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 |
Comparing commissions and fees, IFC Markets is generally the cheaper choice on average spreads, while Swissquote often carries a small premium tied to its Swiss banking brand. In our ratings, Swissquote earns 3.5/5 stars and ranks 35th out of 63 brokers for Commissions and Fees, whereas IFC Markets earns 4/5 stars and ranks 32nd out of 63. Your actual costs at Swissquote will depend on which entity and account type you use, while IFC Markets’ pricing is more streamlined.
Swissquote’s costs vary by region. In the U.K., active traders who deposit at least $10,000 can consider the Elite account with tighter spreads plus a $5 commission per round turn; the Standard account starts at 1.3 pips on EUR/USD, and the Prime account advertises a 0.6-pip minimum (note: that’s a minimum, not an average). In Luxembourg, minimum spreads range from 1.5 pips (Standard, $1,000 minimum) to 0.8 pips (Prime, $50,000 minimum). In Switzerland, forex accounts start at 1.7 pips on EUR/USD for Standard ($1,000 minimum), 1.4 pips for Premium ($10,000), and 1.1 pips for Prime ($50,000), with custom pricing negotiable for high-volume traders.
IFC Markets lists an average EUR/USD spread of 1.44 pips, which is higher than the 1.08-pip industry average, but its ECN account can lower effective costs to about 1.1 pips after a 0.005% commission on each side. There’s no inactivity fee, and active trader discounts are available. Taken together, IFC Markets’ fee profile slightly edges out Swissquote’s, reflected in its 4/5 star rating and #32 ranking versus Swissquote’s 3.5/5 stars and #35.
| 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.
Swissquote vs IFC Markets: both brokers support forex trading as CFDs and spot contracts and offer copy trading. IFC Markets lists about 630 tradeable symbols, more than Swissquote’s 472, but Swissquote provides more forex pairs (80 vs 49). Both brokers also let you trade cryptocurrency via CFDs.
For buying actual assets, Swissquote stands out. It lets clients purchase exchange-traded securities on U.S. and international exchanges and buy actual cryptocurrency, while IFC Markets offers international shares only (no U.S. share dealing) and no delivered crypto. In ForexBrokers.com’s ratings for Range of Investments, Swissquote scored 5 stars and ranked #2 of 63, whereas IFC Markets earned 3.5 stars and ranked #31. Pick Swissquote if you want share dealing or to own crypto; consider IFC Markets if you prefer a larger overall list of symbols and plan to trade 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.
Comparing trading platforms and tools, Swissquote and IFC Markets both check key boxes for most traders. Each broker offers a free simulated paper trading demo, proprietary in-house platforms, and popular third‑party choices with MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5). You can trade on Windows desktop downloads or in a web browser with either broker, use copy trading, and place orders directly from a chart.
Where they differ is overall strength in this category: Swissquote earns 4.5 stars and ranks #12 out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com for Trading Platforms and Tools, while IFC Markets scores 4 stars and ranks #29. If you want broader platform options and higher-rated tools, Swissquote has the edge, whereas IFC Markets still delivers a solid, feature-rich experience with MT4/MT5, web and desktop access, and a free demo to practice.
| 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 offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android. Each app supports price alerts for stocks and forex, includes 30 technical studies, lets you draw trendlines, and auto-saves your chart drawings so your annotations stay in place.
The key difference is watchlist syncing: IFC Markets syncs watchlist symbols between the mobile app and your online account, while Swissquote does not. ForexBrokers.com rates Swissquote 4.5/5 stars and ranks it 12th out of 63 brokers for Mobile Trading Apps, while IFC Markets earns 4/5 stars and ranks 34th. Consider Swissquote for a higher-rated overall mobile experience, or IFC Markets if synced watchlists across devices are essential.
| 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.
Swissquote and IFC Markets both deliver daily market commentary and an economic calendar, covering key global events. Swissquote adds forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg and Reuters and includes Autochartist for technical and fundamental pattern scanning—features IFC Markets lacks. Neither broker offers Trading Central, TipRanks, or Acuity Trading tools. IFC Markets counters with a sentiment-based trading tool that shows long and short positioning across instruments, which Swissquote does not provide.
If you value headline-driven market research and automated chart pattern insights, Swissquote has the edge. If crowd sentiment is essential to your strategy, IFC Markets offers that specific tool. According to ForexBrokers.com, Swissquote earns a 4-star Research rating and ranks 15th out of 63 brokers, while IFC Markets holds a 3.5-star rating and ranks 30th.
| 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.
For beginners comparing forex and CFD education, both Swissquote and IFC Markets deliver sizable video libraries, with at least 10 beginner videos and 10 advanced videos on trading topics. Swissquote also hosts monthly online educational webinars, giving new traders a chance to ask questions and learn live; IFC Markets does not currently run monthly webinars. If you prefer guided, interactive learning, Swissquote’s regular webinars can be a practical advantage, while IFC Markets suits those who favor self-paced video study.
Independent ratings reflect this edge: Swissquote earns 4 stars for Education and ranks #19 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while IFC Markets holds 3.5 stars and ranks #25. In short, both brokers offer helpful video education for newcomers, but Swissquote’s ongoing webinars and higher rating may make it the stronger pick for first-time traders seeking structured support.
| 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 #33.
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
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|---|---|---|
| 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 (FSA 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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