Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Plus500 vs IC 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.
Plus500 and IC Markets are well-known online brokers with different profiles. Plus500, founded in 2008, is publicly traded, while IC Markets, founded in 2007, is privately held. Neither company is a bank.
In terms of regulation, Plus500 holds 7 Tier-1 licenses and 4 Tier-2 licenses, whereas IC Markets holds 2 Tier-1 licenses and no Tier-2 licenses. According to ForexBrokers.com, Plus500 has a Trust Score of 99/99 (90–99 = highly trusted), while IC Markets scores 83/99 (80–89 = trusted). These ratings and license counts highlight broader regulatory coverage for Plus500 compared with IC Markets.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
IC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2008 | 2007 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 4 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 3 |
When comparing commissions and fees, IC Markets comes out ahead of Plus500 for most traders looking to keep costs low. Plus500’s pricing is a little higher than the industry average, with EUR/USD spreads averaging 1.5 pips in April 2024, and it does not offer discounts for regular retail clients. It does, however, offer cash rebates for traders who qualify as Professional clients. Plus500 is rated 4.0 stars for commissions and fees and ranks No. 26 out of 36 brokers in this category.
IC Markets, by contrast, is one of the lowest-cost forex brokers, thanks to tight spreads and low-cost commission-based accounts. It offers three account types: a commission-free Standard account, plus Raw Spread and cTrader Raw Spread accounts with very small all-in trading costs. On its commission-based accounts, IC Markets’ pricing is competitive with top low-cost brokers, and active traders can also qualify for discounts when trading more than 100 standard lots per month. IC Markets is rated 5 stars for commissions and fees and ranks No. 4 out of 36 brokers.
For everyday traders, the main difference is simple: Plus500 is easy to use but tends to cost more, while IC Markets is built to keep trading costs down. If low spreads and lower overall fees are your priority, IC Markets is the stronger choice. If you want a straightforward platform and do not trade heavily, Plus500 may still be worth considering.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
IC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | €50 | $200 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Spread-only account | 1.3 | 0.8 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | 1.3 | 0.72 |
| Non-wire bank transfer (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| 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 Plus500 and IC Markets for range of investments, both brokers give traders access to forex as either CFDs or spot contracts, and both support cryptocurrency CFDs rather than direct crypto ownership. Plus500 offers 5,500 tradeable symbols and 65 forex pairs, while IC Markets lists a larger total selection with 7,435 tradeable symbols but slightly fewer forex pairs at 61. Both brokers earn 4.5 out of 5 stars for range of investments, but Plus500 ranks higher overall in this category at #16 out of 36 brokers, compared with IC Markets at #22.
For share trading, Plus500 has the broader choice because it lets clients buy exchange traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges, such as Apple and Vodafone shares, while IC Markets does not offer direct share dealing on those markets. IC Markets does, however, offer copy trading, which Plus500 does not. In simple terms, Plus500 is the better fit if you want direct access to listed shares, while IC Markets may appeal more if you want a larger total number of markets and the option to copy other traders.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
IC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 5500 | 7435 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 65 | 61 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | No |
| Copy Trading | No | 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). Non-CFD share trading at Plus500 is only available through the Plus500 Invest account. | 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.
Plus500 and IC Markets both give traders a free demo account and a web-based platform, so you can test strategies and trade from a browser without installing software. That said, IC Markets offers more platform choices for active traders, including a Windows desktop download, MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, and copy trading, plus the ability to place trades directly from charts. Plus500 takes a simpler route with its own in-house platform, but it does not offer MT4, MT5, a desktop app, or copy trading.
