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 |
When it comes to commissions and fees, OANDA and IFC Markets are fairly close, but neither is a top low-cost choice. OANDA’s trading costs are usually on the high side, especially on its default pricing, though its core pricing can be a better deal for larger trades if you can meet the $10,000 minimum deposit. OANDA earns 4 out of 5 stars for commissions and fees and is ranked #32 out of 36 brokers by ForexBrokers.com.
OANDA’s main pricing is based on spreads, and its EUR/USD average spread was 1.61 pips in July 2024. Its core account lowers spreads but adds a commission of $5 per $100,000 traded per side, which works out to about $10 per round turn standard lot. OANDA also stands out for tiny trade sizes, with a minimum of just 1 unit, and it offers volume rebates for active traders in some regions.
IFC Markets is also rated 4 out of 5 stars for commissions and fees, but it ranks slightly lower at #34 out of 36. Its average EUR/USD spread is 1.44 pips, which is above the industry average of 1.08 pips, though its ECN account can bring effective costs down to around 1.1 pips after commission. IFC Markets may appeal more to active traders thanks to no inactivity fee and available trading discounts.
| Feature |
OANDA
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $1 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Spread-only account | 1.68 | 1.44 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | 1.69 | 1.1 |
| Non-wire bank transfer (Deposit/Withdraw) | 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 it comes to range of investments, OANDA offers more choice than IFC Markets. OANDA lists 4,172 tradeable symbols and 69 forex pairs, compared with 630 symbols and 49 forex pairs at IFC Markets. Both brokers support forex trading as CFDs or spot contracts, and both offer copy trading plus cryptocurrency CFDs. However, OANDA goes further by also letting clients buy actual, delivered cryptocurrency, while IFC Markets does not.
OANDA also stands out for access to exchange traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges, while IFC Markets only offers these on international markets. Based on this wider selection, OANDA is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars for Range of Investments and ranks 20th out of 36 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, versus IFC Markets at 3.5 stars and 33rd place.
| 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, a web-based platform, copy trading, MetaTrader 4, and MetaTrader 5. Each also lets users place trades directly from charts, which can be helpful for quicker order entry and easier decision-making. In other words, both brokers cover the main platform needs that many beginners and active traders look for.
Where they differ is in independent ratings and rankings. Both OANDA and IFC Markets receive 4 out of 5 stars for Trading Platforms and Tools, but OANDA is ranked higher by ForexBrokers.com at #16 out of 36 brokers, compared with IFC Markets at #32. That suggests OANDA has a slight edge overall in this category, even though both brokers offer a similar set of trading tools and platform 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, along with stock and forex price alerts. Each app also includes 30 technical studies, trendline drawing, and auto-saving of chart drawings, so traders can track and mark up charts while on the go. For everyday mobile use, both brokers cover the core features most traders look for in a trading app.
The biggest difference is watchlist syncing: IFC Markets lets users sync watchlists between the mobile app and online account, while OANDA does not. OANDA also stands out more strongly in overall mobile app quality, earning a 5-star rating and ranking #7 out of 36 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, compared with IFC Markets’ 4-star rating and #37 ranking. If watchlist syncing matters most, IFC Markets has the edge; if overall mobile app performance is the priority, OANDA comes out ahead.
| 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.
When it comes to market research, OANDA and IFC Markets both give traders daily market commentary, a sentiment tool showing long and short positions, and an economic calendar for tracking upcoming global events. However, OANDA has a clear edge in research depth because it also provides forex news from major sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, plus tools from Autochartist for chart and pattern analysis. IFC Markets does not offer those top-tier news feeds or Autochartist tools, which may matter for traders who want more outside analysis and trade ideas.
That difference shows in independent ratings as well. OANDA is rated 5 stars for research and ranks #4 out of 36 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while IFC Markets is rated 3.5 stars and ranks #33. In simple terms, both brokers cover the basics well, but OANDA gives users a stronger research setup overall.
| 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 to learn forex and CFD trading, OANDA has the stronger education offering compared with IFC Markets. OANDA provides at least 10 forex or CFD education pieces, monthly online educational webinars, and more than 10 beginner videos as well as more than 10 advanced videos. That depth is reflected in its 5-star Education rating and its #18 ranking out of 36 brokers for Education. IFC Markets also offers at least 10 beginner and 10 advanced trading videos, but it does not provide monthly educational webinars and its overall Education score is lower, at 3.5 stars, with a #26 ranking out of 36.
In simple terms, OANDA gives new traders more ways to learn, especially through live webinars and a wider range of learning materials. IFC Markets still offers helpful video content for both beginners and more experienced traders, but it appears to provide fewer learning options overall. If education is a key factor, OANDA is the better pick for beginners who want more support as they get started.
| 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 #14, while IFC Markets finished with an overall rank of #36.
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) - Spread-only account | 1.68 | 1.44 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | 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 (Deposit/Withdraw) | 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 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| 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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