Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of FOREX.com vs IC 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.
FOREX.com and IC Markets are well-known online brokers, but they differ in age, listing status, and perceived safety. FOREX.com was founded in 1999 and is publicly traded, while IC Markets started in 2007 and is privately held; neither is a bank. According to ForexBrokers.com’s Trust Score scale, FOREX.com earns 99/99 (highly trusted), and IC Markets scores 83/99 (trusted).
Regulation further separates the two. FOREX.com holds 7 Tier-1 licenses and 2 Tier-2 licenses, indicating broad oversight in top-tier jurisdictions. IC Markets holds 2 Tier-1 licenses and no Tier-2 licenses. On the ForexBrokers.com scale, Tier-1 regulators are considered highly trusted and Tier-2 trusted, which helps explain the difference in each broker’s Trust Score.
| Feature |
FOREX.com
|
IC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1999 | 2007 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 3 |
When comparing commissions and fees, IC Markets comes out ahead of FOREX.com for most low-cost traders. IC Markets earns a 5-star rating and ranks #5 out of 36 brokers at ForexBrokers.com for Commissions and Fees. Its pricing is designed for active forex traders, with very low spreads on the EUR/USD and commission-based accounts that keep all-in trading costs competitive. IC Markets also offers a commission-free Standard account, which can be a simple choice for traders who prefer spread-only pricing.
FOREX.com is still a solid choice, especially for traders who want different account types and transparent pricing, but it tends to be a bit more expensive overall. It holds a 4.5-star rating and ranks #15 out of 36 brokers for Commissions and Fees. FOREX.com’s Standard account has higher spreads, while its RAW Spread account offers lower spreads plus a commission, which can work better for active traders. For most U.S. traders, though, the overall cost difference between FOREX.com’s commission account and its Standard account is not very large unless trading volume is high.
In short, IC Markets is the better pick for lower fees, while FOREX.com may appeal more if you value platform options and account flexibility. Both brokers offer commission-based pricing, but IC Markets generally delivers cheaper trading costs, especially for frequent forex traders.
| Feature |
FOREX.com
|
IC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | $200 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.00 | 0.62 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.13 | 0.62 |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
FOREX.com offers a wider range of investments than IC Markets overall. It provides access to 5,500 tradeable symbols and 80 forex pairs, compared with 3,583 symbols and 61 forex pairs at IC Markets. Both brokers let you trade forex as either a CFD or spot contract, and both also offer cryptocurrency CFDs, but neither allows you to buy actual, delivered crypto. In this area, FOREX.com stands out for traders who want more market choice in one account.
There are also some key differences in stock investing and extra features. FOREX.com lets clients buy exchange traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges, while IC Markets only offers international shares, not U.S. listed stocks. IC Markets does have copy trading, which FOREX.com does not. Still, for range of investments, FOREX.com is rated higher overall with 5 out of 5 stars and is ranked #6 out of 36 brokers, while IC Markets holds a 4.5-star rating and ranks #22.
| Feature |
FOREX.com
|
IC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 5500 | 3583 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 80 | 61 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | 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). | 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.
FOREX.com and IC Markets both give traders a strong mix of platform choices, including free demo accounts, desktop downloads for Windows, web-based platforms, MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, and the ability to place trades directly from charts. FOREX.com also stands out for offering its own in-house trading platform, while IC Markets does not have a proprietary platform. In addition, IC Markets offers copy trading, which FOREX.com does not, making it a better fit for traders who want to follow and mirror other investors.
When it comes to trading platforms and tools overall, FOREX.com has the edge. It earns a 5-star rating and ranks #5 out of 36 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, compared with IC Markets’ 4-star rating and #17 ranking. For most traders, both brokers cover the basics well, but FOREX.com may appeal more to those who want a wider platform choice and a higher-rated trading experience, while IC Markets may suit users looking for copy trading alongside the standard platform options.
| Feature |
FOREX.com
|
IC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | No |
| 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) | 90 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
FOREX.com and IC Markets both make it easy to trade on the go, with iPhone and Android apps, price alerts, trendline drawing, and automatic saving for chart drawings. Both apps cover the basics well, so either broker gives mobile traders the tools they need to monitor the market and manage trades from a phone or tablet.
