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.
IC Markets (founded 2007) and Eightcap (founded 2009) are online brokers that are not publicly traded and are not banks. On ForexBrokers.com’s 99-point Trust Score, IC Markets scores 83 and Eightcap scores 87—both fall in the 80–89 range, which is considered “trusted” (90–99 highly trusted, 70–79 average risk, 60–69 high risk, under 59 not trusted).
Looking at regulation, Eightcap holds three Tier-1 licenses and one Tier-2 license, while IC Markets holds two Tier-1 licenses and no Tier-2 licenses. Because Tier-1 regulators are viewed as highly trusted by ForexBrokers.com, Eightcap has a slight edge in regulatory coverage, though both brokers meet a trusted standard.
| 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 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 3 | 2 |
IC Markets and Eightcap both offer low-cost trading, but IC Markets has the edge on commissions and fees. IC Markets earned 5 stars and ranks #5 out of 36 brokers for Commissions and Fees, helped by tight spreads and low commission rates on its Raw Spread and cTrader Raw Spread accounts. Its cTrader account charges $3.00 per side per 100,000 units, while the MT4/MT5 Raw Spread account charges $3.50 per side. The commission-free Standard account is also competitive, with average EUR/USD spreads around 0.62 pips. IC Markets is especially appealing for active traders, and it even offers discounts for those trading more than 100 standard lots per month.
Eightcap is also a solid choice, but its pricing is a little higher overall. It earns 4.5 stars and ranks #20 out of 36 brokers for Commissions and Fees. On its commission-based Raw account, Eightcap lists average spreads of 0.06 pips, but after the $3.50 per side commission is added, the all-in cost is about 0.76 pips. That keeps it near the industry average, though not quite as cheap as IC Markets. Eightcap also offers a spread-only Standard account for traders who prefer simpler pricing.
In short, both brokers keep fees fairly low, but IC Markets is the better pick for cost-conscious traders. If you want the lower all-in trading cost and a stronger overall rating in this category, IC Markets comes out ahead. If you prefer Eightcap’s account setup and are comfortable with slightly higher fees, it still remains a competitive option.
| 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, making it the stronger choice for traders who want more variety in one platform. IC Markets lists 3,583 tradeable symbols and 61 forex pairs, compared with Eightcap’s 803 symbols and 55 forex pairs. Both brokers offer forex trading as a CFD or spot contract, and both support cryptocurrency CFDs, but neither lets clients buy actual cryptocurrency. IC Markets also stands out by offering exchange-traded securities on international exchanges and copy trading, while Eightcap does not offer those options.
For investors focused on range and flexibility, IC Markets has the edge overall. It does not offer U.S.-listed exchange-traded securities, just like Eightcap, but it still provides more market access thanks to its larger product list and international shares. This difference is reflected in third-party ratings as well, with IC Markets scoring 4.5 out of 5 for Range of Investments and ranking #22 out of 36 brokers, while Eightcap scores 3.5 out of 5 and ranks #29 out of 36.
| 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 | No |
| 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 give traders a similar set of platform choices for everyday use. Each broker offers a free demo account, Windows desktop download platforms, web-based trading, MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, and the ability to place trades directly from a chart. Neither broker has its own in-house platform, so users will be relying on third-party tools rather than a custom-built option. Based on ForexBrokers.com, both are rated 4 out of 5 stars for trading platforms and tools, which suggests a solid overall experience for most traders.
The biggest difference is copy trading: IC Markets offers it, while Eightcap does not. That may matter if you want to mirror other traders’ strategies instead of making every decision yourself. In the category ranking from ForexBrokers.com, IC Markets places higher at #17 out of 36 brokers, compared with Eightcap at #31 out of 36. For traders comparing platform features and tools, IC Markets has a slight edge, especially for those interested in copy trading.
| 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 | No |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 100 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
IC Markets and Eightcap both make it easy to trade from a phone, since each broker offers iPhone and Android apps, plus price alerts for stocks and forex. Both apps also let you draw trendlines on charts and save those drawings automatically, which is helpful if you like to track market moves on the go. Each broker earns a 4-star rating for mobile trading apps, so both are solid choices for everyday mobile use.
The main difference is in charting and watchlist syncing. Eightcap supports watchlist symbol syncing, so changes you make in the app carry over to your online account, while IC Markets does not. Eightcap also gives traders access to 100 technical studies in its mobile charts, compared with 30 at IC Markets. Even so, IC Markets ranks higher overall in ForexBrokers.com’s mobile apps category, coming in at #22 out of 36 brokers, while Eightcap ranks #31.
| 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 | 100 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
IC Markets edges ahead of Eightcap for market research, with a 4-star Research rating and a ForexBrokers.com ranking of #21 out of 36 brokers, compared with Eightcap’s 3.5 stars and #33 ranking. Both brokers provide daily market commentary, a sentiment tool, and an economic calendar, so traders can follow news flow, market mood, and upcoming events with either provider.
The main difference is in the depth of third-party research. IC Markets offers forex news from major sources such as Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones, plus tools from Autochartist and Trading Central, which can help with chart analysis and trade ideas. Eightcap does not offer those news and research sources, but it does include Acuity Trading’s Signal Centre, giving it a different kind of research support for traders who want alerts and ideas in a simpler format.
| 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.
For beginners looking for trading education, IC Markets has the edge over Eightcap. IC Markets offers forex and CFD learning content, monthly educational webinars, at least 10 beginner trading videos, and 10 advanced videos for more experienced traders. It is rated 4 out of 5 stars for Education and ranks #16 out of 36 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, which suggests a stronger overall learning setup for new traders who want room to grow.
Eightcap also provides at least 10 beginner videos and forex or CFD education materials, but it falls behind IC Markets in key areas. It does not offer monthly client webinars and does not have at least 10 advanced educational videos, which may matter for traders who want more live guidance and deeper learning content. Eightcap is rated 3.5 out of 5 stars for Education and ranks #31 out of 36, making it a more limited choice for beginners who want a wider range of educational support.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
Eightcap
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No |
| 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 #21, while Eightcap finished with an overall rank of #30.
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 | 83 | 87 |
| Range of Investments |
|
|
| Trading Fees |
|
|
| Trading Platforms |
|
|
| 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 |
|
| |
| Trading Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Trading Platforms |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 83 | 87 | |
| 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 | 83 | 87 | |
| 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 | 1 | |
| 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 (FSA 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 CMA 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 | No | |
| 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 | Yes | |
| 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 | No | |
| 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 | 100 | |
| 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 | 100 | |
| 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 | No | |
| 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 |
|
| |
| Trading Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Trading Platforms |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 83 | 87 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IC Markets Review | Eightcap Review |
IG
FOREX.com
CMC Markets
XTB
eToro
AvaTrade
Pepperstone
FP Markets
Tickmill