Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of IC Markets vs Trading 212, 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.
Founded in 2007, IC Markets and established in 2004, Trading 212, are both online brokers that cater to traders seeking reliable platforms. Neither of these brokers is publicly traded or operates as a bank. In terms of trustworthiness, IC Markets boasts two Tier-1 licenses, indicating a high level of safety, while Trading 212 holds three of these reputable licenses. This suggests that both are reputable, with Trading 212 having a slight edge in regulatory strength.
When evaluated by ForexBrokers.com, IC Markets received a Trust Score rating of 84 out of 99, reflecting a trusted status in the industry. Trading 212, on the other hand, scored an 80, aligning it closely with its competitor. While both brokers are considered dependable, IC Markets holds a slightly higher Trust Score, signaling a marginally more favorable perception among traders looking for secure trading options. Overall, both brokers rank well within the trusted bracket, offering a solid foundation for conducting online trading activities.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2007 | 2004 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 3 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 3 | 0 |
IC Markets vs. Trading 212 on commissions and fees: IC Markets earns 5/5 stars and ranks #5 of 63 at ForexBrokers.com, while Trading 212 scores 4/5 stars and ranks #27 of 63. The key difference is cost structure. IC Markets combines very tight spreads with low commissions, whereas Trading 212 advertises zero commission but relies on wider spreads for CFDs and forex.
IC Markets offers three account types: Standard (spread-only), Raw Spread (MT4/MT5), and cTrader Raw Spread. On Raw accounts, commissions are $3.00 per side ($6 round turn) on cTrader and $3.50 per side ($7 round turn) on MT4/MT5 per 100,000 units. IC Markets lists an average EUR/USD spread of 0.02 pips (Aug 2022); after adding commission, the all-in cost is about 0.62 pips on cTrader or 0.72 pips on MetaTrader. The commission-free Standard account averages about 0.62 pips. Pricing varies by platform and by IC Markets entity (EU, Australia, Seychelles). Active traders (100+ lots/month) can get discounts, and the deposit requirement for commission accounts is low. IC Markets earned Best in Class for Commissions & Fees in the 2024 Annual Awards.
Trading 212 has two accounts: Invest (stocks/ETFs, €1 minimum) and CFD (forex/CFDs, €10 minimum). While it promotes zero-commission trading, you pay via the spread. For April 2025, Trading 212’s published average spread on EUR/USD was 2.7 pips, which is higher than the industry average and costlier than IC Markets for frequent forex and CFD trading. Bottom line: IC Markets is the better pick for low all-in trading costs, while Trading 212 offers simple, low entry deposits but wider spreads on CFDs and forex.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $200 | €1 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.62 | 2.7 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.62 | 2.7 |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | Yes |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
Comparing IC Markets vs Trading 212 for range of investments, Trading 212 offers a larger overall selection with 7,868 tradable symbols and 146 forex pairs, versus IC Markets’ 3,583 symbols and 61 forex pairs. Both let you trade forex and provide cryptocurrency via CFDs (neither offers delivered crypto). For stocks, Trading 212 supports buying exchange‑traded shares on both U.S. and international exchanges, while IC Markets offers exchange‑traded shares on international markets but not on U.S. exchanges.
Feature-wise, IC Markets includes copy trading, whereas Trading 212 does not. For Range of Investments, Trading 212 holds a 5-star rating and ranks #15 out of 63 brokers, while IC Markets earns 4.5 stars and ranks #22. In short, choose Trading 212 if you want the widest symbol count and access to U.S. shares; pick IC Markets if copy trading matters and you’re comfortable with a slightly smaller, yet still extensive, lineup that includes forex and crypto CFDs.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 3583 | 7868 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 61 | 146 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | Yes |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | No |
| 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.
IC Markets vs Trading 212—platforms and tools at a glance: both brokers offer free demo (paper) accounts and let you place trades directly from charts in a web browser. Each earns 4 out of 5 stars for Trading Platforms and Tools, with ForexBrokers.com ranking IC Markets #17 of 63 and Trading 212 #19 of 63. Trading 212 provides a proprietary, in-house platform, while IC Markets does not have its own platform and instead supports well-known third-party options.
