Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of XTB 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.
XTB vs IC Markets: Both online brokers are well-regulated, each holding two Tier-1 licenses (considered the highest trust level by ForexBrokers.com). XTB was founded in 2002, is publicly traded, and also holds two Tier-2 licenses. IC Markets was founded in 2007, is not publicly traded, and holds no Tier-2 licenses. Neither broker is a bank.
According to ForexBrokers.com, XTB earns a 96/99 Trust Score (highly trusted: 90–99), while IC Markets scores 83/99 (trusted: 80–89). In practical terms, both are trusted choices, with XTB rated higher and carrying a wider mix of top- and mid-tier regulatory approvals.
| Feature |
XTB
|
IC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2002 | 2007 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 3 |
XTB offers a simple pricing setup with a spread-only Standard account and a commission-based Professional account, though the Pro option is now limited to certain eligible clients in the U.K. and Europe and is being phased out in many regions. In our view, XTB’s fees are close to the industry average, but they do not quite match the cheapest brokers in this category. For retail forex traders, the Standard account is usually the better pick, especially since its pricing can be cheaper on smaller trades. XTB’s average EUR/USD spread was 1 pip in Q4 2023, and active traders may qualify for its Lower Spread Group, which can rebate 5% to 30% of the spread based on monthly volume. XTB earns 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #13 out of 36 brokers for Commissions and Fees.
IC Markets is one of the strongest low-cost choices for commissions and fees, thanks to tight spreads and commission-based account options. It offers a commission-free Standard account plus Raw Spread and cTrader Raw Spread accounts, with pricing that varies by platform and entity. On its commission-based accounts, IC Markets posts very low effective costs: the cTrader Raw Spread 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 spreads are extremely low, and even after commissions, the all-in cost remains competitive. IC Markets also offers discounts for active traders who trade more than 100 standard lots per month. IC Markets earns 5 out of 5 stars and ranks #4 out of 36 brokers for Commissions and Fees.
Overall, IC Markets has the edge on pricing, especially for cost-conscious traders who want tight spreads and low commission charges. XTB is still a solid option, particularly for those who prefer a straightforward spread-only account, but IC Markets stands out as the better value in the Commissions and Fees category.
| Feature |
XTB
|
IC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $200 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Spread-only account | 1.06 | 0.8 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | N/A | 0.72 |
| Non-wire bank transfer (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
XTB offers a wider range of investments than IC Markets, making it a stronger choice for traders who want more ways to diversify. XTB lists 10,521 tradeable symbols and 71 forex pairs, compared with 7,435 symbols and 61 forex pairs at IC Markets. Both brokers offer forex trading as CFDs or spot contracts, and both support cryptocurrency CFDs. However, XTB goes further by giving clients access to actual shares on U.S. and international exchanges, plus the option to buy real cryptocurrency rather than only a CFD. IC Markets does not offer exchange-traded securities or delivered crypto, but it does provide copy trading, which XTB does not.
Overall, XTB is rated 5 stars for Range of Investments and ranks #15 out of 36 brokers in the ForexBrokers.com category, while IC Markets is rated 4.5 stars and ranks #22. If your priority is a broader selection of markets, more forex pairs, and access to real stocks and crypto, XTB has the edge. If copy trading matters more to you, IC Markets may still be appealing, but its investment range is more limited.
| Feature |
XTB
|
IC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 10521 | 7435 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 71 | 61 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | No |
| Copy Trading | No | 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.
XTB and IC Markets both give traders a free demo account, a web-based platform, and the ability to trade directly from charts, so each broker covers the basics well for testing strategies and managing trades online. XTB stands out for its own in-house platform, which may appeal to traders who want a simpler, broker-built experience. It also scores higher in this category, with a 4.5-star rating and a #9 ranking out of 36 brokers from ForexBrokers.com.
IC Markets offers more platform choice for active traders, including a Windows desktop app, MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, and copy trading, while XTB does not offer these options. This makes IC Markets a stronger fit for traders who want access to popular third-party tools and more ways to follow other traders. In ForexBrokers.com’s Trading Platforms and Tools category, IC Markets is rated 4 stars and ranked #17 out of 36 brokers.
| Feature |
XTB
|
IC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | No |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | No | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 92 | 32 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
XTB and IC Markets both make it easy to trade on the go with iPhone and Android apps, plus price alerts so you can keep track of market moves. Both apps also let you draw trendlines on charts and automatically save those drawings, which helps if you switch between devices or return to a chart later. In this area, both brokers cover the basics well for mobile trading.
