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 stands out for tight pricing and flexible account options. It offers three account types: Standard (spread-only) and two commission-based Raw Spread accounts for cTrader and MetaTrader (MT4/MT5). 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; after adding commission, the all-in cost is about 0.62 pips on cTrader and 0.72 pips on MetaTrader. The commission-free Standard account averages about 0.62 pips. Volume traders can get discounts above 100 standard lots per month, and the low minimum deposit helps new traders get started. IC Markets earned Best in Class for Commissions & Fees in the 2024 Annual Awards, holds a 5 out of 5 stars rating for pricing, and ranks #5 out of 63 brokers in this category.
HYCM also delivers competitive costs, especially on its Raw account, which comes in around 0.6 pips all-in on EUR/USD after commission. Its Classic account uses a variable spread starting from 1.2 pips, while the Fixed account holds a 1.5-pip spread. HYCM’s pricing earns 4.5 out of 5 stars for Commissions & Fees, with a category ranking of #18 out of 63 brokers.
Comparing the two, HYCM’s Raw account and IC Markets’ cTrader Raw account are neck and neck on EUR/USD (about 0.6–0.62 pips all-in), while IC Markets’ MetaTrader Raw account is a touch higher at roughly 0.72 pips; IC Markets’ Standard account sits near 0.62 pips without commission. IC Markets may appeal to active traders seeking volume discounts and multiple platforms, while HYCM suits those who want a simple Raw pricing option or prefer fixed spreads. Keep in mind that spreads can vary by platform, account type, and the broker’s regional entity.
|
Feature |
IC Markets
|
HYCM (Henyep Capital Markets)
|
|
Minimum Deposit
info
|
$200
|
$20
|
|
Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account
info
|
0.62
info |
1.3
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 vs HYCM (Henyep Capital Markets): both support forex trading via CFDs or spot, plus cryptocurrency CFDs (neither offers actual crypto). IC Markets lists 3,583 tradeable instruments and 61 forex pairs, while HYCM offers 1,199 instruments and 70 forex pairs. That means IC Markets brings a wider overall product lineup, whereas HYCM edges ahead in the number of currency pairs.
For exchange-traded shares, HYCM lets you buy U.S. stocks, while IC Markets does not; both provide access to international shares. IC Markets also includes copy trading, which HYCM lacks. Reflecting these differences, IC Markets holds a 4.5/5 Range of Investments rating and ranks 22nd out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com; HYCM earns 4/5 and ranks 27th.
|
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
Comparing IC Markets vs HYCM for trading platforms and tools: both brokers provide free demo accounts, Windows desktop downloads, and web-based platforms. Each supports MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5), and both let you place trades directly from charts. IC Markets does not offer its own proprietary platform, while HYCM does. IC Markets includes copy trading, whereas HYCM does not.
For platform quality, both earn 4 out of 5 stars. In ForexBrokers.com’s rankings, IC Markets places #17 out of 63 for Trading Platforms and Tools, while HYCM ranks #32. Choose IC Markets if you want copy trading and the well-known MetaTrader suites; pick HYCM if having a broker-built platform option matters to 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. You get price alerts, 30 technical studies for charting, the ability to draw trendlines, and drawings that auto-save. One limitation is that neither app syncs watchlist symbols with the web platform, so changes made on mobile won’t carry over to your online account.
Both apps are rated 4 out of 5 stars for mobile trading. That said, ForexBrokers.com ranks IC Markets at #22 out of 63 brokers and HYCM at #30. If a higher industry ranking matters to you, IC Markets has a slight edge; otherwise, their mobile features are closely matched.
|
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 deliver daily market commentary, top-tier forex news (from sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, or similar), and an economic calendar to track key events. Each broker also integrates Trading Central for technical research. The differences show up in the added tools: IC Markets includes Autochartist and a sentiment tool that displays long/short positioning across instruments, while HYCM does not offer Autochartist or a sentiment tool. Neither broker provides research from TipRanks or tools from Acuity Trading (such as Signal Centre).
For market research, IC Markets earns 4 stars and is ranked #21 out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, while HYCM scores 3.5 stars and ranks #29. In short, both cover the essentials, but IC Markets edges ahead with extra technical and sentiment features, whereas HYCM focuses on core analysis backed by Trading Central and real-time news.
|
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 offer forex and CFD education with at least 10 learning pieces, and each provides 10+ beginner trading videos. IC Markets also hosts client webinars at least once a month, while HYCM does not. For traders ready to go beyond the basics, IC Markets includes 10+ advanced trading videos; HYCM does not offer a comparable advanced video library.
IC Markets is rated 4 stars for Education and ranks #16 out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com. HYCM holds a 3.5-star rating and ranks #27. If you want beginner-friendly videos plus regular webinars and a clearer path to advanced topics, IC Markets is the stronger choice. If you simply want video-led beginner education in forex and CFDs without webinars, HYCM can still fit the bill.
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 #21, while HYCM (Henyep Capital Markets) finished with an overall rank of #26.
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
|
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|
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Trading Fees |
|
|
|
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Range of Investments |
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|
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Trading Platforms |
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Mobile Trading |
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Research |
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|
|
|
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 (FSA 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
|
1.3
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
|
|
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