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Home ‣ Compare ‣ Swissquote vs IFC Markets 2025

Swissquote vs IFC Markets 2025

ForexBrokers.com

Written by ForexBrokers.com

February 05, 2025

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.

Swissquote
4.5/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: $1000
  • Trust Score: 99
  • Tradeable Symbols (Total): 472
IFC Markets
4/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: $1
  • Trust Score: 73
  • Tradeable Symbols (Total): 630

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.

Regulation

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 logoSwissquote
IFC Markets logoIFC Markets
Year Founded info 1996 2006
Publicly Traded (Listed) info Yes No
Bank info Yes No
Tier-1 Licenses info 5 0
Tier-2 Licenses info 2 1
Tier-3 Licenses info 0 0
Tier-4 Licenses info 0 1

Fees

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 logoSwissquote
IFC Markets logoIFC Markets
Minimum Deposit info $1000 $1
Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard info N/A info 1.44 info
All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active info N/A info 1.1 info
Active Trader or VIP Discounts info Yes Yes
ACH or SEPA Transfers info Yes No
PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes No
Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes No
Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) info Yes Yes
Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes Yes

Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.

Featured Offers


Range of investments

Swissquote and IFC Markets both let you trade forex as either CFDs or spot. IFC Markets lists more total tradeable symbols (630) than Swissquote (472), yet Swissquote offers more forex pairs (80 vs. 49). In independent reviews for range of investments, Swissquote earns 5 stars and ranks #2 out of 63 brokers, while IFC Markets holds 3.5 stars and ranks #44.

If you want real stocks, Swissquote lets you buy exchange‑traded U.S. shares like Apple, along with international shares; IFC Markets offers exchange‑traded shares on international markets but not U.S. stocks. Both brokers support copy trading. For crypto, Swissquote provides access to both actual coins and crypto derivatives, whereas IFC Markets offers crypto derivatives only.

Feature Swissquote logoSwissquote
IFC Markets logoIFC Markets
Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) info Yes Yes
Tradeable Symbols (Total) info 472 630
Forex Pairs (Total) info 80 49
U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) info Yes No
Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) info Yes Yes
Social Trading / Copy Trading info Yes Yes
Cryptocurrency (Physical) info Yes No
Cryptocurrency (Derivative) info 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.

Trading platforms and tools

Swissquote and IFC Markets both tick the key boxes for traders looking for flexible platform choices. Each broker offers a free demo account for paper trading, a proprietary platform, and both Windows desktop and web-based platforms. They also support MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5), plus copy trading. Neither integrates DupliTrade or ZuluTrade. If you like acting fast on market moves, both brokers let you place trades directly from charts.

When it comes to tools, Swissquote lists 75 drawing tools versus 15 at IFC Markets; the number of built-in technical indicators isn’t specified for either. For watchlists, Swissquote provides 11 columns (fields), while IFC Markets offers 7. According to ForexBrokers.com, Swissquote earns 4.5 stars for Trading Platforms and Tools and ranks #12 out of 63 brokers, while IFC Markets earns 4 stars and ranks #37.

Feature Swissquote logoSwissquote
IFC Markets logoIFC Markets
Virtual Trading (Demo) info Yes Yes
Proprietary Platform info Yes Yes
Desktop Platform (Windows) info Yes Yes
Web Platform info Yes Yes
Social Trading / Copy Trading info Yes Yes
MetaTrader 4 (MT4) info Yes Yes
MetaTrader 5 (MT5) info Yes Yes
DupliTrade info No No
ZuluTrade info No No
Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) info 86 30
Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) info 75 15
Charting - Trade From Chart info Yes Yes
Watchlists - Total Fields info 11 7

Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.

Forex trading apps

Swissquote and IFC Markets both deliver capable mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android. Each app supports price alerts, real-time watchlists, multi-timeframe charts (intraday to weekly and more), 30 technical studies, and drawing tools like trendlines with auto-saved annotations. Whether you’re checking quotes or marking up charts on the go, the core charting and alert features are well covered on both platforms.

