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, established in 2002, stands out with a Trust Score of 96, placing it in the highly trusted category according to ForexBrokers.com. Unique among many brokers, XTB is publicly traded, providing an extra layer of transparency for its clients. The broker holds two Tier-1 and two Tier-2 licenses, reinforcing its strong regulatory standing across different regions. Despite not being a bank, XTB's regulatory setup supports its reputation as a highly trusted broker in the online trading space.
In comparison, IC Markets, which began operations in 2007, holds a Trust Score of 84. While this positions it as a trusted broker, it operates without being publicly listed. IC Markets matches XTB with two Tier-1 licenses but does not hold any Tier-2 licenses, which may affect the perception of its regulatory coverage. Like XTB, IC Markets is not a bank, yet it successfully maintains a trustworthy profile among its users.
| 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 |
Comparing commissions and fees, IC Markets generally comes out cheaper than XTB for most forex traders. IC Markets earns 5 stars and ranks #5 out of 63 brokers for Commissions & Fees, reflecting its low all-in costs and “Best in Class” standing. XTB earns 4.5 stars and ranks #12 out of 63; its pricing is close to the industry average but not among the very lowest. On EUR/USD, IC Markets’ cTrader Raw account typically delivers about 0.62 pips all-in (0.72 on MetaTrader), while XTB’s Standard account averaged about 1.0 pip in Q4 2023.
XTB offers a spread-only Standard account and a commission-based Professional account (the latter is being phased out and limited to eligible professionals in the U.K. and EU). Minimum deposits start at 250 in your base currency. For smaller trade sizes, the Standard account tends to be the better deal, and it’s the practical choice for most retail traders. Active traders can join XTB’s Lower Spread Group to receive spread rebates of 5% to 30% once monthly volumes surpass 20 lots, scaling up to 1,000 lots.
IC Markets provides three account types: a commission-free Standard account (about 0.62 pips average on EUR/USD) and two commission-based Raw Spread options—cTrader ($3.00 per side per standard lot) and MetaTrader ($3.50 per side). IC Markets lists an average raw spread of 0.02 pips on EUR/USD; once commission is added, that’s roughly 0.62 pips all-in on cTrader (0.72 on MetaTrader), which is highly competitive. Pricing can vary by platform and by the IC Markets entity (EU, Australia, or Seychelles). High-volume traders who exceed 100 lots per month may qualify for additional discounts.
| Feature |
XTB
|
IC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $200 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.00 | 0.62 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.00 | 0.62 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | Yes |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
XTB vs IC Markets: For range of investments, XTB offers 7,184 tradeable symbols compared with 3,583 at IC Markets. XTB provides 71 forex pairs versus 61 at IC Markets, and both let you trade forex either as CFDs or as spot. For shares, XTB lets you buy exchange-traded stocks on U.S. markets (like Apple) as well as on international exchanges, while IC Markets supports exchange-traded shares on international markets but not on U.S. exchanges. Both brokers offer cryptocurrency derivatives (not the actual coins), and neither supports direct crypto purchases. IC Markets includes copy trading, whereas XTB does not.
According to ForexBrokers.com’s Range of Investments ratings, XTB earns 5 stars and ranks 15th out of 63 brokers, while IC Markets scores 4.5 stars and ranks 26th. Bottom line: XTB takes the lead for overall market access and real share dealing (including U.S. stocks), while IC Markets appeals if you want copy trading alongside a wide, but smaller, selection of markets.
| Feature |
XTB
|
IC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 7184 | 3583 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 71 | 61 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | No | No |
| Cryptocurrency (Derivative) | 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.
In comparing XTB and IC Markets for their trading platforms and tools, both brokers provide users with access to simulated trading via complimentary virtual demo accounts. XTB stands out with its proprietary platform developed in-house, catering to traders seeking a unique experience. Conversely, IC Markets does not have a proprietary platform but offers the widely popular MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5), which are absent in XTB’s offerings. Both brokers present Windows-based and web-based trading platforms, accommodating different user preferences. However, when it comes to chart analysis, XTB offers 32 drawing tools, a notable advantage over IC Markets' 15, enhancing its charting capabilities.
