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.
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.
Spreadex and IFC Markets are two online brokers offering trading services, but they differ in terms of regulatory credentials and trust ratings. Spreadex, established in 1999, holds one Tier-1 license, indicating a high level of trust. Despite its solid regulatory standing, it scores 71 on the Trust Score rating from ForexBrokers.com, placing it in the average risk category. Spreadex is not publicly traded or a bank, which might influence its trust perception among traders.
In contrast, IFC Markets, founded in 2006, operates with one Tier-2 license, considered trusted, though it lacks Tier-1 credentials. IFC Markets scores slightly higher than Spreadex with a Trust Score of 73, also in the average risk category. Like Spreadex, IFC Markets is neither publicly traded nor a banking institution. These factors may impact trader confidence, but the choice between the two could depend on individual preferences and regulatory priorities.
| Feature |
Spreadex
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1999 | 2006 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
When it comes to commissions and fees, Spreadex presents a competitive edge with an average spread of 0.81 pips on EUR/USD in January 2024. Impressively, this broker achieved a lower minimum spread of 0.6 pips 60% of the time during that month. This favorable pricing structure has earned Spreadex a solid rating of 4 out of 5 stars from ForexBrokers.com, where it holds the #27 rank out of 63 brokers in the Commissions and Fees category.
In comparison, IFC Markets offers an average spread of 1.44 pips for EUR/USD, slightly above the industry standard of 1.08. However, more active traders can find better value in their ECN account, which features an effective spread of 1.1 pips, although it comes with a small commission of 0.005% on each side of a trade. Notably, IFC Markets does not charge inactivity fees and offers discounts for active traders, adding some financial incentives. This setup also garners a 4-star rating from ForexBrokers.com, placing IFC Markets at #39.
Overall, both Spreadex and IFC Markets offer respectable options for traders, with Spreadex slightly ahead in terms of spread competitiveness. On the other hand, IFC Markets provides alternative advantages such as no inactivity fees and active trader discounts, which can appeal to a specific segment of traders. Both brokers achieve a commendable 4-star rating in their respective evaluations, though their specific benefits cater to different trading preferences.
| Feature |
Spreadex
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $1 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.81 | 1.44 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | 1.1 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | Yes |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
Spreadex and IFC Markets both provide forex trading options through CFDs or spot contracts. Spreadex stands out with an impressive array of 10,000 tradeable symbols compared to IFC Markets' 630, making it a strong contender for those who value a broad selection. Though both brokers offer a similar number of tradeable forex pairs with Spreadex at 52 and IFC Markets at 49, the depth of choice beyond forex is where Spreadex shines. Additionally, both brokers provide cryptocurrency derivatives trading, though neither allows purchasing actual cryptocurrencies.
When it comes to exchange-traded securities on international exchanges, IFC Markets takes the lead by offering this option, unlike Spreadex. Furthermore, IFC Markets supports copy trading, adding another layer of functionality for its users. Despite these offerings, Spreadex is rated higher overall at 5 stars for the range of investments, while IFC Markets holds a 3.5-star rating. In a ranking of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com for the range of investments, Spreadex is ranked #13, significantly ahead of IFC Markets, which is positioned at #43.
| Feature |
Spreadex
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 10000 | 630 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 52 | 49 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | No | No |
| Cryptocurrency (Derivative) | 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.
When comparing Spreadex and IFC Markets for their trading platforms and tools, both brokers deliver engaging options for traders of all levels. Spreadex provides a proprietary platform developed in-house and allows trading from a stock chart through a seamless web-based platform. While it does not offer a desktop download option or support popular platforms like MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5), it does provide a free demo account for paper trading. Additionally, Spreadex offers 11 drawing tools for charting and enables customization with watch lists accommodating up to 8 columns.
On the other hand, IFC Markets stands out by offering a wider array of platforms, including proprietary software, desktop downloads for Windows, and web-based access. It supports both MT4 and MT5, providing versatility for traders familiar with these popular platforms. IFC Markets also includes the option for copy trading and, like Spreadex, offers a free demo account. With 15 charting tools and the ability to trade directly from a stock chart like Spreadex, IFC Markets makes chart analysis accessible and actionable. In terms of industry ratings, both brokers score 4 out of 5 stars for their trading platforms and tools, though IFC Markets is ranked slightly higher at #36 by ForexBrokers.com compared to Spreadex at #46.
| Feature |
Spreadex
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | No | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 58 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 11 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 8 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Both Spreadex and IFC Markets offer comprehensive mobile trading apps compatible with iPhone and Android devices, integrating key functionalities such as price alerts for forex and stocks, and the capacity to view charts across various time frames. Both platforms allow users to create watchlists with real-time quotes, although only IFC Markets provides synchronization of watchlist symbols with their client's online account. This feature ensures seamless updates between mobile devices and the web platform. Additionally, while both apps enable drawing trendlines on charts, only IFC Markets automatically saves these annotations.