The standout difference is watchlist syncing: IFC Markets syncs symbols between the mobile app and your online account, while Swissquote does not. In terms of quality scores, Swissquote earns 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #12 out of 63 brokers for Mobile Trading Apps on ForexBrokers.com, compared with IFC Markets at 4 stars and #53. Choose IFC Markets if cross-device watchlist syncing is a must; pick Swissquote if you want a higher-rated overall mobile experience.

Feature Swissquote logoSwissquote
IFC Markets logoIFC Markets
Android App info Yes Yes
Apple iOS App info Yes Yes
Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields info Yes Yes
Watchlist Syncing info No Yes
Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies info 30 30
Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines info Yes Yes
Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames info Yes Yes
Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave info Yes Yes
Mobile Watchlist info Yes Yes

Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.

Market research

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 logoSwissquote
IFC Markets logoIFC Markets
Daily Market Commentary info Yes Yes
Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) info Yes No
Autochartist info Yes No
Trading Central (Recognia) info No No
Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs info No Yes
TipRanks info No No
Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) info No No
Economic Calendar info Yes Yes

Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.

Beginners and education

Both Swissquote and IFC Markets give beginner traders plenty of forex and CFD education. Each broker offers at least 10 learning pieces focused on forex/CFDs, more than 10 beginner-friendly videos, advanced video lessons for when you’re ready to level up, and an investor dictionary with 50+ terms. The key difference is live training: Swissquote runs monthly educational webinars and provides a searchable archive of past sessions, while IFC Markets does not offer webinars or an archive.

These extras help Swissquote earn a higher Education score: 4 stars and a #20 ranking out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, compared with IFC Markets’ 3.5 stars and #30 ranking. If live classes and on-demand recordings matter to you, Swissquote is the stronger pick. If you mainly want self-paced articles and videos, both online brokers can meet a beginner’s needs.

Feature Swissquote logoSwissquote
IFC Markets logoIFC Markets
Education (Forex or CFDs) info Yes Yes
Client Webinars info Yes No
Client Webinars (Archived) info Yes No
Videos - Beginner Trading Videos info Yes Yes
Videos - Advanced Trading Videos info Yes Yes
Investor Dictionary (Glossary) info Yes Yes

Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.

Winner

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 logoSwissquote
IFC Markets logoIFC Markets
Overall Rating info 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Trust Score info 99 73
Range of Investments 5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Commissions & Fees 3.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Platforms & Tools 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Research 4/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Mobile Trading 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Education 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars

FAQs

Can you trade cryptocurrency with Swissquote or IFC Markets?

Swissquote stands out by allowing users to purchase actual delivered cryptocurrency in addition to cryptocurrency derivatives, while IFC Markets only provides options for buying cryptocurrency derivatives, not the actual digital currency itself.

What funding options does each broker offer?

When comparing the online brokers Swissquote and IFC Markets, Swissquote outshines by offering multiple funding options including ACH or SEPA transfers, PayPal, and Skrill, alongside Visa, Mastercard, and bank wires, whereas IFC Markets provides more limited deposit and withdrawal methods, supporting only Visa, Mastercard, and bank wires.