IC Markets takes the lead with its copy trading services and integration with ZuluTrade, which are not available with XTB. Moreover, IC Markets’ platform firmly supports trading directly from stock charts, which XTB equally provides. In terms of trade monitoring tools, XTB provides 8 columns for watch lists, slightly more than IC Markets’ 7. Overall, XTB outshines IC Markets with a 4.5-star rating for trading platforms and tools, compared to IC Markets' 4 stars. Additionally, ForexBrokers.com ranks XTB at 9th out of 63 brokers for trading platforms and tools, while IC Markets ranks 16th, underscoring XTB’s edge in platform quality and functionality.
| Feature |
XTB
|
IC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | No |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 39 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 32 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 8 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
When comparing the mobile trading apps of XTB and IC Markets, both brokers provide iPhone and Android apps, supporting traders regardless of their device preference. They also feature price alerts for stocks or forex, enhancing the ability to stay informed on market movements. However, neither platform offers the convenience of syncing watchlist symbols between the mobile app and the online account. While both apps allow users to draw trendlines and view different time frames on charts, XTB stands out by offering 39 technical studies for charting, compared to IC Markets’ 30.
For those seeking intuitive features, both apps auto-save chart drawings and allow the creation of watchlists with real-time quotes, ensuring a seamless trading experience. XTB’s mobile trading app receives higher accolades with a rating of 4.5 stars and an impressive rank of #8 out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com. In contrast, IC Markets is rated 4 stars and ranks #22. These distinctions highlight XTB's slight edge in providing a more highly regarded mobile trading experience.
| Feature |
XTB
|
IC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 39 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
XTB and IC Markets both provide traders with daily market commentary, keeping them informed about current trends and potential market shifts. Both platforms also bring in top-tier forex news from reputable sources such as Bloomberg and Reuters, ensuring traders have access to high-quality information. However, when it comes to technical analysis tools, IC Markets holds an advantage by offering resources like Autochartist and Trading Central, which are not available with XTB. Despite this, XTB still fits in valuable sentiment-based trading tools and maintains an accessible economic calendar.
In terms of market research, neither XTB nor IC Markets have integrated services from TipRanks or Acuity Trading. Yet, XTB shines brighter in the research category, earning a rating of 5 stars compared to IC Markets' 4-star rating. As reflected in these evaluations, XTB is ranked 7th out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, while IC Markets comes in at the 23rd position. Despite IC Markets' access to more technical tools, XTB's high-quality resources and intuitive offerings contribute to its superior research reputation in the trading community.
| Feature |
XTB
|
IC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | Yes |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | Yes |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When comparing the educational resources for beginners at XTB and IC Markets, both online brokers offer a substantial range of learning materials for those new to forex and CFDs. Each provides over ten educational pieces in various formats such as articles, videos, and archived webinars. In addition, both XTB and IC Markets host monthly educational webinars that are beneficial for ongoing learning, and they maintain searchable archives of past webinar sessions for convenient access.
While both brokers cater to beginners with over ten introductory videos on trading, they also meet the needs of experienced traders by offering ten or more advanced educational videos. One notable difference is that IC Markets includes an investor dictionary with definitions of over fifty investing terms, a resource that XTB does not offer. When rated for their educational offerings, XTB scores higher with a five-star rating compared to IC Markets' four stars. This distinction is also reflected in their rankings by ForexBrokers.com, where XTB holds the 11th spot and IC Markets the 16th out of 63 brokers in the Education category.
| Feature |
XTB
|
IC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | No | 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 #20.
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’s offers comprehensive educational content and market research.
| Feature |
XTB
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IC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 96 | 84 |
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Both XTB and IC Markets do not allow the purchase of actual delivered cryptocurrency, but they do offer options for trading cryptocurrency derivatives.
Both XTB and IC Markets facilitate the deposit and withdrawal of account funds with PayPal, Skrill, Visa or Mastercard, and bank wires, although neither online broker supports ACH or SEPA transfers.
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 | XTB | IC Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 96 | 84 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | XTB Review | IC Markets Review |
| Broker Screenshots | XTB | IC Markets | |
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| Regulation | XTB | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 96 | 84 | |
| 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 (SFC 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/Central Bank 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) | 7184 | 3583 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 71 | 61 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | No | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (Derivative) | 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 - Standard | 1.00 | 0.62 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.00 | 0.62 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | XTB | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $200 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | XTB | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | No | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | Yes | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | Yes |
| Trading Tools | XTB | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 8 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 39 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 32 | 15 | |
| 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 Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 39 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | XTB | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | Yes | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | XTB | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | No | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | XTB | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/JPY | Yes | Yes | |
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CAD | Yes | Yes | |
| NZD/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| AUD/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| Review | XTB Review | IC Markets Review |
| Overall | XTB | IC Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 96 | 84 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | XTB Review | IC Markets Review |
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