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 |
When comparing the commission and fees between IC Markets and GBE Brokers, IC Markets emerges as a highly competitive choice. With low effective spreads and minimal deposit requirements for its commission-based accounts, IC Markets holds its ground among the top low-cost forex brokers like IG and CMC Markets. The broker's diverse account types include a commission-free Standard account, and commission-based Raw Spread and cTrader Raw Spread accounts. While the cTrader account has slightly lower commission fees compared to MetaTrader accounts, both offer competitive all-in costs, featuring average spreads on the EUR/USD starting from 0.62 pips for the cTrader account. This earning has earned IC Markets a full five-star rating for commissions and fees, ranking it 5th out of 62 brokers on ForexBrokers.com.
In contrast, GBE Brokers does not provide clear average spread data, making direct fee comparison a challenge. Nevertheless, GBE Brokers has secured a four-star rating and is positioned 37th out of 62 brokers in the Commissions and Fees category by ForexBrokers.com. This suggests that while GBE Brokers offers competitive pricing, it may not always match the low-cost structure of IC Markets for every trader's needs.
Overall, IC Markets boasts a robust array of account types and competitive commissions, alongside favorable spreads for active traders, backed by the broker's Best in Class award in the Commissions & Fees category for 2024. This makes IC Markets appealing, particularly to those who prioritize upfront cost transparency and flexibility in account options, whereas GBE Brokers maintain a solid yet less distinguished position in the industry.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
GBE brokers
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $200 | $500 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.62 | N/A |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.62 | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | Yes |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
When comparing IC Markets with GBE brokers in terms of the range of investments, both platforms offer forex trading via CFDs or spot contracts, catering to those keen on currency trading. IC Markets stands out with a wider array of options, boasting 3,583 tradeable symbols compared to GBE brokers' 500. Despite GBE brokers providing a larger selection of 71 tradeable forex pairs versus IC Markets' 61, the latter edges ahead by granting access to exchange-traded securities on international exchanges, an area where GBE brokers fall short.
Neither IC Markets nor GBE brokers offers the purchase of actual cryptocurrencies, but both provide the option to trade cryptocurrency derivatives. Copy trading is available on both platforms, appealing to those who prefer mimicking successful traders. Rated at 4.5 stars, IC Markets is positioned higher in the Range of Investments category than GBE brokers, which holds a 3.5-star rating. According to ForexBrokers.com, IC Markets ranks 25th out of 62 brokers, significantly outperforming GBE brokers, which sits at the 44th spot.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
GBE brokers
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 3583 | 500 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 61 | 71 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | No | No |
| Cryptocurrency (Derivative) | 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.
When comparing IC Markets to GBE brokers, both providers offer a range of trading platforms and tools that cater to various trader needs. They both support simulated trading with free virtual demo accounts, making them accessible for those new to the market. Each broker provides MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, which are popular platforms known for their user-friendliness and comprehensive features. Additionally, both brokers offer a Windows-based desktop platform, a web-based browser option, and the ability to trade directly from stock charts. However, IC Markets offers ZuluTrade for social trading, which GBE brokers does not. This gives IC Markets a slight edge for traders interested in automated copy trading options.
Charting capabilities with both brokers are similar, offering 15 drawing tools each, and allowing for seven columns in watch lists, providing traders with ample customization. Both brokers, however, lack a proprietary platform developed in-house, focusing on well-known third-party solutions. Each is rated four stars for their trading platforms and tools, yet IC Markets ranks higher at number 16 out of 62 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com, while GBE brokers sits at number 57. This suggests a more favorable reception of IC Markets among users who prioritize trading platforms and tools.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
GBE brokers
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | No | No |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | Yes | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 15 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
When it comes to mobile trading, both IC Markets and GBE brokers stand out with their iPhone and Android apps. Users of either service can enjoy the convenience of price alerts for stocks and forex. However, both brokers miss out on the syncing of watchlist symbols between the mobile app and their online accounts. Each app offers an impressive 30 technical studies for charting and allows for drawing trendlines, viewing multiple time frames, and auto-saving chart annotations. Additionally, both apps provide users the ability to create watchlists with real-time quotes.
Despite their similarities in features, IC Markets holds a slight edge in rankings with a 22nd place position, compared to GBE brokers at 57th among 62 brokers. Yet, both share a solid 4-star rating in the mobile trading apps category. This indicates a high level of satisfaction among users, giving traders confidence in their mobile trading experiences with either platform.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
GBE brokers
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When comparing the market research offerings of IC Markets and GBE Brokers, there are notable differences. Both brokers provide daily market commentary, ensuring traders remain informed about market conditions. However, IC Markets takes a step further by offering forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, while GBE Brokers does not provide similar premium news coverage. In terms of research tools, IC Markets offers advanced technical and fundamental analysis tools from both Autochartist and Trading Central, whereas GBE Brokers does not feature these tools.
Both brokers do provide an economic calendar and sentiment-based trading tools to keep traders updated on global events and market sentiment. However, neither IC Markets nor GBE Brokers offer research tools from Acuity Trading, and both lack market research from TipRanks. In terms of overall research quality, IC Markets is rated 4 stars and ranks 23rd out of 62 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, showcasing its strong position. Conversely, GBE Brokers, with a 3-star rating, is ranked much lower at 61st position. This summary highlights IC Markets' edge in providing comprehensive market research tools and resources.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
GBE brokers
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | No |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When comparing the educational resources available to beginners, IC Markets significantly outshines GBE Brokers. IC Markets offers a variety of educational materials, including over 10 articles, videos, and webinars focused on forex and CFDs. Additionally, IC Markets hosts frequent educational webinars and keeps an extensive archive of recorded sessions for later viewing. They provide beginner investors with more than 10 videos specifically crafted for newcomers to trading, and also cater to experienced traders with advanced content. IC Markets even provides an investor dictionary with definitions of over 50 investing terms, making complex trading jargon more accessible.
In contrast, GBE Brokers appears to lag in these areas. They do not meet the threshold of a minimum of 10 educational pieces on forex or CFDs. GBE Brokers also falls short in offering regular educational webinars or a rich archive of past sessions. Furthermore, there is a lack of beginner and advanced training videos specific to trading topics. Without a comprehensive investor dictionary to break down intricate terms, GBE Brokers provides fewer resources for traders looking to enhance their understanding. When rated for education, IC Markets receives a commendable 4 stars, placing them 16th out of 62 brokers, while GBE Brokers only earns 3 stars, placing them last at 62nd.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
GBE brokers
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 62 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 #56.
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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|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 84 | 71 |
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Both IC Markets and GBE Brokers provide the option to trade cryptocurrency derivatives but do not offer the ability to buy actual delivered cryptocurrency.
IC Markets and GBE brokers both support PayPal, Skrill, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wire transactions for deposits and withdrawals, but only GBE brokers offer the convenience of ACH or SEPA transfers, which IC Markets does not provide.
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 | |
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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) | No | No | |
| 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) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | No | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | No | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | IC Markets | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 3583 | 500 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 61 | 71 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | No | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (Derivative) | 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 | 0.62 | N/A | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.62 | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | IC Markets | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $200 | $500 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | IC Markets | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | No | No | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes | |
| cTrader | Yes | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | Yes | No |
| Trading Tools | IC Markets | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 15 | 15 | |
| 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 Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | IC Markets | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | IC Markets | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | IC Markets | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/JPY | Yes | Yes | |
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CAD | Yes | Yes | |
| NZD/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| AUD/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| 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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