Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Eightcap 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.
Eightcap (founded 2009) and IFC Markets (founded 2006) are online brokers that are not publicly traded and are not banks. According to ForexBrokers.com, Eightcap carries a Trust Score of 87/99 (trusted), while IFC Markets scores 73/99 (average risk).
Regulatory standing favors Eightcap: it holds three Tier-1 licenses (considered highly trusted by ForexBrokers.com) and one Tier-2 license (trusted). IFC Markets holds one Tier-1 license and no Tier-2 licenses. For context, ForexBrokers.com Trust Scores of 90–99 are highly trusted, 80–89 trusted, 70–79 average risk, 60–69 high risk, and under 59 not trusted.
| Feature |
Eightcap
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2009 | 2006 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 3 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 5 |
Eightcap generally has lower trading costs than IFC Markets when it comes to commissions and fees. Eightcap offers two main account types: a spread-only Standard account and a commission-based Raw account. On the Raw account, the average spread is 0.06 pips, and once the $3.50 per-side commission is included, the all-in cost is about 0.76 pips. That is slightly better than the industry average of 0.8 pips, and it helps explain why Eightcap is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranked #20 out of 36 brokers for commissions and fees by ForexBrokers.com.
IFC Markets is a bit less competitive on pricing for most traders. Its average EUR/USD spread is 1.44 pips, which is higher than the industry average of 1.08 pips. For active traders, IFC Markets’ ECN account can be more appealing, with effective spreads around 1.1 pips after the 0.005% commission on both sides of a trade. It also stands out for having no inactivity fees and offering active trader discounts, but overall it is still rated 4 out of 5 stars and ranked #34 out of 36 brokers in the commissions and fees category.
In simple terms, Eightcap is the better pick if lower trading costs are your main priority, while IFC Markets may suit traders who value its ECN pricing options and fee-free inactivity policy. Both brokers are relatively close in quality, but Eightcap comes out ahead on overall cost efficiency.
| Feature |
Eightcap
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | $1 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Spread-only account | 1.0 | 1.44 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | 0.76 | 1.1 |
| Non-wire bank transfer (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
Eightcap and IFC Markets both give traders access to forex as CFDs or spot contracts, and each also offers cryptocurrency CFDs, but neither lets clients buy actual crypto. When it comes to choice, Eightcap has the edge overall with 803 tradeable symbols and 55 forex pairs, compared with IFC Markets’ 630 symbols and 49 forex pairs. That broader lineup may appeal to traders who want a wider selection of markets in one account.
IFC Markets stands out for offering exchange traded securities on international exchanges, such as overseas shares, while Eightcap does not offer these products. IFC Markets also supports copy trading, which Eightcap does not. Even so, both brokers earn the same 3.5 out of 5 stars for Range of Investments, though Eightcap ranks slightly higher at #31 out of 36 brokers, versus IFC Markets at #33.
| Feature |
Eightcap
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 803 | 630 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 55 | 49 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | 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). |
Dive deeper: Best Copy Trading Platforms.
Eightcap and IFC Markets both give traders a choice of desktop and web-based platforms, plus free demo accounts for paper trading. Each broker supports MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, and both let users place trades directly from charts. In ForexBrokers.com’s Trading Platforms and Tools review, both brokers are rated 4 out of 5 stars, though IFC Markets is ranked a little higher at #32 out of 36, compared with Eightcap at #34.
The main difference is that IFC Markets also offers its own proprietary platform and copy trading, while Eightcap does not. That makes IFC Markets a better fit for traders who want more built-in platform options and the ability to follow other traders, while Eightcap may appeal to those who are happy using the familiar MetaTrader setup. For platform choice overall, both brokers cover the basics well, but IFC Markets offers a bit more variety.
| Feature |
Eightcap
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | No | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 100 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Eightcap and IFC Markets both offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, along with price alerts, watchlist syncing, trendline drawing, and automatic saving of chart drawings. Each broker also earns a 4-star rating for mobile trading apps, so in everyday use they both cover the core features most traders look for when managing trades on the go.
