Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of IC Markets vs Eightcap, 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.
When comparing online brokers, IC Markets and Eightcap, it's important to delve into their regulatory backgrounds, as this can provide insight into their level of trustworthiness. Both IC Markets, established in 2007, and Eightcap, founded in 2009, are not publicly traded companies nor are they banks. When it comes to regulatory licenses, IC Markets holds 2 Tier-1 licenses, indicating a high level of trust according to ForexBrokers.com. Meanwhile, Eightcap holds 3 Tier-1 licenses, suggesting a similar level of credibility.
In terms of trust scores, IC Markets earns an 84 out of 99, placing it in the trusted category, while Eightcap scores slightly higher at 85, also considered trusted. Neither broker holds any Tier-2 licenses, which are deemed trusted but less highly regarded compared to Tier-1. With these scores and regulatory standings, both brokers can be considered reliable options for traders, with Eightcap having a marginal edge in trust score and regulatory licensing.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
Eightcap
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2007 | 2009 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 3 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 3 | 1 |
Comparing commissions and fees, IC Markets generally undercuts Eightcap on all-in trading costs. IC Markets earns 5/5 stars and ranks #5 of 63 for Commissions & Fees, while Eightcap earns 4/5 stars and ranks #27 of 63. Both brokers offer a spread-only Standard account and a commission-based Raw account, but IC Markets’ pricing is typically sharper on popular pairs like EUR/USD.
IC Markets’ costs vary by platform (MetaTrader vs. cTrader), account type, and global entity (EU, Australia, Seychelles). On the Raw accounts, cTrader charges $3.00 per side per 100,000 units with an all-in EUR/USD cost around 0.62 pips, while MetaTrader (MT4/MT5) is $3.50 per side with an all-in around 0.72 pips. The commission-free Standard account lists an average EUR/USD spread of 0.62 pips. High-volume traders (100+ standard lots/month) can qualify for discounts, and IC Markets received Best in Class honors for Commissions & Fees in 2024.
Eightcap also provides two account choices across its global entities (Australia, Bahamas, U.K., Cyprus). Its Raw account lists an average EUR/USD spread of 0.06 pips; after adding the $3.50 per side commission, the all-in cost is about 0.76 pips—slightly under the industry average of 0.8 pips but still a bit higher than IC Markets. The Standard account is spread-only. Overall, Eightcap is competitively priced, but IC Markets is usually the cheaper option for traders focused on minimizing fees.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
Eightcap
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $200 | $100 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.62 | 1.0 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.62 | 0.76 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No |
| 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.
IC Markets and Eightcap both support forex trading via CFDs/spot contracts, plus copy trading. IC Markets lists 3,583 tradeable symbols and 61 forex pairs, while Eightcap offers 800 symbols and 56 pairs. Both brokers let you trade cryptocurrency derivatives, but neither lets you buy actual crypto.
For exchange-traded shares, neither broker offers U.S. stocks, but IC Markets does provide access to certain international exchanges, whereas Eightcap does not. Reflecting the wider product lineup, IC Markets earns 4.5/5 stars and ranks 26th out of 63 for Range of Investments, compared with Eightcap’s 3.5/5 stars and 41st place.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
Eightcap
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 3583 | 800 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 61 | 56 |
| 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.
IC Markets vs Eightcap on platforms and tools: both brokers offer free demo (paper) accounts and do not have a proprietary platform. Instead, each supports MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5) with Windows desktop downloads and web-based access. You can trade directly from charts on both, and each provides 15 drawing tools along with seven watchlist columns. Indicator counts aren’t specified, but MetaTrader includes a wide range of built-in studies and third‑party add‑ons.
For copy trading, both brokers provide options; IC Markets also supports ZuluTrade, while Eightcap does not. DupliTrade isn’t available at either broker. In ForexBrokers.com’s Trading Platforms and Tools ratings, both score 4 stars, yet IC Markets ranks higher (#16 of 63) than Eightcap (#39 of 63). If platform rankings matter to you, IC Markets comes out ahead, while Eightcap remains a straightforward MetaTrader choice.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
Eightcap
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | No | No |
| 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.
