Written by ForexBrokers.com
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 |
Questrade
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Questrade offers a trading environment with target spreads on the popular EUR/USD currency pair starting at 1.9 pips. This rate is notably steeper when compared to the industry average, potentially leading to higher trading costs for clients. In terms of overall value, Questrade holds a rating of 3 out of 5 stars in commissions and fees, positioned at a relatively low #58 ranking among 63 brokers evaluated by ForexBrokers.com.
IFC Markets, on the other hand, provides a more competitive offering for the EUR/USD with an average spread of 1.44 pips. While higher than the industry benchmark of 1.08 pips, IFC Markets introduces cost-effective solutions for active traders through its ECN account, which achieves effective spreads of 1.1 pips after including the 0.005% commission per trade side. Additional benefits such as zero inactivity fees and active trader discounts further enhance its appeal. Achieving a 4-star rating, IFC Markets ranks at #39 among 63 brokers in the same category.
| Feature |
Questrade
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $250 | $1 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | N/A | 1.44 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | 1.1 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | Yes |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
Questrade and IFC Markets both offer a broad range of investment opportunities, catering to diverse trading needs. Questrade impresses with a total of 641 tradeable symbols, including 110 forex pairs. It allows clients to access exchange-traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges, like Apple and Vodafone, respectively. Although Questrade does not provide a platform for copy trading, it supports cryptocurrency derivatives for those interested in crypto investments, albeit not as actual coins.
IFC Markets, with its 630 tradeable symbols, puts a strong emphasis on forex trading with 49 available pairs. While it doesn't provide access to U.S. exchange-traded securities like Apple, it does allow trading of international securities. Unlike Questrade, IFC Markets does cater to those interested in copy trading, broadening investment strategies for its users. Both platforms offer cryptocurrency derivatives, keeping up with the evolving digital currency market. In terms of ratings, Questrade outshines with a 5-star rating and an 11th place ranking by ForexBrokers.com, compared to IFC Markets' 3.5-star rating and 43rd place ranking.
| Feature |
Questrade
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 641 | 630 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 110 | 49 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | No | No |
| Cryptocurrency (Derivative) | Yes | Yes |
| Disclaimers |
Dive deeper: Best Copy Trading Platforms.
When comparing Questrade and IFC Markets' trading platforms and tools, both brokers offer free virtual demo accounts, which are valuable for beginners to practice trading without financial risk. Each broker boasts a proprietary platform, giving users a unique experience tailored to their respective ecosystems. They both support Windows-based desktop and web-based trading platforms, ensuring accessibility from various devices. However, Questrade lacks support for popular platforms like MetaTrader 4 and 5, which IFC Markets provides, making IFC a preferred choice for those seeking to use these widely utilized platforms. Questrade offers template-based trading through DupliTrade, while IFC Markets supports copy trading, a feature Questrade lacks. Neither broker integrates with ZuluTrade, but both enable trading directly from stock charts.
For charting tools, Questrade takes the lead with 20 drawing tools compared to IFC Markets' 15. Additionally, Questrade provides 52 columns for watch lists, significantly more than IFC's 7, giving traders more ways to customize and monitor their investments. Despite these differences, both Questrade and IFC Markets earn a 4-star rating for their trading platforms and tools. According to ForexBrokers.com, Questrade ranks slightly higher at #34 compared to IFC's #36 among 63 brokers, reflecting their close performance in this category. Overall, while both brokers cater well to different trading needs, Questrade may appeal more to those seeking customization, whereas IFC Markets offers broader platform compatibility.
| Feature |
Questrade
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes |
| DupliTrade | Yes | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 64 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 20 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 52 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Both Questrade and IFC Markets provide comprehensive mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android users, ensuring accessibility on the go. Each app offers essential features such as real-time price alerts for stocks and forex, and the capability to create watchlists that sync with their web platforms. They also allow traders to draw trendlines, view multiple time frames on charts, and automatically save drawings for seamless analysis. Questrade, however, stands out by offering 64 technical studies in its charting tools compared to IFC Markets' 30, giving users a wider array of analytical options.
