Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Spreadex 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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Spreadex (founded 1999) and IFC Markets (founded 2006) are online brokers that are privately held and not banks. Each holds one Tier-1 regulatory license—considered highly trusted by ForexBrokers.com—and zero Tier-2 licenses. Neither company is publicly traded.
ForexBrokers.com assigns Spreadex a Trust Score of 70/99 and IFC Markets 73/99. On that scale, 70–79 denotes average risk. Both brokers meet the mark for top-tier regulation with one Tier-1 license, while IFC Markets edges Spreadex slightly on the Trust Score.
| Feature |
Spreadex
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1999 | 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 |
When comparing commissions and fees, Spreadex comes out a bit ahead of IFC Markets overall. Spreadex earned 4 out of 5 stars and is ranked #25 out of 36 brokers for this category. In January 2024, its average EUR/USD spread was 0.81 pips, with a minimum spread of 0.6 pips available 60% of the time during the month, which may appeal to traders looking for tighter pricing.
IFC Markets also received 4 out of 5 stars, but it ranks lower at #32 out of 36 brokers for commissions and fees. Its average EUR/USD spread is 1.44, above the industry average of 1.08, so it is less competitive on standard pricing. That said, active traders may find better value with the new ECN account, where the effective spread comes to 1.1 pips after the 0.005% commission on both sides of the trade.
For cost-conscious traders, Spreadex looks slightly more attractive on spread pricing, while IFC Markets may still be worth considering for those who can benefit from its ECN setup, active trader discounts, and no inactivity fee. Both brokers have the same star rating, but Spreadex has the stronger ranking and lower typical EUR/USD spread.
| Feature |
Spreadex
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $1 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.81 | 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.
Spreadex offers a wider range of investments than IFC Markets, with 10,000 tradeable symbols compared with 630. It also provides 52 forex pairs, slightly more than IFC Markets’ 49, and both brokers let clients trade forex as CFDs or spot contracts. Spreadex stands out for its broader selection overall, while IFC Markets has a smaller market list but still covers the main areas many traders look for.
There are also some key differences in product choice. IFC Markets offers exchange traded securities on international exchanges, such as overseas shares, and it supports copy trading, while Spreadex does not offer either of these. On the other hand, neither broker lets clients buy actual cryptocurrency, though both do offer cryptocurrency CFDs. Reflecting this wider product mix, Spreadex is rated 5 stars for Range of Investments and ranked 13th out of 36 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, while IFC Markets is rated 3.5 stars and ranked 31st.
| Feature |
Spreadex
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 10000 | 630 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 52 | 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) | 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.
Spreadex and IFC Markets both give traders a choice of a free demo account and a web-based platform, and both also let you place trades straight from a stock chart. Each broker has its own in-house platform, and both are rated 4 out of 5 stars for trading platforms and tools. The main difference is that IFC Markets adds more platform options, including a Windows desktop app, MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, and copy trading, while Spreadex does not offer those extras.
In ForexBrokers.com’s Trading Platforms and Tools category, IFC Markets ranks higher overall at #29 out of 36 brokers, compared with Spreadex at #34. For traders who want a wider mix of platform choices and features, IFC Markets has the edge, while Spreadex may suit those who are comfortable using its web platform and built-in tools.
| Feature |
Spreadex
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | No | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 58 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Spreadex and IFC Markets both offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, and both let users set stock or forex price alerts. Each app also supports drawing trendlines on charts, and both are rated 4 out of 5 stars for mobile trading apps. In ForexBrokers.com’s ranking of 36 brokers, Spreadex comes in at #33, while IFC Markets is close behind at #34.
The main difference is in chart and account syncing features. IFC Markets supports watchlist symbol syncing between the mobile app and online account, so updates carry over in both places, and it also auto-saves chart drawings. It offers 30 technical studies in its mobile charting tools. Spreadex does not offer watchlist syncing, and its app does not auto-save drawings, while its technical studies count is not listed.
| Feature |
Spreadex
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | No | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | N/A | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | No | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
Spreadex and IFC Markets both give traders daily market commentary, a sentiment tool showing long and short positioning, and an economic calendar for upcoming global events. Each also offers a similar basic level of support for keeping up with the markets day to day. However, Spreadex goes further by providing forex news from top sources such as Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones, plus Autochartist tools for technical and fundamental analysis. IFC Markets does not offer those news or Autochartist features.
In ForexBrokers.com’s Research category, Spreadex is rated 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #27 out of 36 brokers, while IFC Markets is rated 3.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #30. Overall, Spreadex has the edge for market research thanks to its wider news coverage and extra analysis tools, while IFC Markets covers the essentials but with fewer third-party research options.
| Feature |
Spreadex
|
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, both Spreadex and IFC Markets provide useful starting points, including at least 10 beginner-focused videos on trading topics. However, neither broker offers monthly online educational webinars, and neither appears to meet the mark for a full set of forex- or CFD-specific learning materials with 10 or more dedicated pieces. Spreadex is stronger for new traders overall, with a 4-star Education rating and a #33 ranking out of 36 brokers from ForexBrokers.com.
IFC Markets also gives beginners a solid base, but it goes a step further for more experienced traders by offering at least 10 advanced educational videos, something Spreadex does not provide. Even so, IFC Markets scores 3.5 stars for Education and ranks #25 out of 36, which suggests a better mix of learning content than Spreadex but a slightly lower overall education score. In short, Spreadex is the better pick for beginner-friendly education, while IFC Markets offers more depth for traders who want to keep learning beyond the basics.
| Feature |
Spreadex
|
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 Spreadex is better than IFC Markets. Spreadex finished with an overall rank of #32, while IFC Markets finished with an overall rank of #33.
Spreadex is a U.K.-based broker best known for its multi-asset offering, including forex, CFDs, spread betting, and options, alongside access to the TradingView platform and solid research content.
| Feature |
Spreadex
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IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
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| Trust Score | 70 | 73 |
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Spreadex vs IFC Markets: neither broker lets you buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrency, but both offer cryptocurrency trading via CFDs.
In a Spreadex vs IFC Markets comparison of deposit and withdrawal methods, both brokers do not support ACH/SEPA, PayPal, or Skrill, both allow bank wire transfers, and Visa/Mastercard availability is not specified.
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 | Spreadex | IFC Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 70 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Spreadex Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Spreadex | IFC Markets | |
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| Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Regulation | Spreadex | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 70 | 73 | |
| Year Founded | 1999 | 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) | Spreadex | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | No | ||
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | ||
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | ||
| Japan (FSA Authorised) | No | ||
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | No | ||
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | |||
| 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). | No |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Spreadex | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | ||
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or CMA Authorised) | No | ||
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | ||
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | Spreadex | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 10000 | 630 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 52 | 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) | 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 | Spreadex | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.81 | 1.44 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | 1.1 | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | No | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Spreadex | 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 | Spreadex | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | No | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Spreadex | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 58 | 30 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Spreadex | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | N/A | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Spreadex | 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 | Spreadex | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | No | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | No | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Spreadex | 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 | Spreadex Review |
| Overall | Spreadex | IFC Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 70 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Spreadex Review |
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