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OANDA vs IFC Markets 2026

ForexBrokers.com

Written by ForexBrokers.com

February 05, 2025

In this head to head comparison of OANDA vs IFC Markets, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.

OANDA
4.5/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: $0
  • Trust Score: 93
  • Tradeable Symbols (Total): 4172 info
IFC Markets
4/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: $1
  • Trust Score: 73
  • Tradeable Symbols (Total): 630

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.

Regulation

OANDA and IFC Markets are both well-regarded online brokers, but they have different backgrounds and regulatory standings. Founded in 1996, OANDA has established itself with a high Trust Score of 93 out of 99, placing it in the category of highly trusted brokers. OANDA boasts seven Tier-1 licenses, indicating strong regulatory oversight. Meanwhile, IFC Markets, founded a decade later in 2006, is rated with a Trust Score of 73, marking it as average risk in terms of trust, and holds one Tier-2 license, with no Tier-1 licenses to enhance its regulatory profile.

Both OANDA and IFC Markets are privately owned and are not publicly traded on any stock exchange. Additionally, neither broker operates as a bank. These differences in regulatory compliance and history can be crucial factors for traders when selecting a platform that aligns with their safety and security expectations.

Feature OANDA logoOANDA
IFC Markets logoIFC Markets
Year Founded info 1996 2006
Publicly Traded (Listed) info No No
Bank info No No
Tier-1 Licenses info 7 0
Tier-2 Licenses info 0 1
Tier-3 Licenses info 0 0
Tier-4 Licenses info 1 1

Fees

OANDA and IFC Markets both earn 4 stars for commissions and fees. In ForexBrokers.com’s Commissions and Fees rankings, OANDA places #30 of 63 and IFC Markets is #32 of 63. OANDA’s default spreads tend to be on the higher side, while its optional “core” pricing can trim costs. IFC Markets’ standard EUR/USD spread averages 1.44 pips, and its ECN account can be cheaper for active traders with an effective 1.1 pips after commission.

For OANDA, the average non-core EUR/USD spread was 1.61 pips in July 2024. The core pricing plan lowers spreads but adds a commission of $5 per $100,000 per side (about $10 round turn), with a $10,000 minimum deposit; using the EUR/USD example, that can bring the all-in cost near 1.4 pips versus 1.6 pips on the default plan. OANDA also allows ultra-small trade sizes down to 1 unit, and offers volume-based rebates of $5–$17 per million in select regions. It publishes trailing average spreads for transparency, though not fixed-period averages.

For IFC Markets, the average EUR/USD spread is 1.44 pips (above the 1.08 industry average). Its ECN account charges a 0.005% commission on both sides, leading to an effective 1.1 pips for active traders. There’s no inactivity fee, and active trader discounts are available. Bottom line: IFC Markets’ ECN pricing can undercut OANDA’s core plan on headline EUR/USD costs, while OANDA stands out for very small position sizing and a clear path to lower pricing via its core tier.

Feature OANDA logoOANDA
IFC Markets logoIFC Markets
Minimum Deposit info $0 $1
Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account info 1.68 info 1.44 info
All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active info 1.69 info 1.1 info
Non-wire bank transfer info Yes info No
PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes No
Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes No
Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes Yes

Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.

Featured Offers


Range of investments

OANDA and IFC Markets both let you trade forex as CFDs or spot, and both support copy trading and crypto CFDs. OANDA offers a wider catalog with 4,172 tradeable symbols and 69 forex pairs, compared with IFC Markets’ 630 symbols and 49 pairs. If you want to buy actual cryptocurrency, only OANDA offers delivered coins; IFC Markets does not.

For stocks, OANDA lets clients buy exchange-traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges, while IFC Markets offers exchange-traded shares on international exchanges only (not U.S.). In ForexBrokers.com’s Range of Investments category, OANDA earns 4 stars and ranks #20 out of 63 brokers, while IFC Markets scores 3.5 stars and ranks #31. For the widest range of investments, OANDA has the edge, though both cover the essentials.

Feature OANDA logoOANDA
IFC Markets logoIFC Markets
Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) info Yes info Yes
Tradeable Symbols (Total) info 4172 info 630
Forex Pairs (Total) info 69 49
U.S. Stocks (Shares) info Yes No
Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) info Yes Yes
Copy Trading info Yes info Yes
Cryptocurrency (Underlying) info Yes No
Cryptocurrency (CFDs) info Yes info 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.

Trading platforms and tools

Comparing OANDA and IFC Markets on trading platforms and tools, both brokers tick the core boxes. Each offers a free demo account for paper trading, a proprietary platform, and access to MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5. You can trade on Windows desktop or through a web browser with either broker, and both support copy trading. Charting is actionable at both firms, letting you place trades directly from charts.

