Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Swissquote 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.
When comparing online brokers Swissquote and IFC Markets, Swissquote stands out with its founding in 1996 and status as a publicly traded entity, indicating its solid presence in the financial sector. As a bank, Swissquote boasts of holding five Tier-1 licenses, which are regarded as highly trustworthy. This places it among the elite in terms of regulatory confidence. Complementing these licenses is a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 99 out of 99, classifying Swissquote as a highly trusted broker.
On the other hand, IFC Markets, founded in 2006, is not a publicly traded company nor a bank. It holds neither Tier-1 licenses nor the associated high-trust status but has one Tier-2 license, indicating a recognizable level of regulatory oversight. Its Trust Score rating from ForexBrokers.com is 73 out of 99, reflecting an average risk category. While both brokers offer trading services, Swissquote appears to provide more assurance through its regulatory credentials and trust ratings.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1996 | 2006 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | Yes | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 5 | 0 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
When it comes to commissions and fees, IFC Markets generally undercuts Swissquote. IFC Markets earns 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #40 of 63 brokers for pricing, helped by an ECN account with effective EUR/USD costs near 1.1 pips after a 0.005% commission on each side, no inactivity fees, and discounts for active traders. Swissquote, by contrast, gets 3.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #54 of 63, reflecting that you pay a small premium for the Swiss banking brand and broader ecosystem.
Swissquote’s pricing varies by entity and account type. In the U.K., active traders who deposit at least $10,000 can opt for the commission-based Elite account, which pairs lower spreads with a $5 round‑turn commission; the Professional account is similar but with a lower stop‑out level. The Standard account starts from 1.3 pips on EUR/USD, while Prime starts from 0.6 pips (a minimum, not an average). In Luxembourg, minimum deposits are $1,000 (Standard), $5,000 (Premium), and $50,000 (Prime), with minimum spreads from 1.5 pips down to 0.8 pips. In Switzerland, Standard requires $1,000 with EUR/USD from 1.7 pips, Premium $10,000 with 1.4 pips, and Prime $50,000 with 1.1 pips; custom pricing may be negotiated based on volume.
IFC Markets’ average EUR/USD spread is 1.44 pips, which is higher than the industry average of 1.08, but its ECN option narrows effective costs for active traders. Swissquote’s fees are serviceable yet typically higher than low‑cost forex brokers, especially outside its U.K. Elite setup. Bottom line: for lower trading costs, IFC Markets has the edge (4/5 stars, #40/63), while Swissquote appeals more to those who value a Swiss bank experience and are comfortable with somewhat higher spreads and deposits (3.5/5 stars, #54/63).
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $1000 | $1 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | N/A | 1.44 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | 1.1 |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
Comparing Swissquote vs IFC Markets for range of investments, Swissquote earns 5 stars and ranks #2 out of 63 brokers for this category, while IFC Markets scores 3.5 stars and ranks #44, according to ForexBrokers.com. Both brokers support forex trading as either CFDs or spot contracts and both offer copy trading.
IFC Markets lists more total tradeable symbols (630 vs 472), but Swissquote offers more forex pairs (80 vs 49). Swissquote lets you buy real, exchange-traded U.S. stocks like Apple as well as international shares, whereas IFC Markets offers real shares on international exchanges but not on U.S. exchanges. For crypto, Swissquote provides both real (delivered) cryptocurrency and crypto CFDs, while IFC Markets offers crypto only via CFDs.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 472 | 630 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 80 | 49 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | Yes | 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.
Swissquote vs IFC Markets: both brokers cover the key needs for trading platforms and tools. Each offers a free demo account for paper trading, a proprietary platform built in-house, and support for MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5). You can trade in a Windows desktop app or right in your browser, place orders directly from charts, and use copy trading—giving beginners and active traders plenty of flexibility.
