IFC Markets vs LegacyFX 2025
In this head to head comparison of IFC Markets vs LegacyFX, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
In this head to head comparison of IFC Markets vs LegacyFX, 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.
IFC Markets and LegacyFX are two online brokers that offer trading services but differ significantly in terms of regulatory status and trust. Founded in 2006, IFC Markets has been in the industry longer than LegacyFX, which was established in 2012. Neither of the companies is publicly traded or operates as a bank. Regulatory-wise, IFC Markets holds one Tier-2 license, marking it as trusted by ForexBrokers.com, whereas LegacyFX doesn't hold any Tier-2 licenses. Moreover, IFC Markets boasts a Trust Score of 73, categorizing it under average risk, while LegacyFX has a lower score of 67, making it high risk according to the same rating criteria.
LegacyFX stands out by holding one Tier-1 license, indicating a high trust level despite its lower overall Trust Score. In contrast, IFC Markets currently lacks any Tier-1 licenses. Consequently, when weighing these brokers' regulatory credentials, LegacyFX provides an edge with its Tier-1 certification, although it doesn't necessarily translate to a higher overall trustworthiness compared to IFC Markets. Both brokers offer distinct advantages, and traders may consider these factors when choosing a platform that aligns with their security priorities.
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Year Founded | 2006 | 2012 |
Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
Bank | No | No |
Tier-1 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
Comparing commissions and fees, IFC Markets earns 4 out of 5 stars and is ranked #40 of 63, while LegacyFX scores 3.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #58 of 63. Overall, IFC Markets provides clearer pricing and can be more cost-effective for active traders, whereas LegacyFX’s costs vary by entity and account tier with limited transparency on average spreads.
IFC Markets lists an average EUR/USD spread of 1.44 pips on its standard offering, which is higher than the industry average of 1.08 pips. Active traders can find better value on the ECN account, where the effective EUR/USD spread is about 1.1 pips after factoring in a 0.005% commission on both sides of each trade. The absence of inactivity fees and the availability of active-trader discounts further help reduce ongoing trading costs.
LegacyFX’s pricing depends on whether you use its EU (CySEC) or international (Vanuatu) entity and which account tier you choose. In the EU, Silver, Gold, and Platinum accounts require minimum deposits of $500, $5,000, and $25,000, respectively; spreads are lowest on Platinum, while Silver can be costly with minimum EUR/USD spreads as high as 1.6 pips. Internationally, there are seven account types with deposits from $500 to $50,000, and benefits scale with the tier. However, LegacyFX does not publish average spreads, making it harder to gauge real trading costs compared to IFC Markets.
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Minimum Deposit | $1 | $500 |
Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.44 | N/A |
All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.1 | N/A |
Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes |
ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | No |
PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
IFC Markets offers a wider range of investments than LegacyFX, with 630 tradable symbols versus 425. For forex specifically, IFC Markets lists 49 currency pairs compared with 44 at LegacyFX, and both brokers let you trade forex either as CFDs or spot. Each also supports copy trading. When it comes to crypto, both brokers offer cryptocurrency derivatives but do not allow buying the actual coins.
Neither broker lets you buy U.S.-listed shares directly, but IFC Markets stands out by offering access to some international exchange-traded securities (not CFDs), while LegacyFX does not. For range of investments, both earn 3.5 out of 5 stars. In ForexBrokers.com’s category rankings out of 63 brokers, IFC Markets places 44th and LegacyFX ranks 49th.
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Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 630 | 425 |
Forex Pairs (Total) | 49 | 44 |
U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No |
Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | 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). |
Dive deeper: Best Copy Trading Platforms.
IFC Markets and LegacyFX both offer free demo accounts, web platforms, Windows desktop software, and copy trading. The key difference is platform lineup: IFC Markets provides its own proprietary platform and supports both MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5), while LegacyFX does not have a proprietary platform and offers MT5 but not MT4. Neither broker integrates with DupliTrade or ZuluTrade.
For charting and workflow, both brokers let you trade directly from charts, include 15 drawing tools, and offer watchlists with seven data fields. According to ForexBrokers.com, IFC Markets is rated 4 out of 5 stars and ranks 37th out of 63 brokers for Trading Platforms and Tools, while LegacyFX earns 3.5 stars and ranks 61st. In short, choose IFC Markets if you want MT4 and an in-house platform; pick LegacyFX if MT5 with standard web and desktop access fits your style.
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Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
Proprietary Platform | Yes | No |
Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | No |
MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes |
DupliTrade | No | No |
ZuluTrade | No | No |
Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 30 |
Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 15 | 15 |
Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
IFC Markets vs LegacyFX mobile app comparison: Both brokers offer iPhone and Android apps with price alerts, real-time quote watchlists, and charting that includes 30 technical indicators. You can draw trendlines, switch between intraday, daily, and weekly time frames, and your drawings auto-save. The standout difference is syncing—IFC Markets syncs watchlist symbols between the mobile app and your online account, while LegacyFX does not, which can matter if you move between devices.
On scores, IFC Markets earns 4 stars and ranks 53rd out of 63 brokers for Mobile Trading Apps at ForexBrokers.com, while LegacyFX earns 3.5 stars and ranks 62nd. If cross-device watchlist syncing and a slightly higher rating are priorities, IFC Markets has the edge; if you mainly want core charting tools and alerts on iPhone or Android, either app will cover the basics.
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Android App | Yes | Yes |
Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No |
Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 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.
