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OANDA vs IFC Markets 2026

ForexBrokers.com

Written by ForexBrokers.com

February 05, 2025
  Fact Checked

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: 92
  • 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 vs IFC Markets: OANDA was founded in 1996, while IFC Markets started in 2006. Neither broker is publicly traded nor operates as a bank, so their credibility is tied to their regulatory oversight rather than stock-market reporting or banking rules.

In terms of regulation and trust, OANDA holds seven Tier-1 licenses (the highest level tracked by ForexBrokers.com) and earns a 92/99 Trust Score, which is considered highly trusted (90–99). IFC Markets holds one Tier-1 license and scores 73/99, which falls into the average risk range (70–79). Both brokers hold zero Tier-2 licenses.

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 1
Tier-2 Licenses info 0 0
Tier-3 Licenses info 0 0
Tier-4 Licenses info 1 5

Fees

OANDA and IFC Markets both earn 4 stars for commissions and fees, but OANDA is ranked slightly higher at #30 out of 36 brokers, compared with IFC Markets at #32 out of 36. OANDA’s trading costs are generally on the expensive side, with average EUR/USD spreads of 1.61 pips on its standard pricing in July 2024. Its core pricing can lower the spread, but it adds a commission of $5 per $100,000 traded per side and requires a $10,000 minimum deposit. One bright spot is OANDA’s very small minimum trade size, which starts at just 1 unit, plus rebate deals for active traders in some regions.

IFC Markets is also a bit pricier than the industry average on its standard account, with an average EUR/USD spread of 1.44 pips versus the industry average of 1.08. For more active traders, its new ECN account can be more attractive, with effective costs around 1.1 pips after commissions. IFC Markets also stands out for charging no inactivity fee and offering active trader discounts, which may help lower overall costs for frequent traders.

In simple terms, neither broker is the cheapest choice, but both can work for traders who value specific account features. OANDA may suit those who want very small trade sizes and transparent spread tracking, while IFC Markets may appeal to active traders looking for ECN pricing and no inactivity fee. Overall, OANDA has a slight edge in the ranking, but the two brokers are close on fees.

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.

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Range of investments

When it comes to range of investments, OANDA gives traders more choice than IFC Markets. Both brokers offer forex trading, copy trading, and cryptocurrency CFDs, and both let clients trade shares on international exchanges. However, OANDA lists far more tradeable symbols overall, with 4,172 compared with IFC Markets’ 630, and it also offers more forex pairs, with 69 versus 49.

OANDA also stands out for allowing clients to buy actual U.S.-listed shares and real cryptocurrency, while IFC Markets does not offer either of those. In contrast, IFC Markets does not match OANDA’s broader asset selection. These differences help explain why OANDA is rated higher for Range of Investments, at 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranked #20 out of 36 brokers, while IFC Markets is rated 3.5 stars and ranked #31.

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

OANDA and IFC Markets both give traders a wide set of platform choices, including free demo accounts for practice, their own in-house platform, web-based trading, and Windows desktop downloads. Each also supports MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, along with copy trading and the ability to place trades directly from a chart. In short, both brokers cover the main tools most everyday traders look for, whether they want to trade in a browser, on a computer, or through a familiar third-party platform.

Where they differ is in overall standing: both are rated 4 out of 5 stars for Trading Platforms and Tools, but OANDA ranks higher at #16 out of 36 brokers, while IFC Markets sits at #29. Based on this category alone, OANDA has the edge in independent rankings, even though the two brokers offer very similar platform and tool features for trading.

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 make it easy to trade on the go with iPhone and Android apps, plus price alerts, 30 technical studies, trendline drawing, and auto-saving chart drawings. For everyday mobile trading features, the two brokers are closely matched, so either platform gives traders the basics they need to monitor markets and manage trades from a phone.

The main difference is in watchlist syncing and overall app quality. IFC Markets lets watchlists sync between its mobile app and online account, while OANDA does not. Even so, OANDA comes out ahead in overall mobile trading app ratings, earning 5 stars and a #7 ranking out of 36 brokers, compared with IFC Markets’ 4 stars and #34 ranking. If mobile app performance is a top priority, OANDA has the edge, while IFC Markets stands out for watchlist syncing.

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

When it comes to market research, OANDA has a clear edge over IFC Markets. Both brokers offer daily market commentary, a sentiment tool that shows long-versus-short positioning, and an economic calendar for tracking major global events. However, OANDA goes further by providing forex news from top sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, plus Autochartist-based research tools, while IFC Markets does not include those extras.

This difference is reflected in independent ratings as well. OANDA earns 5 stars for Research and ranks #4 out of 36 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while IFC Markets is rated 3.5 stars and ranks #30. For traders who want more market insight and third-party research support, OANDA offers the stronger research package.

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

For beginners looking for education, OANDA has the edge over IFC Markets. OANDA offers forex and CFD learning material, monthly online webinars, and plenty of beginner-focused videos, along with advanced videos for traders who want to keep learning. It also stands out with a 5-star Education rating and a #18 ranking out of 36 brokers from ForexBrokers.com, which points to a stronger overall learning setup.

IFC Markets also gives new traders a solid starting point, with at least 10 beginner videos and 10 advanced videos available. However, it does not offer monthly educational webinars and does not appear to meet the same minimum standard for forex or CFD education content as OANDA. With a 3.5-star Education rating and a #25 ranking out of 36, IFC Markets is better suited for basic self-study, while OANDA offers a more complete learning experience for beginners.

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 92 73
Range of Investments 4.5/5 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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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 4.5/5 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 92 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 92 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 1
Tier-2 Licenses info 0 0
Tier-3 Licenses info 0 0
Tier-4 Licenses info 1 5
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 CMA 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 4.5/5 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 92 73
Winner check_circle
Review OANDA Review
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