For ratings, OANDA and IFC Markets each earn 4 stars for Trading Platforms and Tools. In ForexBrokers.com’s 2025 rankings, OANDA places #16 out of 63 brokers, while IFC Markets comes in at #29. That means OANDA holds a higher industry ranking, but both deliver a full-featured platform lineup. Your choice may come down to which interface you prefer and how you plan to use features like copy trading and chart-based order entry.

Feature OANDA logoOANDA
IFC Markets logoIFC Markets
Virtual Trading (Demo) info Yes Yes
Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform info Yes Yes
Desktop Platform (Windows) info Yes Yes
Web Platform info Yes Yes
Copy Trading info Yes info Yes
MetaTrader 4 (MT4) info Yes Yes
MetaTrader 5 (MT5) info Yes info Yes
Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) info 89 30
Charting - Trade From Chart info Yes Yes

Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.

Forex trading apps

OANDA and IFC Markets both deliver full-featured mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android. Each app supports forex and CFD price alerts, 30 technical studies for charting, trendline drawing, and auto-saving your chart annotations. That means you can analyze markets and manage trades on the go without losing your work between sessions.

The key difference is watchlists: IFC Markets syncs watchlist symbols between mobile and your online account, while OANDA does not. If industry ratings matter, OANDA stands out with a 5-star Mobile Trading Apps score and a #7 ranking out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, compared to IFC Markets’ 4 stars and #34 ranking. Choose OANDA if you want a higher-rated mobile experience; pick IFC Markets if synced watchlists across devices are a priority.

Feature OANDA logoOANDA
IFC Markets logoIFC Markets
Android App info Yes Yes
Apple iOS App info Yes Yes
Mobile Price Alerts info Yes Yes
Mobile Watchlists - Syncing info No Yes
Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies info 30 30
Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines info Yes Yes
Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave info Yes Yes

Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.

Market research

Comparing market research at OANDA and IFC Markets: both publish daily market commentary, offer a sentiment tool showing the long/short ratio across instruments, and include an economic calendar. OANDA goes further with forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg and Reuters and access to Autochartist for technical setups. Neither broker provides Trading Central tools, TipRanks research, or Acuity Trading services.

These differences show up in independent ratings: OANDA earns 5 stars for Research and ranks #4 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while IFC Markets scores 3.5 stars and ranks #30. If you want premium news feeds and Autochartist to help spot opportunities, OANDA is the better fit; if you mainly need commentary, sentiment, and a calendar, IFC Markets covers the basics.

Feature OANDA logoOANDA
IFC Markets logoIFC Markets
Daily Market Commentary (Articles) info Yes Yes
Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) info Yes No
Autochartist info Yes No
Trading Central info No No
Client sentiment data info Yes Yes
TipRanks info No No
Acuity Trading info No No
Economic Calendar info Yes Yes

Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.

Beginners and education

Comparing OANDA vs IFC Markets for beginner education: both brokers provide forex and CFD learning content with at least 10 educational pieces, and each offers more than 10 beginner videos as well as more than 10 advanced videos. The key difference is live instruction—OANDA runs client webinars at least once per month, while IFC Markets does not, which can matter if you prefer real-time Q&A and guided sessions.

In independent ratings, OANDA earns 5 stars for Education and ranks #18 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while IFC Markets scores 3.5 stars and ranks #25. For beginners who want a richer learning path with live webinars alongside sizable video libraries, OANDA is the stronger pick, whereas IFC Markets remains a solid option if you primarily rely on self-paced videos.

Feature OANDA logoOANDA
IFC Markets logoIFC Markets
Webinars info Yes No
Videos - Beginner Trading Videos info Yes Yes
Videos - Advanced Trading Videos info Yes Yes

Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.

Winner

After testing 63 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that OANDA is better than IFC Markets. OANDA finished with an overall rank of #13, while IFC Markets finished with an overall rank of #33.

A trusted global brand, OANDA stands out for its reputation and quality market research. Its regulatory track record is strong, and its support for third-party features bolsters its overall offering.

Feature OANDA logoOANDA
IFC Markets logoIFC Markets
Overall Rating info 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Trust Score info 93 73
Range of Investments 4/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Trading Fees 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Trading Platforms 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Research 5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Mobile Trading 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Education 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars

FAQs

Can you trade cryptocurrency with OANDA or IFC Markets?

OANDA vs IFC Markets: OANDA lets you buy actual delivered cryptocurrency and trade crypto CFDs, while IFC Markets offers cryptocurrency CFDs only and does not support purchasing real, delivered coins.