For trading tools, both brokers cover the basics, though IC Markets is the better pick if you want more ways to analyze and manage trades across different setups. Plus500 is rated 4.5 out of 5 for Trading Platforms and Tools and is ranked #14 out of 36 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, while IC Markets is rated 4 out of 5 and ranked #17. In short, Plus500 may suit traders who want a straightforward platform, while IC Markets is stronger for those who want more platform flexibility and chart-based trading features.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
IC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | No |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | No | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 115 | 32 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | No | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Plus500 and IC Markets both offer iPhone and Android apps, along with price alerts and the ability to draw trendlines on charts, so either broker gives traders a solid mobile trading setup. Where Plus500 stands out is in charting and overall app quality: it offers 115 technical studies in its mobile app compared with 32 at IC Markets, and it has a higher mobile trading app rating from ForexBrokers.com at 4.5 stars versus 4 stars for IC Markets. Plus500 is also ranked higher for mobile trading apps, placing #14 out of 36 brokers, while IC Markets sits at #22.
The main edge for IC Markets is that its mobile app automatically saves chart drawings, which can make it easier to pick up where you left off. Plus500 does not auto save drawings, but it does offer watchlist syncing between the app and online account, while IC Markets does not. For traders who want smoother watchlist management and more chart tools on mobile, Plus500 has the stronger app overall, while IC Markets may appeal to those who value saved chart annotations.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
IC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 115 | 32 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | No | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When it comes to market research, both Plus500 and IC Markets give traders useful day-to-day tools. Each offers daily market commentary, Trading Central tools, sentiment data, and an economic calendar to help track major global events. Plus500 also earns a slightly higher Research rating from ForexBrokers.com, with 4.5 out of 5 stars and a rank of #16 out of 36 brokers, compared with IC Markets at 4 stars and #21.
The main difference is in news coverage and third-party research. IC Markets includes forex news from top sources such as Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones, plus TipRanks research, while Plus500 does not. On the other hand, neither broker offers Autochartist or Acuity Trading tools, so their research offering is fairly similar in some areas, but IC Markets has the edge for traders who want more outside news and analyst-style insight.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
IC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central | Yes | Yes |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | Yes |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When it comes to beginner learning tools, both Plus500 and IC Markets give new traders plenty to work with. Each broker offers at least 10 forex or CFD education pieces, monthly educational webinars, and at least 10 beginner videos, plus 10 advanced videos for traders who want to go further. That means either platform can help someone get started with the basics and keep learning over time.
There are some clear differences, though. Plus500 earns a higher education rating at 4.5 out of 5 stars, compared with 4 stars for IC Markets. At the same time, IC Markets places better in ForexBrokers.com’s education ranking, coming in at #16 out of 36 brokers, while Plus500 ranks #27. In simple terms, Plus500 gets the stronger star rating, while IC Markets holds the better overall rank for education.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
IC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 Plus500 is better than IC Markets. Plus500 finished with an overall rank of #11, while IC Markets finished with an overall rank of #21.
Plus500 is a trusted global brand that offers an easy-to-use trading platform for online traders, alongside access to a thorough selection of CFDs. Share trading is available, but only via its Plus500 Invest product offering.
| Feature |
Plus500
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IC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 83 |
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Plus500 vs IC Markets: neither broker lets you buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrency, but both offer trading in cryptocurrency CFDs.
Plus500 vs IC Markets: both brokers do not support ACH or SEPA transfers, both offer PayPal, Skrill, and bank wire deposits/withdrawals, while Visa/Mastercard availability is not specified.
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 | Plus500 | IC Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 83 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Plus500 Review | IC Markets Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Plus500 | IC Markets | |
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| Regulation | Plus500 | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 83 | |
| Year Founded | 2008 | 2007 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 2 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 4 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 3 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Plus500 | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (FSA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | |||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | No | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Plus500 | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or CMA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | Plus500 | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 5500 | 7435 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 65 | 61 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Copy Trading | No | 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). Non-CFD share trading at Plus500 is only available through the Plus500 Invest account. | 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 | Plus500 | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Spread-only account | 1.3 | 0.8 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | 1.3 | 0.72 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Agency | No | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Plus500 | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | €50 | $200 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | Plus500 | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | No | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | No | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | Yes |
| Trading Tools | Plus500 | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 115 | 32 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | No | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Plus500 | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 115 | 32 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Plus500 | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central | Yes | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | Yes | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Plus500 | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Plus500 | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | Plus500 Review | IC Markets Review |
| Overall | Plus500 | IC Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 83 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Plus500 Review | IC Markets Review |
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