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IC Markets vs IFC Markets 2025

ForexBrokers.com

Written by ForexBrokers.com

February 05, 2025

In this head to head comparison of IC Markets vs IFC Markets, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.

IC Markets
4.5/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: $200
  • Trust Score: 84
  • Tradeable Symbols (Total): 3583
IFC Markets
4/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: $1
  • Trust Score: 73
  • Tradeable Symbols (Total): 630

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

Founded in 2007, IC Markets stands out in the online brokerage landscape with a solid Trust Score of 84, affirming a 'trusted' status from ForexBrokers.com. This ensures clients have a reliable trading partner. While not publicly traded or a bank, IC Markets' credibility is strengthened by its possession of two Tier-1 licenses, which are highly trusted by industry standards. This positions it as a go-to choice for those seeking assurance in their trading activities.

In contrast, IFC Markets, established a year earlier in 2006, holds a Trust Score of 73, which lands it in the 'average risk' category. This broker, also not publicly traded or a bank, offers one Tier-2 license, indicating a level of trust but slightly lower than that of Tier-1. While both brokers present viable online trading solutions, IC Markets may appeal more to those prioritizing licensing authority and trust scores.

Feature IC Markets logoIC Markets
IFC Markets logoIFC Markets
Year Founded info 2007 2006
Publicly Traded (Listed) info No No
Bank info No No
Tier-1 Licenses info 2 0
Tier-2 Licenses info 0 1
Tier-3 Licenses info 0 0
Tier-4 Licenses info 3 1

Fees

IC Markets generally comes out cheaper than IFC Markets for day‑to‑day trading costs. IC Markets earns 5/5 stars for Commissions & Fees and ranks #5 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com (and won Best in Class for this category in 2024). IFC Markets earns 4/5 stars and ranks #32 out of 63. Both offer discounts for high‑volume traders, but their pricing structures differ in important ways.

At IC Markets, pricing depends on platform and account type. The commission‑free Standard account averages about 0.62 pips on EUR/USD. The two commission accounts—Raw Spread on MetaTrader (MT4/MT5) and cTrader Raw—charge per trade: cTrader is $3.00 per side per 100,000 units ($6 round turn), while MetaTrader is $3.50 per side ($7 round turn). With average quoted spreads near 0.02 pips on EUR/USD, the all‑in cost works out to about 0.62 pips on cTrader or 0.72 pips on MetaTrader, which is highly competitive. Spreads can vary by platform and by IC Markets’ regional entity, and active traders (100+ standard lots/month) can receive further discounts.

IFC Markets’ standard pricing is less aggressive: the average EUR/USD spread is about 1.44 pips, above the industry average of 1.08. Its ECN account is more appealing for frequent traders, with an effective EUR/USD cost around 1.1 pips after a 0.005% commission on both sides. IFC Markets does not charge inactivity fees and also offers volume‑based discounts. Overall, IFC Markets narrows the gap with its ECN option, but IC Markets’ lower all‑in costs on commission accounts make it the stronger choice purely on fees for many traders.

Feature IC Markets logoIC Markets
IFC Markets logoIFC Markets
Minimum Deposit info $200 $1
Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account info 0.62 info 1.44 info
All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active info 0.62 info 1.1 info
Non-wire bank transfer info No No
PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes No
Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes No
Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes Yes

Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.

Featured Offers


Range of investments

In the IC Markets vs IFC Markets comparison for range of investments, IC Markets lists 3,583 tradeable symbols and 61 forex pairs, while IFC Markets offers 630 symbols and 49 forex pairs. Both brokers let you trade forex as CFDs or spot, support copy trading, and provide cryptocurrency exposure through CFDs (but not by buying actual coins). Neither broker offers access to U.S.-listed exchange-traded shares, though both provide access to exchange-traded securities on international exchanges (not CFDs).

These differences show up in ratings: IC Markets earns 4.5 out of 5 stars for Range of Investments and ranks 22nd out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, whereas IFC Markets scores 3.5 stars and ranks 31st. If having the widest selection matters, IC Markets offers the broader menu; if you’re comfortable with a smaller lineup that still covers forex, crypto CFDs, copy trading, and some international shares, IFC Markets fits the bill.

