Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of StoneX Trading 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.
StoneX Trading and IC Markets are both non-bank brokers, but their regulatory standing is quite different. StoneX Trading was founded in 1983, is publicly traded, and holds 7 Tier-1 licenses and 1 Tier-2 license, giving it a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 99 out of 99, which places it in the highly trusted range. IC Markets, founded in 2007 and not publicly traded, holds 2 Tier-1 licenses and no Tier-2 licenses, with a Trust Score of 83 out of 99, which falls in the trusted range.
For traders comparing online brokers, the key point is that StoneX Trading has a longer track record and stronger regulatory coverage than IC Markets. While both brokers are not banks, StoneX Trading’s higher trust rating and greater number of top-tier licenses may appeal to those who place more weight on oversight and company history.
| Feature |
StoneX Trading
|
IC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1983 | 2007 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 3 |
StoneX Trading’s commissions and fees are generally in line with the industry average for CFDs, forex, and spread betting, and its pricing is best when using the broker’s own platforms or MetaTrader. For its CFD account, StoneX reported an average EUR/USD spread of 0.74 pips as of July 2023, which keeps trading costs close to average, though still higher than the cheapest forex brokers in the market. Active traders can also qualify for rebates, including U.K. professional trader discounts starting at £4 per million and rising to £7.5 per million, while in Australia rebates range from AUD $4.5 per million to AUD $14.5 per million. StoneX Trading earns 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #16 out of 36 brokers for Commissions and Fees.
IC Markets offers lower trading costs overall and is one of the strongest low-cost brokers for commissions and fees. It has three account choices: a commission-free Standard account, plus Raw Spread accounts on MetaTrader and cTrader that charge commissions but offer very tight spreads. IC Markets lists an average EUR/USD spread of 0.02 pips, and even after commissions, the all-in cost remains highly competitive. The cTrader Raw Spread account is slightly cheaper than the MetaTrader Raw Spread account, and active traders can get discounts after trading more than 100 standard lots per month.
Overall, IC Markets is the better choice for traders focused on saving money on spreads and commissions, while StoneX Trading is closer to the middle of the pack. IC Markets receives 5 out of 5 stars and is ranked #5 out of 36 brokers for Commissions and Fees, compared with StoneX Trading’s 4.5 stars and #16 ranking.
| Feature |
StoneX Trading
|
IC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £100.00 | $200 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Spread-only account | 1.4 | 0.8 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | 0.9 | 0.72 |
| Non-wire bank transfer (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
When it comes to range of investments, StoneX Trading offers a wider selection than IC Markets, with 13,500 tradeable symbols compared with 7,435 at IC Markets. StoneX Trading also lists more forex pairs, with 66 available versus 61 at IC Markets. Both brokers support forex trading, copy trading, and cryptocurrency CFDs, but neither offers exchange-traded shares on U.S. or international exchanges, and neither lets clients buy actual cryptocurrency.
For investors focused on market variety, StoneX Trading has the edge in this comparison. It is rated 5 out of 5 stars for Range of Investments and ranks #8 out of 36 brokers in ForexBrokers.com’s review, while IC Markets is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #22. In short, both brokers cover the key trading basics, but StoneX Trading gives you access to more markets overall.
| Feature |
StoneX Trading
|
IC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 13500 | 7435 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 66 | 61 |
| 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.
StoneX Trading and IC Markets both give traders a wide range of platform choices, including a free demo account, Windows desktop software, web-based trading, copy trading, and MetaTrader 4. Both brokers also let users place trades directly from charts, which can make fast decision-making easier. The main difference is that StoneX Trading offers its own in-house platform, while IC Markets does not, and IC Markets adds MetaTrader 5, which StoneX Trading does not provide.
For trading platforms and tools, StoneX Trading has the edge overall. It earns 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #11 out of 36 brokers in this category at ForexBrokers.com, compared with IC Markets’ 4-star rating and #17 ranking. If you want a broker with a proprietary platform plus the core tools most traders expect, StoneX Trading may stand out. If MetaTrader 5 is important to you, IC Markets has the advantage.
| Feature |
StoneX Trading
|
IC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | No |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 88 | 32 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
StoneX Trading and IC Markets both offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, and each lets users set stock or forex price alerts. Both apps also support drawing trendlines on charts and automatically save those drawings, making it easier to review chart work later. For traders who want to manage accounts on the go, either broker provides the basic tools needed for mobile trading.
