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.
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.
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 has a stronger edge on commissions and fees than IFC Markets, especially for active traders and larger accounts. Saxo earns 5 out of 5 stars and ranks #8 out of 36 brokers for commissions and fees. Its forex pricing is commission-free in most cases, with costs built into the spread, and the EUR/USD average spread was 1.1 pips for Classic, 1.0 pips for Platinum, and 0.9 pips for VIP as of November 2023. Saxo’s pricing can be especially attractive for higher-volume clients, and its Classic account minimum deposit has been lowered to $0 for new customers.
IFC Markets is still reasonably priced, but it is less competitive overall. It earns 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #32 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 pips, though active traders may find better value with the ECN account, where the effective spread is about 1.1 pips after commission. IFC Markets also stands out for not charging inactivity fees and for offering active trader discounts.
In simple terms, Saxo is the better choice if keeping trading costs low is a top priority, particularly for frequent traders or those with larger balances. IFC Markets can still work for cost-conscious traders, but Saxo generally offers tighter pricing and stronger overall value in the commissions and fees category.
| 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 offers a much wider range of investments than IFC Markets. Saxo lists about 71,000 tradeable symbols and 190 forex pairs, while IFC Markets offers around 630 symbols and 49 forex pairs. Both brokers support forex trading as either a CFD or spot contract, and both offer cryptocurrency CFDs. However, Saxo also lets clients buy exchange-traded securities on U.S. markets, such as Apple shares, as well as international shares, while IFC Markets only offers exchange-traded securities on international exchanges.
When it comes to extra features, IFC Markets has copy trading, which Saxo does not. But for overall choice, Saxo is clearly ahead, earning 5 out of 5 stars for Range of Investments and ranking #3 out of 36 brokers on ForexBrokers.com. IFC Markets is rated 3.5 out of 5 stars and ranked #31 out of 36, showing a more limited selection for investors who want a broader mix of markets and products.
| 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 give traders a solid mix of platform choices, including free demo accounts, their own in-house platforms, Windows desktop downloads, and web-based trading. Both also let users trade directly from a chart, which is useful for acting quickly on price moves. In ForexBrokers.com’s Trading Platforms and Tools category, Saxo stands out with a 5-star rating and a #3 ranking out of 36 brokers, while IFC Markets holds a 4-star rating and ranks #29.
The main difference is in added trading features. IFC Markets supports copy trading plus both MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, which may appeal to traders who want a familiar third-party platform or want to follow other traders. Saxo does not offer MT4, MT5, or copy trading, but it still offers a well-regarded set of tools for traders who prefer its own platform experience.
| 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 make it easy to trade from a phone, with iPhone and Android apps, price alerts, and watchlists that sync between the mobile app and your online account. Each app also lets you draw trendlines on charts, and both save those drawings automatically. For everyday mobile trading needs, both brokers cover the basics well.
The bigger difference shows up in charting and overall app quality. Saxo offers 64 technical studies in its mobile app, compared with 30 at IFC Markets, giving Saxo traders more tools for chart analysis. That edge is reflected in its ratings and rankings too: Saxo earns 5 stars for mobile trading apps and ranks #3 out of 36 brokers, while IFC Markets holds 4 stars and ranks #34.
| 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 comes out ahead of IFC Markets for market research. Both brokers offer daily market commentary, a sentiment tool, and an economic calendar, but Saxo adds more depth with forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, plus research tools from Autochartist. IFC Markets does not provide those extra news and Autochartist resources, which may matter to traders who want more market context before placing a trade.
That difference is reflected in their research scores and rankings. Saxo earns a top 5-star rating for Research and places #1 out of 36 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while IFC Markets holds a 3.5-star rating and ranks #30. In simple terms, both platforms cover the basics, but Saxo offers a much stronger research setup overall.
| 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.
For beginners looking for trading education, Saxo stands out with a wider and more active learning library than IFC Markets. Saxo offers forex and CFD education with at least 10 dedicated learning pieces, plus monthly educational webinars and plenty of beginner-friendly videos, along with advanced content for traders who want to keep learning. It is also rated 5 out of 5 stars for Education and ranks #12 out of 36 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, which points to a stronger overall learning experience.
IFC Markets also gives new traders useful material, including at least 10 beginner videos and 10 advanced videos, but it falls behind Saxo in a few key areas. It does not offer monthly educational webinars, and its Education rating is 3.5 out of 5 stars with a #25 ranking out of 36. For beginners who want more frequent teaching support and a broader range of forex and CFD learning, Saxo is the stronger choice.
| 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 #33.
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
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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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 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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) | 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 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) | 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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