Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of StoneX Trading 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.
StoneX Trading and IFC Markets are both non-bank brokers, but they differ a lot when it comes to trust and regulation. StoneX Trading was founded in 1983, is publicly traded, and holds 7 Tier-1 licenses plus 1 Tier-2 license. That regulatory profile helps explain its ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 99 out of 99, placing it in the highly trusted range.
IFC Markets was founded in 2006 and is not publicly traded. It holds 1 Tier-1 license and no Tier-2 licenses, which gives it a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 73 out of 99. That puts IFC Markets in the average-risk range, while StoneX Trading ranks much higher for regulatory strength and overall trust.
| Feature |
StoneX Trading
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1983 | 2006 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 5 |
StoneX Trading comes out ahead of IFC Markets on commissions and fees, with a 4.5-star rating and a ranking of #16 out of 36 brokers for this category. Its pricing for CFDs, forex, and spread-betting products is generally in line with the industry average, and the best rates are usually found on StoneX Trading’s own platforms or MetaTrader. For example, the average EUR/USD spread was 0.74 pips as of July 2023, which is competitive, while active traders may also benefit from rebates and discounts that can lower costs further.
IFC Markets is a bit less competitive on everyday pricing, earning 4 stars and a ranking of #33 out of 36 for commissions and fees. Its average EUR/USD spread is 1.44 pips, which is above the industry average of 1.08 pips, though costs can improve for active traders using the ECN account, where the effective spread works out to about 1.1 pips after commission. IFC Markets also stands out for having no inactivity fees and offering active trader discounts, which can help reduce overall trading costs.
In simple terms, StoneX Trading is the stronger choice if lower trading costs are your priority, especially for frequent forex trading. IFC Markets may still appeal to active traders who want no inactivity fee and can make use of its ECN pricing, but overall StoneX Trading offers the better mix of price and value in this category.
| Feature |
StoneX Trading
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £100.00 | $1 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Spread-only account | 1.4 | 1.44 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | 0.9 | 1.1 |
| Non-wire bank transfer (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
When it comes to range of investments, StoneX Trading offers a wider selection than IFC Markets. StoneX Trading lists 13,500 tradeable symbols and 66 forex pairs, while IFC Markets provides 630 tradeable symbols and 49 forex pairs. Both brokers support forex trading as a CFD or spot contract, offer copy trading, and let clients trade cryptocurrency CFDs, but neither allows buying actual cryptocurrency.
The biggest difference is in market access outside forex and crypto. IFC Markets offers exchange-traded securities on international exchanges, while StoneX Trading does not offer exchange-traded securities on either U.S. or international exchanges. Based on ForexBrokers.com, StoneX Trading earns 5 stars for Range of Investments and ranks #8 out of 36 brokers, compared with IFC Markets at 3.5 stars and #32 out of 36, making StoneX Trading the stronger choice for investors looking for a broader set of trading options.
| Feature |
StoneX Trading
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 13500 | 630 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 66 | 49 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | 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.
StoneX Trading and IFC Markets both give traders a wide set of platform choices, including a free demo account for paper trading, a built-in proprietary platform, a Windows desktop download, a web-based platform, copy trading, MetaTrader 4, and the ability to place trades directly from charts. This makes each broker fairly easy to use for both new and experienced traders who want to test strategies, trade from different devices, or follow other traders.
The main difference is that IFC Markets also offers MetaTrader 5, while StoneX Trading does not. Based on ForexBrokers.com’s Trading Platforms and Tools ratings, StoneX Trading comes out ahead with 4.5 out of 5 stars and a #11 ranking out of 36 brokers, compared with IFC Markets at 4 out of 5 stars and #31 out of 36. For traders comparing online brokers on platform variety and tools, StoneX Trading has the edge overall, while IFC Markets still covers the key features most people look for.
| Feature |
StoneX Trading
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 88 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
StoneX Trading and IFC Markets both make it easy to trade on the go, since each broker offers iPhone and Android apps, plus price alerts and watchlist syncing between the mobile app and online account. Both apps also let users draw trendlines on charts, and any drawings are saved automatically, which is helpful for tracking trades across devices. For basic mobile access, the two brokers are closely matched.