What funding options does each broker offer?

OANDA vs IFC Markets: For deposit and withdrawal methods, OANDA supports ACH/SEPA, PayPal, Skrill, and bank wire transfers, while IFC Markets does not support ACH/SEPA, PayPal, or Skrill but does offer bank wires; Visa/Mastercard availability is not specified for either broker.

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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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Overall Rating OANDA IFC Markets
Overall Rating info 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Trading Fees 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Range of Investments 4/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Trading Platforms 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Mobile Trading 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Research 5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Education 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Trust Score info 93 73
Winner check_circle
Review OANDA Review
Broker Screenshots OANDA IFC Markets
Broker Gallery (click to expand) info
OANDA fxTrade mobile trading app charting OANDA Trade web platform. OANDA's website features research in the form of its MarketPulse blog, which includes news, analysis, and articles. The OANDA website's educational hub features webinars and videos covering current events and financial analysis.
Regulation OANDA IFC Markets
Trust Score info 93 73
Year Founded info 1996 2006
Publicly Traded (Listed) info No No
Bank info No No
Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). info Yes info
Tier-1 Licenses info 7 0
Tier-2 Licenses info 0 1
Tier-3 Licenses info 0 0
Tier-4 Licenses info 1 1
Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) OANDA IFC Markets
Australia (ASIC Authorised) info Yes
Canada (CIRO Authorised) info Yes
Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) info No
Japan (FSA Authorised) info Yes
Singapore (MAS Authorised) info Yes
Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) info
United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) info Yes
USA (CFTC Authorized) info Yes
New Zealand (FMA Authorised) info No
Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). info Yes info
Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) OANDA IFC Markets
Kenya (CMA Authorised) info
Israel (ISA Authorised) info No
South Africa (FSCA Authorised) info No Yes
UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) info No
India (SEBI Authorised) info No
Jordan (JSC Authorised) info
Investments OANDA IFC Markets
Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) info Yes info Yes
Tradeable Symbols (Total) info 4172 info 630
Forex Pairs (Total) info 69 49
U.S. Stocks (Shares) info Yes No
Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) info Yes Yes
Copy Trading info Yes info Yes
Cryptocurrency (Underlying) info Yes No
Cryptocurrency (CFDs) info Yes info 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 OANDA IFC Markets
Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account info 1.68 info 1.44 info
All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active info 1.69 info 1.1 info
Inactivity Fee info Yes No
Order execution: Agency info No Yes
Order execution: Market Maker info Yes Yes
Funding OANDA IFC Markets
Minimum Deposit info $0 $1
PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes No
Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes No
Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes Yes
Non-wire bank transfer info Yes info No
Trading Platforms OANDA IFC Markets
Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform info Yes Yes
Desktop Platform (Windows) info Yes Yes
Web Platform info Yes Yes
Copy Trading info Yes info Yes
MetaTrader 4 (MT4) info Yes Yes
MetaTrader 5 (MT5) info Yes info Yes
cTrader info No No
Trading Tools OANDA IFC Markets
Virtual Trading (Demo) info Yes Yes
Price Alerts info Yes Yes
Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) info 89 30
Charting - Trade From Chart info Yes Yes
Charts can be saved info Yes Yes
Mobile Trading OANDA IFC Markets
Android App info Yes Yes
Apple iOS App info Yes Yes
Mobile Price Alerts info Yes Yes
Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] info
Mobile Watchlists - Syncing info No Yes
Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies info 30 30
Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines info Yes Yes
Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave info Yes Yes
Mobile Research - Economic Calendar info Yes Yes
Research OANDA IFC Markets
Daily Market Commentary (Articles) info Yes Yes
Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) info Yes No
Autochartist info Yes No
Trading Central info No No
TipRanks info No No
Client sentiment data info Yes Yes
Economic Calendar info Yes Yes
Education OANDA IFC Markets
Webinars info Yes No
Videos - Beginner Trading Videos info Yes Yes
Videos - Advanced Trading Videos info Yes Yes
Major Forex Pairs OANDA IFC Markets
GBP/USD [DELETED] info
USD/JPY [DELETED] info
EUR/USD info Yes Yes
USD/CHF [DELETED] info
USD/CAD [DELETED] info
NZD/USD [DELETED] info
AUD/USD [DELETED] info
Review OANDA Review
Overall OANDA IFC Markets
Overall Rating info 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Trading Fees 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Range of Investments 4/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Trading Platforms 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Mobile Trading 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Research 5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Education 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Trust Score info 93 73
Winner check_circle
Review OANDA Review
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