Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of FOREX.com 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.
FOREX.com, established in 1999, stands out in the online brokerage industry with a high Trust Score of 99, reflecting its reliability and credibility. Notably, it is publicly traded and holds seven Tier-1 licenses, which are regarded as highly trusted by ForexBrokers.com. This makes FOREX.com a standout option for those seeking a trusted platform for trading, even though it is not a bank.
On the other hand, IFC Markets, founded in 2006, offers a more moderate level of trust with a Trust Score of 73. While it holds one Tier-2 license, indicating a trusted status, it lacks any Tier-1 licenses. Unlike FOREX.com, IFC Markets is not publicly traded, which may influence investor confidence. Both FOREX.com and IFC Markets are not banks, maintaining their focus purely on online brokerage services.
| Feature |
FOREX.com
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1999 | 2006 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 0 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
FOREX.com’s pricing depends on your account type and location. In the U.S., the Standard account’s typical EUR/USD spread is about 1.4 pips (July 2023), while outside the U.S. we recorded a time‑weighted average of 0.74 pips for EUR/USD in July 2023. The RAW account targets lower spreads (about 0.13 pips on EUR/USD in February 2024) but adds a commission of $7 per standard lot ($3.50 per side), which is roughly 0.7 pips, bringing the effective cost close to 0.8–0.9 pips before volume rebates. Rebates range from $2 to $9 per million traded, though unless you trade more than $50 million per month, all‑in costs for U.S. residents tend to resemble the Standard account. Extremely high‑volume traders (over $2 billion monthly) can access the firm’s most aggressive pricing. Rating: 4.5/5 stars; Ranking: #14 of 63 for Commissions and Fees.
IFC Markets posts an average EUR/USD spread of 1.44 pips, which is above the industry average of 1.08. Its ECN account improves the picture, with an estimated effective spread around 1.1 pips after a 0.005% commission charged on both sides of the trade. There’s no inactivity fee, and active trader discounts can help trim costs further. Rating: 4/5 stars; Ranking: #40 of 63 for Commissions and Fees.
Bottom line: FOREX.com can deliver lower effective costs if you use the RAW account and qualify for rebates, and it may be cheaper outside the U.S. Even so, casual and mid‑volume U.S. traders may find the Standard account’s pricing similar to the RAW account once commission is included. IFC Markets is simpler, avoids inactivity fees, and gets more competitive with its ECN option, but on average its spreads are higher than FOREX.com’s best available pricing.
| Feature |
FOREX.com
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | $1 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.00 | 1.44 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.13 | 1.1 |
| Non-wire bank transfer | 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.
FOREX.com vs IFC Markets: both brokers support forex trading as CFDs or spot contracts and offer crypto CFDs (neither sells actual crypto). The big difference is scale: FOREX.com lists about 5,500 tradeable symbols and 80 forex pairs, while IFC Markets offers roughly 630 symbols and 49 pairs. If you want actual exchange-traded shares, FOREX.com provides access to U.S. stocks like Apple as well as international markets; IFC Markets offers actual shares on international exchanges but not on U.S. exchanges. Copy trading is available at IFC Markets, but not at FOREX.com.
For range of investments, FOREX.com is rated 5 stars and ranks 7th out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, whereas IFC Markets is rated 3.5 stars and ranks 44th. In short, FOREX.com suits traders seeking a very wide product list and U.S. share dealing, while IFC Markets may appeal if you want copy trading alongside forex and CFD instruments.
| Feature |
FOREX.com
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 5500 | 630 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 80 | 49 |
| 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). |
Dive deeper: Best Copy Trading Platforms.
FOREX.com and IFC Markets both make it easy to test strategies with a free demo (paper) trading account. Each broker offers an in-house platform plus Windows desktop and web-based platforms, and both let you place trades directly from charts. While the exact counts of built-in chart indicators and watch list columns aren’t specified, everyday analysis tools are available on both.
