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
IC Markets and HYCM are both well-established online brokerage firms serving traders globally. IC Markets, founded in 2007, and HYCM, established in 1977, both hold 2 Tier-1 licenses, indicating a high level of trust according to ForexBrokers.com standards. Neither broker is publicly traded nor operates as a bank, maintaining their focus solely on brokerage services.
When comparing their trust ratings, IC Markets has a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 84, categorizing it as a trusted broker, whereas HYCM scores slightly higher with 86, signifying marginally stronger trust. HYCM also holds an additional Tier-2 license, further enhancing its credibility. Both firms strive to provide reliable trading environments, though HYCM edges out in terms of regulatory standing.
|
Feature |
IC Markets
|
HYCM (Henyep Capital Markets)
|
|
Year Founded
info
|
2007
|
1977
|
|
Publicly Traded (Listed)
info
|
No
|
No
|
|
Bank
info
|
No
|
No
|
|
Tier-1 Licenses
info
|
2
|
2
|
|
Tier-2 Licenses
info
|
0
|
1
|
|
Tier-3 Licenses
info
|
0
|
0
|
|
Tier-4 Licenses
info
|
3
|
1
|
Fees
IC Markets and HYCM both keep trading costs competitive, but IC Markets generally comes out cheaper for active forex traders. IC Markets posts ultra-tight effective spreads and low commissions that rival other low-cost brokers, helping it earn Best in Class honors for Commissions & Fees in 2024. Rating and rank: IC Markets 5/5 stars, ranked #5 of 63 for Commissions & Fees; HYCM 4.5/5 stars, ranked #16 of 63.
IC Markets offers three account types: Standard (spread-only), Raw Spread on MetaTrader (MT4/MT5), and cTrader Raw. Typical EUR/USD pricing shakes out as follows: cTrader Raw averages about 0.62 pips all-in (0.02 pip spread plus commission equal to 0.6 pips), MT4/MT5 Raw is about 0.72 pips all-in ($3.5 per side, $7 round turn per 100k), and the Standard account is commission-free with an average spread near 0.62 pips. Spreads vary by platform and by IC Markets’ regulated entities (Cyprus, Australia, Seychelles). High-volume traders (100+ lots/month) can qualify for discounts, and the low deposit requirement helps cost-conscious traders get started.
HYCM’s pricing is straightforward across three account types. The Raw account targets an all-in cost around 0.6 pips on EUR/USD after commission, making it the most competitive option for cost-focused traders. The Classic account uses variable spreads starting from 1.2 pips, while the Fixed account lists a 1.5-pip spread for those who prefer predictable pricing. Overall, HYCM is sharp on its Raw account but trails IC Markets on average costs and awards recognition.
|
Feature |
IC Markets
|
HYCM (Henyep Capital Markets)
|
|
Minimum Deposit
info
|
$200
|
$20
|
|
Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account
info
|
0.62
info |
1.2
info |
|
All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active
info
|
0.62
info |
0.6
info |
|
Non-wire bank transfer
info
|
No
|
No
|
|
PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw)
info
|
Yes
|
No
|
|
Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw)
info
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw)
info
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
Range of investments
IC Markets lists 3,583 tradeable symbols, while HYCM (Henyep Capital Markets) offers 1,199. Both support forex trading as CFDs or spot contracts; HYCM edges ahead on currency choice with 70 forex pairs to IC Markets’ 61. In ForexBrokers.com’s Range of Investments ratings, IC Markets scores 4.5/5 (ranked 26th of 63), and HYCM scores 4/5 (ranked 34th).
For shares, HYCM lets clients buy exchange-traded U.S. stocks, while IC Markets does not; both brokers provide access to exchange-traded international shares. Copy trading is available at IC Markets but not at HYCM. Neither broker sells delivered cryptocurrency, but each offers cryptocurrency CFDs. In short, pick IC Markets for a larger overall instrument list and copy trading, or choose HYCM if U.S. stocks and a wider set of forex pairs matter most.
|
Feature |
IC Markets
|
HYCM (Henyep Capital Markets)
|
|
Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs)
info
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
Tradeable Symbols (Total)
info
|
3583
|
1199
|
|
Forex Pairs (Total)
info
|
61
|
70
|
|
U.S. Stocks (Shares)
info
|
No
|
Yes
|
|
Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares)
info
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
Copy Trading
info
|
Yes
|
No
|
|
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).
|
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
IC Markets vs HYCM: Both brokers offer free demo (paper) accounts and provide trading on Windows desktop and in your web browser. Each supports MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5), and both let you place trades directly from charts. The big platform difference is ownership: IC Markets does not have its own in-house platform and relies on third-party options like MetaTrader, while HYCM also offers a proprietary platform alongside MetaTrader.
