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FXCM vs IFC Markets 2026

ForexBrokers.com

Written by ForexBrokers.com

February 05, 2025
  Fact Checked

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

FXCM
4.5/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: Starts from $50
  • Trust Score: 95
  • Tradeable Symbols (Total): 440
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

FXCM and IFC Markets are online brokers with different regulatory profiles. FXCM, founded in 1999, is publicly traded and not a bank; IFC Markets, founded in 2006, is not publicly traded and is also not a bank. According to ForexBrokers.com, FXCM has a Trust Score of 95/99 (highly trusted), while IFC Markets scores 73/99 (average risk).

Licensing helps explain the gap. FXCM holds four Tier-1 licenses and two Tier-2 licenses—designations ForexBrokers.com views as highly trusted and trusted, respectively. IFC Markets holds one Tier-1 license and no Tier-2 licenses. On ForexBrokers.com’s scale, 90–99 is highly trusted, 80–89 trusted, 70–79 average risk, 60–69 high risk, and under 59 not trusted.

Feature FXCM logoFXCM
IFC Markets logoIFC Markets
Year Founded info 1999 2006
Publicly Traded (Listed) info Yes No
Bank info No No
Tier-1 Licenses info 4 1
Tier-2 Licenses info 2 0
Tier-3 Licenses info 0 0
Tier-4 Licenses info 0 5

Fees

FXCM comes out ahead of IFC Markets on commissions and fees, with a 4.5-star rating and a ranking of #17 out of 36 brokers for this category. Its forex pricing is a little above the industry average overall, but it can be more appealing for active traders. In May 2024, FXCM’s EUR/USD spread averaged 0.78 pips on its EU, U.K., and Australia accounts, while its commission-based accounts averaged 0.28 pips before commissions. For qualifying high-volume traders, FXCM also offers active trader rebates that can lower costs further, though availability depends on the account region.

IFC Markets is cheaper in some cases but is still less competitive than FXCM on average, with a 4-star rating and a #32 ranking out of 36 brokers for commissions and fees. Its average EUR/USD spread is 1.44 pips, which is higher than the industry average. For more active traders, the broker’s ECN account can bring the effective spread down to about 1.1 pips after commission, and the lack of inactivity fees is a plus. Even so, its overall pricing is not as strong as FXCM’s.

In simple terms, FXCM offers the better deal for most traders looking closely at trading costs, especially if they can qualify for volume-based discounts. IFC Markets may still work for some traders thanks to its ECN pricing and no inactivity fee, but its typical spreads are higher.

Feature FXCM logoFXCM
IFC Markets logoIFC Markets
Minimum Deposit info Starts from $50 $1
Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account info 0.9 info 1.44 info
All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active info 0.8 info 1.1 info
Non-wire bank transfer info Yes No
PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes No
Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes No
Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes Yes

Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.

Featured Offers


Range of investments

FXCM and IFC Markets both give traders access to forex as CFDs or spot contracts, and both support copy trading and cryptocurrency CFDs. When it comes to forex pairs, the two are fairly close, with FXCM offering 46 pairs and IFC Markets offering 49. FXCM also lists 440 tradeable symbols, while IFC Markets offers a larger selection of 630, giving it a wider overall menu of markets to choose from.

The bigger difference is in stock access: FXCM does not offer exchange-traded securities on either U.S. or international exchanges, while IFC Markets does allow clients to trade exchange-traded securities on international exchanges. Neither broker offers actual delivered cryptocurrency. Based on ForexBrokers.com’s Range of Investments rating, FXCM comes out ahead with 4.5 out of 5 stars and a rank of 21st out of 36 brokers, compared with IFC Markets at 3.5 stars and 31st place.

Feature FXCM logoFXCM
IFC Markets logoIFC Markets
Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) info Yes Yes
Tradeable Symbols (Total) info 440 630
Forex Pairs (Total) info 46 info 49
U.S. Stocks (Shares) info No No
Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) info No Yes
Copy Trading info Yes Yes
Cryptocurrency (Underlying) info No No
Cryptocurrency (CFDs) 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

FXCM and IFC Markets both give traders a wide range of platform choices, including a free demo account, a proprietary platform, a Windows desktop download, a web-based platform, copy trading, and MetaTrader 4. Both also let users place trades directly from charts, which can be helpful for active traders who want to act quickly. In short, each broker covers the main tools most beginners and experienced traders look for when comparing trading platforms.