Comparing IFC Markets vs LegacyFX for market research, both brokers provide daily market commentary and an economic calendar. LegacyFX stands out with forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg/Reuters/Dow Jones and adds Autochartist for technical and fundamental insights. IFC Markets does not offer those two, and neither broker uses Trading Central. However, IFC Markets includes a sentiment tool that shows the ratio of long vs short positions, while LegacyFX does not. IFC Markets does not include TipRanks or Acuity Trading; LegacyFX does not list these integrations.
Both brokers earn 3.5 out of 5 stars for research. In ForexBrokers.com’s rankings, IFC Markets places #41 out of 63 brokers, while LegacyFX ranks #47. Choose IFC Markets if a built-in sentiment read matters to your workflow; pick LegacyFX if you want top-tier news and Autochartist signals alongside standard commentary and calendars.
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Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | Yes |
Autochartist | No | Yes |
Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No |
Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No |
TipRanks | No | |
Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | |
Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
For beginners seeking to dive into forex and CFD trading, both IFC Markets and LegacyFX provide a wealth of learning resources. Each broker offers a minimum of ten educational materials such as articles and videos that primarily focus on forex and CFDs, ensuring a solid start for newcomers. They both shine in offering beginner-centric videos, with at least ten tailored to ease beginners into the trading world. Furthermore, each platform provides advanced educational videos and an investor dictionary packed with over 50 terms, making technical jargon more accessible to traders of all levels.
While both platforms match in numerous educational aspects, LegacyFX edges ahead in live online interaction. It provides monthly webinars and maintains a searchable archive of past sessions, allowing learners to revisit key topics at their convenience. However, IFC Markets lacks this feature. Despite these differences, both brokers earn a 3.5-star rating in education, with IFC Markets slightly ahead in the ForexBrokers.com rankings at #30 compared to LegacyFX's #35. This detailed comparison should guide you in selecting the broker that aligns best with your educational needs.
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Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
Client Webinars | No | Yes |
Client Webinars (Archived) | No | Yes |
Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 63 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that IFC Markets is better than LegacyFX. IFC Markets finished with an overall rank of #45, while LegacyFX finished with an overall rank of #63.
IFC Markets is a well-established broker that has been in operation for 17 years. Forex traders at IFC Markets gain access to multiple trading platforms, a growing range of tradeable markets, and a balanced offering of research and educational content. However, IFC Markets’ Trust Score suffers due to the broker’s limited range of regulatory licenses.
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Overall Rating |
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Trust Score | 73 | 67 |
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Both IFC Markets and LegacyFX do not offer the ability to buy actual cryptocurrencies, but they do provide options for trading cryptocurrency derivatives.
When comparing online brokers IFC Markets and LegacyFX, neither offers ACH or SEPA transfers or PayPal for account funding options, while both support Visa, Mastercard, and bank wire transactions; however, only LegacyFX provides the additional option of using Skrill for deposits and withdrawals.
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 5Overall Rating | IFC Markets | LegacyFX | |
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Mobile Trading |
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Research |
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Education |
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Trust Score | 73 | 67 | |
Winner | check_circle | ||
Review | LegacyFX Review |
Broker Screenshots | IFC Markets | LegacyFX | |
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Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
Regulation | IFC Markets | LegacyFX | |
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Trust Score | 73 | 67 | |
Year Founded | 2006 | 2012 | |
Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
Bank | No | No | |
Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | ||
Tier-1 Licenses | 0 | 1 | |
Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 0 | |
Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | IFC Markets | LegacyFX | |
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Australia (ASIC Authorised) | No | ||
Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | ||
Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | ||
Japan (SFC Authorised) | No | ||
Singapore (MAS Authorised) | No | ||
Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | |||
United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | No | ||
USA (CFTC Authorized) | No | ||
New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | ||
Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes |
Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | IFC Markets | LegacyFX | |
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Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | ||
South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | No | ||
India (SEBI Authorised) | No | ||
Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
Investments | IFC Markets | LegacyFX | |
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Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 630 | 425 | |
Forex Pairs (Total) | 49 | 44 | |
U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No | |
Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | 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). |
Cost | IFC Markets | LegacyFX | |
---|---|---|---|
Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.44 | N/A | |
All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.1 | N/A | |
Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes | |
Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | No | |
Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
Funding | IFC Markets | LegacyFX | |
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Minimum Deposit | $1 | $500 | |
PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No | |
Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | No |
Trading Platforms | IFC Markets | LegacyFX | |
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Proprietary Platform | Yes | No | |
Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | No | |
MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes | |
cTrader | No | No | |
DupliTrade | No | No | |
ZuluTrade | No | No |
Trading Tools | IFC Markets | LegacyFX | |
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Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 7 | |
Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 30 | |
Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 15 | 15 | |
Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
Mobile Trading | IFC Markets | LegacyFX | |
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Android App | Yes | Yes | |
Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No | |
Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 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 | IFC Markets | LegacyFX | |
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Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | Yes | |
Autochartist | No | Yes | |
Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No | |
TipRanks | No | ||
Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No | |
Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Education | IFC Markets | LegacyFX | |
---|---|---|---|
Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
Client Webinars | No | Yes | |
Client Webinars (Archived) | No | Yes | |
Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | Yes |
Major Forex Pairs | IFC Markets | LegacyFX | |
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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 | LegacyFX Review |
Overall | IFC Markets | LegacyFX | |
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Overall Rating |
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Commissions & Fees |
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Range of Investments |
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Platforms & Tools |
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Mobile Trading |
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Research |
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Education |
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Trust Score | 73 | 67 | |
Winner | check_circle | ||
Review | LegacyFX Review |