In terms of technical analysis, IFC Markets stands out with 30 available technical studies for charting within its app, a feature not specified for Spreadex. Despite this, both apps have received an equivalent rating of four stars for mobile trading. When comparing rankings by ForexBrokers.com, Spreadex is placed at #46, slightly ahead of IFC Markets, which sits at #52 out of 63 brokers. Each platform offers strong mobile trading experiences, with unique strengths in specific areas catering to different trader preferences.
| Feature |
Spreadex
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | N/A | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | No | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When it comes to market research, Spreadex and IFC Markets both have their unique strengths. Spreadex delivers a comprehensive range of resources with daily market commentary and forex news from reputable sources like Bloomberg and Reuters. The broker further enhances its offerings with tools such as Autochartist, aiding traders in technical analysis. Additionally, Spreadex features sentiment-based trading tools to provide insights into market positions. Both brokers include economic calendars that inform traders of current and upcoming global events. Spreadex's robust capabilities in research tools earn it a rating of 4 out of 5 stars, positioning it at #31 in the Research category on ForexBrokers.com.
In contrast, IFC Markets also provides daily market commentary and sentiment-based trading tools, allowing for an informed trading experience. However, its market research offerings fall short compared to Spreadex’s, as it does not include forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg or Reuters, nor does it offer Autochartist tools. Despite these limitations, IFC Markets maintains a slightly lower research rating of 3.5 stars and is ranked #40 among 63 brokers in the ForexBrokers.com Research category.
| Feature |
Spreadex
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
For beginners diving into the world of trading, both Spreadex and IFC Markets provide educational resources tailored to forex and CFDs, ensuring a solid starting point with over ten educational pieces such as articles and videos. While both brokers lack monthly live webinars and archives of past sessions, they make up for it with beginner-focused video content. Spreadex and IFC Markets each offer over ten beginner videos, although only IFC Markets extends its educational library to cover advanced topics with more than ten advanced videos. In addition, both platforms provide an investor dictionary with definitions for at least 50 investing terms, aiding in grasping essential concepts.
Despite both brokers offering valuable educational resources, Spreadex pulls slightly ahead with a 4-star rating compared to IFC Markets' 3.5 stars, according to the ForexBrokers.com ranking. However, IFC Markets claims a better position in the educational rankings, coming in at #30 out of 63 brokers, whereas Spreadex ranks at #45. This indicates that while Spreadex has a slightly better rating, IFC Markets holds a stronger overall position in the education domain within the industry.
| Feature |
Spreadex
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | No | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | No | No |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | No | Yes |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | 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 #39, while IFC Markets finished with an overall rank of #45.
Spreadex is an FCA-regulated broker in the UK, offering forex and CFDs, and is well known for its sports betting business, and proprietary web trading platforms. Spreadex still has considerable room to improve, in key categories such as research and education, compared to the best forex brokers.
| Feature |
Spreadex
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 71 | 73 |
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Both Spreadex and IFC Markets do not offer the ability to buy actual delivered cryptocurrency, but they do provide options to buy cryptocurrency derivatives.
Neither Spreadex nor IFC Markets supports ACH, SEPA transfers, PayPal, or Skrill for depositing or withdrawing funds, but both brokers offer Visa, Mastercard, and bank wire transfers as accepted methods.
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 | 71 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Spreadex Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Spreadex | IFC Markets | |
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| Trading Platforms Gallery (click to expand) | |||
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| Research Gallery (click to expand) | |||
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| Regulation | Spreadex | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 71 | 73 | |
| Year Founded | 1999 | 2006 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | No | No | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 1 | 0 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Spreadex | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | No | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | No | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | No | No |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Spreadex | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | No | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | Spreadex | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 10000 | 630 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 52 | 49 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | No | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (Derivative) | 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 | 0.81 | 1.44 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | 1.1 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Spreadex | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $1 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | Spreadex | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | No | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Spreadex | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 8 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 58 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 11 | 15 | |
| 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 Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | N/A | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Spreadex | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Spreadex | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | No | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | No | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | No | Yes | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Spreadex | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/JPY | Yes | Yes | |
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CAD | Yes | Yes | |
| NZD/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| AUD/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| Review | Spreadex Review |
| Overall | Spreadex | IFC Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 71 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Spreadex Review |
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