Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of IC Markets vs GBE brokers, 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.
Choosing the right online broker involves comparing key factors such as trust scores, regulatory licenses, and company history. IC Markets, established in 2007, is a privately-owned broker with a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 84, classifying it as trusted. It holds two Tier-1 licenses, the highest level of regulatory approval, signaling a reliable option for traders. In contrast, GBE brokers, founded in 2013, also operates as a private company with a Trust Score of 71, indicating an average risk. GBE brokers holds one Tier-1 license, providing a level of assurance but is slightly less secure in regulatory frameworks compared to IC Markets.
Neither IC Markets nor GBE brokers are publicly traded or operate as banks, focusing solely on brokerage services. Despite being newer to the market, GBE brokers manages to offer a reasonable level of trust according to its single Tier-1 license and average risk rating. Traders seeking a more established presence may find IC Markets' longer history and dual Tier-1 licenses attractive, while those looking to explore with GBE brokers might weigh the benefits against its average regulatory standing.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
GBE brokers
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2007 | 2013 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 3 | 1 |
Comparing commissions and fees, IC Markets stands out with a 5-star rating and a #5 ranking out of 63 brokers for the Commissions & Fees category, earning Best in Class honors in the 2024 Annual Awards. GBE Brokers holds a solid 4-star rating and ranks #38 out of 63, indicating competitive pricing but not on the same level as IC Markets.
IC Markets offers three account types: a commission-free Standard account and two commission-based Raw Spread accounts (cTrader and MetaTrader). On cTrader, the commission is $3.00 per side per 100,000 units ($6.00 round turn), while on MT4/MT5 it’s $3.50 per side ($7.00 round turn). IC Markets lists an average EUR/USD spread of 0.02 pips; when you add commission, the all-in cost is about 0.62 pips on cTrader and 0.72 pips on MetaTrader—both highly competitive. The Standard account averages about 0.62 pips with no commission. Trading costs can vary by platform, account type, and the IC Markets entity you choose (Cyprus, Australia, or Seychelles). Active traders (100+ standard lots per month) can qualify for discounts, and the low deposit requirement further helps cost-conscious traders.
GBE Brokers’ average spread data is not available, which makes a direct, pip-for-pip comparison difficult. Even so, its 4-star score and #38 ranking suggest fair pricing for many traders, though it trails IC Markets on headline costs and transparency. If fees are your top priority, IC Markets’ published pricing and award-winning low costs provide clearer savings potential.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
GBE brokers
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $200 | $1000 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.62 | N/A |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.62 | N/A |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | Yes |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
IC Markets vs GBE Brokers: both let you trade forex as CFDs and spot contracts, and both support cryptocurrency CFDs (but not actual crypto purchases). IC Markets offers a much wider market selection with 3,583 tradeable symbols, while GBE Brokers lists about 500. When it comes to currency pairs, however, GBE Brokers has a slight edge with 71 pairs compared with IC Markets’ 61. Neither broker lets you buy U.S. exchange-traded shares directly, but IC Markets does provide access to international exchange-traded shares, whereas GBE Brokers does not. Both also offer copy trading.
For overall range of investments, IC Markets stands out thanks to its larger list of instruments and access to international shares. GBE Brokers may appeal if you want a few more forex pairs. According to ForexBrokers.com, IC Markets earns 4.5/5 stars and ranks #26 out of 63 for Range of Investments, while GBE Brokers scores 3.5/5 stars and ranks #45.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
GBE brokers
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 3583 | 500 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 61 | 71 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | No |
| 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). | 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.
IC Markets and GBE brokers both deliver familiar, industry-standard trading platforms and tools. Each offers a free demo account for simulated trading, supports Windows desktop and web-based platforms, and provides MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5). Copy trading is available at both brokers, and you can place trades directly from charts. If you prefer sticking with MT4/MT5 and want access via browser or desktop, either broker will meet those needs.
For platform quality and tools, both are rated 4 out of 5 stars. That said, ForexBrokers.com ranks IC Markets much higher in this category (#16 out of 63) compared with GBE brokers (#58 out of 63). If a higher third‑party ranking matters to you, IC Markets may have the edge; if you simply want MT4/MT5 with demo and copy trading, both are solid picks.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
GBE brokers
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | No | No |
| 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.