StoneX Trading stands out in a few key areas. Its mobile app includes watchlist symbol syncing, so changes made on the app or in the online account stay aligned, while IC Markets does not offer this feature. StoneX Trading also gives users 88 technical studies in its mobile charting tools compared with 32 at IC Markets. Reflecting these differences, StoneX Trading is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #9 out of 36 brokers for mobile trading apps, while IC Markets is rated 4 stars and ranks #22.
| Feature |
StoneX Trading
|
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 | 88 | 32 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
StoneX Trading and IC Markets both give traders a strong set of market research tools. Each broker offers daily market commentary, forex news from leading sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones, a Trading Central tool, sentiment data showing long and short positions, and an economic calendar for global events. Neither broker includes Autochartist or Acuity Trading tools, but IC Markets does stand out by also offering TipRanks research, which StoneX Trading does not.
Overall, StoneX Trading has the edge for market research. It is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars for Research and ranks #10 out of 36 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while IC Markets is rated 4 stars and ranks #21. For traders who want a wider mix of built-in research and a higher overall research score, StoneX Trading comes out ahead, though IC Markets still offers a well-rounded research experience.
| Feature |
StoneX Trading
|
IC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | 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.
For beginners looking to learn forex or CFD trading, both StoneX Trading and IC Markets provide a strong mix of educational support. Each broker offers at least 10 forex- or CFD-focused learning materials, monthly online client webinars, and at least 10 beginner videos plus 10 advanced videos, giving new traders and more experienced users plenty of material to explore. This means either platform can help traders build skills through articles, videos, and live sessions.
That said, StoneX Trading has the edge on education overall. It earns a 4.5-star Education rating and ranks #9 out of 36 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, while IC Markets has a 4-star rating and ranks #16. For beginners who want a slightly stronger learning experience, StoneX Trading stands out as the better choice, though IC Markets still offers a solid set of educational resources.
| Feature |
StoneX Trading
|
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 StoneX Trading is better than IC Markets. StoneX Trading finished with an overall rank of #8, while IC Markets finished with an overall rank of #21.
Backed by StoneX Group and formerly named City Index, StoneX Trading is a trusted brand known for its versatile trading platforms, excellent mobile app, diverse market research, and extensive range of tradeable markets.
| Feature |
StoneX Trading
|
IC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
|
| Trust Score | 99 | 83 |
| Range of Investments |
|
|
| Trading Fees |
|
|
| Trading Platforms |
|
|
| Research |
|
|
| Mobile Trading |
|
|
| Education |
|
|
When comparing StoneX Trading vs IC Markets for cryptocurrency access, both brokers do not offer delivered crypto purchases, but each does provide cryptocurrency CFDs, allowing traders to speculate on price movements without owning the actual digital asset.
When comparing StoneX Trading vs IC Markets for funding options, StoneX Trading supports ACH/SEPA transfers, PayPal, and bank wires but not Skrill, while IC Markets also offers PayPal and bank wires plus Skrill, though it does not support ACH/SEPA transfers.
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 | StoneX Trading | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Trading Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Trading Platforms |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 99 | 83 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | StoneX Trading Review | IC Markets Review |
| Broker Screenshots | StoneX Trading | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
|
|
| Regulation | StoneX Trading | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 83 | |
| Year Founded | 1983 | 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 | 1 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 3 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | StoneX Trading | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (FSA Authorised) | No | 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) | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | StoneX Trading | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | No | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or CMA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | StoneX Trading | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 13500 | 7435 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 66 | 61 | |
| 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 | StoneX Trading | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Spread-only account | 1.4 | 0.8 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | 0.9 | 0.72 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Agency | No | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | StoneX Trading | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £100.00 | $200 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | StoneX Trading | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | No | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | Yes |
| Trading Tools | StoneX Trading | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 88 | 32 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | StoneX Trading | 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 | 88 | 32 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | StoneX Trading | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central | Yes | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | Yes | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | StoneX Trading | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | StoneX Trading | 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 | StoneX Trading Review | IC Markets Review |
| Overall | StoneX Trading | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Trading Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Trading Platforms |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 99 | 83 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | StoneX Trading Review | IC Markets Review |
IG
FOREX.com
CMC Markets
XTB
eToro
Capital.com
AvaTrade
Pepperstone
FP Markets
Tickmill