Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Libertex 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.
Libertex and IFC Markets are both private brokers that are not listed on a stock exchange and are not banks. Libertex was founded in 1997, while IFC Markets started in 2006. In terms of regulation, each broker holds one Tier-1 license, which ForexBrokers.com considers highly trusted. Libertex also has one Tier-2 license, while IFC Markets does not have any Tier-2 licenses.
On ForexBrokers.com’s Trust Score scale, Libertex scores 79 out of 99, placing it in the average-risk range, while IFC Markets scores 73 out of 99, which is also in the average-risk range. That means both brokers have a similar level of trust overall, though Libertex has a slightly higher rating and a stronger regulatory profile thanks to its extra Tier-2 license.
| Feature |
Libertex
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1997 | 2006 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 5 |
Libertex and IFC Markets both earn 4 out of 5 stars for commissions and fees, but Libertex comes out ahead in the rankings: #21 out of 36 brokers, versus IFC Markets at #34 out of 36. In simple terms, Libertex is the more cost-friendly choice for many forex traders, especially on its own platform, where pricing uses a spread-plus-commission model and the broker recently showed a 0.3-pip average spread on EUR/USD. That said, the figure is based on a recent trading day, so it should be seen as a guide rather than a long-term promise.
For forex trading, Libertex charges 5 euros per side on its proprietary platform and 6 euros per side on MT4 and MT5, making the native platform cheaper for active traders. It also has a low $10 minimum deposit, free international wire transfers, and a 10 euro inactivity fee that only starts after six months without trading or account activity. Higher-balance clients can also unlock lower trading costs through deposit-based tiers, which may reduce fees without requiring a minimum amount of trading.
IFC Markets is less competitive on headline pricing, with an average EUR/USD spread of 1.44, above the industry average of 1.08. Its ECN account can be better for active traders, with an effective spread of about 1.1 pips after commission, and it stands out for having no inactivity fee. Overall, Libertex is the stronger pick on fees for most traders, while IFC Markets may still appeal to those who value commission-based pricing and want to avoid inactivity charges.
| Feature |
Libertex
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $10 | $1 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Spread-only account | N/A | 1.44 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | 1.3 | 1.1 |
| Non-wire bank transfer (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
Libertex offers a wider overall range of investments than IFC Markets, with 1,573 tradable symbols compared with 630. Both brokers support forex trading, copy trading, and cryptocurrency CFDs, but neither lets clients buy actual crypto or exchange-traded shares on U.S. markets. When it comes to forex pairs, IFC Markets lists slightly more, with 49 pairs versus 46 at Libertex, so traders focused mainly on currency markets may find that edge useful.
For investors looking beyond forex, IFC Markets has the advantage of offering exchange-traded securities on international exchanges, while Libertex does not. Still, Libertex earns the higher score for range of investments, with 4 stars versus 3.5 stars for IFC Markets, and it also ranks better in ForexBrokers.com’s category ranking, placing #25 out of 36 brokers compared with IFC Markets at #33. Overall, Libertex is the better choice for breadth, while IFC Markets is stronger for international stock access and a slightly larger forex selection.
| Feature |
Libertex
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1573 | 630 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 46 | 49 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | 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.
Libertex and IFC Markets both give traders a solid mix of platform choices and trading tools. Each broker offers a free demo account for practice, desktop and web-based trading, copy trading, MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, and the ability to place trades directly from charts. The main difference is that IFC Markets also provides its own in-house platform, while Libertex does not.
In terms of third-party ratings, both brokers are scored 4 out of 5 stars for Trading Platforms and Tools. However, Libertex places higher in ForexBrokers.com’s ranking for this category, coming in at #27 out of 36 brokers, compared with IFC Markets at #32. For traders who want a familiar platform setup with paper trading and chart-based trading tools, both brokers are fairly well matched, with IFC Markets standing out for its proprietary platform option.
| Feature |
Libertex
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | No | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 43 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Libertex and IFC Markets both give traders the basics they need on the go, with iPhone and Android apps, price alerts, and watchlist syncing between mobile and online accounts. Each broker also earns a 4-star rating for mobile trading apps, so both are solid choices for everyday mobile use.
