Written by ForexBrokers.com
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.
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.
eToro vs IFC Markets: for regulation and safety, eToro (founded 2007) is publicly traded and not a bank. It holds four Tier-1 licenses (the most trusted category) and one Tier-2 license. IFC Markets (founded 2006) is not publicly traded and is not a bank, with one Tier-1 license and no Tier-2 licenses.
Per ForexBrokers.com, eToro’s Trust Score is 97/99 (90–99 = highly trusted). IFC Markets scores 73/99 (70–79 = average risk). On this scale, 80–89 is trusted, 60–69 is high risk, and below 59 should not be trusted. These ratings help indicate each broker’s oversight and potential risk.
| Feature |
eToro
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2007 | 2006 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 5 |
When it comes to commissions and fees, eToro and IFC Markets are both rated 4 out of 5 stars, but eToro has the edge in the ForexBrokers.com ranking at #23 out of 36 brokers, compared with IFC Markets at #33. eToro is a market-maker broker with a typical variable spread of 1 pip on EUR/USD, which is a bit above the industry average. Most retail traders are drawn to eToro less for low spreads and more for its social copy trading features.
IFC Markets is also rated 4 out of 5 stars for commissions and fees, but its pricing is a little less competitive overall. Its average EUR/USD spread is 1.44 pips, above the industry average of 1.08. That said, active traders may find better value with IFC Markets’ ECN account, where the effective spread comes to about 1.1 pips after the 0.005% commission on both sides of a trade.
For extra savings, eToro’s VIP program, called eToro Club, offers five tiers from Silver to Diamond for balances between $5,000 and $250,000, with perks like Trading Central access, lower deposit and withdrawal fees, and a dedicated account manager. IFC Markets does not charge inactivity fees and also offers active trader discounts, which can help lower costs for more frequent trading.
| Feature |
eToro
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $50-$10,000 | $1 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Spread-only account | 1 | 1.44 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | 1 | 1.1 |
| Non-wire bank transfer (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
When it comes to range of investments, eToro offers a much wider selection than IFC Markets. eToro lists 7,441 tradeable symbols and 65 forex pairs, compared with 630 symbols and 49 forex pairs at IFC Markets. Both brokers support forex trading as CFDs or spot contracts, offer copy trading, and let clients trade international exchange-listed shares. However, only eToro also gives access to U.S.-listed exchange traded securities, such as Apple shares.
Crypto access is another key difference. eToro lets users buy actual cryptocurrency as well as cryptocurrency CFDs, while IFC Markets offers only crypto CFDs. These differences help explain why eToro receives a 5-star rating for Range of Investments and ranks #10 out of 36 brokers from ForexBrokers.com, while IFC Markets is rated 3.5 stars and ranked #32.
| Feature |
eToro
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 7441 | 630 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 65 | 49 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | Yes | 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.
eToro and IFC Markets both give traders a free demo account, a web-based platform, a proprietary platform, copy trading, and the ability to place trades directly from charts. That means each broker covers the basics well for people who want to test ideas, trade from a browser, or follow other traders. eToro stands out for its simpler platform setup and user-friendly design, while IFC Markets offers a broader range of platform options for traders who want more flexibility.
The biggest difference is that IFC Markets supports both MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, plus a Windows desktop download platform, while eToro does not offer those choices. On Trading Platforms and Tools, eToro is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #8 out of 36 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, compared with IFC Markets at 4 out of 5 stars and #31. For traders comparing platform access and tool selection, eToro is the stronger choice overall, but IFC Markets may appeal more to those who prefer MetaTrader and desktop trading.
| Feature |
eToro
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | No | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 106 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
eToro and IFC Markets both make mobile trading easy with iPhone and Android apps, plus price alerts and watchlist syncing between the app and online account. Each app also lets you draw trendlines on charts, so traders can keep track of market moves on the go. For everyday use, both brokers cover the basics well and offer the convenience most mobile traders expect.
Where eToro stands out is charting depth and overall mobile app quality. Its app offers 104 technical studies, compared with 30 at IFC Markets, and it has a higher Mobile Trading Apps rating of 4.5 stars versus 4 stars. eToro is also ranked #10 out of 36 brokers for mobile trading apps, while IFC Markets sits at #36, making eToro the stronger choice for traders who want more chart tools and a better-rated mobile experience.
| Feature |
eToro
|
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 | 104 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | No | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
eToro and IFC Markets both provide daily market commentary, a sentiment tool that shows long and short positioning, and an economic calendar with upcoming global events. Each platform also gives traders a steady flow of market updates, which can help with day-to-day decision-making. That said, eToro has a clear edge in research depth because it includes forex news from top sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones, plus market research from TipRanks, while IFC Markets does not offer those extras.
Neither broker includes research tools from Autochartist, Trading Central, or Acuity Trading. Still, eToro stands out overall for market research, earning 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranking #12 out of 36 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, compared with IFC Markets’ 3.5-star rating and #33 ranking. For traders who want a broader mix of third-party news and research, eToro is the stronger option.
| Feature |
eToro
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central | No | No |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | Yes | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
For beginners looking for trading education, eToro stands out over IFC Markets. eToro offers forex and CFDs learning materials, holds online educational webinars at least once a month, and provides more than 10 beginner videos as well as more than 10 advanced videos. It is also highly rated for Education, with 4.5 out of 5 stars and a #3 ranking out of 36 brokers by ForexBrokers.com. This makes eToro a stronger choice for new traders who want regular lessons and a wide range of learning content.
IFC Markets also offers at least 10 beginner videos and at least 10 advanced videos, but it does not provide monthly educational webinars. It also falls behind eToro in overall Education results, with a 3.5-star rating and a #26 ranking out of 36 brokers. For beginners who want more frequent learning support and more forex or CFDs education, eToro is the better fit, while IFC Markets may suit traders who mainly want access to basic video lessons.
| Feature |
eToro
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
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 #35.
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
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 97 | 73 |
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Compared with IFC Markets, which only offers cryptocurrency trading via CFDs, eToro lets you buy both actual (delivered) cryptocurrencies and cryptocurrency CFDs.
eToro vs IFC Markets: eToro supports ACH/SEPA transfers, PayPal, Skrill, and bank wire deposits/withdrawals, while IFC Markets offers only bank wire transfers and does not support ACH/SEPA, PayPal, or Skrill; Visa/Mastercard availability is not specified for either broker.
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 | eToro | IFC Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 97 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | eToro Review |
| Broker Screenshots | eToro | IFC Markets | |
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| Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Regulation | eToro | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 97 | 73 | |
| Year Founded | 2007 | 2006 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | ||
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 5 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | eToro | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | ||
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | ||
| Japan (FSA Authorised) | No | ||
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | ||
| 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) | eToro | 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 | eToro | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 7441 | 630 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 65 | 49 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | Yes | 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 | eToro | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Spread-only account | 1 | 1.44 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | 1 | 1.1 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | eToro | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $50-$10,000 | $1 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | eToro | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | No | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | eToro | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 106 | 30 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | eToro | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 104 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | No | Yes |
| Research | eToro | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central | No | No | |
| TipRanks | Yes | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | eToro | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | eToro | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | eToro Review |
| Overall | eToro | IFC Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 97 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | eToro Review |
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