OANDA vs IFC Markets 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.
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.
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.
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 |
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1996 | 2006 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 0 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
OANDA and IFC Markets both earn 4 out of 5 stars for commissions and fees, but they rank differently: OANDA is #35 of 63, while IFC Markets is #40 of 63. OANDA’s standard spreads are on the higher side, averaging 1.61 pips on EUR/USD (July 2024). Its Core pricing lowers the spread to around 0.4 pips but adds a $5 per side commission per $100,000 traded (about $10 per round turn), bringing the all-in cost to roughly 1.4 pips—slightly cheaper than OANDA’s default pricing, though it requires a $10,000 minimum deposit. By comparison, IFC Markets lists an average EUR/USD spread of 1.44 pips (above the 1.08 industry average), and its ECN account can deliver about 1.1 pips effective cost after a 0.005% commission on both sides.
Beyond headline spreads, OANDA allows ultra-small trade sizes (down to 1 unit) and offers volume-based rebates of $5–$17 per million in select regions, plus TradingView subscription reimbursements. It also publishes trailing average spreads to aid pricing transparency, though not on a fixed time window. IFC Markets stands out with no inactivity fees and adds active-trader discounts, which can help frequent traders manage costs.
Bottom line: If you can meet OANDA’s $10,000 minimum, its Core pricing narrows the gap and can undercut its own standard pricing, but IFC Markets’ ECN option may be cheaper for active traders at around 1.1 pips effective cost. Ratings and rankings for commissions and fees: OANDA — 4/5 stars, ranked #35 of 63; IFC Markets — 4/5 stars, ranked #40 of 63.
| Feature |
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $1 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.69 | 1.44 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.69 | 1.1 |
| Non-wire bank transfer | 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.
OANDA vs IFC Markets: For range of investments, OANDA lists 4,172 tradeable symbols and 69 forex pairs, while IFC Markets offers 630 symbols and 49 pairs. Both let you trade forex as CFDs or spot. According to ForexBrokers.com, OANDA earns 4/5 stars and ranks 28th out of 63 brokers for Range of Investments; IFC Markets scores 3.5/5 stars and ranks 44th.
Asset access differs: OANDA provides exchange-traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges, whereas IFC Markets offers exchange-traded shares only on international markets, not U.S. listings. For crypto, OANDA supports both real (delivered) cryptocurrencies and crypto CFDs; IFC Markets limits crypto to CFDs. Both support copy trading. If you want the widest symbol count, U.S. share access, and the option to own crypto directly, OANDA has the edge. If you mainly need international shares and CFD-based crypto with fewer markets, IFC Markets can fit.
| Feature |
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 4172 | 630 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 69 | 49 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | 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.
OANDA and IFC Markets both check the big boxes for trading platforms and tools. Each broker offers a free demo (paper) account, a proprietary platform, and support for Windows desktop downloads and web-based trading. If you prefer MetaTrader, both work with MT4 and MT5, and they also support copy trading. Active chartists can place trades straight from charts on either broker’s platforms.
Where they differ most is how they stack up in independent reviews: both earn 4 out of 5 stars for Trading Platforms and Tools, but OANDA ranks #15 of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while IFC Markets sits at #37. Exact counts of built-in technical indicators and watch list fields weren’t specified, yet feature coverage is comparable overall—making OANDA a slightly stronger pick if third-party rankings matter to you, and IFC Markets a practical alternative with the same platform categories.
| Feature |
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | 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) | 89 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
OANDA and IFC Markets both deliver full-featured mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android. Each app supports forex and CFD trading with price alerts, 30 built-in technical studies, trendline drawing, and auto-saving of chart annotations. If you need solid charting and alerts on the go, both brokers check those boxes.
Key differences show up in syncing and ratings. IFC Markets offers watchlist syncing between the mobile app and the web platform, while OANDA does not. However, OANDA earns higher marks overall: it’s rated 5 stars and ranked #7 out of 63 brokers for Mobile Trading Apps by ForexBrokers.com, compared with IFC Markets at 4 stars and #53. Choose IFC Markets if cross-device watchlist syncing is a must; pick OANDA if you want a higher-rated mobile trading experience.
| Feature |
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | No | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
Both OANDA and IFC Markets publish daily market commentary and include an economic calendar and a sentiment tool that shows long and short positions. The key differences are in depth and sources: OANDA provides forex news from top-tier outlets such as Bloomberg and Reuters, while IFC Markets does not. OANDA also offers Autochartist research tools; neither broker includes Trading Central, TipRanks, or Acuity Trading.
According to ForexBrokers.com, OANDA earns 5 stars for Research and ranks #4 out of 63 brokers, while IFC Markets scores 3.5 stars and ranks #41. If you want richer in-platform research—especially real-time news and Autochartist analysis—OANDA is the stronger pick. If you mainly need daily commentary, sentiment data, and an economic calendar, IFC Markets covers the basics.
| Feature |
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
| Trading Central | No | 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 comparing OANDA and IFC Markets on education, both brokers deliver plenty of forex and CFD learning materials, including at least 10 beginner videos and at least 10 advanced videos. The key difference is live instruction: OANDA hosts client webinars at least once a month, while IFC Markets does not. If you learn best with real-time Q&A and scheduled sessions, OANDA’s regular webinars can make it easier to build skills step by step.
Quality ratings back up that edge. OANDA earns 5 stars for Education and ranks #19 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, whereas IFC Markets scores 3.5 stars and ranks #30. Choose OANDA if you want top-rated education with ongoing webinars; pick IFC Markets if you prefer self-paced video learning and don’t need live classes.
| Feature |
|
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 OANDA is better than IFC Markets. OANDA finished with an overall rank of #12, while IFC Markets finished with an overall rank of #45.
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 |
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
|
| Trust Score | 93 | 73 |
| Range of Investments |
|
|
| Commissions & Fees |
|
|
| Platforms & Tools |
|
|
| Research |
|
|
| Mobile Trading |
|
|
| Education |
|
|
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.
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.
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.
Select Brokers
↓×Compare
0 of 5| Overall Rating | OANDA | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Commissions & Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Platforms & Tools |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 93 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | OANDA Review |
| Broker Screenshots | OANDA | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
| Regulation | OANDA | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 93 | 73 | |
| Year Founded | 1996 | 2006 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | ||
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 0 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | OANDA | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | ||
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | |||
| 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) | OANDA | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | ||
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | No | ||
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | ||
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | OANDA | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 4172 | 630 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 69 | 49 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | 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 | OANDA | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.69 | 1.44 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.69 | 1.1 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | No | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | OANDA | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $1 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | OANDA | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | 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 | OANDA | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 89 | 30 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | OANDA | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | OANDA | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | OANDA | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | OANDA | 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 | OANDA Review |
| Overall | OANDA | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Commissions & Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Platforms & Tools |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 93 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | OANDA Review |