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eToro vs IFC Markets 2025

ForexBrokers.com

Written by ForexBrokers.com

February 05, 2025

In this head to head comparison of eToro vs IFC Markets, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.

eToro
4.5/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: $50-$10,000
  • Trust Score: 96
  • Tradeable Symbols (Total): 7441
IFC Markets
4/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: $1
  • Trust Score: 73
  • Tradeable Symbols (Total): 630

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.

Regulation

eToro vs IFC Markets: eToro, founded in 2007, is publicly traded and not a bank; IFC Markets, founded in 2006, is privately held and also not a bank. On ForexBrokers.com’s 99-point Trust Score—where 90–99 is highly trusted, 80–89 trusted, 70–79 average risk, 60–69 high risk, and under 59 not trusted—eToro scores 96 (highly trusted), while IFC Markets scores 73 (average risk).

Regulation is a key difference. eToro holds 4 Tier-1 licenses (considered highly trusted by ForexBrokers.com) and 1 Tier-2 license, compared with IFC Markets’ 0 Tier-1 licenses and 1 Tier-2 license. This stronger regulatory footprint helps explain eToro’s higher Trust Score and can matter to traders seeking a well-regulated online broker.

Feature eToro logoeToro
IFC Markets logoIFC Markets
Year Founded info 2007 2006
Publicly Traded (Listed) info Yes No
Bank info No No
Tier-1 Licenses info 4 0
Tier-2 Licenses info 1 1
Tier-3 Licenses info 0 0
Tier-4 Licenses info 1 1

Fees

eToro is a market-maker broker with a typical variable spread of 1 pip on EUR/USD, which is slightly higher than the industry average. Many retail traders choose eToro more for its social copy trading features than for ultra-low spreads. eToro also runs a five-tier VIP program (eToro Club) for balances from $5,000 to $250,000, offering perks like access to Trading Central, discounted withdrawal and deposit fees, and a dedicated account manager. For commissions and fees, eToro earns 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #23 out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com.

IFC Markets lists an average EUR/USD spread of 1.44, above the industry average of 1.08. Active traders can lower costs with IFC Markets’ ECN account, where effective spreads are about 1.1 pips after a 0.005% commission on both sides of each trade. The broker does not charge inactivity fees and offers active trader discounts, which can further reduce expenses. IFC Markets is rated 4 out of 5 stars for commissions and fees and ranks #40 out of 63 on ForexBrokers.com.

In short, eToro’s appeal lies in copy trading and VIP-style benefits, while IFC Markets can trim costs for frequent traders through its ECN setup and lack of inactivity fees. Both brokers’ default EUR/USD pricing sits above the industry average, so the better fit depends on whether you value social features and membership perks (eToro) or an ECN option and potential discounts for active trading (IFC Markets).

Feature eToro logoeToro
IFC Markets logoIFC Markets
Minimum Deposit info $50-$10,000 $1
Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard info 1 info 1.44 info
All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active info N/A 1.1 info
Active Trader or VIP Discounts info Yes Yes
ACH or SEPA Transfers info Yes No
PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes No
Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes No
Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) info Yes Yes
Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes Yes

Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.

Featured Offers


Range of investments

Comparing the range of investments at eToro vs IFC Markets, eToro offers far more choice with 7,441 tradeable symbols versus 630 at IFC Markets. For currency traders, eToro lists 55 forex pairs while IFC Markets lists 49, and both brokers let you trade forex via CFDs or spot. Copy trading is available at both, and each supports cryptocurrency derivatives.

Where they differ is access to actual assets: eToro lets clients buy real, exchange-traded shares on both U.S. and international exchanges, and it also supports purchasing actual cryptocurrencies in addition to derivatives. IFC Markets offers exchange-traded shares on international markets but not U.S. shares, and it does not support buying the underlying crypto. Reflecting this broader menu, ForexBrokers.com rates eToro 5/5 for Range of Investments (ranked 11 of 63) versus IFC Markets at 3.5/5 (ranked 44 of 63).

Feature eToro logoeToro
IFC Markets logoIFC Markets
Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) info Yes Yes
Tradeable Symbols (Total) info 7441 630
Forex Pairs (Total) info 55 49
U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) info Yes No
Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) info Yes Yes
Social Trading / Copy Trading info Yes Yes
Cryptocurrency (Physical) info Yes No
Cryptocurrency (Derivative) info 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.

Trading platforms and tools

Comparing eToro vs IFC Markets for trading platforms and tools: both brokers offer free demo (paper) accounts and their own proprietary platforms. eToro focuses on a clean, web-based platform and social features like copy trading, but does not provide a Windows desktop download or MetaTrader support. IFC Markets offers both web and Windows desktop platforms, supports copy trading, and adds MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5. Neither broker supports DupliTrade or ZuluTrade.

