Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of FP Markets 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.
Comparing the online brokers FP Markets (founded 2005) and IFC Markets (founded 2006): neither is publicly traded or a bank. In terms of regulation, FP Markets holds 2 Tier-1 licenses (considered highly trusted by ForexBrokers.com) plus 1 Tier-2 license (trusted), while IFC Markets holds 1 Tier-1 license and no Tier-2 licenses.
Safety scores echo this difference. FP Markets earns a 90/99 Trust Score from ForexBrokers.com (highly trusted), whereas IFC Markets scores 73/99 (average risk). For context, ForexBrokers.com rates 90–99 as highly trusted, 80–89 trusted, 70–79 average risk, 60–69 high risk, and 59 or less not trusted.
| Feature |
FP Markets
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2005 | 2006 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 5 |
FP Markets is the stronger choice for commissions and fees, especially for traders who want low trading costs on its MetaTrader and cTrader accounts. Its Raw ECN account is the standout option, with very tight spreads that can work out to around 0.8 pips all-in on EUR/USD after commission, while the Standard account is more expensive. FP Markets also won Best in Class for Commissions and Fees in our 2024 Annual Awards. It is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranked #11 out of 36 brokers for commissions and fees by ForexBrokers.com.
IFC Markets is still a reasonable option, but its pricing is less competitive overall. Its average EUR/USD spread of 1.44 is above the industry average, though its ECN account lowers the effective cost to about 1.1 pips all-in after commission. The broker does not charge inactivity fees, and active traders may qualify for discounts, which helps a little. IFC Markets is rated 4 out of 5 stars and ranked #32 out of 36 brokers for commissions and fees by ForexBrokers.com.
In simple terms, FP Markets offers better value for most traders who care about keeping costs down, while IFC Markets may appeal more to those who can make use of its ECN pricing or active trader perks. If low spreads and lower overall trading costs are your main goal, FP Markets has the edge.
| Feature |
FP Markets
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 AUD | $1 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.3 | 1.44 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.9 | 1.1 |
| Non-wire bank transfer | 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.
FP Markets and IFC Markets both let clients trade forex as CFDs, offer copy trading, and provide cryptocurrency CFDs rather than actual crypto coins. Neither broker lets you buy exchange-traded U.S. shares directly, such as Apple stock. That said, FP Markets gives traders a much wider choice overall, with about 10,000 tradeable symbols and 71 forex pairs, compared with IFC Markets’ 630 symbols and 49 forex pairs.
Where IFC Markets does stand out is in access to international exchange-traded securities, which FP Markets does not offer. Even so, FP Markets comes out ahead on range of investments, earning 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranking #17 out of 36 brokers for this category, while IFC Markets scores 3.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #31. For most traders looking for more market choice, FP Markets is the broader pick, while IFC Markets may appeal if international shares are important to you.
| Feature |
FP Markets
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 10000 | 630 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 71 | 49 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | 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.
FP Markets and IFC Markets both give traders a wide set of platform choices, including free demo accounts, a proprietary in-house platform, Windows desktop downloads, browser-based trading, copy trading, and access to MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5. Each also lets users trade directly from charts, making it easier to place orders while watching price moves. In other words, both brokers cover the main tools most traders look for when comparing trading platforms.
Where they differ is in market standing. FP Markets is ranked #22 out of 36 brokers for Trading Platforms and Tools by ForexBrokers.com, while IFC Markets is ranked #29. Even so, both brokers are rated 4 out of 5 stars in this category, so the overall platform experience is viewed similarly. For traders who want a broker with strong platform variety and familiar tools, both are solid options.
| Feature |
FP Markets
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
FP Markets and IFC Markets both offer iPhone and Android apps, plus price alerts, trendline drawing, and automatic saving for chart drawings. Each broker also earns a 4-star rating for mobile trading apps, so both provide a solid on-the-go trading experience for everyday users.
The bigger difference is in features and app depth. IFC Markets stands out with watchlist symbol syncing, which lets changes update between the mobile app and online account, while FP Markets does not offer this. IFC Markets also includes 30 technical studies in its mobile charting tools, compared with FP Markets, which uses the default MetaTrader chart setup. In ForexBrokers.com’s mobile trading apps ranking, FP Markets places higher at #20 out of 36 brokers, while IFC Markets ranks #34.
| Feature |
FP Markets
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | No | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | MetaTrader (Default) | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
FP Markets and IFC Markets both give traders useful market research basics, including daily market commentary, a sentiment tool that shows long and short positioning, and an economic calendar with upcoming global news events. Both brokers also leave out research from TipRanks and Acuity Trading. For everyday market tracking, this means each platform offers core tools that can help traders stay informed about price moves and key economic releases.
FP Markets has the edge for deeper research coverage. It provides forex news from major sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones, plus tools from Autochartist and Trading Central, which IFC Markets does not offer. That wider mix helps explain why FP Markets earns a higher research score, at 4 stars versus 3.5 stars for IFC Markets, and ranks higher overall in ForexBrokers.com’s research category at #22 out of 36, compared with IFC Markets at #30.
| Feature |
FP Markets
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | Yes | 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.
FP Markets and IFC Markets both give beginners a good amount of learning material, including at least 10 beginner trading videos and at least 10 advanced videos for more experienced traders. Both brokers also offer forex or CFDs education through a wide range of learning content, so new traders can find basic market knowledge and more in-depth topics in one place. That said, FP Markets has a clearer edge for learners who want live teaching support, because it offers online educational client webinars at least once a month, while IFC Markets does not.
Overall, FP Markets comes out ahead for education with a 4-star rating and a #22 rank out of 36 brokers from ForexBrokers.com, compared with IFC Markets’ 3.5-star rating and #25 ranking. For beginners, this means both brokers can help you get started, but FP Markets may be the better fit if you want more regular guidance and live learning opportunities.
| Feature |
FP Markets
|
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 FP Markets is better than IFC Markets. FP Markets finished with an overall rank of #19, while IFC Markets finished with an overall rank of #33.
FP Markets shines as a low-cost broker for trading forex and CFDs – as long as you use the MetaTrader platform. The Iress platform suite offers well over 10,000 tradeable symbols, but it’s mostly a share trading platform – and is generally a much pricier option.
| Feature |
FP Markets
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IFC Markets
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|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 90 | 73 |
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In the FP Markets vs IFC Markets comparison for cryptocurrency trading, neither broker supports purchasing actual delivered cryptocurrencies, but both provide access to trade cryptocurrency CFDs.
FP Markets vs IFC Markets: for deposits and withdrawals, both lack ACH or SEPA but support bank wires; FP Markets additionally supports PayPal and Skrill while IFC Markets does not, and 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 | FP Markets | IFC Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 90 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | FP Markets Review |
| Broker Screenshots | FP Markets | IFC Markets | |
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| Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Regulation | FP Markets | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 90 | 73 | |
| Year Founded | 2005 | 2006 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | ||
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 5 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | FP Markets | 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) | No | ||
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | No | ||
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | ||
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | FP Markets | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | ||
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or CMA Authorised) | No | ||
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | ||
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | FP Markets | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 10000 | 630 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 71 | 49 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | 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 | FP Markets | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.3 | 1.44 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.9 | 1.1 | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | No | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | FP Markets | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 AUD | $1 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | FP Markets | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes | |
| cTrader | Yes | No |
| Trading Tools | FP Markets | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 30 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | FP Markets | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | MetaTrader (Default) | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | FP Markets | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | FP Markets | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | FP Markets | 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 | FP Markets Review |
| Overall | FP Markets | IFC Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 90 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | FP Markets Review |
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