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.
IC Markets vs Trading 212: IC Markets was founded in 2007, while Trading 212 started in 2004. Neither broker is publicly traded or operates as a bank.
For regulation and safety, IC Markets holds 2 Tier-1 licenses (considered highly trusted by ForexBrokers.com), and Trading 212 holds 3 Tier-1 licenses; both have 0 Tier-2 licenses. Trust Scores from ForexBrokers.com are 83/99 for IC Markets and 82/99 for Trading 212—both in the “trusted” 80–89 range (90–99 highly trusted, 70–79 average risk, 60–69 high risk, under 59 not trusted).
| 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 | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
IC Markets vs Trading 212: range of investments at a glance. IC Markets lists 3,583 tradeable symbols and 61 forex pairs, while Trading 212 offers about 13,000 symbols and 180 forex pairs. Both let you trade forex (CFD/spot) and provide crypto CFDs. On overall choice, ForexBrokers.com rates IC Markets 4.5/5 and Trading 212 5/5, with category rankings of #22 and #15 out of 63 brokers, respectively.
For real assets, the differences are clearer. IC Markets does not provide access to real U.S. stocks, but it does offer real, exchange-traded international shares; Trading 212 lets you buy real shares on both U.S. and international exchanges. Only Trading 212 supports buying real cryptocurrency, though both brokers support crypto via CFDs. If you want social features, IC Markets includes copy trading, while Trading 212 does not. Choose IC Markets if you value copy trading alongside CFDs, or pick Trading 212 for the broadest symbol list, more forex pairs, and access to U.S. stocks and real crypto.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 3583 | 13000 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 61 | 180 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | Yes |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | No |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | Yes |
| 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 and Trading 212 both offer free paper trading with demo accounts and web-based platforms. Neither provides a proprietary (in-house) platform. A key difference is desktop access: IC Markets supports a Windows download and offers MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5), while Trading 212 does not provide a Windows desktop platform and does not support MT4 or MT5. IC Markets also includes copy trading, which Trading 212 lacks. Both brokers let you place trades directly from charts.
For Trading Platforms and Tools, both brokers earn 4 out of 5 stars from ForexBrokers.com. In the category ranking out of 63 brokers, IC Markets is #17 and Trading 212 is #19. In short, choose IC Markets if you want MT4/MT5, a Windows desktop platform, and copy trading; choose Trading 212 if you’re fine with trading in the browser and want an easy way to try a demo account.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | No | No |
| 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 | 102 |
| 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
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Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 83 | 82 |
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IC Markets vs Trading 212: Trading 212 lets you buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrency while IC Markets does not, and both online brokers offer cryptocurrency CFDs.
Comparing deposit and withdrawal methods, IC Markets supports PayPal, Skrill, and bank wire transfers but not ACH or SEPA, while Trading 212 supports ACH/SEPA and bank wires but not PayPal or Skrill; Visa/Mastercard availability is not specified for either broker.
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 | 83 | 82 | |
| 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 | 83 | 82 | |
| 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 CMA 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 | 13000 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 61 | 180 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | Yes | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | Yes | |
| 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 | No | |
| 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 | No | |
| 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 | 102 | |
| 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 | 83 | 82 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IC Markets Review | Trading 212 Review |
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