, but IFC Markets does provide access to some international exchange-traded shares, while Capital.com does not. Another difference: IFC Markets supports copy trading; Capital.com does not.
In independent testing, Capital.com earns 4.5 out of 5 stars for Range of Investments and ranks 23rd out of 63 brokers, while IFC Markets scores 3.5 stars and ranks 44th. If you want the widest selection of instruments and forex pairs, Capital.com is the stronger choice; if you value copy trading and access to international exchange-listed shares, IFC Markets may fit better.
| Feature |
Capital.com
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 5585 | 630 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 125 | 49 |
| 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). |
Dive deeper: Best Copy Trading Platforms.
Capital.com and IFC Markets both check the key boxes for platform access: each offers a free demo account, an in-house proprietary platform, a Windows desktop app, and a web-based terminal. Both support MetaTrader 4 (MT4); only IFC Markets adds MetaTrader 5 (MT5). Copy trading is available at IFC Markets but not at Capital.com. You can place trades directly from charts with either broker. In independent testing by ForexBrokers.com, Capital.com earned 4.5/5 stars and ranked #10 out of 63 brokers for Trading Platforms and Tools, while IFC Markets earned 4/5 stars and ranked #37.
For charting and layout, Capital.com lists 60 drawing tools versus 15 at IFC Markets; the exact number of built-in indicators isn’t provided here for either broker. Watchlists are a bit more detailed at Capital.com with 11 columns versus 7 at IFC Markets. Neither broker supports DupliTrade or ZuluTrade. If you want MT5 and copy trading, IFC Markets stands out; if you prefer richer drawing tools and more watchlist fields along with a higher third-party rating, Capital.com may fit better.
| Feature |
Capital.com
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes |
| 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 | No |
| 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.
Capital.com and IFC Markets both deliver full-featured mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android. Each app supports stock and forex price alerts, real-time quote watchlists, and charting with 30 technical studies. You can draw trendlines, switch among multiple time frames (intraday to weekly), and your chart drawings auto-save on both platforms.
The main difference is watchlist syncing: IFC Markets syncs watchlists between mobile and the web platform, while Capital.com does not. In independent ratings, Capital.com earns 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #11 out of 63 brokers for Mobile Trading Apps on ForexBrokers.com, compared with IFC Markets at 4 stars and #53. Choose Capital.com if you want a higher-rated mobile trading experience; pick IFC Markets if synced watchlists across devices matter most.
| Feature |
Capital.com
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | Yes |
| 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.
When it comes to market research, both Capital.com and IFC Markets deliver daily market commentary, a sentiment tool showing long/short positioning, and an economic calendar. The key differences are in news and third‑party insights: Capital.com streams forex news from top-tier sources such as Bloomberg/Reuters/Dow Jones and includes TipRanks research, while IFC Markets does not offer those two features. Neither broker provides tools from Autochartist, Trading Central, or Acuity Trading.
These gaps translate into stronger in-platform research for Capital.com, which earns 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #14 of 63 brokers for Research at ForexBrokers.com. IFC Markets is rated 3.5 stars and ranks #41. If you want mainstream news feeds and analyst-driven ideas alongside core tools, Capital.com has the edge; if your needs are basic commentary, sentiment, and a calendar, either broker will do.
| Feature |
Capital.com
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No |
| 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 available for beginners at Capital.com and IFC Markets, both brokers provide a wealth of knowledge to help new traders get acquainted with forex and CFDs. Both platforms offer at least ten educational pieces in various formats such as articles, videos, and archived webinars, all focusing on these trading subjects. Despite their rich content offerings, neither broker holds live educational webinars monthly. However, Capital.com pulls ahead by offering a searchable archive of previously recorded webinars, providing more resource accessibility for learners.
In terms of video education, both Capital.com and IFC Markets provide at least ten beginner and ten advanced trading videos, catering to both novice and seasoned traders. They also offer an investor dictionary with over 50 investing terms, aiding in demystifying trading jargon. Ratings and rankings reinforce these findings, with Capital.com receiving a 4.5-star rating and securing the 8th spot out of 63 brokers in the Education category according to ForexBrokers.com. In contrast, IFC Markets has a 3.5-star rating and is ranked 30th. This indicates that Capital.com may offer a slightly more comprehensive educational experience for budding traders.
| Feature |
Capital.com
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | No | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
| 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 IFC Markets. Capital.com finished with an overall rank of #10, while IFC Markets finished with an overall rank of #45.
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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IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 87 | 73 |
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Both Capital.com and IFC Markets do not offer the option to buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrency, but they both allow investors to purchase cryptocurrency derivatives.
When comparing online brokers Capital.com and IFC Markets, Capital.com provides more diverse payment options, allowing deposits and withdrawals via PayPal, Skrill, Visa/Mastercard, and bank wires, while IFC Markets supports only Visa/Mastercard and bank wires, with neither supporting 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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| Trust Score | 87 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Capital.com Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Capital.com | IFC Markets | |
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