Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of IC Markets vs Libertex, 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 and Libertex are both private online brokers, meaning neither is publicly traded and neither operates as a bank. IC Markets was founded in 2007, while Libertex has been around since 1997. In terms of trust, ForexBrokers.com gives IC Markets a Trust Score of 83 out of 99, which puts it in the trusted range, while Libertex scores 79, which falls into the average risk category.
Looking at regulation, IC Markets holds 2 Tier-1 licenses and 0 Tier-2 licenses, while Libertex has 1 Tier-1 license and 1 Tier-2 license. Since ForexBrokers.com treats Tier-1 licenses as highly trusted and Tier-2 licenses as trusted, IC Markets has a slight edge on regulatory standing and overall trust rating compared with Libertex.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
Libertex
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2007 | 1997 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 3 | 2 |
IC Markets is the lower-cost choice overall for commissions and fees, especially for forex traders who want tight pricing. It offers a commission-free Standard account plus Raw Spread and cTrader Raw Spread accounts, where the all-in cost on EUR/USD can be very competitive. IC Markets earns a 5-star rating and ranks #4 out of 36 brokers for Commissions and Fees, making it one of the strongest low-cost options in the market.
Libertex is also priced well, but its costs are usually a bit higher than IC Markets on forex. Its proprietary platform tends to be the cheaper route, with a spread-plus-commission setup that can suit active traders, while MT4 and MT5 are slightly more expensive. Libertex also has a low $10 minimum deposit and only charges an inactivity fee after six months without activity, which is more forgiving than many brokers. Libertex holds a 4-star rating and ranks #21 out of 36 brokers for Commissions and Fees.
In simple terms, IC Markets is the better pick if your main goal is the lowest possible trading costs, while Libertex may appeal if you want a low starting deposit and a straightforward account setup. Both brokers offer competitive pricing, but IC Markets has the edge for overall value on commissions and fees.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
Libertex
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $200 | $10 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Spread-only account | 0.8 | N/A |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | 0.72 | 1.3 |
| Non-wire bank transfer (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
When comparing IC Markets vs Libertex for range of investments, IC Markets offers a wider selection overall. It provides 7,435 tradeable symbols and 61 forex pairs, while Libertex offers 1,573 symbols and 46 forex pairs. Both brokers support forex trading as a CFD or spot contract, and both offer copy trading. Neither broker lets clients buy real shares on U.S. or international stock exchanges, and neither offers delivered cryptocurrency purchases.
For traders who want access to more markets through CFDs, IC Markets has the edge with a larger product list and a slightly higher range of investments rating at 4.5 out of 5 stars, compared with 4 stars for Libertex. In ForexBrokers.com’s ranking for this category, IC Markets is placed #22 out of 36 brokers, while Libertex is ranked #25. Both brokers do offer cryptocurrency CFDs, giving traders another way to speculate on digital assets without owning the coins directly.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
Libertex
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 7435 | 1573 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 61 | 46 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | No |
| 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). | 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 Libertex both give traders a familiar set of platform choices, including free demo accounts, web and Windows desktop platforms, copy trading, and access to MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5. Neither broker offers a proprietary in-house platform, so if you prefer a custom-built app, neither one stands out in that area. Both also let you place trades directly from a chart, which can be helpful for quicker decision-making.
When it comes to trading tools, the two brokers are evenly matched in overall user rating, with each earning 4 out of 5 stars for Trading Platforms and Tools. Still, IC Markets has the edge in ForexBrokers.com’s category ranking, placing #17 out of 36 brokers compared with Libertex at #27. For traders comparing platform experience, the biggest takeaway is that both brokers cover the basics well, but IC Markets is ranked a bit higher overall.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
Libertex
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | No | No |
| 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 | 43 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
IC Markets and Libertex both make it easy to trade on the go, since each offers iPhone and Android apps, plus stock and forex price alerts. Both brokers also earn a 4-star rating for mobile trading apps, so they are fairly well matched at a high level. In ForexBrokers.com’s mobile category rankings, IC Markets places slightly higher at #22 out of 36 brokers, while Libertex comes in at #28.
