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OANDA vs IFC Markets 2025

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 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 OANDA logoOANDA
IFC Markets logoIFC Markets
Minimum Deposit info $0 $1
Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account info 1.69 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 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 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 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 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 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 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

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 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 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 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 #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 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
Commissions & Fees 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Platforms & Tools 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.




announcementPlease 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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Compare

0 of 5
Overall Rating OANDA IFC Markets
Overall Rating info 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Commissions & Fees 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Range of Investments 4/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Platforms & Tools 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
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 (SFC 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 1.69 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
Commissions & Fees 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Range of Investments 4/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Platforms & Tools 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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