Feature IC Markets logoIC Markets
IFC Markets logoIFC Markets
Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) info Yes Yes
Tradeable Symbols (Total) info 3583 630
Forex Pairs (Total) info 61 49
U.S. Stocks (Shares) info No No
Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) info Yes Yes
Copy Trading info Yes Yes
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).

Dive deeper: Best Copy Trading Platforms.

Trading platforms and tools

IC Markets vs IFC Markets: both brokers cover the basics traders expect from modern trading platforms and tools. Each offers a free demo (paper) account, web-based (browser) access, Windows desktop software, copy trading, and the ability to place trades directly from charts. Both also support MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5). The main difference is ownership of the platform stack: IC Markets sticks to third-party platforms (no proprietary option), while IFC Markets also provides its own in-house platform alongside MT4/MT5.

For ratings, both brokers earned 4 out of 5 stars for Trading Platforms and Tools. In ForexBrokers.com’s 63-broker comparison, IC Markets ranked #17, while IFC Markets ranked #29. If you prefer a simple MetaTrader-only setup, IC Markets is a strong fit; if you want the choice to try a broker’s proprietary platform in addition to MetaTrader, IFC Markets offers that path. Specific counts for available technical indicators and watchlist fields weren’t provided.

Feature IC Markets logoIC Markets
IFC Markets logoIFC 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 Yes
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 IFC Markets both check the key boxes for traders who want capable mobile trading apps. Each broker offers iPhone and Android apps, price alerts for stocks or forex, and strong charting with 30 built-in technical studies. You can draw trendlines and your chart drawings auto-save on both platforms, making it easy to revisit your analysis without starting over.

The main difference is watchlists: IFC Markets syncs your watchlist between the mobile app and your online account, while IC Markets does not. Both apps earn 4 stars, yet ForexBrokers.com ranks IC Markets higher (#22 of 63) than IFC Markets (#34). If seamless watchlist syncing matters to you, IFC Markets has the edge; if overall ranking is your guide, IC Markets comes out ahead. Either way, both apps deliver the core tools most traders expect.

Feature IC Markets logoIC Markets
IFC Markets logoIFC Markets
Android App info Yes Yes
Apple iOS App info Yes Yes
Mobile Price Alerts info Yes Yes
Mobile Watchlists - Syncing info No Yes
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 vs IFC Markets: both brokers deliver daily market commentary, a handy economic calendar, and a sentiment tool that shows long/short positioning. IC Markets goes further with forex news from top-tier outlets like Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones, plus popular third‑party research tools from Autochartist and Trading Central. IFC Markets does not provide those vendor tools or premium news feeds. Neither broker offers research from TipRanks or Acuity Trading.

In independent testing by ForexBrokers.com, IC Markets earns 4 stars for research and ranks 21st out of 63 brokers, while IFC Markets scores 3.5 stars and ranks 30th. If you value integrated news coverage and extra analysis plugins, IC Markets is the stronger choice; if you just need daily insights, market sentiment, and a calendar, IFC Markets can cover the basics.

Feature IC Markets logoIC Markets
IFC Markets logoIFC Markets
Daily Market Commentary (Articles) info Yes Yes
Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) info Yes No
Autochartist info Yes No
Trading Central info Yes No
Client sentiment data info Yes Yes
TipRanks info No No
Acuity Trading info No No
Economic Calendar info Yes Yes

Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.

Beginners and education

If you’re comparing IC Markets vs IFC Markets for beginner-friendly education, both brokers check the box for forex and CFD learning. Each offers at least 10 beginner videos and 10 advanced videos, giving new traders plenty of self-paced content to build skills. The key difference is live instruction: IC Markets runs client webinars at least once per month, while IFC Markets does not. That makes IC Markets the better pick if you value ongoing, interactive classes; if you prefer on-demand videos, either broker will work.

In expert assessments, IC Markets scores 4 stars for Education and ranks #16 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while IFC Markets earns 3.5 stars and ranks #25. In short, both provide solid forex and CFD education, but IC Markets edges ahead thanks to its regular webinars and slightly stronger overall rating.