The main difference is in charting tools. Eightcap offers 100 technical studies in its mobile app, while IFC Markets provides 30, which gives Eightcap a clearer edge for traders who want more chart analysis options on their phone. That extra range likely helps explain why Eightcap is ranked #34 out of 36 brokers for mobile trading apps, compared with IFC Markets at #37 out of 36.
| Feature |
Eightcap
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 100 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
Eightcap and IFC Markets offer a similar level of market research overall, with each providing daily market commentary, a sentiment tool that shows long and short positioning, and an economic calendar for upcoming global events. Neither broker includes forex news from major outlets like Bloomberg or Reuters, and neither offers research tools from Autochartist, Trading Central, or TipRanks.
The main difference is that Eightcap includes research tools from Acuity Trading, such as Signal Centre, while IFC Markets does not. Even so, both brokers are rated 3.5 out of 5 stars for Research, although IFC Markets is ranked slightly higher by ForexBrokers.com at #33 out of 36, compared with Eightcap at #35 out of 36.
| Feature |
Eightcap
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | No |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central | No | No |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Acuity Trading | Yes | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
For beginners looking to learn the basics, both Eightcap and IFC Markets offer a fair amount of educational content, including at least 10 beginner-friendly videos focused on trading topics. Neither broker offers monthly live educational webinars, and neither stands out as a clear leader in forex or CFD education overall. Both are rated 3.5 out of 5 stars for Education, so they sit at a similar level when it comes to helping new traders get started.
That said, IFC Markets has a slight edge for traders who want to keep learning after the basics, since it offers at least 10 advanced educational videos, while Eightcap does not. This difference is also reflected in their ForexBrokers.com rankings for Education, where IFC Markets is placed #26 out of 36 brokers, ahead of Eightcap at #33. For beginners, both can be useful, but IFC Markets offers a bit more room to grow.
| Feature |
Eightcap
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | No | No |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | No | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 63 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that Eightcap is better than IFC Markets. Eightcap finished with an overall rank of #30, while IFC Markets finished with an overall rank of #36.
Eightcap enhances its status as a MetaTrader-only broker with support for a suite of third-party plug-ins, including TradingView.
| Feature |
Eightcap
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
|
| Trust Score | 87 | 73 |
| Range of Investments |
|
|
| Trading Fees |
|
|
| Trading Platforms |
|
|
| Research |
|
|
| Mobile Trading |
|
|
| Education |
|
|
In our Eightcap vs IFC Markets comparison, neither broker lets you buy actual delivered cryptocurrencies, but both support cryptocurrency CFD trading.
Eightcap vs IFC Markets: both brokers do not support ACH or SEPA and both allow bank wire transfers, but only Eightcap supports PayPal and Skrill for deposits and withdrawals.
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 | Eightcap | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Trading Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Trading Platforms |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 87 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Eightcap Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Eightcap | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
|
| Regulation | Eightcap | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 87 | 73 | |
| Year Founded | 2009 | 2006 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | ||
| Tier-1 Licenses | 3 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 5 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Eightcap | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | ||
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | ||
| Japan (FSA Authorised) | No | ||
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | No | ||
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | |||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | No | ||
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | ||
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Eightcap | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | ||
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or CMA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | ||
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | Eightcap | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 803 | 630 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 55 | 49 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | 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). |
| Cost | Eightcap | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Spread-only account | 1.0 | 1.44 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | 0.76 | 1.1 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Eightcap | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | $1 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | Eightcap | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | No | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Eightcap | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 100 | 30 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Eightcap | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 100 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Eightcap | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | No | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Eightcap | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | No | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | No | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Eightcap | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| Review | Eightcap Review |
| Overall | Eightcap | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Trading Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Trading Platforms |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 87 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Eightcap Review |
IG
FOREX.com
CMC Markets
XTB
eToro
Capital.com
AvaTrade
XM
Pepperstone
FP Markets
Tickmill
HFM Markets