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 vs IC Markets: Swissquote (founded 1996) is publicly traded and is a bank, while IC Markets (founded 2007) is privately held and not a bank. On the ForexBrokers.com Trust Score, Swissquote scores 99/99 (highly trusted: 90–99), and IC Markets scores 83/99 (trusted: 80–89).
Regulation also differs. Swissquote holds five Tier-1 licenses (considered highly trusted by ForexBrokers.com) and two Tier-2 licenses (trusted), while IC Markets holds two Tier-1 licenses and no Tier-2 licenses. If you prioritize regulation and trust, these details can guide your choice between Swissquote and IC Markets.
| 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 and IC Markets both cover the essentials for market research: daily market commentary, premium forex news from sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones, Autochartist-powered technical ideas, and an economic calendar tracking key global events. The biggest differences are in add-on tools. IC Markets includes Trading Central and a sentiment tool showing long/short positioning, features Swissquote doesn’t provide. Neither broker offers TipRanks or Acuity Trading tools.
For overall research quality, Swissquote holds the edge with a 4.5-star rating and a #15 ranking out of 63 brokers, while IC Markets scores 4 stars and ranks #21. Choose IC Markets if you want Trading Central insights and real-time sentiment data; pick Swissquote if you prefer higher-rated research with strong daily commentary, Autochartist signals, and top-tier news coverage.
| 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.
Comparing Swissquote vs IC Markets for beginner education: both brokers deliver structured forex and CFD learning. Each runs online client webinars at least once a month and offers 10+ beginner videos plus 10+ advanced videos, giving newcomers step‑by‑step guidance while also helping more experienced traders level up. In short, both meet the bar for a sizable forex/CFD education library centered on videos and webinars.
On scores, Swissquote is rated 4.5/5 for Education, while IC Markets earns 4/5. In ForexBrokers.com’s Education rankings across 63 brokers, IC Markets places #16 and Swissquote is #19. The takeaway: Swissquote edges ahead on star rating, while IC Markets ranks slightly higher in the category list. Either way, beginners will find plenty of videos and regular webinars to learn forex and CFDs with both brokers.
| 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
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IC Markets
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|---|---|---|
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| Trust Score | 99 | 83 |
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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 | 83 | |
| 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 | 83 | |
| 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 | 83 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Swissquote Review | IC Markets Review |
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