The bigger difference is in charting. IFC Markets stands out with 30 technical studies, trendline drawing, and automatic saving for chart drawings, while Libertex offers none of those chart tools in its mobile app. Even so, Libertex ranks higher overall in this category at #28 out of 36 brokers, compared with IFC Markets at #37, making Libertex the stronger pick for mobile trading in the overall ranking, while IFC Markets is better for chart-focused traders.
| Feature |
Libertex
|
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 | 0 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | No | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | No | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
Libertex comes out ahead of IFC Markets for market research. It offers daily market commentary, news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, Trading Central tools, a sentiment-based trading feature, and an economic calendar. IFC Markets also includes a sentiment tool and an economic calendar, but it does not provide daily commentary, top-tier forex news, or Trading Central tools. Neither broker offers Autochartist, TipRanks, or Acuity Trading research.
That wider set of research tools helps explain why Libertex is rated higher for research, with 4 out of 5 stars and a #26 ranking out of 36 brokers from ForexBrokers.com. IFC Markets is rated 3.5 stars and ranks #33. For traders who want more news flow and analysis support in one place, Libertex has the edge.
| Feature |
Libertex
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | No | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central | Yes | No |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
For beginners looking for trading education, IFC Markets has the edge over Libertex. IFC Markets offers at least 10 beginner-focused video lessons and at least 10 advanced videos as well, giving new traders more ways to learn and grow. Libertex does provide forex or CFDs education, but it does not meet the same depth in beginner or advanced video content, and it also does not offer monthly educational webinars.
That said, Libertex is still rated slightly higher for Education overall, with 4 out of 5 stars compared with IFC Markets’ 3.5 stars. But in the ForexBrokers.com education ranking, IFC Markets places better at #26 out of 36 brokers, while Libertex ranks #35. For learners who want more beginner-friendly video material, IFC Markets is the stronger pick, while Libertex may appeal more to those who value its overall education score.
| Feature |
Libertex
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | No | No |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | No | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | No | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 63 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that Libertex is better than IFC Markets. Libertex finished with an overall rank of #32, while IFC Markets finished with an overall rank of #36.
Libertex is a low-cost CFD broker with one of the deepest crypto lineups we have tested, at 109 crypto CFDs across 1,573 total symbols. Pricing is competitive and MetaTrader 4 and 5 run alongside a clean proprietary platform. Education and research are thin, and the mobile app has no charting indicators.
| Feature |
Libertex
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IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
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| Trust Score | 79 | 73 |
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Libertex and IFC Markets both do not offer the ability to buy actual, delivered cryptocurrency, but each does provide cryptocurrency CFDs for traders looking to speculate on crypto price movements without owning the underlying asset.
Libertex offers a broader range of funding options than IFC Markets, supporting ACH and SEPA transfers, PayPal, Skrill, and bank wires, while IFC Markets supports only bank wires and does not offer ACH/SEPA, PayPal, or 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 5| Overall Rating | Libertex | IFC Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 79 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Libertex Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Libertex | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
| Regulation | Libertex | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 79 | 73 | |
| Year Founded | 1997 | 2006 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | ||
| Tier-1 Licenses | 1 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 5 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Libertex | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | No | ||
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | ||
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | ||
| Japan (FSA 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) | Libertex | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | ||
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or CMA Authorised) | No | ||
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | ||
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | Libertex | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1573 | 630 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 46 | 49 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | 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 | Libertex | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Spread-only account | N/A | 1.44 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | 1.3 | 1.1 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | No | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Libertex | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $10 | $1 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | Libertex | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | No | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Libertex | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 43 | 30 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | No | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Libertex | 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 | 0 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Libertex | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | No | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Libertex | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | No | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | No | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | No | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Libertex | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| Review | Libertex Review |
| Overall | Libertex | IFC Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 79 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Libertex Review |
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