Written by ForexBrokers.com
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.
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.
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
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1999 | 2006 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 5 |
FXCM is the stronger choice on commissions and fees, with a 4.5-star rating and a #17 ranking out of 36 brokers from ForexBrokers.com. Its pricing is a little above the industry average overall, but it can be quite competitive on commission-based accounts, where EUR/USD spreads averaged 0.28 pips in May 2024 before commissions. FXCM also offers an Active Trader Rebate Program in some regions, which can lower trading costs further for higher-volume traders, although costs may still rise during fast-moving markets or rollover periods.
IFC Markets is more expensive on standard forex pricing, with a 4-star rating and a #34 ranking out of 36 for commissions and fees. Its average EUR/USD spread is 1.44 pips, which is above the industry average, though its new ECN account improves the picture with effective spreads around 1.1 pips after commission. IFC Markets may appeal to traders who want no inactivity fee and some active trader discounts, but it is still less competitive than FXCM on overall pricing.
In short, FXCM offers the better deal for most cost-conscious forex traders, especially those who trade often enough to benefit from rebates or commission-based pricing. IFC Markets is workable, but its spreads are generally wider and its fee structure is less attractive overall.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | Starts from $50 | $1 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Spread-only account | 0.9 | 1.44 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | 0.8 | 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.
FXCM and IFC Markets both give traders access to forex as CFDs or spot contracts, and both support copy trading as well as cryptocurrency CFDs. Neither broker offers physical cryptocurrency purchases or exchange-traded U.S. stocks, so if you want to buy shares like Apple directly, neither platform currently provides that option. FXCM offers 440 tradeable symbols and 46 forex pairs, while IFC Markets lists a larger set with 630 tradeable symbols and 49 forex pairs.
Where IFC Markets stands out is its access to exchange-traded securities on international exchanges, such as shares listed outside the U.S., which FXCM does not offer. Even so, FXCM scores higher overall for range of investments, with a 4.5 out of 5-star rating and a #21 ranking out of 36 brokers, compared with IFC Markets’ 3.5 stars and #33 ranking. In short, IFC Markets offers a wider selection, while FXCM appears to get stronger marks for the overall mix of investment choices.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 440 | 630 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 46 | 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.
FXCM and IFC Markets both give traders a wide range of platform choices, including a free demo account, a web-based platform, a Windows desktop download, copy trading, a proprietary platform, MetaTrader 4, and the ability to place trades right from a chart. In other words, either broker can work well for traders who want flexibility and access across different devices and trading styles.
The key difference is that IFC Markets also offers MetaTrader 5, while FXCM does not. FXCM, however, comes out ahead in third-party rankings for trading platforms and tools, earning 5 stars and a #4 spot out of 36 brokers, compared with IFC Markets’ 4 stars and #32 ranking. For traders who value platform variety plus stronger independent ratings, FXCM has the edge, while IFC Markets may appeal to those who specifically want MT5 support.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
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) | No | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 115 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
FXCM and IFC Markets both make it easy to trade on the go with iPhone and Android apps, plus features like price alerts and watchlist syncing between the mobile app and online account. Each app also lets users draw trendlines on charts, and those drawings auto-save for later use. For everyday mobile trading needs, both brokers cover the basics well and offer a familiar experience across devices.
The main difference shows up in charting and overall app quality. FXCM offers 59 technical studies in its mobile app, compared with 30 at IFC Markets, which gives FXCM the edge for traders who rely on chart tools. FXCM also earns a higher mobile trading apps rating of 4.5 stars and ranks #16 out of 36 brokers, while IFC Markets is rated 4 stars and ranks #37 out of 36. For traders who want a stronger mobile charting setup, FXCM comes out ahead.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
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 | 59 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
FXCM offers a stronger market research package than IFC Markets overall. Both brokers provide daily market commentary, a sentiment tool that shows long and short positions, and an economic calendar for upcoming global events. FXCM also stands out by adding news from major sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones, plus Trading Central tools and TipRanks research, giving traders more ways to follow market moves and spot ideas.
IFC Markets covers the basics well, but its research line-up is thinner. It includes daily commentary, sentiment data, and an economic calendar, yet it does not add top-tier news feeds, Trading Central, or TipRanks. That difference shows in their ratings and rankings: FXCM scores 4.5 out of 5 for Research and ranks #11 out of 36 brokers, while IFC Markets scores 3.5 out of 5 and ranks #33.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
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 | Yes | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
FXCM appears to be the stronger choice for beginners who want more learning support. It offers forex and CFDs education, hosts online educational client webinars at least once a month, and provides at least 10 beginner and 10 advanced educational videos. That wider mix of learning tools is reflected in its 4.5-star Education rating and its #13 ranking out of 36 brokers on ForexBrokers.com.
IFC Markets also gives beginners useful video content, with at least 10 beginner and 10 advanced educational videos available, but it falls behind FXCM in overall education support. It does not offer monthly educational webinars, and its Education rating is 3.5 stars, with a #26 ranking out of 36. For traders who want more regular teaching and a broader range of forex and CFDs learning materials, FXCM has the edge.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
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 FXCM is better than IFC Markets. FXCM finished with an overall rank of #10, while IFC Markets finished with an overall rank of #36.
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
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
|
| Trust Score | 95 | 73 |
| Range of Investments |
|
|
| Trading Fees |
|
|
| Trading Platforms |
|
|
| Research |
|
|
| Mobile Trading |
|
|
| Education |
|
|
FXCM vs IFC Markets: neither online broker lets you buy actual delivered cryptocurrency, but both offer cryptocurrency CFD trading.
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.
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.
Select Brokers
↓×Compare
0 of 5| Overall Rating | FXCM | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Trading Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Trading Platforms |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 95 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | FXCM Review |
| Broker Screenshots | FXCM | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
|
| Regulation | FXCM | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 95 | 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 | 4 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 5 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | FXCM | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | ||
| Japan (FSA Authorised) | No | ||
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | No | ||
| 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) | FXCM | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or CMA Authorised) | No | ||
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | ||
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | FXCM | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 440 | 630 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 46 | 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 | FXCM | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Spread-only account | 0.9 | 1.44 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | 0.8 | 1.1 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | FXCM | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | Starts from $50 | $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 | FXCM | 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) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | FXCM | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 115 | 30 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | FXCM | 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 | 59 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | FXCM | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | Yes | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | FXCM | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | FXCM | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| Review | FXCM Review |
| Overall | FXCM | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Trading Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Trading Platforms |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 95 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | FXCM Review |
IG
FOREX.com
CMC Markets
XTB
eToro
Capital.com
AvaTrade
XM
Pepperstone
FP Markets
Tickmill
HFM Markets