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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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Overall Rating Swissquote IFC Markets
Overall Rating info 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Commissions & Fees 3.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Range of Investments 5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Platforms & Tools 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Mobile Trading 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Research 4/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Education 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Trust Score info 99 73
Winner check_circle
Review Swissquote Review
Broker Screenshots Swissquote IFC Markets
Broker Gallery (click to expand) info
Swissquote CFXD mobile app watchlist light mode. Swissquote CFXD web platform dark mode. Swissquote YouTube videos market analysis research. Swissquote educational course learning center
Regulation Swissquote IFC Markets
Trust Score info 99 73
Year Founded info 1996 2006
Publicly Traded (Listed) info Yes No
Bank info Yes No
Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). info Yes info
Tier-1 Licenses info 5 0
Tier-2 Licenses info 2 1
Tier-3 Licenses info 0 0
Tier-4 Licenses info 0 1
Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) Swissquote IFC Markets
Australia (ASIC Authorised) info No
Canada (CIRO Authorised) info No
Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) info Yes
Japan (SFC Authorised) info No
Singapore (MAS Authorised) info Yes
Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) info Yes
United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) info Yes
USA (CFTC Authorized) info No
New Zealand (FMA Authorised) info No
Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). info Yes info
Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) Swissquote IFC Markets
Kenya (CMA Authorised) info
Israel (ISA Authorised) info No
South Africa (FSCA Authorised) info Yes Yes
UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) info Yes
India (SEBI Authorised) info No
Jordan (JSC Authorised) info
Investments Swissquote IFC Markets
Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) info Yes Yes
Tradeable Symbols (Total) info 472 630
Forex Pairs (Total) info 80 49
U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) info Yes No
Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) info Yes Yes
Social Trading / Copy Trading info Yes Yes
Cryptocurrency (Physical) info Yes No
Cryptocurrency (Derivative) info 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 info N/A info 1.44 info
All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active info N/A info 1.1 info
Active Trader or VIP Discounts info Yes Yes
Inactivity Fee info Yes No
Execution: Agency Broker info Yes Yes
Execution: Market Maker info Yes Yes
Funding Swissquote IFC Markets
Minimum Deposit info $1000 $1
PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes No
Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes No
Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) info Yes Yes
Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes Yes
ACH or SEPA Transfers info Yes No
Trading Platforms Swissquote IFC Markets
Proprietary Platform info Yes Yes
Desktop Platform (Windows) info Yes Yes
Web Platform info Yes Yes
Social Trading / Copy Trading info Yes Yes
MetaTrader 4 (MT4) info Yes Yes
MetaTrader 5 (MT5) info Yes Yes
cTrader info No No
DupliTrade info No No
ZuluTrade info No No
Trading Tools Swissquote IFC Markets
Virtual Trading (Demo) info Yes Yes
Alerts - Basic Fields info Yes Yes
Watchlists - Total Fields info 11 7
Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) info 86 30
Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) info 75 15
Charting - Trade From Chart info Yes Yes
Charts can be saved info Yes Yes
Mobile Trading Swissquote IFC Markets
Android App info Yes Yes
Apple iOS App info Yes Yes
Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields info Yes Yes
Mobile Watchlist info Yes Yes
Watchlist Syncing info No Yes
Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies info 30 30
Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines info Yes Yes
Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames info Yes Yes
Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave info Yes Yes
Mobile Economic Calendar info Yes Yes
Research Swissquote IFC Markets
Daily Market Commentary info Yes Yes
Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) info Yes No
Autochartist info Yes No
Trading Central (Recognia) info No No
TipRanks info No No
Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs info No Yes
Economic Calendar info Yes Yes
Education Swissquote IFC Markets
Education (Forex or CFDs) info Yes Yes
Client Webinars info Yes No
Client Webinars (Archived) info Yes No
Videos - Beginner Trading Videos info Yes Yes
Videos - Advanced Trading Videos info Yes Yes
Investor Dictionary (Glossary) info Yes Yes
Major Forex Pairs Swissquote IFC Markets
GBP/USD info Yes Yes
USD/JPY info Yes Yes
EUR/USD info Yes Yes
USD/CHF info Yes Yes
USD/CAD info Yes Yes
NZD/USD info Yes Yes
AUD/USD info Yes Yes
Review Swissquote Review
Overall Swissquote IFC Markets
Overall Rating info 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Commissions & Fees 3.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Range of Investments 5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Platforms & Tools 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Mobile Trading 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Research 4/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Education 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Trust Score info 99 73
Winner check_circle
Review Swissquote Review
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