For tools, IC Markets supports copy trading, whereas HYCM does not. According to ForexBrokers.com, both earn 4 out of 5 stars for Trading Platforms and Tools, but IC Markets ranks higher in the category (#16 of 63) than HYCM (#41 of 63). If you want copy trading and are fine with third-party platforms, IC Markets is a strong pick; if you prefer access to a broker’s own platform in addition to MetaTrader, HYCM may suit you.
|
Feature |
IC Markets
|
HYCM (Henyep Capital Markets)
|
|
Virtual Trading (Demo)
info
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform
info
|
No
|
Yes
|
|
Desktop Platform (Windows)
info
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
Web Platform
info
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
Copy Trading
info
|
Yes
|
No
|
|
MetaTrader 4 (MT4)
info
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
MetaTrader 5 (MT5)
info
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total)
info
|
30
|
30
|
|
Charting - Trade From Chart
info
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Forex trading apps
IC Markets and HYCM (Henyep Capital Markets) both offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android. Each app supports price alerts, 30 built-in technical studies for charting, and the ability to draw trendlines that auto-save on your charts. Neither broker currently syncs watchlists between the mobile app and the web platform, so any watchlist changes need to be made separately on each device.
Both apps earn 4 out of 5 stars for mobile trading. However, in ForexBrokers.com’s Mobile Trading Apps category, IC Markets ranks #22 out of 63 brokers, while HYCM is #38 out of 63. If you want similar features with a slightly higher industry ranking, IC Markets has the edge; if you already trade with HYCM, its app delivers comparable tools on the go.
|
Feature |
IC Markets
|
HYCM (Henyep Capital Markets)
|
|
Android App
info
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
Apple iOS App
info
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
Mobile Price Alerts
info
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
Mobile Watchlists - Syncing
info
|
No
|
No
|
|
Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies
info
|
30
|
30
|
|
Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines
info
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave
info
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
Market research
IC Markets and HYCM both cover key market research needs: daily market commentary, forex news from major sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones, Trading Central analysis, and a full economic calendar. According to ForexBrokers.com, IC Markets holds a 4-star Research rating and ranks 23rd out of 63 brokers, while HYCM has 3.5 stars and ranks 36th.
The main differences come down to extra tools. IC Markets includes Autochartist to help spot chart patterns and potential trade ideas, plus a sentiment tool that shows the long/short split across instruments. HYCM does not offer Autochartist or a sentiment tool. Neither broker features TipRanks or Acuity Trading (Signal Centre). If you want added screening and sentiment alongside the basics, IC Markets has the edge; if you only need daily commentary, reliable news, Trading Central insights, and an economic calendar, HYCM covers the essentials.
|
Feature |
IC Markets
|
HYCM (Henyep Capital Markets)
|
|
Daily Market Commentary (Articles)
info
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
Forex News (Top-Tier Sources)
info
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
Autochartist
info
|
Yes
|
No
|
|
Trading Central
info
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
Client sentiment data
info
|
Yes
|
No
|
|
TipRanks
info
|
No
|
No
|
|
Acuity Trading
info
|
No
|
No
|
|
Economic Calendar
info
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
Beginners and education
IC Markets vs HYCM for beginner education: both brokers provide at least 10 beginner-focused trading videos, giving new traders a solid start in forex and CFD concepts. IC Markets stands out with monthly educational webinars (HYCM does not offer these) and a larger library that includes 10+ advanced video lessons. That deeper catalog can help beginners progress faster as they move beyond the basics.
Ratings back this up: IC Markets earns 4 out of 5 stars for Education and ranks #16 out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, while HYCM scores 3.5 stars and ranks #32. If you want live webinars and a path from beginner to advanced, IC Markets is the stronger pick. If you mainly need beginner videos, HYCM covers the essentials.
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
Winner
After testing 63 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that IC Markets is better than HYCM (Henyep Capital Markets). IC Markets finished with an overall rank of #20, while HYCM (Henyep Capital Markets) finished with an overall rank of #29.
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.
FAQs
Can you trade cryptocurrency with IC Markets or HYCM (Henyep Capital Markets)?
IC Markets and HYCM (Henyep Capital Markets) do not offer purchasing actual (delivered) cryptocurrencies, but both brokers support trading cryptocurrency CFDs.
What funding options does each broker offer?
In the IC Markets vs HYCM (Henyep Capital Markets) comparison for deposit and withdrawal methods, both lack ACH/SEPA but offer Skrill and bank wire transfers; IC Markets also supports PayPal while HYCM does not, and Visa/Mastercard availability is not specified for either.