Where they differ is in third-party evaluations. For Trading Platforms and Tools, ForexBrokers.com rates Swissquote 4.5 stars and ranks it #12 out of 63 brokers, while IFC Markets earns 4 stars and ranks #37. If you want a higher-rated platform lineup, Swissquote has the edge; if you’re happy with similar platform coverage and features, IFC Markets is a solid alternative.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
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) | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 86 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Swissquote and IFC Markets both check the basics for mobile trading apps: each offers iPhone and Android apps plus stock/forex price alerts. Charting is on par, with 30 technical studies available on both platforms, along with the ability to draw trendlines and have drawings auto-saved.
The key difference is watchlist syncing: IFC Markets syncs watchlists between mobile and the online account, while Swissquote does not. In overall app quality, Swissquote scores higher with a 4.5-star rating and ranks #12 out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, compared with IFC Markets at 4 stars and a #53 ranking. Choose IFC Markets if cross-device watchlist syncing is a must; choose Swissquote if you want a higher-rated mobile experience.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
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 | 30 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
Both Swissquote and IFC Markets publish daily market commentary and include an economic calendar. Swissquote goes further with forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones, and it offers Autochartist tools that scan markets for trading ideas. Neither broker provides Trading Central, TipRanks, or Acuity Trading. IFC Markets does not include premium news or Autochartist, but it does offer a sentiment tool that shows the ratio of long versus short positions across instruments—something Swissquote does not provide.
For research quality, Swissquote is rated 4 stars and ranks #16 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while IFC Markets holds 3.5 stars and ranks #41. In short, choose Swissquote if you want headline-driven context and Autochartist-powered signals; pick IFC Markets if a built-in sentiment readout matters most, alongside daily commentary and an economic calendar.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
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 | No | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
Swissquote and IFC Markets both give beginners plenty of on‑demand learning, with at least 10 beginner videos and at least 10 advanced videos that explain trading topics step by step. Swissquote stands out for live learning, offering client webinars at least once a month, while IFC Markets does not run regular educational webinars. In independent reviews, Swissquote earns 4 stars for Education and ranks #20 out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com; IFC Markets earns 3.5 stars and ranks #30.
If you’re starting with forex and CFD trading and want live sessions to ask questions and stay motivated, Swissquote is the stronger pick thanks to its ongoing webinar schedule plus a sizable video library. If you prefer self‑paced lessons without live webinars, IFC Markets delivers a solid catalog of beginner and advanced videos you can watch anytime.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
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 Swissquote is better than IFC Markets. Swissquote finished with an overall rank of #11, while IFC Markets finished with an overall rank of #45.
Traders choose Swissquote for its quality research and vast multi-asset offering – as long as they are willing to pay a premium to have their brokerage account held with a Swiss bank.
| Feature |
Swissquote
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IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 73 |
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Online brokers Swissquote and IFC Markets both offer cryptocurrency CFDs, but only Swissquote also lets you buy actual delivered cryptocurrency, whereas IFC Markets does not.
Swissquote vs IFC Markets: for deposit and withdrawal methods, Swissquote supports ACH/SEPA, PayPal, Skrill, and bank wire transfers, while IFC Markets offers bank wires only and does not support ACH/SEPA, PayPal, or Skrill; Visa/Mastercard availability is not specified for either broker.
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 | Swissquote | IFC Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Swissquote Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Swissquote | IFC Markets | |
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| Regulation | Swissquote | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 73 | |
| Year Founded | 1996 | 2006 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | ||
| Tier-1 Licenses | 5 | 0 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Swissquote | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | No | ||
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | ||
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | No | ||
| 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) | Swissquote | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | ||
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | ||
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | Swissquote | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 472 | 630 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 80 | 49 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | Yes | 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 | Swissquote | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | N/A | 1.44 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | 1.1 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Swissquote | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $1000 | $1 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | Swissquote | 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) | Yes | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Swissquote | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 86 | 30 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Swissquote | 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 | 30 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Swissquote | 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 | No | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Swissquote | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Swissquote | 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 | Swissquote Review |
| Overall | Swissquote | IFC Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Swissquote Review |
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