For platform features, IC Markets offers a Windows desktop download and supports MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5), which Trading 212 does not. IC Markets also offers copy trading, while Trading 212 does not. If you need MT4/MT5, copy trading, or a Windows desktop app, IC Markets fits the bill; if you prefer a proprietary web platform with chart trading and a free demo, Trading 212 is a solid pick.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | No | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | No |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | No |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | No |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 54 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
IC Markets and Trading 212 both offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, and each supports price alerts for stocks and forex. On charts, both apps let you draw trendlines and will auto-save your drawings, making it easy to pick up where you left off.
When it comes to charting depth, IC Markets includes 30 technical studies, while Trading 212 offers 104. Trading 212 also syncs watchlists between its mobile app and your online account, a feature IC Markets lacks. Both earn 4 out of 5 stars for Mobile Trading Apps, but in ForexBrokers.com’s rankings of 63 brokers, Trading 212 is #17 and IC Markets is #22. If you want more built-in studies and watchlist syncing, Trading 212 has the edge; for essential mobile trading features, either app fits the bill.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | No | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 104 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
For market research, IC Markets offers more built-in tools than Trading 212. IC Markets provides daily market commentary, while Trading 212 does not. Both brokers deliver forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg or Reuters, and both include an economic calendar and a sentiment tool that shows the long/short split across instruments.
IC Markets adds advanced analysis tools from Autochartist and Trading Central, which Trading 212 lacks. Neither broker includes TipRanks or Acuity Trading tools. In independent ratings, IC Markets scores 4 out of 5 stars for Research and ranks 21st out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while Trading 212 scores 3.5 stars and ranks 32nd. If you want deeper built-in analysis, IC Markets has the edge; if you only need news, sentiment, and a calendar, Trading 212 covers the basics.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | No |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
| Trading Central | Yes | No |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When it comes to education for new traders, IC Markets and Trading 212 both offer sizable video libraries. Each provides at least 10 beginner videos plus at least 10 advanced videos, giving you a clear path from basics to more complex ideas that apply to forex and CFD trading. One key difference is live learning: IC Markets runs client webinars at least once a month, while Trading 212 does not currently host regular educational webinars.
Independent ratings reflect this gap. IC Markets earns 4 stars for Education and ranks #16 out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, while Trading 212 scores 3.5 stars and ranks #20. If you want on-demand videos alone, both platforms will work; if you value live webinars and a slightly higher education score, IC Markets is the stronger pick for beginners.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No |
| 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 Trading 212. IC Markets finished with an overall rank of #21, while Trading 212 finished with an overall rank of #25.
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
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 84 | 80 |
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IC Markets vs Trading 212: neither online broker lets you buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrency, but both offer trading in cryptocurrency CFDs.
IC Markets vs Trading 212 — for deposits and withdrawals, Trading 212 supports ACH/SEPA while IC Markets does not; both support PayPal and bank wire transfers; only IC Markets supports Skrill; 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 | IC Markets | Trading 212 | |
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| Trust Score | 84 | 80 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IC Markets Review | Trading 212 Review |
| Broker Screenshots | IC Markets | Trading 212 | |
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| Regulation | IC Markets | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 84 | 80 | |
| Year Founded | 2007 | 2004 | |
| 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 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 3 | 0 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | IC Markets | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (FSA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | No | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | |||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| 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 | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | No | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | No | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | IC Markets | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 3583 | 7868 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 61 | 146 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | Yes | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | No | |
| 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 | IC Markets | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.62 | 2.7 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.62 | 2.7 | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | IC Markets | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $200 | €1 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | IC Markets | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | No | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | No | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | No | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | No | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No | |
| cTrader | Yes | No |
| Trading Tools | IC Markets | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 54 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | IC Markets | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 104 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | IC Markets | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | No | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | IC Markets | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | IC Markets | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | IC Markets Review | Trading 212 Review |
| Overall | IC Markets | Trading 212 | |
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| Trust Score | 84 | 80 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IC Markets Review | Trading 212 Review |
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