Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of PU Prime 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.
PU Prime and IFC Markets are both private online brokers, not publicly traded companies and not banks. PU Prime was founded in 2015, while IFC Markets started in 2006. In terms of regulation, each broker holds one Tier-1 license, which ForexBrokers.com classifies as highly trusted. PU Prime also holds two Tier-2 licenses, while IFC Markets holds none.
Based on ForexBrokers.com’s Trust Score scale, PU Prime’s score of 79 places it in the average risk range, while IFC Markets’ score of 73 also falls in the average risk range. For traders comparing broker safety and oversight, PU Prime has a slight edge on regulation due to its additional Tier-2 licenses, though both brokers remain in the same Trust Score band.
| Feature |
PU Prime
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2015 | 2006 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 5 |
PU Prime is the better pick on price overall, especially for traders who want lower trading costs and more choice in how fees are charged. It offers four account types: Standard and Cent keep costs inside the spread with no separate commission, while Prime and ECN use tighter starting spreads from 0.0 pips plus a commission per trade. The cheapest commission setup is the ECN account at $1 per side per standard lot, though it requires a much higher $10,000 minimum deposit. PU Prime is rated 4.0 out of 5 stars for commissions and fees and is ranked #22 out of 36 brokers by ForexBrokers.com.
IFC Markets is still competitive, but its pricing is a bit less attractive for most traders. The average spread on EUR/USD is 1.44 pips, which is higher than the industry average, although active traders may get better value from the broker’s ECN account, where the effective spread is around 1.1 pips after commission. On the plus side, IFC Markets does not charge inactivity fees and offers active trader discounts, which may help lower overall costs for frequent traders. IFC Markets is rated 4 out of 5 stars for commissions and fees and is ranked #34 out of 36 brokers.
In simple terms, PU Prime has the edge if you want more low-cost account options and lower commission rates, while IFC Markets may appeal if you value no inactivity fee and occasional discounts. For most cost-conscious traders, PU Prime comes out ahead in this comparison.
| Feature |
PU Prime
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $50.00 | $1 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Spread-only account | 1.3 | 1.44 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | 0.9 | 1.1 |
| Non-wire bank transfer (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | 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, PU Prime has the edge over IFC Markets. PU Prime offers 1,000 tradeable symbols and 55 forex pairs, compared with IFC Markets’ 630 symbols and 49 forex pairs. Both brokers support forex trading as CFDs or spot contracts, and both offer copy trading and cryptocurrency CFDs. Neither broker lets clients buy actual cryptocurrency, and neither provides U.S.-listed exchange traded securities such as Apple shares.
One key difference is that IFC Markets offers exchange traded securities on international exchanges, while PU Prime does not. That gives IFC Markets a bit more access to real shares outside the U.S., even though PU Prime still leads on overall market choice. Reflecting this, PU Prime is rated 4.0 out of 5 for Range of Investments and ranks #29 out of 36 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while IFC Markets is rated 3.5 out of 5 and ranks #33.
| Feature |
PU Prime
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1000 | 630 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 55 | 49 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | 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.
PU Prime and IFC Markets both give traders a wide set of platform choices, including free demo accounts, Windows desktop downloads, web-based trading, copy trading, MetaTrader 4, and MetaTrader 5. Each broker also lets users trade directly from charts, which can be helpful for faster order entry. The main difference is that IFC Markets adds its own in-house platform, while PU Prime does not offer a proprietary platform.
For trading tools, both brokers appear evenly matched in the features listed here, though the available details on indicators and watch list columns are not provided. In ratings, PU Prime scores slightly higher with 4.0 out of 5 stars for Trading Platforms and Tools, compared with IFC Markets at 4.0 stars. However, on ForexBrokers.com’s ranking out of 36 brokers, PU Prime places better at #25, while IFC Markets ranks #32.
| Feature |
PU Prime
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | No | 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) | 87 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
PU Prime and IFC Markets both offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, and each app supports price alerts, trendline drawing, and auto-saving chart drawings. That means traders can check markets and manage basic chart work on the go with either broker. Both platforms are also rated 4.0 out of 5 stars for mobile trading apps, so they sit at the same general quality level in user ratings.