The biggest difference is that IFC Markets also supports MetaTrader 5, while FXCM does not. That extra platform option may matter to traders who want access to MT5 features. FXCM is rated higher overall for trading platforms and tools, with 5 out of 5 stars and a #4 ranking out of 36 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, while IFC Markets holds 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #29. This suggests FXCM has the edge for platform and tool quality, even though both brokers offer solid choices.

Feature FXCM logoFXCM
IFC Markets logoIFC Markets
Virtual Trading (Demo) info Yes Yes
Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform info Yes Yes
Desktop Platform (Windows) info Yes Yes
Web Platform info Yes Yes
Copy Trading info Yes Yes
MetaTrader 4 (MT4) info Yes Yes
MetaTrader 5 (MT5) info No Yes
Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) info 115 30
Charting - Trade From Chart info Yes Yes

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

Forex trading apps

FXCM and IFC Markets both make it easy to trade on the go, with iPhone and Android apps, price alerts, and watchlist syncing so your mobile lists stay matched with your online account. Each app also lets you draw trendlines on charts and automatically saves those drawings, which is helpful for traders who want to keep track of their analysis across devices.

The main difference is in charting depth and overall app quality. FXCM offers 59 technical studies in its mobile app, compared with 30 at IFC Markets, giving FXCM users more tools for chart analysis. That edge shows in third-party ratings too: FXCM scores 4.5 out of 5 stars for mobile trading apps and ranks #16 out of 36 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while IFC Markets holds a 4-star rating and ranks #34. For mobile trading features and chart options, FXCM comes out ahead.

Feature FXCM logoFXCM
IFC Markets logoIFC Markets
Android App info Yes Yes
Apple iOS App info Yes Yes
Mobile Price Alerts info Yes Yes
Mobile Watchlists - Syncing info Yes Yes
Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies info 59 30
Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines info Yes Yes
Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave info Yes Yes

Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.

Market research

FXCM has the stronger market research offering overall compared with IFC Markets. Both brokers provide daily market commentary, a sentiment tool, and an economic calendar, but FXCM goes further by adding forex news from top sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones, plus Trading Central research and TipRanks insights. IFC Markets covers the basics well, but it does not include top-tier news, Trading Central, or TipRanks.

That difference is reflected in their research scores and rankings. FXCM is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars for Research and ranks #11 out of 36 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while IFC Markets is rated 3.5 stars and ranks #30. In short, both brokers give traders useful market updates, but FXCM offers a wider and more polished research package.

Feature FXCM logoFXCM
IFC Markets logoIFC Markets
Daily Market Commentary (Articles) info Yes Yes
Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) info Yes No
Autochartist info No No
Trading Central info Yes No
Client sentiment data info Yes Yes
TipRanks info Yes No
Acuity Trading info No No
Economic Calendar info Yes Yes

Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.

Beginners and education

FXCM is the stronger choice for beginners who want more help learning forex and CFD trading. It offers at least 10 education pieces focused on forex or CFDs, holds online educational webinars at least once a month, and provides 10 or more beginner videos as well as 10 or more advanced videos for traders who want to keep learning. FXCM also earns a 4.5-star education rating and ranks #13 out of 36 brokers for education, which suggests a well-developed learning section for new traders and those ready to move beyond the basics.

IFC Markets also gives beginners useful learning material, including 10 or more beginner videos and 10 or more advanced videos, plus at least 10 education pieces centered on forex or CFDs. However, it does not offer monthly educational webinars, which may matter for traders who prefer live guidance. With a 3.5-star education rating and a #25 ranking out of 36 brokers, IFC Markets still offers learning support, but it does not match FXCM’s overall depth or frequency of beginner-friendly education.

Feature FXCM logoFXCM
IFC Markets logoIFC Markets
Webinars info Yes No
Videos - Beginner Trading Videos info Yes Yes
Videos - Advanced Trading Videos 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 FXCM is better than IFC Markets. FXCM finished with an overall rank of #10, while IFC Markets finished with an overall rank of #33.

For traders who appreciate advanced trading tools and quality market research, FXCM is a winner, especially for algorithmic trading. Its range of tradeable markets is fairly narrow, however, and the pricing at FXCM is just average.

Feature FXCM logoFXCM
IFC Markets logoIFC Markets
Overall Rating info 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Trust Score info 95 73
Range of Investments 4.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Trading Fees 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Trading Platforms 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 Stars 4/5 Stars

FAQs

Can you trade cryptocurrency with FXCM or IFC Markets?