Where FOREX.com stands out is in charting and app integration. Its mobile app offers 90 technical studies, while IC Markets offers 30. FOREX.com also syncs watchlists between the mobile app and online account, which is helpful if you switch devices often; IC Markets does not offer this feature. These differences help explain why FOREX.com is rated 5 stars and ranked #2 out of 36 brokers for mobile trading apps, compared with IC Markets at 4 stars and #22.
| Feature |
FOREX.com
|
IC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 90 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
FOREX.com and IC Markets both give traders a strong set of market research tools. Each broker offers daily market commentary, news from top sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones, a sentiment tool showing long and short positioning, and an economic calendar for upcoming global events. Both also include Trading Central research tools, which can help traders spot possible trade ideas and market trends.
The main difference is that IC Markets also offers Autochartist, while FOREX.com does not. Even so, FOREX.com comes out ahead overall for market research, with a 5-star rating and a #7 ranking out of 36 brokers from ForexBrokers.com, compared with IC Markets’ 4-star rating and #21 ranking. If research depth matters to you, both are good choices, but FOREX.com has the edge overall.
| Feature |
FOREX.com
|
IC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | Yes |
| Trading Central | Yes | Yes |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
FOREX.com and IC Markets both give beginners plenty of ways to learn, with each offering forex and CFD education, regular online webinars, and at least 10 beginner videos plus 10 advanced videos. That means new traders can find a wide mix of basic lessons and more detailed trading topics at both brokers. For someone just starting out, either platform can help build core knowledge through articles, videos, and live sessions.
That said, FOREX.com has the edge for education overall. It holds a 5-star Education rating and ranks #4 out of 36 brokers with ForexBrokers.com, while IC Markets is rated 4 stars and ranks #16. In simple terms, both brokers support learning well, but FOREX.com is the stronger choice if educational resources are a top priority for beginners.
| Feature |
FOREX.com
|
IC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| 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 FOREX.com is better than IC Markets. FOREX.com finished with an overall rank of #4, while IC Markets finished with an overall rank of #21.
FOREX.com is a trusted brand that delivers an excellent trading experience for forex and CFDs traders across the globe. It offers a wide range of markets and provides an impressive suite of proprietary platforms – alongside limited access to MetaTrader.
| Feature |
FOREX.com
|
IC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 83 |
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FOREX.com vs IC Markets: Neither online broker offers actual (delivered) cryptocurrency, but both provide access to cryptocurrency CFDs (not the underlying asset).
FOREX.com vs IC Markets: for account deposits and withdrawals, FOREX.com supports ACH/SEPA transfers, PayPal, Skrill, and bank wires, while IC Markets offers PayPal, Skrill, and bank wires but not ACH/SEPA.
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 | FOREX.com | IC Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 83 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | FOREX.com Review | IC Markets Review |
| Broker Screenshots | FOREX.com | IC Markets | |
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| Regulation | FOREX.com | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 83 | |
| Year Founded | 1999 | 2007 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 2 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 1 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 3 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | FOREX.com | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (FSA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | No | ||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | Yes | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | FOREX.com | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | ||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | No | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or CMA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No |
| Investments | FOREX.com | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 5500 | 3583 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 80 | 61 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | 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). | 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 | FOREX.com | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.00 | 0.62 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.13 | 0.62 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | No | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | FOREX.com | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | $200 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | FOREX.com | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | No | |
| 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 | Yes |
| Trading Tools | FOREX.com | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 90 | 30 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | FOREX.com | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 90 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | FOREX.com | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | Yes | |
| Trading Central | Yes | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | FOREX.com | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | FOREX.com | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | FOREX.com Review | IC Markets Review |
| Overall | FOREX.com | IC Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 83 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | FOREX.com Review | IC Markets Review |
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