Both brokers support MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5). A key difference is copy trading: IFC Markets offers it, while FOREX.com does not. For Trading Platforms and Tools, ForexBrokers.com rates FOREX.com at 5 stars and ranks it 7th out of 63 brokers, while IFC Markets earns 4 stars and ranks 37th. If top-rated platforms and tools are your priority, FOREX.com has the edge; if you want copy trading, IFC Markets could be the better fit.
| Feature |
FOREX.com
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | 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) | 90 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Both FOREX.com and IFC Markets offer full-featured mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android. Each app includes price alerts, watchlist syncing with your online account, and handy charting tools like drawing trendlines with auto-save for your annotations. If you want a straightforward way to track markets on the go with synced lists and timely alerts, either app will meet the mark.
The biggest difference is charting depth and industry ratings. FOREX.com provides 90 technical studies in its mobile app, while IFC Markets offers 30. That added toolkit helps with deeper analysis on the small screen. According to ForexBrokers.com, FOREX.com earns 5 stars and ranks #3 out of 63 brokers for Mobile Trading Apps, whereas IFC Markets earns 4 stars and ranks #53. If you want the most advanced mobile charting and a top-rated experience, choose FOREX.com; if you only need the essentials, IFC Markets still covers the basics.
| Feature |
FOREX.com
|
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 | 90 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
Comparing research at FOREX.com vs IFC Markets, both brokers provide daily market commentary, an economic calendar for global events, and a sentiment tool that shows the ratio of long and short positions. The key differences are in news and third‑party analytics: FOREX.com streams forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones, while IFC Markets does not. FOREX.com also integrates Trading Central for technical and fundamental insights, which IFC Markets lacks. Neither broker offers Autochartist, TipRanks, or Acuity Trading tools.
These features are reflected in independent ratings: FOREX.com scores 4.5 out of 5 stars for Research and ranks #9 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while IFC Markets scores 3.5 stars and ranks #41. If you want premium news and Trading Central analysis built into your platform, FOREX.com is the stronger choice; if you mainly need daily commentary, sentiment data, and an economic calendar, both brokers cover the essentials.
| Feature |
FOREX.com
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central | Yes | No |
| 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 vs IFC Markets: beginner education compared. Both brokers provide sizable video libraries with at least 10 beginner videos and 10 advanced videos that explain trading topics in straightforward terms. If you learn best through live sessions, note that FOREX.com runs client webinars at least once a month, while IFC Markets does not offer ongoing educational webinars.
Independent ratings highlight the gap. For Education, ForexBrokers.com rates FOREX.com 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks it #4 out of 63 brokers. IFC Markets earns 3.5 stars and ranks #30. In short, beginners who want live instruction and higher-rated learning materials may prefer FOREX.com, while traders who are comfortable with on-demand videos can find useful lessons at either broker.
| Feature |
FOREX.com
|
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 FOREX.com is better than IFC Markets. FOREX.com finished with an overall rank of #5, while IFC Markets finished with an overall rank of #45.
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
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IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
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| Trust Score | 99 | 73 |
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FOREX.com vs IFC Markets: neither broker lets you buy real, delivered cryptocurrencies, but both offer cryptocurrency CFD trading.
In a head-to-head comparison of deposit and withdrawal options, FOREX.com supports ACH/SEPA, PayPal, Skrill, and bank wire transfers, while IFC Markets only supports bank wires and does not offer 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 | FOREX.com | IFC Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | FOREX.com Review |
| Broker Screenshots | FOREX.com | IFC Markets | |
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| Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Regulation | FOREX.com | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 73 | |
| Year Founded | 1999 | 2006 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | ||
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 0 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 1 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | FOREX.com | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | ||
| Japan (FSA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | No | ||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | Yes | ||
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | ||
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | FOREX.com | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | ||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | ||
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | ||
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No |
| Investments | FOREX.com | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 5500 | 630 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 80 | 49 | |
| 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). |
| Cost | FOREX.com | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.00 | 1.44 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.13 | 1.1 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | No | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | FOREX.com | 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 | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | FOREX.com | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | 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 | FOREX.com | IFC 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 | 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 | 90 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | FOREX.com | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | FOREX.com | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | FOREX.com | 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 | FOREX.com Review |
| Overall | FOREX.com | IFC Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | FOREX.com Review |
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