For charting, indicator totals aren’t specified, but eToro lists 73 drawing tools versus 15 at IFC Markets, and both let you place trades directly from charts. Watchlists are customizable with six columns at eToro and seven at IFC Markets. In independent ratings for Trading Platforms and Tools, eToro scores 4.5/5 (ranked #8 of 63), while IFC Markets scores 4/5 (ranked #37 of 63). Choose eToro if you want a streamlined web experience and social trading; pick IFC Markets if you need MetaTrader and a downloadable Windows platform.

Feature eToro logoeToro
IFC Markets logoIFC Markets
Virtual Trading (Demo) info Yes Yes
Proprietary Platform info Yes Yes
Desktop Platform (Windows) info No Yes
Web Platform info Yes Yes
Social Trading / Copy Trading info Yes Yes
MetaTrader 4 (MT4) info No Yes
MetaTrader 5 (MT5) info No Yes
DupliTrade info No No
ZuluTrade info No No
Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) info 106 30
Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) info 73 15
Charting - Trade From Chart info Yes Yes
Watchlists - Total Fields info 6 7

Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.

Forex trading apps

Both eToro and IFC Markets offer full-featured mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android. Each app supports real-time quotes, price alerts, synced watchlists across devices, and multiple chart time frames. In independent testing by ForexBrokers.com, eToro earned 4.5 stars and ranked #10 out of 63 brokers for Mobile Trading Apps, while IFC Markets earned 4 stars and ranked #53.

For charting, eToro packs in 104 technical indicators, making it appealing if you lean on indicator-driven analysis. However, it does not support drawing trendlines and it doesn’t auto-save drawings. IFC Markets offers fewer indicators (30) but adds helpful extras for manual chart work, including trendline drawing and auto-saving of drawings. If you want deep indicator choice, eToro stands out; if you prefer sketching trendlines and keeping your annotations saved, IFC Markets is the better fit.

Feature eToro logoeToro
IFC Markets logoIFC Markets
Android App info Yes Yes
Apple iOS App info Yes Yes
Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields info Yes Yes
Watchlist Syncing info Yes Yes
Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies info 104 30
Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines info No Yes
Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames info Yes Yes
Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave info No Yes
Mobile Watchlist info Yes Yes

Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.

Market research

Comparing eToro vs IFC Markets for market research, both brokers deliver daily market commentary, sentiment tools that show long/short positioning, and an economic calendar. The differences show up in third‑party content: eToro streams forex news from top-tier sources such as Bloomberg/Reuters/Dow Jones, while IFC Markets does not. eToro also adds Trading Central tools and TipRanks stock research; IFC Markets lacks both. Neither broker offers Autochartist or Acuity Trading tools.

These features help explain the ratings: eToro earns 4.5 out of 5 stars for Research and ranks #13 out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, while IFC Markets scores 3.5 stars and ranks #41. If you want richer news and third‑party analytics, eToro is the stronger pick; if your needs are basic commentary, sentiment, and a calendar, IFC Markets covers the essentials.

Feature eToro logoeToro
IFC Markets logoIFC Markets
Daily Market Commentary info Yes Yes
Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) info Yes No
Autochartist info No No
Trading Central (Recognia) info Yes No
Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs info Yes Yes
TipRanks info Yes No
Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) info No No
Economic Calendar info Yes Yes

Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.

Beginners and education

When comparing the educational resources available for beginners on eToro and IFC Markets, both platforms provide a solid foundation with a wide array of materials, including at least ten pieces each focused on forex or CFDs. Additionally, each offers more than ten beginner educational videos covering essential trading topics. Where eToro stands out is in its commitment to providing ongoing learning opportunities through monthly online webinars and a comprehensive archive of past sessions. This feature enhances accessibility and allows learners to revisit valuable content at their own pace, giving eToro an edge in interactive education.

Both eToro and IFC Markets cater to more experienced traders with a robust selection of advanced educational videos, ensuring continued education beyond the beginner level. Each platform also features an extensive investor dictionary, making these terms easily understandable. In a broader context, eToro achieves a higher education rating (4.5 stars) compared to IFC Markets (3.5 stars), reflecting its richer and more dynamic educational offerings. Rankings by ForexBrokers.com place eToro in the top tier, ranking it 5th out of 63 brokers for education, indicating a stronger emphasis and execution of educational resources, while IFC Markets lands at 30th. This suggests that beginners might find eToro a more engaging and comprehensive option for learning about online trading.

Feature eToro logoeToro
IFC Markets logoIFC Markets
Education (Forex or CFDs) info Yes Yes
Client Webinars info Yes No
Client Webinars (Archived) info Yes No
Videos - Beginner Trading Videos info Yes Yes
Videos - Advanced Trading Videos info Yes Yes
Investor Dictionary (Glossary) info Yes Yes

Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.

Winner

After testing 63 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that eToro is better than IFC Markets. eToro finished with an overall rank of #9, while IFC Markets finished with an overall rank of #45.

eToro is a winner for its easy-to-use copy-trading platform, where traders can copy the trades of experienced investors – or receive exclusive perks for sharing their own trading strategies.

