Written by ForexBrokers.com
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.
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.
IC Markets vs IFC Markets: IC Markets was founded in 2007, while IFC Markets started in 2006. Neither broker is publicly traded, and neither is a bank.
Regulation and trust: IC Markets holds 2 Tier-1 licenses versus 1 for IFC Markets; both have 0 Tier-2 licenses. According to ForexBrokers.com, IC Markets has a Trust Score of 83/99 (trusted) and IFC Markets scores 73/99 (average risk). On this scale, 90–99 is highly trusted, 80–89 trusted, 70–79 average risk, 60–69 high risk, and below 59 not trusted.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2007 | 2006 |
| 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 | 5 |
When it comes to commissions and fees, IC Markets is the lower-cost choice for most traders. It offers three account types: a spread-only Standard account, plus Raw Spread accounts on MetaTrader and cTrader that charge commission but keep spreads very tight. For example, IC Markets’ EUR/USD pricing can work out to about 0.62 to 0.72 pips all-in on commission-based accounts, which is highly competitive. IC Markets is rated 5 stars and ranked #4 out of 36 brokers for Commissions & Fees.
IFC Markets is still a decent option, but its pricing is generally less competitive. Its average EUR/USD spread is 1.44 pips, which is above the industry average, though its ECN account can lower the effective cost to around 1.1 pips after commission. On the plus side, IFC Markets does not charge inactivity fees and may offer discounts for active traders. IFC Markets is rated 4 stars and ranked #34 out of 36 brokers for Commissions & Fees.
In simple terms, IC Markets is the better pick if low trading costs are your main priority, especially for frequent forex trading. IFC Markets may appeal to traders who value no inactivity fee and occasional savings, but its overall fees are not as low as IC Markets.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $200 | $1 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Spread-only account | 0.8 | 1.44 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | 0.72 | 1.1 |
| Non-wire bank transfer (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
IC Markets offers a wider range of investments than IFC Markets, making it the stronger choice for traders who want more product variety. Both brokers support forex trading, copy trading, and cryptocurrency CFDs, but IC Markets stands out with 7,435 tradeable symbols and 61 forex pairs, compared with IFC Markets’ 630 symbols and 49 forex pairs. IC Markets is also rated higher for Range of Investments, earning 4.5 stars and ranking 22nd out of 36 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, while IFC Markets scores 3.5 stars and ranks 33rd.
Neither broker offers access to actual exchange-traded U.S. shares, and neither allows clients to buy real cryptocurrency. However, IFC Markets does offer exchange-traded securities on international exchanges, such as London-listed shares, while IC Markets does not. For traders who want a broader selection of markets overall, IC Markets has the edge, but IFC Markets may appeal to those looking for select international stock access alongside forex and CFD trading.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 7435 | 630 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 61 | 49 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | Yes |
| 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). |
Dive deeper: Best Copy Trading Platforms.
IC Markets and IFC Markets both give traders a solid mix of platform choices, including free demo accounts, web-based trading, Windows desktop downloads, copy trading, and access to both MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5. Each broker also lets users trade directly from charts, which can make placing orders faster and easier for active traders. In short, both platforms cover the basics well for beginners and more experienced users alike.
The main difference is that IFC Markets also offers its own in-house trading platform, while IC Markets does not. Even so, both brokers are rated 4 out of 5 stars for Trading Platforms and Tools. Based on ForexBrokers.com rankings, IC Markets places higher in this category at #17 out of 36 brokers, compared with IFC Markets at #32 out of 36, giving IC Markets the edge overall for platform and tool quality.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | No | Yes |
| 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) | 32 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
IC Markets and IFC Markets both offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, along with price alerts, trendline drawing, and auto-saving chart drawings. Each app is also rated 4 out of 5 stars for mobile trading, so both brokers give traders a similar experience for basic on-the-go trading needs. IC Markets does have a slight edge in charting, with 32 technical studies compared with 30 at IFC Markets.
The biggest difference comes down to watchlist syncing and overall ranking. IFC Markets lets users sync watchlists between the mobile app and their online account, while IC Markets does not offer this feature. Even so, IC Markets is ranked higher overall for mobile trading apps by ForexBrokers.com, placing #22 out of 36 brokers versus #37 for IFC Markets. If synced watchlists matter most, IFC Markets has the advantage; if broader mobile app standing is more important, IC Markets comes out ahead.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | No | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 32 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
IC Markets has the edge over IFC Markets for market research overall. Both brokers provide daily market commentary, a sentiment tool showing long and short positioning, and an economic calendar for tracking upcoming global events. However, IC Markets stands out by also offering forex news from major sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones, plus Trading Central tools and market research from TipRanks. IFC Markets does not offer those added research features, which may matter if you want more outside analysis and trading ideas.
In ForexBrokers.com’s research rating, IC Markets scores 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #21 out of 36 brokers, while IFC Markets scores 3.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #33. In simple terms, both brokers give traders the basics, but IC Markets provides a wider mix of research resources and a stronger overall research offering.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central | Yes | No |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | Yes | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
For beginners looking for learning support, IC Markets has the edge over IFC Markets. IC Markets offers forex and CFDs education, hosts online educational webinars at least once a month, and provides at least 10 beginner videos plus 10 advanced videos. It is also rated 4 out of 5 stars for Education and ranked 16th out of 36 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, which points to a stronger overall learning experience.
IFC Markets also gives newcomers useful video content, with at least 10 beginner videos and at least 10 advanced videos, but it does not offer monthly educational webinars. It is rated 3.5 out of 5 stars for Education and placed 26th out of 36 brokers for this category. In simple terms, both brokers offer beginner-friendly material, but IC Markets provides more ways to learn and stands out as the better choice for education overall.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
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 IFC Markets. IC Markets finished with an overall rank of #21, while IFC Markets finished with an overall rank of #36.
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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IFC Markets
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| Trust Score | 83 | 73 |
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IC Markets vs IFC Markets: neither broker lets you buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrency, but both offer cryptocurrency CFDs for trading.
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.
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 | IFC Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 83 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IC Markets Review |
| Broker Screenshots | IC Markets | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Regulation | IC Markets | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 83 | 73 | |
| Year Founded | 2007 | 2006 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | ||
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 3 | 5 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | IC Markets | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | ||
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | ||
| Japan (FSA Authorised) | No | ||
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | No | ||
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | |||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | No | ||
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | No | ||
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | ||
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | IC Markets | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | ||
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or CMA Authorised) | No | ||
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | ||
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | IC Markets | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 7435 | 630 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 61 | 49 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | Yes | |
| 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). |
| Cost | IC Markets | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Spread-only account | 0.8 | 1.44 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | 0.72 | 1.1 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | IC Markets | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $200 | $1 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | IC Markets | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | No | Yes | |
| 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 | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 32 | 30 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | IC Markets | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 32 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | IC Markets | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | Yes | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | IC Markets | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | IC Markets | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| Review | IC Markets Review |
| Overall | IC Markets | IFC Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 83 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IC Markets Review |
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