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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When comparing online brokers Saxo and IFC Markets, it's clear that Saxo, established in 1992, stands out with a stellar Trust Score of 99 according to ForexBrokers.com. Unlike IFC Markets, which was founded in 2006 and has a Trust Score of 73, Saxo also operates as a bank, enhancing its reputation in financial markets. Saxo holds an impressive seven Tier-1 licenses, indicating a high level of trust, whereas IFC Markets does not hold any Tier-1 licenses. Both brokers have one Tier-2 license, which is seen as trusted but not as reliable as Tier-1.
Neither Saxo nor IFC Markets are publicly traded, with Saxo's status as a bank further contributing to its exceptional standing. The significant presence of Tier-1 licenses for Saxo places it in the "highly trusted" category, while IFC Markets' single Tier-2 license reflects a more average risk level. For those seeking a broker with a substantial trust factor, Saxo emerges as a compelling choice, providing oversight and security that are key factors in the financial trading world.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1992 | 2006 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | Yes | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 0 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
Comparing commissions and fees, Saxo targets cost-conscious, high-volume traders with very competitive pricing, while IFC Markets is more mixed: its standard spreads are higher than average, but its ECN option is more attractive. For ratings and rankings, Saxo earns 5 stars and ranks #9 out of 63 for Commissions and Fees; IFC Markets earns 4 stars and ranks #40 out of 63.
For forex at Saxo (as of November 2023), average EUR/USD spreads were 1.1 pips on the Classic account, 1.0 on Platinum, and 0.9 on VIP, with minimums roughly 0.2 pips lower. Saxo is commission-free on forex, but charges a $3-per-side ticket fee if you trade under 50,000 units per month. Access to tighter pricing typically comes with higher tiers: Classic has a $0 minimum deposit, Platinum requires $200,000 (AUD 300,000 in Australia for forex), and VIP generally requires $1,000,000 or qualifying trading volume. Saxo also waives custody fees for share trading if you opt into securities lending.
IFC Markets’ average EUR/USD spread is 1.44 pips, higher than the 1.08 industry average, but its ECN account can bring effective costs to about 1.1 pips after including the 0.005% commission on both sides. It does not charge inactivity fees and offers active trader discounts. Bottom line: Saxo tends to offer lower forex costs for larger balances and higher volumes, while IFC’s ECN setup narrows the gap for active traders and its lack of inactivity fees may appeal to occasional traders.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $1 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.0 | 1.44 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.8 | 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.
Saxo vs IFC Markets: When it comes to range of investments, Saxo stands out with about 71,000 tradeable symbols and 190 forex pairs, compared with IFC Markets’ 630 symbols and 49 pairs. Both brokers let you trade forex as CFDs or spot, and both offer cryptocurrency CFDs (but not actual crypto). Saxo also gives access to exchange-traded stocks on U.S. exchanges as well as international markets, while IFC Markets offers exchange-traded stocks on international markets only.
For extra features, IFC Markets supports copy trading, whereas Saxo does not. According to ForexBrokers.com, Saxo scores 5 stars for Range of Investments and ranks #3 out of 63 brokers, while IFC Markets scores 3.5 stars and ranks #44. In short, Saxo suits investors seeking the widest selection and direct stock access, while IFC Markets may appeal if you want a simpler lineup with copy trading.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 71000 | 630 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 190 | 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 check the key boxes for trading platforms and tools: each offers a free demo account, a proprietary platform, Windows desktop software, a web-based platform, and the ability to place trades directly from charts. The biggest difference is third-party platform support and social features. IFC Markets supports MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 and offers copy trading, while Saxo does not offer MT4/MT5 or copy trading. If you want MetaTrader or to mirror other traders, IFC Markets has the edge. If you prefer a polished in-house platform experience, Saxo stands out.
Independent ratings reinforce this split. For Trading Platforms and Tools, Saxo earns 5 stars and ranks #1 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while IFC Markets earns 4 stars and ranks #37. In short: choose Saxo for top-tier, in-house platforms you can use on desktop and the web with chart trading and a free demo; pick IFC Markets if MT4/MT5 compatibility and copy trading are priorities, alongside its own proprietary platform and demo account.
| 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) | 61 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Saxo and IFC Markets both offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android. Each app includes price alerts and watchlists that sync with your online account, so changes carry over between devices. For charting, both let you draw trendlines and automatically save your drawings, making it easy to return to your analysis later.
Where they differ is depth of chart tools and overall app quality. Saxo’s app includes 64 technical studies (indicators), while IFC Markets offers 30. Independent ratings reflect this gap: Saxo earns 5 out of 5 stars and ranks #2 out of 63 brokers for Mobile Trading Apps on ForexBrokers.com, whereas IFC Markets is rated 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #53. If you want more indicators and a higher-rated mobile experience, Saxo is the stronger pick; if you need the basics with alerts and synced watchlists, IFC Markets can do the job.
| 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 vs IFC Markets for research: both brokers deliver daily market commentary, an economic calendar, and a sentiment tool that shows long/short positioning. The big differences are in depth and sources. Saxo streams forex news from leading providers (think Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones) and includes Autochartist for pattern and strategy ideas. IFC Markets lacks those premium news feeds and does not offer Autochartist. Neither broker provides Trading Central, TipRanks, or Acuity Trading tools.
Independent ratings from ForexBrokers.com put Saxo at 5 stars and ranked #1 out of 63 brokers for Research, while IFC Markets scores 3.5 stars and ranks #41. In short, pick Saxo if you want premium news and extra analysis tools alongside core features; choose IFC Markets if you’re fine with the essentials like daily commentary, a calendar, and sentiment data.
| 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 | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
Saxo and IFC Markets both provide beginner-friendly forex and CFD education, including at least 10 starter videos and a solid lineup of advanced videos for when you’re ready to go deeper. A key difference is live learning: Saxo runs client webinars at least once a month, giving newcomers a chance to ask questions in real time, while IFC Markets does not offer regular educational webinars.
In independent evaluations, Saxo stands out with a 5-star Education rating and ranks #13 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com. IFC Markets earns 3.5 stars and ranks #30. If you want structured learning plus live sessions, Saxo is the better pick. If you mainly want on-demand videos without the need for webinars, IFC Markets can still cover the basics and beyond.
| 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 #45.
Saxo is an exclusive 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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| 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 | 0 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Saxo | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | ||
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | Yes | ||
| 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 SCA 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) | 190 | 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) - Standard account | 1.0 | 1.44 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.8 | 1.1 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | 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 | 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) | 61 | 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 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 | 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 | Yes | 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| 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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