Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Interactive Brokers vs IFC 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.
Interactive Brokers, established in 1977, is a well-known choice in the online brokerage industry. It stands out with its impressive ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 99, putting it in the highly trusted category. The company is publicly traded, enhancing transparency and investor confidence. Despite not being a bank, Interactive Brokers holds a significant number of regulatory approvals with 9 Tier-1 licenses deemed highly trusted and 2 Tier-2 licenses indicating a trusted status. This solid regulatory framework makes Interactive Brokers a preferred choice for many investors seeking security and reliability in their online trading experiences.
On the other hand, IFC Markets, founded in 2006, presents a more moderate risk profile with a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 73, placing it in the average risk category. Unlike Interactive Brokers, IFC Markets is not publicly traded, which may influence investor perceptions of transparency. The company does not hold any Tier-1 licenses, but it does maintain 1 Tier-2 license, suggesting a foundational level of trust. While both brokers are not banks, the differences in their regulatory and trust profiles are key factors for potential investors to consider when choosing between these platforms.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1977 | 2006 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 9 | 0 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
Interactive Brokers charges commissions instead of marking up spreads, and it shows in the totals. In Q3 2024, we recorded an average EUR/USD spread of 0.19 pips at IBKR, for an effective all-in cost of about 0.59 pips after commission. By comparison, IFC Markets’ average EUR/USD spread is 1.44 pips (above the 1.08-pip industry average), though its new ECN account can bring effective costs down to about 1.1 pips after commission. For Commissions and Fees, Interactive Brokers is rated 5/5 stars and ranks #2 of 63 brokers, while IFC Markets is rated 4/5 stars and ranks #40 of 63.
IBKR’s forex commissions start at 0.00002 (0.2 basis points) of the trade’s U.S. dollar value per side, with a $2 minimum per order ($4 round turn). On a standard $100,000 EUR/USD trade, that equates to roughly 0.40 pips in commission on top of whatever spread you receive. Because of the $2-per-side minimum, smaller trade sizes become relatively more expensive. High-volume traders can qualify for lower pricing, with minimums dropping to $1.50 per order above $1 billion in monthly volume and as low as $1 at $5 billion; quoted commission ranges are roughly $16–$40 per million round turn.
IFC Markets keeps things simple with no inactivity fees and offers discounts for active traders. Its headline average spread on EUR/USD is 1.44 pips, but the ECN account improves value to about 1.1 pips effective cost after a 0.005% commission charged on both sides of the trade. While that’s an improvement for frequent traders, the data still favors Interactive Brokers for lower typical costs on standard-size forex trades.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $1 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.59 | 1.44 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.65 | 1.1 |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
Interactive Brokers offers a much wider range of investments than IFC Markets. IB lists about 8,500 tradeable symbols and 90 forex pairs, while IFC Markets has around 630 symbols and 49 forex pairs. Both brokers let you trade forex as CFDs or spot, and both support crypto CFDs. Only Interactive Brokers lets you buy actual cryptocurrency and trade U.S. exchange‑listed stocks (for example, Apple shares), while IFC Markets does not offer direct U.S. share dealing. For international stocks, both brokers provide access to exchange‑traded shares. Copy trading is available at IFC Markets, but not at Interactive Brokers.
These differences show up in independent ratings: Interactive Brokers earns 5 stars for Range of Investments and ranks #1 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while IFC Markets scores 3.5 stars and ranks #44. Choose Interactive Brokers if you want the broadest selection, including real crypto and U.S. shares; pick IFC Markets if copy trading is a priority and you’re comfortable with a smaller lineup.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 8500 | 630 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 90 | 49 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes |
| 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). |
Dive deeper: Best Copy Trading Platforms.
Interactive Brokers vs IFC Markets: both brokers check the core boxes for trading platforms and tools. Each offers free paper trading (demo accounts), an in‑house platform, a Windows desktop download, and a web-based platform. You can place orders straight from charts with both, and each includes charting tools and watch lists to help track markets.
