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 | 2 |
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 account | 0.62 | 1.0 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.62 | 0.76 |
| 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.
IC Markets offers a wider range of investments than Eightcap, with 3,583 tradeable symbols versus Eightcap’s 803. For forex, IC Markets lists 61 currency pairs compared with Eightcap’s 55, and both brokers let you trade forex as CFDs or spot. If you want the broadest selection of markets, IC Markets has the edge, while Eightcap covers the essentials for most traders.
Neither broker provides access to U.S.-listed shares as real, exchange-traded stocks (not CFDs). However, IC Markets does offer access to certain international exchange-traded securities, while Eightcap does not. Both support copy trading and offer cryptocurrency via CFDs, but neither lets you buy actual crypto. Reflecting the wider market choice, IC Markets earns 4.5 stars and ranks 26th out of 63 for Range of Investments at ForexBrokers.com, while Eightcap scores 3.5 stars and ranks 41st.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
Eightcap
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 3583 | 803 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 61 | 55 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | No |
| Copy Trading | Yes | 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.
IC Markets and Eightcap both stick with industry-standard platforms rather than building their own. Each supports MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5), with Windows desktop downloads and web-based browser access. You can trade directly from charts, practice risk-free using a free demo (paper) account, and use copy trading features at either broker.
Both are rated 4 stars for Trading Platforms and Tools, yet ForexBrokers.com ranks IC Markets higher (#16 of 63) than Eightcap (#39 of 63). Because both rely on MetaTrader, indicator choices and watchlist customization come from MT4/MT5 rather than broker-built add-ons. If independent rankings factor into your decision, IC Markets holds a slight edge, while overall features remain very similar.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
Eightcap
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | No | No |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
IC Markets and Eightcap both deliver capable mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android. Each supports price alerts, offers 30 technical studies, lets you draw trendlines, and auto-saves your chart annotations—handy for tracking setups on the go. Whether you trade forex or CFDs, the core charting and alert tools are comparable across both apps.
The key difference is watchlists: Eightcap syncs symbols between the mobile app and your online account, while IC Markets does not. Both earn 4 out of 5 stars for mobile trading apps, but their rankings differ on ForexBrokers.com: IC Markets is #22 out of 63, and Eightcap is #39. Choose Eightcap if synced watchlists matter most; pick IC Markets if a higher third‑party ranking is a deciding factor.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
Eightcap
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | No | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
IC Markets vs Eightcap for market research: both brokers deliver daily market commentary, an economic calendar, and a sentiment tool that shows the long/short split across instruments. IC Markets stands out by adding forex news from top‑tier sources such as Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones, plus third‑party tools from Autochartist and Trading Central for technical and fundamental insights. Eightcap doesn’t offer Autochartist or Trading Central, but it does include research from Acuity Trading (Signal Centre). Neither broker provides TipRanks.
For ratings, IC Markets scores 4 stars and ranks #23 out of 63 brokers for Research on ForexBrokers.com, while Eightcap scores 3.5 stars and ranks #40. Traders who want premium news and integrated technical ideas may prefer IC Markets, while those who value signals from Acuity Trading could favor Eightcap. Both cover the essentials—commentary, calendar, and sentiment—to support everyday trading decisions.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
Eightcap
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
| Trading Central | Yes | No |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | Yes |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
Both IC Markets and Eightcap provide forex and CFD education that meets the minimum standard of at least 10 pieces, including videos and other materials. Each broker runs ongoing client webinars (at least monthly) and offers 10+ beginner-focused videos that walk you through trading basics, platform tips, and common strategies—helpful for anyone just starting out.
Where they differ is in depth for more experienced learners. IC Markets also supplies 10+ advanced trading videos, while Eightcap does not. That gap shows up in third‑party evaluations: IC Markets earns 4 stars for Education and ranks #16 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, whereas Eightcap earns 3.5 stars and ranks #40. If you want beginner lessons with room to grow into advanced topics, IC Markets is the stronger pick; if you mainly need foundational content and regular webinars, Eightcap covers the essentials.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
Eightcap
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
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
|
Eightcap
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
|
| Trust Score | 84 | 85 |
| Range of Investments |
|
|
| Commissions & Fees |
|
|
| Platforms & Tools |
|
|
| Research |
|
|
| Mobile Trading |
|
|
| Education |
|
|
IC Markets vs Eightcap: neither broker supports buying actual (delivered) cryptocurrency, but both offer trading in cryptocurrency CFDs.
IC Markets vs Eightcap: both online brokers support PayPal, Skrill, and bank wire transfers for deposits and withdrawals, do not support ACH or SEPA, and Visa/Mastercard availability is not specified.
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 | IC Markets | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Commissions & Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Platforms & Tools |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 84 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IC Markets Review | Eightcap Review |
| Broker Screenshots | IC Markets | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
|
|
| 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 | 2 |
| 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, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | IC Markets | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 3583 | 803 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 61 | 55 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | 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 | IC Markets | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.62 | 1.0 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.62 | 0.76 | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | IC Markets | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $200 | $100 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | IC Markets | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | No | No | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes | |
| cTrader | Yes | No |
| Trading Tools | IC Markets | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 30 | |
| 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 Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | No | Yes | |
| 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 | IC Markets | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | IC Markets | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | IC Markets | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | IC Markets Review | Eightcap Review |
| Overall | IC Markets | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Commissions & Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Platforms & Tools |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 84 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IC Markets Review | Eightcap Review |
IG
CMC Markets
FOREX.com
XTB
eToro
AvaTrade
Plus500
Pepperstone
FP Markets
Tickmill