Questrade vs IFC Markets 2025
In this head to head comparison of Questrade 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 Questrade 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.
When comparing Questrade and IFC Markets, both are private online brokers and are not affiliated with any banking institutions. Established in 2000, Questrade holds a strong reputation with two Tier-1 licenses, which are highly trusted, according to ForexBrokers.com. This contributes to its Trust Score of 86, positioning it in the ‘trusted’ category. Meanwhile, IFC Markets, founded in 2006, holds one Tier-2 license, marking it as a ‘trusted’ broker as well, but with a slightly lower Trust Score of 73, indicating an average risk level.
While neither Questrade nor IFC Markets is publicly traded, they each provide robust brokerage services within the market. Questrade's regulatory advantage with Tier-1 licenses gives it a higher trust factor among users seeking a reliable trading partner. IFC Markets, although holding fewer regulatory accolades, remains a viable option for those who weigh trust levels and regulatory standings differently. Overall, potential clients will find distinct differences in their regulatory standings that may influence their decision between these two brokers.
| Feature |
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|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2000 | 2006 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 0 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
Comparing commissions and fees, IFC Markets has a slight edge over Questrade. Questrade’s target spread on EUR/USD is 1.9 pips, which is steep versus the industry average. It earns 3 out of 5 stars for commissions and fees and ranks #33 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com. By contrast, IFC Markets’ average EUR/USD spread is 1.44 pips—still higher than the 1.08-pip industry average, but generally cheaper than Questrade. IFC Markets is rated 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #32 out of 63 for this category.
IFC Markets can be even more cost-friendly for active traders: its new ECN account delivers an effective EUR/USD spread of about 1.1 pips after a 0.005% commission on both sides of a trade. It also charges no inactivity fees and offers active trader discounts. If your goal is to trim trading costs, IFC Markets’ pricing structure may offer better value than Questrade’s higher EUR/USD targets.
| Feature |
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|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $250 | $1 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | N/A | 1.44 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | 1.1 |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
Questrade and IFC Markets both let you trade forex as CFDs or spot. Questrade lists 641 tradable symbols and 110 forex pairs, edging out IFC Markets with 630 symbols and 49 pairs. Questrade also lets you buy actual exchange-traded U.S. stocks and ETFs (like Apple on NASDAQ) and international shares, while IFC Markets does not support real U.S.-listed stocks but does offer some international exchange-traded shares. Both brokers support cryptocurrency CFDs (not actual crypto), and only IFC Markets offers copy trading.
For range of investments, Questrade is rated 5 stars and ranks #12 out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, while IFC Markets holds 3.5 stars and ranks #31. Choose Questrade if access to real U.S. stocks and a larger selection of forex pairs matters most; go with IFC Markets if copy trading is a priority alongside international exchange-traded shares and crypto CFDs.
| Feature |
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|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 641 | 630 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 110 | 49 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | No |
| Cryptocurrency (CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Disclaimers |
Dive deeper: Best Copy Trading Platforms.
Questrade vs IFC Markets: both brokers offer free demo (paper) accounts, in-house trading platforms, and the choice of a Windows desktop download or a web-based platform. Each lets you place trades directly from charts. Key differences: Questrade does not support copy trading or MetaTrader, while IFC Markets offers copy trading and supports MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5). Indicator counts and watchlist column options are not specified and may vary by platform version.
For trading platforms and tools, both earn 4 out of 5 stars. In ForexBrokers.com’s 2024 rankings, Questrade places #28 out of 63 brokers, while IFC Markets follows at #29. If you need MT4/MT5 or copy trading, IFC Markets has the edge; if those aren’t priorities, Questrade’s platform lineup may suit you just as well.
| Feature |
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|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 64 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Questrade and IFC Markets both deliver full-featured mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android. Each supports price alerts and watchlist syncing, so symbols you add or edit on mobile match your online account. Charting tools are well covered on both apps with trendline drawing and auto-saved annotations, making it easy to pick up where you left off across devices.
For technical analysis, Questrade offers 64 built-in studies, while IFC Markets includes 30. Both earn 4 out of 5 stars for Mobile Trading Apps, but Questrade ranks higher in the ForexBrokers.com category (#28 of 63) than IFC Markets (#34 of 63). If deeper chart studies matter to you, Questrade has the edge; otherwise, both apps check the core boxes for on-the-go trading.
| Feature |
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|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 64 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
Questrade and IFC Markets both earn 3.5 stars for research, though IFC Markets ranks slightly higher (#30 of 63) than Questrade (#34 of 63) at ForexBrokers.com. Each broker provides an economic calendar, but their day-to-day insights differ: IFC Markets publishes daily market commentary, while Questrade does not.
For tools, Questrade stands out with Autochartist, Trading Central, and TipRanks, but it lacks a sentiment tool and Acuity Trading. IFC Markets offers a sentiment-based tool, yet does not include Autochartist, Trading Central, TipRanks, or Acuity Trading. Regarding forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones, IFC Markets does not provide it; Questrade’s access to such news isn’t specified. Choose IFC Markets if you value daily commentary and sentiment data, or go with Questrade if Autochartist, Trading Central, and TipRanks are higher on your list.
| Feature |
|
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|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | No | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
| Trading Central | Yes | No |
| Client sentiment data | No | Yes |
| TipRanks | Yes | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
Comparing Questrade and IFC Markets for beginner education, both brokers deliver a solid library of starter videos, with at least 10 beginner-friendly clips that explain trading concepts in plain language. However, neither broker hosts ongoing client webinars each month, so live classroom-style learning isn’t part of the experience. For overall education, both earn 3.5 out of 5 stars.
If you want room to grow beyond the basics, IFC Markets offers at least 10 advanced videos for more experienced traders, while Questrade does not. That extra depth helps IFC Markets edge Questrade in our rankings: IFC Markets is #25 of 63 brokers for Education on ForexBrokers.com, compared to Questrade at #28. In short, both are good for getting started with beginner videos, but IFC Markets provides a clearer path to more advanced learning, and neither broker relies on monthly webinars.
| Feature |
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|---|---|---|
| Webinars | No | No |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | No | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 63 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that Questrade is better than IFC Markets. Questrade finished with an overall rank of #29, while IFC Markets finished with an overall rank of #33.
Regulated in both the U.S. and Canada, Questrade is a trusted full-service multi-asset broker now offering forex and CFDs alongside its stock trading services for active and passive investors. While its scope of educational resources and in-house research is limited, Questrade has an impressive platform lineup.
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| Trust Score | 86 | 73 |
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Questrade vs IFC Markets: neither broker lets you buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrencies, but both offer cryptocurrency CFDs for trading.
Questrade vs IFC Markets: both support bank wire transfers for deposits and withdrawals, neither offers ACH/SEPA, PayPal, or Skrill, and 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 | Questrade | IFC Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 86 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Questrade Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Questrade | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
| Regulation | Questrade | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 86 | 73 | |
| Year Founded | 2000 | 2006 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | No | ||
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 0 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Questrade | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | |||
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | ||
| 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) | Questrade | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | ||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | ||
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | No | ||
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | ||
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No |
| Investments | Questrade | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 641 | 630 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 110 | 49 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Disclaimers |
| Cost | Questrade | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | N/A | 1.44 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | 1.1 | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | No | Yes |
| Funding | Questrade | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $250 | $1 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | Questrade | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Questrade | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 64 | 30 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Questrade | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 64 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Questrade | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | No | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | ||
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | Yes | No | |
| Client sentiment data | No | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Questrade | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | No | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | No | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Questrade | 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 | Questrade Review |
| Overall | Questrade | IFC Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 86 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Questrade Review |