Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Saxo 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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Saxo and IFC Markets are both online brokers. Saxo was founded in 1992 and is also a bank, while IFC Markets began in 2006 and is not a bank. Neither firm is publicly traded.
On regulation, there’s a clear difference. According to ForexBrokers.com, Saxo holds 7 Tier-1 licenses (considered highly trusted) and 1 Tier-2 license (trusted). IFC Markets holds 1 Tier-1 license and no Tier-2 licenses. ForexBrokers.com’s Trust Score rates Saxo at 99 (highly trusted; 90–99) and IFC Markets at 73 (average risk; 70–79).
| Feature |
Saxo
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1992 | 2006 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | Yes | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 5 |
Saxo comes out ahead on commissions and fees overall, especially for active traders and larger accounts. It is rated 5 stars and ranked #8 out of 36 brokers for Commissions and Fees by ForexBrokers.com. Saxo’s forex pricing is commission-free in most cases, with costs built into the spread, though traders who trade less than 50,000 units a month are charged a $3 ticket fee per side. As of November 2023, average EUR/USD spreads were 1.1 pips for Classic, 1.0 for Platinum, and 0.9 for VIP, with the lower-tier Classic account a bit pricier than the best offers from Saxo.
IFC Markets is a decent option on pricing, but it does not match Saxo for overall value. It is rated 4 stars and ranked #34 out of 36 brokers for Commissions and Fees. Its average EUR/USD spread is 1.44 pips, which is above the industry average of 1.08, making it less competitive for most everyday traders. That said, IFC Markets’ ECN account can bring the effective spread down to about 1.1 pips after commission, which may appeal more to active traders.
In short, Saxo offers stronger pricing for most traders, while IFC Markets can be more attractive if you want an ECN-style setup and value features like no inactivity fee and active trader discounts. Saxo also offers tier-based savings through Platinum and VIP accounts, with VIP reserved for very large balances or high trading volume. For commissions and fees alone, Saxo is the clear winner between the two.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $1 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Spread-only account | 1.0 | 1.44 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | N/A | 1.1 |
| Non-wire bank transfer (Deposit/Withdraw) | 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.
Saxo offers a much wider range of investments than IFC Markets, with 71,000 tradeable symbols and 192 forex pairs compared with IFC Markets’ 630 symbols and 49 forex pairs. Both brokers support forex trading as either a CFD or spot contract, and both let clients trade cryptocurrency CFDs, but neither offers the ability to buy actual cryptocurrency. Saxo also stands out for access to exchange-traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges, while IFC Markets offers international exchange-traded shares only.
When it comes to extra features, IFC Markets has copy trading, while Saxo does not. Even so, Saxo is rated 5 stars for Range of Investments and is ranked #3 out of 36 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, compared with IFC Markets’ 3.5 stars and #33 ranking. Overall, Saxo is the stronger choice for traders who want more market access and a larger selection of products.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 71000 | 630 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 192 | 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 | 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.
Saxo and IFC Markets both give traders a strong set of platform choices, including a free demo account, a proprietary platform, a Windows desktop app, and a web-based platform. Both also let users trade directly from charts, which can make order entry faster and easier for active traders. In ForexBrokers.com’s Trading Platforms and Tools review, Saxo stands out with a 5-star rating and a #3 ranking out of 36 brokers, while IFC Markets is rated 4 stars and ranked #32.
The biggest differences come down to added trading features. IFC Markets supports copy trading, MetaTrader 4, and MetaTrader 5, which may appeal to traders who want familiar third-party tools or want to follow other traders. Saxo does not offer copy trading or the MetaTrader platforms, but it is still a top pick for platform quality and chart-based trading tools. If you want more platform variety, IFC Markets has the edge; if you want a higher-rated overall trading platform experience, Saxo comes out ahead.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
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.
Saxo and IFC Markets both make it easy to trade on the go with iPhone and Android apps, plus stock or forex price alerts, synced watchlists, trendline tools, and auto-saving chart drawings. That means changes you make in the app or on your online account stay up to date, which is helpful if you switch between devices during the day.
The main difference is in charting and overall app quality. Saxo offers 64 technical studies in its mobile app, compared with 30 at IFC Markets, giving active traders more chart tools to work with. Saxo is also rated 5 stars for Mobile Trading Apps and ranks #3 out of 36 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while IFC Markets is rated 4 stars and ranks #37, making Saxo the stronger choice for mobile trading overall.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
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.
Saxo and IFC Markets both cover the basics well when it comes to market research, with each offering daily market commentary and an economic calendar to help traders track upcoming events. That said, Saxo stands out by adding forex news from major sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones, plus research tools from Autochartist that can help spot trading ideas. IFC Markets does not provide those same top-tier news feeds or Autochartist tools, but it does offer a sentiment tool that shows the balance of long and short positions across markets.
Overall, Saxo has a much stronger research offering than IFC Markets. ForexBrokers.com rates Saxo 5 out of 5 stars for research and ranks it #1 out of 36 brokers, while IFC Markets receives 3.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #33. For traders who want more market news and built-in analysis tools, Saxo has the edge.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
| Trading Central | No | 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 trading education, Saxo stands out ahead of IFC Markets. Saxo offers forex and CFDs education with at least 10 learning pieces, regular online educational client webinars each month, and 10 or more beginner videos plus 10 or more advanced videos. It also earns a 5-star Education rating and ranks #12 out of 36 brokers for Education, which suggests a stronger learning setup for new traders.
IFC Markets also gives beginners access to at least 10 beginner videos and 10 advanced videos, along with forex and CFDs education that meets the minimum content threshold. However, it does not offer monthly educational webinars, and its Education score is lower at 3.5 stars, with a #26 ranking out of 36. Overall, both brokers provide useful learning material, but Saxo offers more ways to learn and a clearer edge for beginners who want regular guidance.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
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 Saxo is better than IFC Markets. Saxo finished with an overall rank of #3, while IFC Markets finished with an overall rank of #36.
Saxo is a multi-asset broker with brilliant research and a superb trading platform experience – as well as a stunning selection of over 40,000 securities.
| Feature |
Saxo
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IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
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| Trust Score | 99 | 73 |
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Saxo vs IFC Markets: neither broker lets you buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrency, but both provide cryptocurrency CFD trading.
Comparing Saxo vs IFC Markets: both brokers support bank wire transfers for account deposits and withdrawals, do not offer ACH/SEPA, PayPal, or Skrill, and provide no specified information on Visa or Mastercard availability.
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 | Saxo | IFC Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Saxo Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Saxo | IFC Markets | |
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| Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Regulation | Saxo | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 73 | |
| Year Founded | 1992 | 2006 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | ||
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 5 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Saxo | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | ||
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | ||
| Japan (FSA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | No | ||
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | ||
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Saxo | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | ||
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or CMA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | ||
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | Saxo | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 71000 | 630 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 192 | 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 | 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 | Saxo | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Spread-only account | 1.0 | 1.44 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | N/A | 1.1 | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Saxo | 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 (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | Saxo | 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 | Saxo | 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 | Saxo | 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 | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Saxo | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | No | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Saxo | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Saxo | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| Review | Saxo Review |
| Overall | Saxo | IFC Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Saxo Review |
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