In terms of user ratings and industry rankings, both platforms received four out of five stars for their mobile app experiences. However, according to ForexBrokers.com, Questrade is ranked 34 out of 63 brokers, while IFC Markets is positioned at 52. This suggests that while both apps are well-regarded, Questrade may be slightly more favored among users for its mobile trading intricacies and features.
| Feature |
Questrade
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 64 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When comparing Questrade and IFC Markets for market research, both platforms offer distinct features. IFC Markets provides daily market commentary and a sentiment-based trading tool that reveals the ratio of long or short positions, giving users timely insights for trading decisions. On the other hand, Questrade excels in offering tools from Autochartist and Trading Central, like technical analysis solutions, which cater to traders who rely on sophisticated analysis methods. Both brokers provide users with an economic calendar to track global news events, proving valuable for keeping up with market shifts. However, neither offers forex news from leading sources such as Bloomberg or Reuters, nor do they provide tools from Acuity Trading.
In terms of ratings and rankings, both Questrade and IFC Markets receive a 3.5-star rating for their research offerings. However, IFC Markets holds a slight edge in the rankings by ForexBrokers.com, standing at #40 out of 63 brokers, compared to Questrade's position at #51. This suggests that while both platforms have a fair offering in market research, IFC Markets may provide a better overall experience based on expert rankings.
| Feature |
Questrade
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | No | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | No |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | No |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | No | Yes |
| TipRanks | Yes | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When comparing the educational resources offered by Questrade and IFC Markets for beginners, both platforms provide ample introductory materials. Questrade equips learners with over 10 educational pieces focused on forex and CFDs, alongside a collection of beginner-friendly videos on trading topics. They also maintain a searchable archive of recorded webinars to reinforce learning. However, Questrade's resources for advanced traders are somewhat limited, and they do not host regular educational webinars or provide an investor dictionary with defined terms for users.
IFC Markets matches Questrade's commitment to forex and CFD education with a similar number of educational pieces and beginner educational videos. Unlike Questrade, IFC Markets extends its offerings with advanced videos aimed at experienced traders and an investor dictionary featuring over 50 investment terms. Despite these advantages, IFC Markets lacks a searchable webinar archive and, like Questrade, does not offer regular educational webinars. Both brokers hold a similar educational rating of 3.5 stars, with IFC Markets ranked slightly higher by ForexBrokers.com at #30 compared to Questrade's #36.
| Feature |
Questrade
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | No | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | No | Yes |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | 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 #32, while IFC Markets finished with an overall rank of #45.
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.
| Feature |
Questrade
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
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| Trust Score | 86 | 73 |
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Both Questrade and IFC Markets do not provide the option to buy actual delivered cryptocurrency but do offer the ability to purchase cryptocurrency derivatives, allowing traders to engage in cryptocurrency trading without owning the actual assets.
Both Questrade and IFC Markets provide Visa or Mastercard and bank wire options for depositing or withdrawing funds, but neither broker supports ACH, SEPA, PayPal, or Skrill for transactions.
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 | |
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| 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 | 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) | No | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | No | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | No | No | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | No | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | No | No |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Questrade | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | No | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | Questrade | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 641 | 630 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 110 | 49 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | No | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (Derivative) | Yes | Yes | |
| Disclaimers |
| Cost | Questrade | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | N/A | 1.44 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | 1.1 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | No | Yes |
| Funding | Questrade | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $250 | $1 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | Questrade | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | Yes | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Questrade | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 52 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 64 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 20 | 15 | |
| 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 Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 64 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Questrade | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | No | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | No | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | Yes | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | No | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Questrade | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | No | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | No | Yes | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | No | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Questrade | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/JPY | Yes | Yes | |
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CAD | Yes | Yes | |
| NZD/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| AUD/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| Review | Questrade Review |
| Overall | Questrade | IFC Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 86 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Questrade Review |
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