Where IC Markets stands out is in charting and day-to-day app use. Its mobile app includes 32 technical studies, trendline drawing, and auto-saving for drawings, which can be helpful for traders who like to analyze charts on the move. Libertex, by comparison, does not offer technical studies, trendline drawing, or auto-saving drawings in its mobile app. However, Libertex does support watchlist symbol syncing, so changes made in the app carry over to the client’s online account, while IC Markets does not offer this feature.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
Libertex
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | No | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 32 | 0 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
IC Markets and Libertex both give traders a solid set of research tools, and each earns a 4-star rating for Research. Both brokers provide forex news from top sources, Trading Central tools, sentiment data, and an economic calendar, so users can keep track of market moves and key events. Neither broker includes Autochartist or Acuity Trading tools.
Where IC Markets stands out is in daily market commentary and TipRanks research, which Libertex does not offer. This extra coverage helps IC Markets edge ahead in the research category, where it ranks #21 out of 36 brokers, compared with Libertex at #26.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
Libertex
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | No |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central | Yes | Yes |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | Yes | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When it comes to beginner-friendly learning material, IC Markets gives new traders more to work with than Libertex. IC Markets offers forex and CFD education with at least 10 learning pieces, runs online educational webinars at least once a month, and provides 10 or more beginner videos as well as 10 or more advanced videos. Libertex also offers forex and CFD education, but it does not match IC Markets for regular webinars or for the number of beginner and advanced videos available.
Both brokers are rated 4 out of 5 stars for Education, but their overall standings are quite different. IC Markets is ranked #16 out of 36 brokers for Education by ForexBrokers.com, while Libertex is ranked #35 out of 36. For beginners who want more video lessons and live learning opportunities, IC Markets is the clearer choice.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
Libertex
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
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 Libertex. IC Markets finished with an overall rank of #21, while Libertex finished with an overall rank of #32.
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
|
Libertex
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
|
| Trust Score | 83 | 79 |
| Range of Investments |
|
|
| Trading Fees |
|
|
| Trading Platforms |
|
|
| Research |
|
|
| Mobile Trading |
|
|
| Education |
|
|
When comparing IC Markets vs Libertex, both online brokers do not offer the ability to buy actual delivered cryptocurrency, but both do provide access to cryptocurrency CFDs for trading price movements without owning the underlying asset.
When comparing IC Markets vs Libertex for funding methods, both brokers support PayPal, Skrill, and bank wire transfers, but only Libertex offers ACH or SEPA transfers, while Visa and Mastercard availability is not specified for either broker.
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.
Select Brokers
↓×Compare
0 of 5| Overall Rating | IC Markets | Libertex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Trading Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Trading Platforms |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 83 | 79 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IC Markets Review | Libertex Review |
| Broker Screenshots | IC Markets | Libertex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
|
| Regulation | IC Markets | Libertex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 83 | 79 | |
| Year Founded | 2007 | 1997 | |
| 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 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 3 | 2 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | IC Markets | Libertex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (FSA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | No | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | |||
| 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 | Libertex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | IC Markets | Libertex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 7435 | 1573 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 61 | 46 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | No | |
| 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). | 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 | Libertex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Spread-only account | 0.8 | N/A | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | 0.72 | 1.3 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | IC Markets | Libertex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $200 | $10 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | IC Markets | Libertex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | No | No | |
| 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 | Libertex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 32 | 43 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | No |
| Mobile Trading | IC Markets | Libertex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 32 | 0 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | IC Markets | Libertex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | No | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central | Yes | Yes | |
| TipRanks | Yes | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | IC Markets | Libertex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | IC Markets | Libertex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | IC Markets Review | Libertex Review |
| Overall | IC Markets | Libertex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Trading Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Trading Platforms |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 83 | 79 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IC Markets Review | Libertex Review |
IG
FOREX.com
CMC Markets
XTB
eToro
Capital.com
AvaTrade
XM
Pepperstone
FP Markets
Tickmill
HFM Markets