The main difference comes down to deeper app features. IFC Markets stands out because its watchlists sync between the mobile app and online account, while PU Prime does not offer that feature. IFC Markets also gives traders more charting tools, with 30 technical studies compared with PU Prime’s 14. Even so, PU Prime ranks better overall in ForexBrokers.com’s mobile trading app category, coming in at #27 out of 36 brokers, versus IFC Markets at #37.
| Feature |
PU Prime
|
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 | 14 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
PU Prime and IFC Markets both give traders daily market commentary and an economic calendar, so each platform covers the basics needed to follow news and upcoming events. Neither broker includes forex news feeds from major providers like Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones, and neither offers research from TipRanks or Acuity Trading.
The bigger difference is in the extra research tools. PU Prime includes Autochartist and Trading Central, which can help traders spot chart patterns and get technical ideas, while IFC Markets does not offer those tools. IFC Markets, however, does provide a sentiment tool that shows the long and short position mix across instruments, which PU Prime does not. Both brokers are rated 3.5 out of 5 stars for research, though IFC Markets is ranked #33 out of 36 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, while PU Prime is not ranked in this category.
| Feature |
PU Prime
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | No |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
| Trading Central | Yes | No |
| Client sentiment data | No | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
For beginners looking for learning materials, PU Prime and IFC Markets both offer a similar overall education score, each rated 3.5 out of 5 stars by ForexBrokers.com. They also both provide at least 10 beginner videos and 10 advanced videos, so traders can find content whether they are just starting out or already have some experience. IFC Markets has a slight edge in the Education ranking, placing #26 out of 36 brokers, compared with PU Prime at #29.
The main difference is in live learning support. PU Prime offers online educational client webinars at least once a month, which can be helpful for beginners who want guided lessons and the chance to learn from market experts in real time. IFC Markets does not offer monthly educational webinars, so while it still provides forex or CFDs education and video content, PU Prime may be the better fit for new traders who prefer more direct, ongoing teaching.
| Feature |
PU Prime
|
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 PU Prime is better than IFC Markets. PU Prime finished with an overall rank of #34, while IFC Markets finished with an overall rank of #36.
PU Prime has spreads from 0.0 pips plus a separate commission on its Prime and ECN accounts, which require deposits of $1,000 and $10,000. Traders can choose MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, or PU Prime’s own web and mobile platforms, both with built-in copy trading. Research is limited beyond Autochartist.
| Feature |
PU Prime
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IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
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| Trust Score | 79 | 73 |
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PU Prime and IFC Markets both do not offer delivered cryptocurrency purchases, but each does provide cryptocurrency CFDs for traders looking to speculate on digital asset price movements without owning the underlying coins.
When comparing PU Prime vs IFC Markets for deposits and withdrawals, PU Prime offers more payment flexibility with ACH or SEPA transfers, Skrill, and bank wires, while IFC Markets supports bank wires only, and neither broker offers PayPal or clearly lists Visa/Mastercard availability here.
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 | PU Prime | IFC Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 79 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | PU Prime Review |
| Broker Screenshots | PU Prime | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
| Regulation | PU Prime | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 79 | 73 | |
| Year Founded | 2015 | 2006 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | No | ||
| Tier-1 Licenses | 1 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 5 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | PU Prime | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | ||
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | ||
| Japan (FSA Authorised) | No | ||
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | No | ||
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | No | ||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | No | ||
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | No | ||
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | ||
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | No |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | PU Prime | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | ||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | ||
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or CMA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | ||
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No |
| Investments | PU Prime | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1000 | 630 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 55 | 49 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | 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 | PU Prime | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Spread-only account | 1.3 | 1.44 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | 0.9 | 1.1 | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | ||
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes |
| Funding | PU Prime | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $50.00 | $1 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | PU Prime | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | No | 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 | PU Prime | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 87 | 30 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | PU Prime | 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 | 14 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | PU Prime | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | No | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | No | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | PU Prime | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | PU Prime | 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 | PU Prime Review |
| Overall | PU Prime | IFC Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 79 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | PU Prime Review |
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