IC Markets and GBE brokers both deliver mobile trading on iPhone and Android. Each app supports price alerts, 30 built-in technical studies for charts, the ability to draw trendlines, and automatic saving of chart drawings. One limitation is shared by both: watchlists in the mobile app do not sync with your online account, so edits won’t carry over between devices.
In ratings, both apps earn 4 out of 5 stars. Where they differ is in industry placement: ForexBrokers.com ranks IC Markets at #22 out of 63 brokers for Mobile Trading Apps, while GBE brokers is #58. If third-party rankings matter to you, IC Markets holds the edge even though the feature lists are nearly identical.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
GBE brokers
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | No | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
Comparing IC Markets vs GBE Brokers for market research, both brokers provide daily market commentary, a sentiment tool showing long/short positioning, and an economic calendar. IC Markets goes further with forex news from top-tier sources (such as Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones), plus extra tools like Autochartist and Trading Central. For GBE Brokers, availability of TipRanks or Acuity Trading tools isn’t specified, and it doesn’t offer news from major wire services or the Autochartist/Trading Central suite.
According to ForexBrokers.com, IC Markets earns 4 out of 5 stars for research and ranks #23 of 63 brokers, while GBE Brokers earns 3 out of 5 stars and ranks #63 of 63. If you want broader in-platform research and third-party analysis tools, IC Markets is the stronger pick; if you only need core updates and a calendar, GBE Brokers covers the basics.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
GBE brokers
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | |
| Acuity Trading | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
For beginners comparing education at IC Markets vs GBE brokers, IC Markets clearly offers more to learn from. It runs client webinars at least once a month and provides at least 10 beginner videos plus at least 10 advanced videos that cover trading topics in plain terms. That depth helps explain its 4 out of 5 Education rating and #16 ranking out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com.
GBE brokers offers fewer learning options for new traders. It does not host monthly educational webinars and does not reach the 10-video mark for either beginner or advanced topics. As a result, it holds a 3 out of 5 Education rating and ranks #64 out of 63 in the Education category. If you want regular live sessions and a larger video library to get started with forex and CFD trading, IC Markets is the stronger choice; GBE brokers may suit those who only need a lighter intro and plan to learn elsewhere.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
GBE brokers
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 63 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that IC Markets is better than GBE brokers. IC Markets finished with an overall rank of #20, while GBE brokers finished with an overall rank of #57.
IC Markets’ competitive pricing and scalable execution make it an excellent option for algorithmic traders. Though it supports an impressive range of third-party tools and plugins, IC Markets’ research and education offerings are not as impressive as those offered by industry leaders.
| Feature |
IC Markets
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GBE brokers
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| Trust Score | 84 | 71 |
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In a comparison of IC Markets vs GBE Brokers for crypto trading, neither broker allows buying actual (delivered) cryptocurrencies, but both offer cryptocurrency CFD trading.
IC Markets vs GBE brokers: IC Markets supports PayPal, Skrill, and bank wire deposits and withdrawals but not ACH/SEPA, while GBE brokers does offer ACH/SEPA; details for GBE brokers on PayPal, Skrill, Visa/Mastercard, and bank wires, and for IC Markets on Visa/Mastercard, were not provided.
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 | IC Markets | GBE brokers | |
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| Trust Score | 84 | 71 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IC Markets Review |
| Broker Screenshots | IC Markets | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Regulation | IC Markets | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 84 | 71 | |
| Year Founded | 2007 | 2013 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 3 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | IC Markets | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | No | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | |||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | No | No | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | No | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | IC Markets | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | No | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | No | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | IC Markets | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 3583 | 500 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 61 | 71 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | No | |
| 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). | 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 | IC Markets | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.62 | N/A | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.62 | N/A | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | IC Markets | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $200 | $1000 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | ||
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | ||
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | ||
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | IC Markets | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | No | No | |
| 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 | IC Markets | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | IC Markets | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | No | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | IC Markets | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | No | ||
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | IC Markets | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | IC Markets | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | IC Markets Review |
| Overall | IC Markets | GBE brokers | |
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| Trust Score | 84 | 71 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IC Markets Review |
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