Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of IC Markets vs Markets.com, 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.
When comparing IC Markets and Markets.com, a few key differences in their regulatory credentials stand out. IC Markets, founded in 2007, operates with 2 Tier-1 licenses, which signifies high trust according to ForexBrokers.com. Markets.com, on the other hand, was established in 1999 and boasts 3 Tier-1 licenses. Although neither broker is publicly traded nor operates as a bank, these licenses highlight their commitment to security and regulation. IC Markets holds an 84 Trust Score, indicating a trusted status, while Markets.com has earned a higher Trust Score of 93, reflecting its slightly stronger regulatory foothold.
Consider these factors if you value trust and regulatory oversight in your brokerage choice. Although both brokers are well-regulated, Markets.com’s additional Tier-1 and Tier-2 licenses might appeal to those prioritizing security. Keep in mind that both firms provide safe environments for trading, but the distinction in their Trust Scores and number of licenses is noteworthy for investors requiring highly trusted platforms.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
Markets.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2007 | 1999 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 3 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 3 | 1 |
IC Markets is a strong pick for low trading costs. It offers three account types: a commission-free Standard (spread-only) account, plus commission-based Raw Spread accounts on MetaTrader (MT4/MT5) and cTrader. On cTrader, the commission is $3.00 per side per 100,000 units ($6 round turn); on MetaTrader, it’s $3.50 per side ($7 round turn). IC Markets lists an average EUR/USD spread of 0.02 pips (Aug 2022); once commissions are added, the all-in cost is about 0.62 pips on cTrader and 0.72 pips on MetaTrader. Spreads can vary by platform, account type, and whether you open with the European (Cyprus), Australian, or Seychelles entity. The low deposit requirement and discounts for trading over 100 standard lots per month further help reduce fees. IC Markets earned Best in Class honors for Commissions & Fees in the 2024 Annual Awards and is rated 5 stars, ranking #5 out of 63 brokers for this category.
Markets.com provides far less clarity on pricing, as average spread data is not available. That makes apples-to-apples cost comparisons harder and may matter if you prioritize tight spreads or detailed fee disclosures. In our ratings for the Commissions & Fees category, Markets.com is rated 3.5 stars and ranks #51 out of 63 brokers—well behind IC Markets for typical trading costs and transparency.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
Markets.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $200 | $100 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.62 | N/A |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.62 | N/A |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
IC Markets vs Markets.com: range of investments compared. IC Markets lists 3,583 tradable instruments and 61 forex pairs, while Markets.com offers 2,179 instruments and 57 pairs. Both let you trade forex as CFDs or as spot. In ForexBrokers.com’s Range of Investments ratings, IC Markets earns 4.5/5 and ranks #26 out of 63 brokers; Markets.com scores 4/5 and ranks #30.
Asset access differs. Neither broker lets you buy U.S.-listed shares outright, and neither sells actual crypto. IC Markets does let you buy certain international shares (not CFDs), such as London-listed stocks, while Markets.com does not. Both provide copy trading and cryptocurrency derivatives. If you want the widest symbol list and some access to exchange-traded international shares, IC Markets has the edge; if you only need a broad CFD lineup with copy trading, Markets.com covers the basics.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
Markets.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 3583 | 2179 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 61 | 57 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | No |
| Cryptocurrency (Derivative) | 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 vs Markets.com: both online brokers offer free demo (paper) trading, Windows desktop software, and web-based platforms. Each supports copy trading and the popular MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5). A key difference is platform choice: IC Markets relies on third-party platforms, while Markets.com also provides its own in-house platform.
For charting workflow, IC Markets lets you place trades directly from charts, whereas Markets.com does not. Both earn 4 out of 5 stars for Trading Platforms and Tools, though ForexBrokers.com ranks IC Markets higher in this category (#16 of 63) than Markets.com (#27 of 63). If you prefer a broker with chart trading and a higher category ranking, IC Markets may appeal; if you want a proprietary platform alongside MT4/MT5, consider Markets.com.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
Markets.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | No | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 89 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
IC Markets and Markets.com both offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, complete with stock and forex price alerts and the ability to build watchlists with real-time quotes. Each app earns 4 out of 5 stars for mobile trading. That said, ForexBrokers.com ranks IC Markets higher in this category (#22 of 63) than Markets.com (#34 of 63).