The biggest difference shows up in charting tools and overall app ratings. StoneX Trading offers 88 technical studies in its mobile app, compared with 30 at IFC Markets, giving traders more chart analysis options. StoneX Trading also earns a higher Mobile Trading Apps rating at 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #9 out of 36 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, while IFC Markets is rated 4 stars and ranks #36. For traders who want stronger mobile charting, StoneX Trading has the edge.
| Feature |
StoneX Trading
|
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 | 88 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
StoneX Trading and IFC Markets both give traders useful market research features, including daily market commentary, a sentiment tool that shows long-versus-short positioning, and an economic calendar for tracking global news events. Neither broker offers Autochartist, TipRanks, or Acuity Trading tools, and both are missing some of the same third-party research extras.
Where StoneX Trading stands out is in its access to top-tier forex news sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones, plus Trading Central tools such as Technical Analytics. This helps explain why StoneX Trading earns a higher Research rating of 4.5 out of 5 and ranks #10 out of 36 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while IFC Markets is rated 3.5 out of 5 and ranks #33. For traders who want more in-depth market research, StoneX Trading has the edge.
| Feature |
StoneX Trading
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central | Yes | 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 to learn before they trade, StoneX Trading offers a stronger education section than IFC Markets. StoneX Trading provides forex or CFDs education, regular online client webinars at least once a month, and at least 10 beginner videos plus 10 advanced videos. It is also rated 4.5 out of 5 stars for Education and ranks #9 out of 36 brokers in the ForexBrokers.com Education category.
IFC Markets also gives beginners access to at least 10 beginner videos and at least 10 advanced videos, but it does not offer monthly educational webinars and does not meet the standard for forex or CFDs education as defined here. Its Education score is 3.5 out of 5 stars, and it ranks #26 out of 36 brokers, which puts it behind StoneX Trading for overall learning support.
| Feature |
StoneX Trading
|
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 StoneX Trading is better than IFC Markets. StoneX Trading finished with an overall rank of #8, while IFC Markets finished with an overall rank of #35.
Backed by StoneX Group and formerly named City Index, StoneX Trading is a trusted brand known for its versatile trading platforms, excellent mobile app, diverse market research, and extensive range of tradeable markets.
| Feature |
StoneX Trading
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IFC Markets
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| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 73 |
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When comparing StoneX Trading vs IFC Markets, both online brokers do not offer the ability to buy actual delivered cryptocurrency, but each does provide access to cryptocurrency CFDs rather than the underlying digital assets.
StoneX Trading offers more flexible funding and withdrawal options than IFC Markets, supporting ACH/SEPA transfers, PayPal, and bank wires, while IFC Markets only supports bank wires and does not offer ACH/SEPA or PayPal, and neither broker provides Skrill or confirmed Visa/Mastercard support.
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 | StoneX Trading | IFC Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | StoneX Trading Review |
| Broker Screenshots | StoneX Trading | IFC Markets | |
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| Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Regulation | StoneX Trading | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 73 | |
| Year Founded | 1983 | 2006 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | 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 | 1 | 5 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | StoneX Trading | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | ||
| Japan (FSA Authorised) | No | ||
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | ||
| 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). | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | StoneX Trading | 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 | StoneX Trading | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 13500 | 630 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 66 | 49 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | 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 | StoneX Trading | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Spread-only account | 1.4 | 1.44 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | 0.9 | 1.1 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | No | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | StoneX Trading | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £100.00 | $1 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | StoneX Trading | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | StoneX Trading | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 88 | 30 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | StoneX Trading | 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 | 88 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | StoneX Trading | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | StoneX Trading | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | StoneX Trading | 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 | StoneX Trading Review |
| Overall | StoneX Trading | IFC Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | StoneX Trading Review |
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