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 is the stronger choice for commissions and fees, especially for active forex and CFD traders. It earns 5 out of 5 stars and ranks #4 out of 36 brokers in the Commissions and Fees category. With its commission-based Raw Spread and cTrader Raw Spread accounts, IC Markets keeps trading costs low: the cTrader account charges $3.00 per side per 100,000 units, while the MT4/MT5 Raw Spread account charges $3.50 per side. Its EUR/USD pricing can be very tight, and the broker’s low-cost setup helped it win Best in Class honors in our 2024 Annual Awards.
Trading 212 is simpler on paper, since it promotes zero-commission trading, but traders still pay through the spread. It earns 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #29 out of 36 brokers for Commissions and Fees. For its CFD account, Trading 212 reported an average EUR/USD spread of 2.7 pips in April 2025, which is much higher than the industry average and makes it less competitive on price than IC Markets. The CFD account also requires only a 10 euro minimum deposit, which may appeal to beginners.
In short, IC Markets is the better pick if low trading costs are your top priority, while Trading 212 may suit traders who prefer a straightforward, commission-free pricing model. If you trade often or care most about spread costs, IC Markets has the edge. If you want a simple account with a low starting deposit, Trading 212 is worth a look, but it is not as strong on pricing overall.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $200 | €1 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Spread-only account | 0.8 | 2.7 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | 0.72 | 2.7 |
| Non-wire bank transfer (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
When it comes to range of investments, Trading 212 offers a wider mix than IC Markets. Trading 212 lists around 13,000 tradeable symbols and 180 forex pairs, compared with IC Markets’ 7,435 symbols and 61 forex pairs. Both brokers offer forex trading as a CFD, and both support cryptocurrency CFDs. However, IC Markets stands out for copy trading, which Trading 212 does not offer.
Trading 212 also gives investors access to real shares on both U.S. and international exchanges, so you can buy stocks like Apple or Vodafone directly rather than only through CFDs. It also lets you buy actual cryptocurrency, while IC Markets does not. Reflecting this broader selection, Trading 212 is rated 5 stars for range of investments and ranks #14 out of 36 brokers, while IC Markets is rated 4.5 stars and ranks #22.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 7435 | 13000 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 61 | 180 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | Yes |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | 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 give traders a free demo account, web-based access, and the ability to place trades straight from a price chart. Neither broker offers a proprietary platform, so each relies on third-party tools instead of an in-house system. Both are rated 4 out of 5 stars for trading platforms and tools, with IC Markets ranked slightly higher by ForexBrokers.com at #17 out of 36 brokers, compared with Trading 212 at #19.
Where IC Markets stands out is in platform choice and advanced trading features. It supports a Windows desktop download, MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, and copy trading, while Trading 212 does not offer these options. For traders who want more desktop access, popular MetaTrader support, or the chance to copy other traders, IC Markets has the edge. Trading 212 may still appeal to beginners who want a simple browser-based setup and paper trading, but IC Markets offers more tools overall for active traders.
| 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) | 32 | 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, along with stock and forex price alerts, trendline drawing, and auto-saving chart drawings. Each broker is also rated 4 out of 5 stars for mobile trading apps, so both are solid choices if you want to trade on the go. That said, Trading 212 has a clear edge in a few key areas that matter for everyday app use.
The biggest difference is watchlist syncing: Trading 212 lets your mobile watchlists sync with your online account, while IC Markets does not. Trading 212 also offers far more charting tools, with 104 technical studies compared with 32 at IC Markets. In ForexBrokers.com’s Mobile Trading Apps ranking, Trading 212 places higher at #17 out of 36 brokers, while IC Markets comes in at #22, making Trading 212 the stronger pick overall for mobile trading app features.
| 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 | 32 | 104 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
IC Markets has the edge over Trading 212 for market research, especially for traders who want more built-in analysis and news support. IC Markets offers daily market commentary, Trading Central tools, TipRanks research, a sentiment tool, forex news from top sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, and an economic calendar. Trading 212 also provides forex news, a sentiment tool, and an economic calendar, but it does not offer daily market commentary, Trading Central, TipRanks, or Autochartist tools. Neither broker includes Autochartist or Acuity Trading research tools.
These differences are reflected in ratings and rankings: IC Markets scores 4 out of 5 for Research and ranks #21 out of 36 brokers, while Trading 212 scores 3.5 out of 5 and ranks #31. For everyday investors and active forex traders who value more market analysis, IC Markets is the stronger choice for research, while Trading 212 still covers the basics well.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | No |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central | Yes | No |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | Yes | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
For beginners looking for trading education, IC Markets comes out ahead of Trading 212 in a few key areas. IC Markets offers forex and CFD learning material with at least 10 education pieces focused on those markets, plus monthly live educational webinars, which can help new traders learn in a more guided way. Trading 212 also provides forex and CFD education, and both brokers offer at least 10 beginner videos as well as at least 10 advanced videos, so each platform gives users plenty of video content to build skills over time.
That said, IC Markets is the stronger choice overall for education. It is rated 4 out of 5 stars for Education and ranks #16 out of 36 brokers in ForexBrokers.com’s Education category, while Trading 212 is rated 3.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #23 out of 36. For beginners who want more frequent learning support and a slightly better-rated education library, IC Markets has the edge, while Trading 212 still offers a solid range of video-based learning tools.
| 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.
When comparing IC Markets vs Trading 212, IC Markets supports PayPal, Skrill, and bank wire transfers for deposits and withdrawals, while Trading 212 only offers bank wires, with neither broker providing ACH, SEPA, or Visa/Mastercard transfer options.
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) | 7435 | 13000 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 61 | 180 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | Yes | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | 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) - Spread-only account | 0.8 | 2.7 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | 0.72 | 2.7 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | 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 (Deposit/Withdraw) | No |
| 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) | 32 | 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 Watchlists - Syncing | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 32 | 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 | No | No | |
| Trading Central | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | Yes | 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| 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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