Written by ForexBrokers.com
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.
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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
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1996 | 2006 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 5 |
OANDA and IFC Markets are fairly close when it comes to commissions and fees, and both earn 4 out of 5 stars in this category. OANDA is ranked #31 out of 36 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, while IFC Markets is slightly lower at #33 out of 36. In plain terms, neither broker is a bargain leader, but both can work for traders who value their account features and execution style.
OANDA’s trading costs are generally on the high side. Its regular pricing had an average EUR/USD spread of 1.61 pips in July 2024, and its core pricing can be cheaper only after adding a commission of $5 per $100,000 traded per side, which works out to about $10 per round turn on a standard lot. OANDA does offer very small trade sizes, rebate programs for active traders in some regions, and some pricing transparency, but its overall fees still tend to be higher than the best low-cost brokers.
IFC Markets is also not among the cheapest brokers, though its pricing can be a bit easier to manage for active traders. Its average EUR/USD spread is 1.44 pips, and its ECN account can bring the effective spread down to about 1.1 pips after commission. A plus for IFC Markets is that it does not charge inactivity fees, and it offers active trader discounts. For traders comparing the two mainly on cost, IFC Markets may have a slight edge in some cases, but neither broker stands out as a low-fee leader.
| Feature |
OANDA
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $1 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.68 | 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.
When comparing OANDA and IFC Markets for range of investments, OANDA offers the wider selection overall. OANDA provides 4,172 tradeable symbols and 69 forex pairs, while IFC Markets offers 630 symbols and 49 forex pairs. Both brokers support forex trading as a CFD or spot contract, copy trading, international exchange-traded securities, and cryptocurrency CFDs, but OANDA goes further by also offering U.S. exchange-traded shares and the ability to buy actual cryptocurrency.
That added variety helps explain why OANDA scores higher for range of investments, with 4.5 out of 5 stars and a #20 ranking out of 36 brokers from ForexBrokers.com. IFC Markets is rated 3.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #32 out of 36. If you want a broker with more choices across stocks, forex, and crypto, OANDA has the broader lineup.
| Feature |
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). |
Dive deeper: Best Copy Trading Platforms.
OANDA and IFC Markets both give traders a wide range of platform choices, including a free demo account, a proprietary platform, Windows desktop software, and a browser-based platform. Each broker also supports copy trading, MetaTrader 4, and MetaTrader 5, plus the ability to place trades directly from a chart. That makes both options easy to use for beginners while still offering tools that more active traders may want.
When it comes to Trading Platforms and Tools, both brokers are rated 4 out of 5 stars. However, OANDA has the stronger ranking with ForexBrokers.com, placing #16 out of 36 brokers, while IFC Markets ranks #30. For traders comparing platform quality and trading tools, OANDA appears to have a slight edge, even though both brokers cover many of the same core features.
| Feature |
OANDA
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, and each app includes price alerts, 30 technical studies, trendline drawing, and auto-saving for chart drawings. That means traders can monitor markets and work on charts from either device with a similar set of core tools. The main difference is watchlist syncing: IFC Markets lets watchlists sync between the mobile app and online account, while OANDA does not.
When it comes to overall mobile app quality, OANDA comes out ahead. It is rated 5 out of 5 stars for Mobile Trading Apps and ranks #7 out of 36 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, while IFC Markets is rated 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #35. For traders who care most about app performance and user experience, OANDA has the edge, although IFC Markets still covers the basics well.
| Feature |
OANDA
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| 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.
OANDA and IFC Markets both give traders daily market commentary, a sentiment tool for gauging long and short positions, and an economic calendar for tracking upcoming global events. That said, OANDA stands out for its wider research coverage, including forex news from major sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones, plus technical and fundamental tools from Autochartist. IFC Markets does not offer those same extra news and research resources.
In independent testing, OANDA also scores higher for market research, earning 5 out of 5 stars and ranking #4 out of 36 brokers at ForexBrokers.com. IFC Markets receives 3.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #31 out of 36. For traders who want more third-party news and analysis tools, OANDA has the edge in research.
| Feature |
OANDA
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 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
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 #13, while IFC Markets finished with an overall rank of #34.
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
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IFC Markets
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| Trust Score | 92 | 73 |
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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.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | OANDA | IFC Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 92 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | OANDA Review |
| Broker Screenshots | OANDA | IFC Markets | |
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| Regulation | OANDA | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 92 | 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 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 5 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | OANDA | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | ||
| Japan (FSA 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 CMA 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 | 1.68 | 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 | |
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| Trust Score | 92 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | OANDA Review |
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