Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of XM Group 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.
XM Group vs IC Markets: XM Group was founded in 2009, while IC Markets started in 2007. Neither broker is publicly traded or a bank. According to ForexBrokers.com, XM Group holds a Trust Score of 93 out of 99, placing it in the highly trusted range (90–99). IC Markets scores 83 out of 99, which is considered trusted (80–89).
On regulation, XM Group has 4 Tier-1 licenses (the most respected category) and 3 Tier-2 licenses, indicating wide regulatory oversight. IC Markets holds 2 Tier-1 licenses and no Tier-2 licenses. If top-tier authorizations and broader licensing are priorities, XM Group has the edge; if a trusted rating with fewer licenses fits your needs, IC Markets is still a solid, recognized choice.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
IC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2009 | 2007 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 3 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 3 |
When comparing commissions and fees, IC Markets comes out far ahead of XM Group. XM Group earns 3.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #34 out of 36 brokers for Commissions and Fees at ForexBrokers.com. Its standard account spreads are considered expensive, and XM does not publish average spreads for its commission-based XM Zero account, which makes it harder for traders to judge total costs up front.
IC Markets, by contrast, earns 5 out of 5 stars and ranks #5 out of 36 brokers in the same category. Its low-cost pricing is one of the main reasons it was named Best in Class for Commissions & Fees in the 2024 Annual Awards. IC Markets offers a commission-free Standard account as well as Raw Spread and cTrader Raw Spread accounts with very small effective spreads, and its pricing is competitive with top low-cost forex brokers like IG and CMC Markets.
For traders focused on keeping costs down, IC Markets is the stronger choice. The exact pricing can vary by account type, platform, and regulatory entity, but the main takeaway is simple: XM Group is more expensive overall, while IC Markets offers lower trading costs and clearer value for active and cost-conscious traders.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
IC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $5 | $200 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 2 | 0.62 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | 0.62 |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
XM Group and IC Markets both give traders access to forex as CFDs or spot contracts, along with copy trading and cryptocurrency CFDs. Neither broker lets you buy actual cryptocurrency, so if you want direct ownership of coins, neither platform offers that. Both also support exchange-traded securities on international exchanges, giving you access to real shares outside the CFD market.
When it comes to overall range of investments, IC Markets offers a larger selection of tradeable symbols, with 3,583 compared with XM Group’s 1,429, and it also lists more forex pairs, at 61 versus 55. That said, XM Group stands out for offering exchange-traded securities on U.S. exchanges, such as Apple shares, while IC Markets does not. Both brokers are rated 4.5 out of 5 stars for range of investments, though XM Group ranks slightly higher at #19 out of 36 brokers, compared with IC Markets at #22.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
IC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1429 | 3583 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 55 | 61 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| 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.
XM Group and IC Markets both give traders the core platform choices most people look for. Each broker offers a free demo account for practice, along with popular third-party platforms like MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5. Both also support Windows desktop downloads and web-based trading, plus copy trading and the ability to place trades directly from a chart. Neither broker has its own in-house platform, so if you prefer a familiar trading setup, both are similar in this area.
When it comes to trading platforms and tools, XM Group and IC Markets are both rated 4 out of 5 stars by ForexBrokers.com. That said, IC Markets is ranked higher in the category overall, coming in at #17 out of 36 brokers compared with XM Group at #27. For most everyday traders, the difference may come down less to platform variety and more to small details in the trading tools and overall experience.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
IC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | No | 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) | 30 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
XM Group and IC Markets both give traders easy access on the go with iPhone and Android apps, plus price alerts, 30 technical studies, and the ability to draw trendlines on charts. Each app is rated 4 out of 5 stars for mobile trading, so both platforms offer a solid trading experience for everyday users who want to manage positions from a phone or tablet.
The main difference is that XM Group supports watchlist symbol syncing, so changes made in the mobile app and online account stay matched, while IC Markets does not offer this feature. IC Markets does have one handy edge: it auto-saves chart drawings in the mobile app, which XM Group does not. In ForexBrokers.com’s mobile trading apps ranking, IC Markets places higher at #22 out of 36 brokers, compared with XM Group at #26.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
IC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | No | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
XM Group and IC Markets both give traders a strong set of market research tools, including daily market commentary, news from major sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, Trading Central tools, sentiment data, and an economic calendar with upcoming global events. This means each broker makes it fairly easy to keep up with market moves and stay informed before placing trades.
The main difference is that IC Markets adds Autochartist, while XM Group does not. Even so, XM Group comes out ahead overall in research, with a 5-star rating and a #8 ranking from ForexBrokers.com, compared with IC Markets’ 4-star rating and #21 ranking. For traders who want more research support, XM Group has the edge, while IC Markets still offers a solid selection of useful tools.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
IC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | Yes |
| Trading Central | Yes | Yes |
| 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 learning support for beginners, both XM Group and IC Markets offer a strong range of educational materials. Each broker provides forex and CFDs education with at least 10 learning pieces, along with monthly educational webinars and a wide set of beginner and advanced video lessons. That means new traders can find helpful content on the basics, while more experienced users also have material to build on.
Even so, XM Group has the edge in education overall. It is rated 5 out of 5 stars for Education and ranks #5 out of 36 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, compared with IC Markets at 4 out of 5 stars and #16. For beginners looking for the broker with the stronger learning offering, XM Group stands out as the better choice, although IC Markets still provides plenty of useful education.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
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 XM Group is better than IC Markets. XM Group finished with an overall rank of #16, while IC Markets finished with an overall rank of #21.
XM Group is a MetaTrader-only broker that offers a strong selection of high-quality educational content and market research.
| Feature |
XM Group
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IC Markets
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| Trust Score | 93 | 83 |
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Comparing online brokers XM Group vs IC Markets: neither offers buying actual (delivered) cryptocurrency, but both provide cryptocurrency CFD trading.
Comparing deposit and withdrawal methods at online brokers XM Group vs. IC Markets: neither supports ACH or SEPA transfers, both accept Skrill and bank wire transfers, only IC Markets supports PayPal (XM Group does not), and 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 | XM Group | IC Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 93 | 83 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | XM Group Review | IC Markets Review |
| Broker Screenshots | XM Group | IC Markets | |
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| Regulation | XM Group | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 93 | 83 | |
| Year Founded | 2009 | 2007 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 2 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 3 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 3 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | XM Group | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| 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 | 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) | XM Group | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or CMA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | XM Group | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1429 | 3583 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 55 | 61 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| 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 | XM Group | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 2 | 0.62 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | 0.62 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | No | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | XM Group | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $5 | $200 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | XM Group | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | No | 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 | XM Group | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 30 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | XM Group | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | XM Group | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | Yes | |
| Trading Central | Yes | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | XM Group | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | XM Group | 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 | XM Group Review | IC Markets Review |
| Overall | XM Group | IC Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 93 | 83 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | XM Group Review | IC Markets Review |
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