Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Swissquote 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.
Swissquote, founded in 1996, stands as a publicly traded entity with banking status, which contributes to its high level of trust and reliability. Holding five Tier-1 licenses and two Tier-2 licenses, Swissquote is strongly regulated, resulting in an impressive Trust Score of 99 out of 99 according to ForexBrokers.com. This positions Swissquote as not just a broker but also a financial institution that is highly trusted by its users, offering a sense of security for those seeking to invest with confidence.
Founded in 2007, IC Markets is known for its competitive offerings but isn't publicly traded and doesn't hold a banking license. While IC Markets holds two Tier-1 licenses, it lacks any Tier-2 licenses, which results in a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 84 out of 99. This score places IC Markets within the "trusted" category, offering a bit more risk than Swissquote, yet still maintaining a solid framework for those engaging in online brokerage activities.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
IC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1996 | 2007 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | Yes | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 5 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 3 |
Looking at commissions and fees, IC Markets comes in cheaper than Swissquote for most traders. IC Markets earns 5 out of 5 stars for Commissions & Fees and ranks #5 of 63 brokers, thanks to tight effective spreads and low commissions. Swissquote scores 3.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #35 of 63, reflecting higher average costs that partly stem from the appeal of holding an account with a Swiss banking group.
Swissquote’s pricing depends on the entity and account you choose. In the U.K., active traders who deposit at least $10,000 get the Elite account with lower spreads plus a $5 round-turn commission; the Standard account starts at 1.3 pips on EUR/USD, while Prime lists a 0.6 pip minimum (not an average). In Luxembourg, minimum deposits are $1,000 (Standard), $5,000 (Premium), and $50,000 (Prime), with minimum spreads from 1.5 to 0.8 pips. In Switzerland, forex accounts start at $1,000 (Standard) with spreads from 1.7 pips; Premium ($10,000) drops to 1.4 pips, and Prime ($50,000) starts at 1.1 pips. Custom pricing can be negotiated for very high volumes.
IC Markets offers three accounts across its European, Australian, and Seychelles entities: Standard (spread-only), Raw Spread on MT4/MT5, and cTrader Raw Spread. The cTrader Raw account charges $3.00 per side ($6.00 round turn) per standard lot; MT4/MT5 Raw charges $3.50 per side ($7.00 RT). IC Markets lists an average EUR/USD spread of 0.02 pips; after commission, the all-in cost is about 0.62 pips on cTrader (0.72 on MetaTrader). The Standard account averages about 0.62 pips with no commission. Volume discounts start above 100 standard lots per month, and the deposit requirement for commission-based accounts is low.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
IC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $1000 | $200 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | N/A | 0.62 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | 0.62 |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
Swissquote and IC Markets both support forex trading either as CFDs or spot contracts and both offer copy trading. IC Markets lists more total instruments (3,583 vs. 472), yet Swissquote provides more forex pairs (80 vs. 61). For stocks, Swissquote lets you buy exchange‑traded shares on both U.S. and international markets, while IC Markets offers exchange‑traded shares on international exchanges but not in the U.S. Crypto access also differs: Swissquote supports both real (delivered) cryptocurrencies and crypto CFDs; IC Markets offers crypto CFDs only.
Independent ratings reflect these differences. For Range of Investments, ForexBrokers.com rates Swissquote 5 stars (ranked #2 of 63) and IC Markets 4.5 stars (ranked #22 of 63). Choose IC Markets if you want the largest overall instrument list, or pick Swissquote if you value more forex pairs, U.S. share dealing, and the option to buy actual cryptocurrencies.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
IC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 472 | 3583 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 80 | 61 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | Yes | 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.
Swissquote and IC Markets both cover the essentials traders expect: free demo accounts for paper trading, web-based and Windows desktop platforms, popular MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5), copy trading, and the ability to place trades directly from charts. The key difference is platform choice: Swissquote adds a proprietary platform built in-house alongside MetaTrader, while IC Markets focuses on third-party platforms and does not offer its own.