Feature IC Markets logoIC Markets
IFC Markets logoIFC Markets
Webinars info Yes No
Videos - Beginner Trading Videos info Yes Yes
Videos - Advanced Trading Videos info Yes Yes

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 IFC Markets. IC Markets finished with an overall rank of #21, while IFC Markets finished with an overall rank of #33.

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 logoIC Markets
IFC Markets logoIFC Markets
Overall Rating info 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Trust Score info 84 73
Range of Investments 4.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Trading Fees 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Trading Platforms 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Research 4/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Mobile Trading 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Education 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars

FAQs

Can you trade cryptocurrency with IC Markets or IFC Markets?

IC Markets vs IFC Markets: neither broker lets you buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrency, but both offer cryptocurrency CFDs for trading.

What funding options does each broker offer?

IC Markets vs IFC Markets: both online brokers do not support ACH or SEPA and both accept bank wire transfers, but IC Markets additionally supports PayPal and Skrill while IFC Markets does not; availability of Visa or Mastercard funding/withdrawals is not specified for either.

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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 IFC Markets
Overall Rating info 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Trading Fees 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Range of Investments 4.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Trading Platforms 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Mobile Trading 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Research 4/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Education 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Trust Score info 84 73
Winner check_circle
Review IC Markets Review
Broker Screenshots IC Markets IFC Markets
Broker Gallery (click to expand) info
IC Markets cTrader mobile app charting IC Markets EU cTrader desktop trading platform layout IC Markets webinar IC Your Trade YouTube video series. IC Markets Educational content blog articles.
Regulation IC Markets IFC Markets
Trust Score info 84 73
Year Founded info 2007 2006
Publicly Traded (Listed) info No No
Bank info No No
Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). info Yes info
Tier-1 Licenses info 2 0
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 IFC Markets
Australia (ASIC Authorised) info Yes
Canada (CIRO Authorised) info No
Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) info No
Japan (FSA Authorised) info No
Singapore (MAS Authorised) info No
Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) info
United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) info No
USA (CFTC Authorized) info No
New Zealand (FMA Authorised) info No
Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). info Yes info
Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) IC Markets IFC Markets
Kenya (CMA Authorised) info
Israel (ISA Authorised) info No
South Africa (FSCA Authorised) info No Yes
UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) info No
India (SEBI Authorised) info No
Jordan (JSC Authorised) info
Investments IC Markets IFC Markets
Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) info Yes Yes
Tradeable Symbols (Total) info 3583 630
Forex Pairs (Total) info 61 49
U.S. Stocks (Shares) info No No
Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) info Yes Yes
Copy Trading info Yes Yes
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).
Cost IC Markets IFC Markets
Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account info 0.62 info 1.44 info
All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active info 0.62 info 1.1 info
Inactivity Fee info No No
Order execution: Agency info Yes Yes
Order execution: Market Maker info Yes Yes
Funding IC Markets IFC Markets
Minimum Deposit info $200 $1
PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes No
Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes No
Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes Yes
Non-wire bank transfer info No No
Trading Platforms IC Markets IFC Markets
Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform info No Yes
Desktop Platform (Windows) info Yes Yes
Web Platform info Yes Yes
Copy Trading info Yes Yes
MetaTrader 4 (MT4) info Yes Yes
MetaTrader 5 (MT5) info Yes Yes
cTrader info Yes No
Trading Tools IC Markets IFC 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 IFC 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 Yes
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 IFC Markets
Daily Market Commentary (Articles) info Yes Yes
Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) info Yes No
Autochartist info Yes No
Trading Central info Yes No
TipRanks info No No
Client sentiment data info Yes Yes
Economic Calendar info Yes Yes
Education IC Markets IFC Markets
Webinars info Yes No
Videos - Beginner Trading Videos info Yes Yes
Videos - Advanced Trading Videos info Yes Yes
Major Forex Pairs IC Markets IFC 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
Overall IC Markets IFC Markets
Overall Rating info 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Trading Fees 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Range of Investments 4.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Trading Platforms 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Mobile Trading 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Research 4/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Education 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Trust Score info 84 73
Winner check_circle
Review IC Markets Review
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