announcementPlease 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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|
Overall Rating
|
IC Markets |
HYCM (Henyep Capital Markets) |
|
|
Overall Rating info
|
|
|
|
|
Commissions & Fees |
|
|
|
|
Range of Investments |
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|
|
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Platforms & Tools |
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|
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Mobile Trading |
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|
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Research |
|
|
|
|
Education |
|
|
|
|
Trust Score info
|
84
|
86
|
|
|
Winner |
check_circle
|
|
|
|
Review |
IC Markets Review
|
HYCM (Henyep Capital Markets) Review
|
|
|
Broker Screenshots
|
IC Markets |
HYCM (Henyep Capital Markets) |
|
|
Broker Gallery (click to expand) info
|
|
|
|
|
Regulation
|
IC Markets |
HYCM (Henyep Capital Markets) |
|
|
Trust Score info
|
84
|
86
|
|
|
Year Founded info
|
2007
|
1977
|
|
|
Publicly Traded (Listed) info
|
No
|
No
|
|
|
Bank info
|
No
|
No
|
|
|
Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). info
|
Yes
info
|
No
info
|
|
|
Tier-1 Licenses info
|
2
|
2
|
|
|
Tier-2 Licenses info
|
0
|
1
|
|
|
Tier-3 Licenses info
|
0
|
0
|
|
|
Tier-4 Licenses info
|
3
|
1
|
|
|
Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted)
|
IC Markets |
HYCM (Henyep Capital Markets) |
|
|
Australia (ASIC Authorised) info
|
Yes
|
No
|
|
|
Canada (CIRO Authorised) info
|
No
|
No
|
|
|
Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) info
|
No
|
Yes
|
|
|
Japan (SFC Authorised) info
|
No
|
No
|
|
|
Singapore (MAS Authorised) info
|
No
|
No
|
|
|
Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) info
|
|
|
|
|
United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) info
|
No
|
Yes
|
|
|
USA (CFTC Authorized) info
|
No
|
No
|
|
|
New Zealand (FMA Authorised) info
|
No
|
No
|
|
|
Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). info
|
Yes
info
|
No
info
|
|
|
Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted)
|
IC Markets |
HYCM (Henyep Capital Markets) |
|
|
Kenya (CMA Authorised) info
|
|
|
|
|
Israel (ISA Authorised) info
|
No
|
No
|
|
|
South Africa (FSCA Authorised) info
|
No
|
No
|
|
|
UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) info
|
No
|
Yes
|
|
|
India (SEBI Authorised) info
|
No
|
No
|
|
|
Jordan (JSC Authorised) info
|
|
|
|
|
Investments
|
IC Markets |
HYCM (Henyep Capital Markets) |
|
|
Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) info
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
|
Tradeable Symbols (Total) info
|
3583
|
1199
|
|
|
Forex Pairs (Total) info
|
61
|
70
|
|
|
U.S. Stocks (Shares) info
|
No
|
Yes
|
|
|
Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) info
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
|
Copy Trading info
|
Yes
|
No
|
|
|
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).
|
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 |
HYCM (Henyep Capital Markets) |
|
|
Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account info
|
0.62
info
|
1.2
info
|
|
|
All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active info
|
0.62
info
|
0.6
info
|
|
|
Inactivity Fee info
|
No
|
No
|
|
|
Order execution: Agency info
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
|
Order execution: Market Maker info
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
|
Funding
|
IC Markets |
HYCM (Henyep Capital Markets) |
|
|
Minimum Deposit info
|
$200
|
$20
|
|
|
PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) info
|
Yes
|
No
|
|
|
Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) info
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
|
Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) info
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
|
Non-wire bank transfer info
|
No
|
No
|
|
|
Trading Platforms
|
IC Markets |
HYCM (Henyep Capital Markets) |
|
|
Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform info
|
No
|
Yes
|
|
|
Desktop Platform (Windows) info
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
|
Web Platform info
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
|
Copy Trading info
|
Yes
|
No
|
|
|
MetaTrader 4 (MT4) info
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
|
MetaTrader 5 (MT5) info
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
|
cTrader info
|
Yes
|
No
|
|
|
Trading Tools
|
IC Markets |
HYCM (Henyep Capital Markets) |
|
|
Virtual Trading (Demo) info
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
|
Price Alerts info
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
|
Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) info
|
30
|
30
|
|
|
Charting - Trade From Chart info
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
|
Charts can be saved info
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
|
Mobile Trading
|
IC Markets |
HYCM (Henyep Capital 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
|
No
|
No
|
|
|
Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies info
|
30
|
30
|
|
|
Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines info
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
|
Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave info
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
|
Mobile Research - Economic Calendar info
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
|
Research
|
IC Markets |
HYCM (Henyep Capital Markets) |
|
|
Daily Market Commentary (Articles) info
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
|
Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) info
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
|
Autochartist info
|
Yes
|
No
|
|
|
Trading Central info
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
|
TipRanks info
|
No
|
No
|
|
|
Client sentiment data info
|
Yes
|
No
|
|
|
Economic Calendar info
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
|
Education
|
IC Markets |
HYCM (Henyep Capital Markets) |
|
|
Webinars info
|
Yes
|
No
|
|
|
Videos - Beginner Trading Videos info
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
|
Videos - Advanced Trading Videos info
|
Yes
|
No
|
|
|
Major Forex Pairs
|
IC Markets |
HYCM (Henyep Capital 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 |
IC Markets Review
|
HYCM (Henyep Capital Markets) Review
|
|
|
Overall
|
IC Markets |
HYCM (Henyep Capital Markets) |
|
|
Overall Rating info
|
|
|
|
|
Commissions & Fees |
|
|
|
|
Range of Investments |
|
|
|
|
Platforms & Tools |
|
|
|
|
Mobile Trading |
|
|
|
|
Research |
|
|
|
|
Education |
|
|
|
|
Trust Score info
|
84
|
86
|
|
|
Winner |
check_circle
|
|
|
|
Review |
IC Markets Review
|
HYCM (Henyep Capital Markets) Review
|
|
arrow_upward