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 and IC Markets both offer low-cost trading options, but IC Markets comes out ahead for commissions and fees. XTB earns a 4.5-star rating and ranks #13 out of 36 brokers in this category. It offers a spread-only Standard account and, for eligible clients in the U.K. and Europe, a commission-based Professional account that is being phased out in many regions. XTB’s average EUR/USD spread was 1 pip in Q4 2023, which is around the industry average but not among the cheapest available.
For most retail traders, XTB’s Standard account is usually the simpler choice, especially since the Pro account is no longer widely available. The minimum deposit is 250 in base currency, and active traders can qualify for XTB’s Lower Spread Group, which rebates 5% to 30% of the spread once trading volume reaches set levels. That said, XTB’s pricing is still best described as average rather than standout, particularly when compared with the top low-fee brokers.
IC Markets performs better overall in commissions and fees, with a 5-star rating and a #5 ranking out of 36 brokers. It offers a commission-free Standard account, plus Raw Spread accounts for MT4, MT5, and cTrader. Its all-in pricing can be very low, with average EUR/USD costs around 0.62 pips on cTrader and about 0.72 pips on MetaTrader, making it one of the stronger choices for cost-conscious traders. IC Markets also offers active trader discounts for those trading more than 100 standard lots per month.
| 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 | 1.06 | 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 overall. It provides access to 10,521 tradeable symbols and 71 forex pairs, compared with 7,435 symbols and 61 forex pairs at IC Markets. XTB also lets clients buy real exchange-traded shares on both U.S. and international markets, while IC Markets does not offer these stock investments. For investors who want a broader mix of markets, XTB has the stronger selection.
There are a few areas where IC Markets stands out, including copy trading, which XTB does not offer. Both brokers support forex trading and cryptocurrency CFDs, but only XTB lets users buy actual cryptocurrency, not just CFDs. Based on Range of Investments, XTB is rated 5 stars and ranked #14 out of 36 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, while IC Markets is rated 4.5 stars and ranked #22.
| 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
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IC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 96 | 83 |
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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.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | XTB | IC Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 96 | 83 | |
| 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 | 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 | 1.06 | 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 Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | XTB Review | IC Markets Review |
| Overall | XTB | IC Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 96 | 83 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | XTB Review | IC Markets Review |
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