Key differences: IFC Markets supports copy trading and gives you access to MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5), while Interactive Brokers does not. For overall platform quality, Interactive Brokers earns 5 stars and ranks #3 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, whereas IFC Markets earns 4 stars and ranks #37. If you want MT4/MT5 or copy trading, IFC Markets fits the bill; if top-tier platform depth and ratings are your priority, Interactive Brokers stands out.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 155 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Interactive Brokers and IFC Markets both offer full-featured mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android. Each app supports price alerts and watchlist syncing, so changes made on mobile or desktop stay in sync. For charting, Interactive Brokers provides 97 technical studies, while IFC Markets offers 30. Both apps let you draw trendlines; however, IFC Markets auto-saves chart drawings, whereas Interactive Brokers does not.
In independent reviews, Interactive Brokers earns 5 stars and ranks #4 out of 63 brokers for Mobile Trading Apps, while IFC Markets earns 4 stars and ranks #53. In short, traders who want a wider range of technical indicators may favor Interactive Brokers, while those who value auto-saving chart annotations might appreciate IFC Markets.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 97 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | No | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
For market research, Interactive Brokers offers more depth than IFC Markets. Both brokers provide daily market commentary, an economic calendar, and a sentiment tool showing long/short positioning. The difference is in extras: Interactive Brokers includes premium forex news from Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones, plus Trading Central analysis, TipRanks insights, and tools from Acuity Trading. IFC Markets does not offer these third‑party research suites or premium news feeds. Neither broker includes Autochartist.
These added resources help Interactive Brokers earn 5 stars for Research and a #3 ranking out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while IFC Markets holds 3.5 stars and ranks #41. If you want richer third‑party research and integrated tools in one place, Interactive Brokers is the stronger pick; if you only need the basics—headlines, commentary, sentiment, and a calendar—IFC Markets covers the essentials.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central | Yes | No |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | Yes | No |
| Acuity Trading | Yes | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
For beginners comparing education at Interactive Brokers vs IFC Markets, Interactive Brokers stands out. It holds a 5-star Education rating and ranks #3 out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com. Interactive Brokers hosts client webinars at least once a month and provides large video libraries with at least 10 beginner videos and 10 advanced videos. IFC Markets also offers at least 10 beginner videos and 10 advanced videos, but it does not run monthly educational webinars. Its Education rating is 3.5 stars, with a #30 ranking.
When it comes to forex- and CFD-specific education (defined as 10 or more materials focused mainly on forex or CFDs), the information provided does not confirm whether either broker meets that exact threshold. If live webinars and a highly rated learning experience are important to you, Interactive Brokers is the stronger pick. If you want access to beginner and advanced videos without live classes, IFC Markets may suffice, though its overall education rating and rank trail Interactive Brokers.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 Interactive Brokers is better than IFC Markets. Interactive Brokers finished with an overall rank of #2, while IFC Markets finished with an overall rank of #45.
Interactive Brokers is a highly trusted multi-asset broker with an extensive offering of tradeable global markets. It delivers competitive fees and high-quality research and education, as well as a modern, institutional-grade trading platform suite.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
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IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
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| Trust Score | 99 | 73 |
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Compared with IFC Markets, which supports only cryptocurrency CFDs (no delivered coins), Interactive Brokers lets you buy actual delivered cryptocurrency and trade crypto CFDs.
Comparing deposit and withdrawal methods, Interactive Brokers supports ACH/SEPA and bank wire transfers while IFC Markets supports bank wires but not ACH/SEPA; neither broker offers PayPal or Skrill, and 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 | Interactive Brokers | IFC Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Interactive Brokers Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Interactive Brokers | IFC Markets | |
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| Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Regulation | Interactive Brokers | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 73 | |
| Year Founded | 1977 | 2006 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | ||
| Tier-1 Licenses | 9 | 0 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Interactive Brokers | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | Yes | ||
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | ||
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Interactive Brokers | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | ||
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| India (SEBI Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | Interactive Brokers | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 8500 | 630 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 90 | 49 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes | |
| 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). |
| Cost | Interactive Brokers | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.59 | 1.44 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.65 | 1.1 | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | No | Yes |
| Funding | Interactive Brokers | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $1 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | Interactive Brokers | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Interactive Brokers | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 155 | 30 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Interactive Brokers | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 97 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Interactive Brokers | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | Yes | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Interactive Brokers | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Interactive Brokers | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | Interactive Brokers Review |
| Overall | Interactive Brokers | IFC Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Interactive Brokers Review |
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