FXCM vs IFC Markets: neither online broker lets you buy actual delivered cryptocurrency, but both offer cryptocurrency CFD trading.

What funding options does each broker offer?

In a head-to-head comparison of deposit and withdrawal options, FXCM offers ACH/SEPA transfers, PayPal, Skrill, and bank wires, whereas IFC Markets lacks ACH/SEPA, PayPal, and Skrill but does support bank wires, and Visa/Mastercard availability is not specified for either broker.

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Overall Rating FXCM IFC Markets
Overall Rating info 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Trading Fees 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Range of Investments 4.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Trading Platforms 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 Stars 4/5 Stars
Trust Score info 95 73
Winner check_circle
Review FXCM Review
Broker Screenshots FXCM IFC Markets
Broker Gallery (click to expand) info
FXCM mobile app watchlist. FXCM web platform. FXCM research web articles market analysis. FXCM education articles
Regulation FXCM IFC Markets
Trust Score info 95 73
Year Founded info 1999 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 1
Tier-2 Licenses info 2 0
Tier-3 Licenses info 0 0
Tier-4 Licenses info 0 5
Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) FXCM IFC Markets
Australia (ASIC Authorised) info Yes
Canada (CIRO Authorised) info Yes
Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) info No
Japan (FSA Authorised) info No
Singapore (MAS Authorised) info No
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) FXCM IFC Markets
Kenya (CMA Authorised) info
Israel (ISA Authorised) info Yes
South Africa (FSCA Authorised) info Yes Yes
UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or CMA Authorised) info No
India (SEBI Authorised) info No
Jordan (JSC Authorised) info
Investments FXCM IFC Markets
Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) info Yes Yes
Tradeable Symbols (Total) info 440 630
Forex Pairs (Total) info 46 info 49
U.S. Stocks (Shares) info No No
Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) info No Yes
Copy Trading info Yes Yes
Cryptocurrency (Underlying) info No No
Cryptocurrency (CFDs) 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 FXCM IFC Markets
Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account info 0.9 info 1.44 info
All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active info 0.8 info 1.1 info
Inactivity Fee info Yes No
Order execution: Agency info Yes Yes
Order execution: Market Maker info Yes Yes
Funding FXCM IFC Markets
Minimum Deposit info Starts from $50 $1
PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes No
Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes No
Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes Yes
Non-wire bank transfer info Yes No
Trading Platforms FXCM IFC Markets
Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform info Yes Yes
Desktop Platform (Windows) info Yes Yes
Web Platform info Yes Yes
Copy Trading info Yes Yes
MetaTrader 4 (MT4) info Yes Yes
MetaTrader 5 (MT5) info No Yes
cTrader info No No
Trading Tools FXCM IFC Markets
Virtual Trading (Demo) info Yes Yes
Price Alerts info Yes Yes
Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) info 115 30
Charting - Trade From Chart info Yes Yes
Charts can be saved info Yes Yes
Mobile Trading FXCM IFC Markets
Android App info Yes Yes
Apple iOS App info Yes Yes
Mobile Price Alerts info Yes Yes
Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] info
Mobile Watchlists - Syncing info Yes Yes
Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies info 59 30
Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines info Yes Yes
Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave info Yes Yes
Mobile Research - Economic Calendar info Yes Yes
Research FXCM IFC Markets
Daily Market Commentary (Articles) info Yes Yes
Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) info Yes No
Autochartist info No No
Trading Central info Yes No
TipRanks info Yes No
Client sentiment data info Yes Yes
Economic Calendar info Yes Yes
Education FXCM IFC Markets
Webinars info Yes No
Videos - Beginner Trading Videos info Yes Yes
Videos - Advanced Trading Videos info Yes Yes
Major Forex Pairs FXCM IFC Markets
GBP/USD [DELETED] info
USD/JPY [DELETED] info
EUR/USD info Yes Yes
USD/CHF [DELETED] info
USD/CAD [DELETED] info
NZD/USD [DELETED] info
AUD/USD [DELETED] info
Review FXCM Review
Overall FXCM IFC Markets
Overall Rating info 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Trading Fees 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Range of Investments 4.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Trading Platforms 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 Stars 4/5 Stars
Trust Score info 95 73
Winner check_circle
Review FXCM Review
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