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.
Questrade (founded 2000) and IFC Markets (founded 2006) are online brokers that are privately held and not banks. Each holds one Tier-1 regulatory license (highly trusted by ForexBrokers.com) and no Tier-2 licenses.
On ForexBrokers.com’s Trust Score, Questrade earns 85/99 (trusted), while IFC Markets earns 73/99 (average risk). With the same number of top-tier licenses but a higher Trust Score, Questrade edges IFC Markets on overall regulatory standing.
| Feature |
Questrade
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2000 | 2006 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 5 |
Comparing commissions and fees, IFC Markets slightly edges out Questrade. IFC Markets earns 4/5 stars and ranks 32nd out of 63 brokers for Commissions and Fees, while Questrade scores 3.5/5 stars and ranks 33rd out of 63.
Questrade Global uses a spread-only model: your trading cost is built into the bid-ask spread with no separate commission. While Questrade cites spreads as low as 0.8 pips in normal conditions, observed averages on major forex pairs are closer to 2.1–2.5 pips; a typical 2-pip spread is about $20 per standard lot. For CFDs, Questrade adds a $9.95 USD per-unit trading fee when you open and again when you close (about $19.95 round trip), on top of a small spread and any overnight financing. That per-unit charge can make small CFD trades expensive.
IFC Markets lists an average EUR/USD spread of 1.44 pips, which is higher than the industry average of 1.08 pips, but its ECN account improves value for active traders with an effective 1.1 pips after a 0.005% commission on both sides of the trade. The broker also has no inactivity fees and offers active trader discounts. Taken together, IFC Markets can deliver lower ongoing forex costs than Questrade’s typical spread, while Questrade’s simple, spread-only pricing may appeal if you prefer no separate commission—just be mindful of CFD per-unit fees.
| Feature |
Questrade
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $1 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.8 or higher | 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 vs. IFC Markets: For range of investments, both brokers let you trade forex either as CFDs or spot. Questrade lists 675 tradeable symbols and 110 forex pairs, a wider catalog than IFC Markets’ 630 symbols and 49 pairs. Reflecting this breadth, Questrade is rated 5 stars and ranks #12 out of 63 brokers for Range of Investments, while IFC Markets is rated 3.5 stars and ranks #31.
Asset access differs in key ways. Neither broker lets you buy U.S.-listed shares as actual exchange-traded securities, but only IFC Markets offers international exchange-traded shares. IFC Markets also supports copy trading and cryptocurrency via CFDs (not actual coins), while Questrade does not offer copy trading or crypto in any form. Choose Questrade if you want more symbols and currency pairs; pick IFC Markets if you value copy trading, crypto CFDs, and access to some international stocks.
| Feature |
Questrade
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 675 | 630 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 110 | 49 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | No |
| Cryptocurrency (CFDs) | No | 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 |
Questrade
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android that cover the essentials: stock and forex price alerts, watchlist syncing with your online account, and charting that supports drawing trendlines with auto-saved annotations. Your lists and chart work follow you from phone to web, so managing positions on the go stays consistent.
If you want more built-in indicators, the Questrade mobile app provides 64 technical studies versus 30 on the IFC Markets app. As for opinions and rankings, Questrade’s app is rated 3.5/5 stars and ranks #28 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while IFC Markets scores 4/5 stars and ranks #34. That means Questrade leads on charting variety, whereas IFC Markets gets the higher user rating; choose based on whether you value deeper chart tools or higher overall app satisfaction.
| Feature |
Questrade
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| 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.
Comparing market research at Questrade and IFC Markets: both earn 3.5 out of 5 stars from ForexBrokers.com, with IFC Markets ranked #30 of 63 and Questrade #34. IFC Markets stands out for day-to-day insights: it provides daily market commentary and an economic calendar, plus a sentiment tool that shows the ratio of long vs. short positions. Questrade does not include daily commentary, a global economic calendar, or a sentiment gauge. Neither broker streams forex news from top-tier sources such as Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones.
On the tools side, Questrade offers technical and research options from Autochartist and Trading Central, and market research from TipRanks. IFC Markets does not provide Autochartist, Trading Central, or TipRanks, and neither broker offers Acuity Trading tools like Signal Centre. Bottom line: choose IFC Markets if you prefer built-in commentary, a calendar, and sentiment to guide your day; pick Questrade if you want third-party technical signals and analyst-style stock insights.
| Feature |
Questrade
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | No | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | No |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
| Trading Central | Yes | No |
| Client sentiment data | No | Yes |
| TipRanks | Yes | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | No | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
Questrade vs IFC Markets for beginner education: IFC Markets clearly leans into video learning, offering at least 10 beginner videos and at least 10 advanced videos on trading topics, while Questrade does not meet those video counts. Neither broker runs monthly client education webinars. The available data doesn’t confirm whether either firm meets the threshold of 10+ forex- or CFD‑focused pieces specifically, so prospective learners should review each broker’s education hub to see how much content targets forex and CFDs.
Both brokers earn 3.5 out of 5 stars for Education, with IFC Markets ranked slightly higher (#25 of 63) than Questrade (#28 of 63) by ForexBrokers.com. If you prefer structured video lessons as a beginner, IFC Markets may feel more complete; Questrade still provides mid-tier education overall but with fewer beginner and advanced videos and no monthly webinars.
| Feature |
Questrade
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | No | No |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | No | 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.
Earning an 85 Trust Score, Questrade Global is a secure, CIRO-regulated platform ideal for Canadians wanting forex and stocks in one place. However, with live EUR/USD spreads going as high as 2.1 to 2.5 pips, cost-conscious day traders might find better value with cheaper alternatives.
| Feature |
Questrade
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IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
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| Trust Score | 85 | 73 |
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Questrade vs IFC Markets: neither broker lets you buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrency, but while Questrade also does not offer cryptocurrency CFDs, IFC Markets does provide crypto CFD 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 | 85 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Questrade Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Questrade | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Regulation | Questrade | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 85 | 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 | 1 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 5 |
| 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 CMA Authorised) | No | ||
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | ||
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No |
| Investments | Questrade | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 675 | 630 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 110 | 49 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (CFDs) | No | Yes | |
| Disclaimers |
| Cost | Questrade | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.8 or higher | 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 | $0 | $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 | No | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | Yes | No | |
| Client sentiment data | No | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | No | Yes |
| Education | Questrade | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | No | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | No | 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 | 85 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Questrade Review |
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