IC Markets and Eightcap both offer iPhone and Android trading apps with similar core tools. You get price alerts, real-time quote watchlists, 30 technical studies for charts, the ability to draw trendlines, multiple time frames (daily, weekly, intraday), and auto-saving for your chart drawings. For everyday charting and alerts, they’re closely matched.
The key difference is watchlist syncing: Eightcap syncs your watchlist between the app and your online account, while IC Markets does not. Both earn 4 stars for Mobile Trading Apps. However, in ForexBrokers.com’s Mobile Trading Apps category, IC Markets ranks #22 out of 63 brokers, while Eightcap ranks #39. Choose Eightcap if cross-device watchlist syncing is a must; consider IC Markets if a higher category ranking matters more to you.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
Eightcap
|
|---|---|---|
| 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.
Comparing IC Markets vs Eightcap for market research: both brokers provide daily market commentary, an economic calendar, and a sentiment tool that shows long/short positioning. Where they differ is depth. IC Markets adds forex news from top-tier sources such as Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones, and includes third‑party research suites like Autochartist and Trading Central for technical and fundamental insights. Eightcap does not offer those premium news feeds or these research tools. Neither broker integrates TipRanks or Acuity Trading.
On overall quality, ForexBrokers.com rates IC Markets 4 stars and ranks it #23 out of 63 brokers for Research, while Eightcap earns 3.5 stars and ranks #40. If you want richer built-in analysis and top-tier news, IC Markets has the edge; if you only need the essentials—commentary, sentiment, and an economic calendar—Eightcap covers the basics.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
Eightcap
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | No |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When comparing IC Markets and Eightcap in terms of educational resources for beginners, IC Markets stands out with a broader offering. Both brokers provide more than 10 educational materials focused on forex and CFDs, including articles, videos, and archived webinars. While Eightcap also offers a searchable archive of past webinars, IC Markets goes further by hosting live webinars at least once a month, adding a dynamic element to their resources. Additionally, both brokers deliver educational videos specifically tailored for beginners, but IC Markets extends its library to include advanced topics for experienced traders, a feature missing from Eightcap’s offerings.
In terms of additional learning tools, IC Markets and Eightcap both offer an investor dictionary that covers over 50 investing terms, aiding beginners in understanding trading jargon. However, when evaluating their overall educational effectiveness, IC Markets has a slight edge, earning a four-star rating compared to Eightcap's 3.5 stars. This distinction is underscored by their rankings for educational resources on ForexBrokers.com, where IC Markets is positioned at #16 out of 63 brokers, while Eightcap ranks at #40. This comparison highlights IC Markets as a slightly more comprehensive option for those seeking educational support in their trading journey.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
Eightcap
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| 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 Eightcap. IC Markets finished with an overall rank of #20, while Eightcap finished with an overall rank of #38.
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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Eightcap
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 84 | 85 |
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Both IC Markets and Eightcap do not offer the option to buy actual delivered cryptocurrency, but they do provide the ability to trade cryptocurrency derivatives.
IC Markets and Eightcap both provide several options for fund deposits and withdrawals, including PayPal, Skrill, Visa/Mastercard, and bank wires, but neither broker 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.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | IC Markets | Eightcap | |
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| Trust Score | 84 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IC Markets Review | Eightcap Review |
| Broker Screenshots | IC Markets | Eightcap | |
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| Regulation | IC Markets | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 84 | 85 | |
| Year Founded | 2007 | 2009 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 3 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 3 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | IC Markets | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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) | |||
| 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 | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| 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) |
| Investments | IC Markets | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 3583 | 800 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 61 | 56 | |
| 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 | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.62 | 1.0 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.62 | 0.76 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | IC Markets | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $200 | $100 | |
| 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 | IC Markets | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | No | No | |
| 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 | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | 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 Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | IC Markets | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | IC Markets | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | IC Markets | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Eightcap Review |
| Overall | IC Markets | Eightcap | |
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| Trust Score | 84 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IC Markets Review | Eightcap Review |
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