Independent ratings tilt toward Swissquote for trading platforms and tools: 4.5 out of 5 stars and #12 of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, versus IC Markets at 4 out of 5 stars and #17 of 63. Pick Swissquote if you want an extra, broker-built platform option in addition to MT4/MT5; choose IC Markets if you’re happy using MetaTrader across web and desktop. In both cases, try the free demo first to test chart trading, layouts, and tools before risking real money.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
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) | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 86 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Comparing Swissquote and IC Markets for mobile trading, both brokers check the key boxes: iPhone and Android apps, price alerts for stocks and forex, and capable charting. Each app includes 30 technical studies, lets you draw trendlines, and auto-saves your drawings. One limitation to note is that neither broker syncs watchlists between the mobile app and your online account, so edits won’t carry over across devices.
When it comes to ratings, Swissquote edges ahead with 4.5 out of 5 stars and a #12 ranking out of 63 brokers for Mobile Trading Apps, while IC Markets holds 4 stars and a #22 ranking (source: ForexBrokers.com). If you want a higher-rated mobile experience with the same core charting tools and alerts, Swissquote has the advantage. IC Markets still offers a capable app for traders who primarily need alerts, indicators, and drawing tools on the go.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
IC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | No | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
Swissquote vs IC Markets for market research: both deliver daily market commentary, top-tier forex news (from sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones), Autochartist-powered technical/fundamental tools, and an economic calendar with global events. The key differences are on extras: IC Markets adds Trading Central analytics and a sentiment tool that shows long/short ratios across instruments, while Swissquote does not. Neither broker includes TipRanks or Acuity Trading (Signal Centre).
For scores, both earn 4 stars for Research on ForexBrokers.com, with Swissquote ranked #15 out of 63 brokers and IC Markets at #21. If you want wider third-party analytics and sentiment gauges, IC Markets has an edge; if you prefer a slightly higher overall research ranking while still getting daily insights and premium news, Swissquote is a strong choice.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
IC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Central | No | Yes |
| Client sentiment data | No | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
For beginners comparing education at Swissquote and IC Markets, both brokers deliver plenty of forex and CFD learning materials. Each offers at least 10 educational pieces across formats like articles, videos, and archived webinars, plus ongoing client webinars at least once a month. New traders get a strong starting point with a library of at least 10 beginner-focused videos at both brokers, and there’s room to grow with 10+ advanced videos as skills improve.
Both brands earn 4 out of 5 stars for education. However, IC Markets holds a slight edge in category ranking (#16 of 63) compared with Swissquote (#19 of 63) on ForexBrokers.com. If you want frequent webinars and plenty of beginner videos, either choice fits well; choose IC Markets for a marginally higher-ranked program, or Swissquote if its platform and content style better match how you like to learn.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
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 Swissquote is better than IC Markets. Swissquote finished with an overall rank of #11, while IC Markets finished with an overall rank of #21.
Traders choose Swissquote for its quality research and vast multi-asset offering – as long as they are willing to pay a premium to have their brokerage account held with a Swiss bank.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
IC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
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| Trust Score | 99 | 84 |
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Swissquote allows investors to buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrency and trade cryptocurrency CFDs, whereas IC Markets offers only cryptocurrency CFDs and does not provide access to real, delivered coins.
Compared with IC Markets, Swissquote stands out by supporting ACH/SEPA transfers, while both brokers accept PayPal, Skrill, and bank wires; Visa/Mastercard availability 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 | Swissquote | IC Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 84 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Swissquote Review | IC Markets Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Swissquote | IC Markets | |
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| Regulation | Swissquote | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 84 | |
| Year Founded | 1996 | 2007 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 5 | 2 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 3 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Swissquote | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Japan (FSA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| 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) | Swissquote | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | Swissquote | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 472 | 3583 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 80 | 61 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | Yes | 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 | Swissquote | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | N/A | 0.62 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | 0.62 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Swissquote | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $1000 | $200 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | Swissquote | 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) | Yes | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | Yes |
| Trading Tools | Swissquote | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 86 | 30 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Swissquote | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | No | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Swissquote | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes | |
| Trading Central | No | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | No | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Swissquote | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Swissquote | 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 | Swissquote Review | IC Markets Review |
| Overall | Swissquote | IC Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 84 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Swissquote Review | IC Markets Review |
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