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.
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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 |
If you’re comparing commissions and fees between Questrade and IFC Markets, IFC generally comes out cheaper for forex, especially on its ECN account. Questrade’s target spread on EUR/USD is 1.9 pips, which is high versus typical industry pricing, while IFC Markets lists an average EUR/USD spread of 1.44 pips—still above the 1.08-pip industry average—but it can drop to an effective 1.1 pips with its ECN pricing after commissions.
Questrade: 3 out of 5 stars for commissions and fees, ranked #59 out of 63. With EUR/USD target spreads around 1.9 pips, costs can add up for frequent traders compared with more aggressive pricing found at competitors.
IFC Markets: 4 out of 5 stars for commissions and fees, ranked #40 out of 63. The standard account’s average EUR/USD spread is 1.44 pips, and the ECN account can deliver about 1.1 pips after a 0.005% commission is factored in on each side of the trade. There’s no inactivity fee, and active trader discounts can further improve overall costs.
| Feature |
Questrade
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 vs IFC Markets: For range of investments, Questrade lists 641 tradable symbols and 110 forex pairs, while IFC Markets offers 630 symbols and 49 pairs. Both brokers let you trade forex as CFDs or as spot, and both provide cryptocurrency CFDs (but not actual, delivered crypto). Questrade also lets you buy real exchange-traded securities on U.S. markets like NASDAQ and on international exchanges; IFC Markets does not offer U.S.-listed shares but does offer exchange-traded securities on international exchanges.
If you want the widest selection and access to real stocks, Questrade stands out: it earns 5 stars for Range of Investments and ranks 12th out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com. IFC Markets earns 3.5 stars and ranks 44th, but it adds copy trading (Questrade does not), which may appeal to some traders. Both cover popular CFD markets, including crypto, yet Questrade’s larger symbol list and deeper set of forex pairs make it the more extensive choice overall.
| Feature |
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 |
Dive deeper: Best Copy Trading Platforms.
Questrade and IFC Markets both check key boxes for trading platforms and tools: each offers a free paper (demo) account, a proprietary platform, a Windows desktop download, a web-based platform, and the ability to trade directly from charts. The big differences are add-ons and ecosystem. IFC Markets supports copy trading and gives you access to MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5), while Questrade does not offer copy trading or MetaTrader, focusing instead on its in-house platform experience.
In independent testing by ForexBrokers.com, both brokers earned 4 stars for Trading Platforms and Tools. Questrade ranks #35 out of 63 brokers in this category, while IFC Markets ranks #37. If you want MetaTrader or copy trading, IFC Markets has the edge. If you prefer sticking with a broker’s own platform and still want chart trading plus a demo account to practice, Questrade is a solid fit.
| 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 deliver full-featured mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android. Each app supports stock and forex price alerts and offers watchlist syncing, so changes you make on mobile appear in your online account and vice versa. That makes it easy to track symbols and react to the market wherever you are.
For charting, Questrade provides 64 technical studies, while IFC Markets offers 30. Both apps let you draw trendlines and they auto-save your chart drawings, so your annotations stick. In our ratings, both mobile platforms earn 4 out of 5 stars; however, in ForexBrokers.com’s Mobile Trading Apps category, Questrade ranks #35 out of 63 brokers, compared with IFC Markets at #53. If you want a larger set of indicators, Questrade has the edge, while IFC Markets covers the essentials well.
| 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, Questrade focuses on third‑party tools while IFC Markets delivers more in-house commentary. IFC Markets provides daily market commentary and a sentiment tool that shows long/short ratios—useful for gauging crowd behavior. Questrade does not offer daily commentary or a sentiment tool, and whether it streams top‑tier forex news (Bloomberg/Reuters/Dow Jones) is not specified; IFC Markets does not. Where Questrade shines is in premium research add‑ons: it includes Autochartist and Trading Central, plus TipRanks for stock insights. IFC Markets lacks Autochartist, Trading Central, and TipRanks. Both brokers include an economic calendar, and neither offers Acuity Trading.
Both Questrade and IFC Markets earn 3.5 stars for Research, yet IFC Markets ranks higher overall (#41 of 63) than Questrade (#52 of 63) at ForexBrokers.com. If you value daily commentary and sentiment data, IFC Markets fits better. If you want advanced screening and trade ideas powered by Autochartist, Trading Central, and TipRanks, Questrade is the stronger pick.
| Feature |
Questrade
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| 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.
Questrade vs IFC Markets for beginner education: both brokers offer at least 10 beginner-friendly trading videos, making them solid choices if you’re just starting out. Neither runs monthly live educational webinars. The available info doesn’t confirm whether either broker meets the benchmark of 10 or more forex- and CFD-specific educational pieces (articles, videos, or archived webinars), so their depth in those exact topics is unclear.
For advancing your skills, IFC Markets provides at least 10 advanced trading videos, while Questrade does not. Both earn 3.5 out of 5 stars for education overall, but IFC Markets ranks higher (#30 of 63) than Questrade (#36 of 63). If you want a clearer path into advanced video lessons, IFC Markets may have the edge; for beginners focused on video learning, either broker can work, though you won’t get monthly live webinars with either.
| Feature |
Questrade
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 #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
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IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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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) |
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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 | ||
| 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 (SFC 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 |
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