For charting, IC Markets stands out with about 30 built-in technical indicators and support for drawing trendlines, plus it auto-saves your chart drawings. Markets.com also lets you draw trendlines, but its own app doesn’t include built-in indicators (you can use indicators if you trade via MT4). Markets.com does, however, sync watchlist symbols between mobile and web, while IC Markets does not. If you want indicator-rich charts and saved annotations, IC Markets is a better fit; if you value seamless watchlist syncing across devices, consider Markets.com.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
Markets.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | No | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | (default on MT4, none on Markets app) |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | No |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
Both IC Markets and Markets.com offer a range of market research tools that can guide your trading choices, making them suitable options for informed decision-making. If you're interested in daily market commentary, both brokers deliver insights, keeping you updated with the latest forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg and Reuters. However, IC Markets differentiates itself by providing tools from industry leaders such as Autochartist and Trading Central, helping with technical and fundamental analysis, a feature Markets.com does not provide.
Both platforms offer sentiment-based trading tools to help you understand market trends across various instruments. Moreover, each broker provides an economic calendar to keep track of global news. While neither broker partners with TipRanks or Acuity Trading, their offerings still rank competitively with IC Markets earning a research score of 4 out of 5 stars, just like Markets.com. Despite both having an equal star rating, Markets.com holds a slightly better rank in research, being 17th out of 63 brokers, compared to IC Markets’ 23rd place.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
Markets.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | No |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
IC Markets and Markets.com both cater to beginners with ongoing education. Each broker runs at least one educational webinar every month and offers video libraries that include 10+ beginner-friendly videos, plus 10+ for advanced topics—helping new traders move from the basics of forex and CFDs to more complex strategies. Both earn 4 out of 5 stars for Education; however, ForexBrokers.com ranks IC Markets higher at #16 out of 63 brokers, compared with Markets.com at #34.
Details aren’t specified for either broker regarding a broader forex/CFD education library (beyond videos), a searchable archive of recorded webinars, or an investor dictionary with 50+ terms. If you value monthly webinars and structured video lessons, both are suitable picks; if rankings matter to you, IC Markets has the edge. For the latest on webinar archives, glossaries, and written guides, check each broker’s education hub directly.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
Markets.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| 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 Markets.com. IC Markets finished with an overall rank of #20, while Markets.com finished with an overall rank of #23.
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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Markets.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 84 | 93 |
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Both IC Markets and Markets.com do not offer the ability to buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrency, but they do provide options to trade cryptocurrency derivatives.
Comparing deposit and withdrawal methods, IC Markets and Markets.com both lack ACH/SEPA support but offer Skrill and bank wire transfers, while only IC Markets supports PayPal, giving it an edge in payment flexibility.
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 | Markets.com | |
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| Trust Score | 84 | 93 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IC Markets Review |
| Broker Screenshots | IC Markets | Markets.com | |
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| Regulation | IC Markets | Markets.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 84 | 93 | |
| Year Founded | 2007 | 1999 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 3 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 3 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | IC Markets | Markets.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (SFC 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 | Markets.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | No | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | IC Markets | Markets.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 3583 | 2179 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 61 | 57 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (Derivative) | 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 | Markets.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.62 | N/A | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.62 | N/A | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | IC Markets | Markets.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $200 | $100 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | IC Markets | Markets.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | No | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes | |
| cTrader | Yes | No |
| Trading Tools | IC Markets | Markets.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 89 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | No | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | IC Markets | Markets.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | (default on MT4, none on Markets app) | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | No |
| Research | IC Markets | Markets.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | IC Markets | Markets.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | IC Markets | Markets.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY | Yes | Yes | |
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CAD | Yes | Yes | |
| NZD/USD | Yes | ||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | IC Markets Review |
| Overall | IC Markets | Markets.com | |
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| Trust Score | 84 | 93 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IC Markets Review |
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