Feature eToro logoeToro
IFC Markets logoIFC Markets
Overall Rating info 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Trust Score info 96 73
Range of Investments 5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Commissions & Fees 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Platforms & Tools 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Research 4.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Mobile Trading 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Education 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars

FAQs

Can you trade cryptocurrency with eToro or IFC Markets?

In comparing online broker platforms, eToro offers the ability to purchase both actual cryptocurrency and cryptocurrency derivatives, whereas IFC Markets provides options solely for trading cryptocurrency derivatives.

What funding options does each broker offer?

In comparing online brokers, eToro offers a more extensive range of deposit and withdrawal options than IFC Markets, providing ACH or SEPA transfers, PayPal, and Skrill alongside Visa, Mastercard, and bank wires, whereas IFC Markets only supports Visa, Mastercard, and bank wire transactions.




announcementPlease 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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Compare

0 of 5
Overall Rating eToro IFC Markets
Overall Rating info 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Commissions & Fees 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Range of Investments 5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Platforms & Tools 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Mobile Trading 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Research 4.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Education 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Trust Score info 96 73
Winner check_circle
Review eToro Review
Broker Screenshots eToro IFC Markets
Broker Gallery (click to expand) info
Regulation eToro IFC Markets
Trust Score info 96 73
Year Founded info 2007 2006
Publicly Traded (Listed) info Yes No
Bank info No No
Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). info Yes info
Tier-1 Licenses info 4 0
Tier-2 Licenses info 1 1
Tier-3 Licenses info 0 0
Tier-4 Licenses info 1 1
Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) eToro IFC Markets
Australia (ASIC Authorised) info Yes
Canada (CIRO Authorised) info No
Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) info No
Japan (SFC Authorised) info No
Singapore (MAS Authorised) info Yes
Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) info
United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) info Yes
USA (CFTC Authorized) info No
New Zealand (FMA Authorised) info No
Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). info Yes info
Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) eToro IFC Markets
Kenya (CMA Authorised) info
Israel (ISA Authorised) info No
South Africa (FSCA Authorised) info No Yes
UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) info Yes info
India (SEBI Authorised) info No
Jordan (JSC Authorised) info
Investments eToro IFC Markets
Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) info Yes Yes
Tradeable Symbols (Total) info 7441 630
Forex Pairs (Total) info 55 49
U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) info Yes No
Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) info Yes Yes
Social Trading / Copy Trading info Yes Yes
Cryptocurrency (Physical) info Yes No
Cryptocurrency (Derivative) info 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 eToro IFC Markets
Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard info 1 info 1.44 info
All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active info N/A 1.1 info
Active Trader or VIP Discounts info Yes Yes
Inactivity Fee info Yes No
Execution: Agency Broker info Yes Yes
Execution: Market Maker info Yes Yes
Funding eToro IFC Markets
Minimum Deposit info $50-$10,000 $1
PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes No
Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes No
Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) info Yes Yes
Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes Yes
ACH or SEPA Transfers info Yes No
Trading Platforms eToro IFC Markets
Proprietary Platform info Yes Yes
Desktop Platform (Windows) info No Yes
Web Platform info Yes Yes
Social Trading / Copy Trading info Yes Yes
MetaTrader 4 (MT4) info No Yes
MetaTrader 5 (MT5) info No Yes
cTrader info No No
DupliTrade info No No
ZuluTrade info No No
Trading Tools eToro IFC Markets
Virtual Trading (Demo) info Yes Yes
Alerts - Basic Fields info Yes Yes
Watchlists - Total Fields info 6 7
Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) info 106 30
Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) info 73 15
Charting - Trade From Chart info Yes Yes
Charts can be saved info Yes Yes
Mobile Trading eToro IFC Markets
Android App info Yes Yes
Apple iOS App info Yes Yes
Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields info Yes Yes
Mobile Watchlist info Yes Yes
Watchlist Syncing info Yes Yes
Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies info 104 30
Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines info No Yes
Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames info Yes Yes
Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave info No Yes
Mobile Economic Calendar info No Yes
Research eToro IFC Markets
Daily Market Commentary info Yes Yes
Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) info Yes No
Autochartist info No No
Trading Central (Recognia) info Yes No
TipRanks info Yes No
Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs info Yes Yes
Economic Calendar info Yes Yes
Education eToro IFC Markets
Education (Forex or CFDs) info Yes Yes
Client Webinars info Yes No
Client Webinars (Archived) info Yes No
Videos - Beginner Trading Videos info Yes Yes
Videos - Advanced Trading Videos info Yes Yes
Investor Dictionary (Glossary) info Yes Yes
Major Forex Pairs eToro IFC Markets
GBP/USD info Yes Yes
USD/JPY info Yes Yes
EUR/USD info Yes Yes
USD/CHF info Yes Yes
USD/CAD info Yes Yes
NZD/USD info Yes Yes
AUD/USD info Yes Yes
Review eToro Review
Overall eToro IFC Markets
Overall Rating info 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Commissions & Fees 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Range of Investments 5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Platforms & Tools 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Mobile Trading 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Research 4.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Education 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Trust Score info 96 73
Winner check_circle
Review eToro Review
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