Where XTB stands out is in the details. Its mobile app syncs watchlists with your online account, so updates carry over between platforms, while IC Markets does not offer this feature. XTB also gives traders access to 104 technical studies in its mobile charts compared with 32 at IC Markets. That extra charting depth helps explain why XTB is rated higher for mobile trading apps, with 4.5 out of 5 stars and an eighth-place ranking out of 36 brokers, versus IC Markets’ 4 stars and 22nd place.
| Feature |
XTB
|
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 | 104 | 32 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
XTB and IC Markets both give traders useful market research basics, including daily market commentary, a sentiment tool, and an economic calendar that tracks upcoming global events. However, XTB stands out with a stronger overall research score from ForexBrokers.com, where it ranks #9 out of 36 brokers and earns 5 stars for Research, compared with IC Markets at #21 and 4 stars.
Where IC Markets pulls ahead is in access to premium third-party news and analysis. It offers forex news from top sources like Reuters and Dow Jones, plus Trading Central and TipRanks, while XTB does not. Neither broker offers Autochartist or Acuity Trading tools, so the main difference is that XTB is better for overall research ratings, while IC Markets provides a wider range of outside research content.
| Feature |
XTB
|
IC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central | No | Yes |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | Yes |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
XTB and IC Markets both give beginners a solid starting point, with each broker offering forex and CFDs education, monthly live webinars, and at least 10 beginner videos plus 10 advanced videos. That means new traders can find lessons on basic trading ideas as well as more experienced topics at either firm. In plain terms, both brokers make it easy to learn the basics and keep building knowledge over time.
Where XTB stands out is in the overall quality and recognition of its learning tools. XTB is rated 5 out of 5 for Education and ranks #11 out of 36 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while IC Markets is rated 4 out of 5 and ranks #16. If education is a top priority, XTB has the edge, but IC Markets still offers plenty of useful beginner-friendly material.
| Feature |
XTB
|
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 XTB is better than IC Markets. XTB finished with an overall rank of #7, while IC Markets finished with an overall rank of #21.
As a trusted multi-asset broker, XTB offers outstanding customer service, a wide variety of forex and CFDs, and an excellent overall trading experience. Its xStation 5 trading platform is well-designed and packed with innovative features, and XTB offers comprehensive educational content and market research.
| Feature |
XTB
|
IC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
|
| Trust Score | 96 | 83 |
| Range of Investments |
|
|
| Trading Fees |
|
|
| Trading Platforms |
|
|
| Research |
|
|
| Mobile Trading |
|
|
| Education |
|
|
XTB stands out for cryptocurrency investors because it allows you to buy actual delivered crypto as well as crypto CFDs, while IC Markets only offers cryptocurrency CFDs and does not support purchasing the underlying coins directly.
XTB vs IC Markets: both brokers support PayPal, Skrill, and bank wire transfers for deposits and withdrawals, do not offer ACH or SEPA, and their Visa/Mastercard availability is not specified.
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.
Select Brokers
↓×Compare
0 of 5| Overall Rating | XTB | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Trading Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Trading Platforms |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 96 | 83 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | XTB Review | IC Markets Review |
| Broker Screenshots | XTB | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
|
|
| Regulation | XTB | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 96 | 83 | |
| Year Founded | 2002 | 2007 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 2 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 1 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 3 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | XTB | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | No | 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) | 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) | XTB | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| 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 | XTB | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 10521 | 7435 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 71 | 61 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Copy Trading | No | 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 | XTB | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Spread-only account | 1.06 | 0.8 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | N/A | 0.72 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | XTB | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $200 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | XTB | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | No | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | No | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | Yes |
| Trading Tools | XTB | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 92 | 32 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | XTB | 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 | 104 | 32 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | XTB | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central | No | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | Yes | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | XTB | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | XTB | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| Review | XTB Review | IC Markets Review |
| Overall | XTB | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Trading Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Trading Platforms |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 96 | 83 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | XTB Review | IC Markets Review |
IG
FOREX.com
CMC Markets
XTB
eToro
Capital.com
AvaTrade
XM
Pepperstone
FP Markets
Tickmill
HFM Markets