IFC Markets vs TopFX 2025
In this head to head comparison of IFC Markets vs TopFX, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
In this head to head comparison of IFC Markets vs TopFX, 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.
Founded in 2006, IFC Markets is a relatively established player in the online brokerage space, while TopFX, established in 2010, also has a solid presence. Both brokers remain privately held and are not affiliated with banking services. When it comes to regulatory standing, IFC Markets holds a single Tier-2 license, which reflects a moderate level of trust, and has a Trust Score of 73 according to ForexBrokers.com, indicating an average risk.
In contrast, TopFX, although newer, boasts one Tier-1 license, suggesting a more reliable standing in regulatory terms. However, it scores a 67 on the ForexBrokers.com Trust Score scale, indicating a higher risk compared to IFC Markets. Despite differences in regulatory credentials, both brokers offer unique advantages to different types of traders.
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Year Founded | 2006 | 2010 |
Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
Bank | No | No |
Tier-1 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
When comparing the commissions and fees of online brokers IFC Markets and TopFX, both brokers receive a commendable rating of 4 stars. IFC Markets ranks 39th out of 62 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com's evaluation for the Commissions and Fees category. While specific average spread data isn't available for IFC Markets, this rating suggests that their fee structure is competitive but not leading the field.
TopFX, coming in close at 40th in the same ranking, provides two distinct account options catered to different trading preferences. Their ZERO account offers a spread-only model with zero commissions but higher average spreads of about 1.03 pips on the EUR/USD, as recorded in July 2024. On the other hand, the RAW account, which is based on commissions, charges 2.75 EUR per side per trade, resulting in a total cost of roughly 0.88 pips, factoring in average spreads. This makes it more in line with the industry standard for cost-effectiveness.
Both brokers offer competitive fee structures while maintaining a fair ranking among top brokers. IFC Markets presents an unclarified spread fee model, while TopFX provides clear distinctions between its ZERO and RAW account types, appealing to traders who prefer either commission-free trading or low spread plus commission options.
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Minimum Deposit | $1 | Depends on payment method |
Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.44 | 1.03 |
All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | 0.88 |
Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No |
ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | No |
PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
Both IFC Markets and TopFX provide forex trading options as either CFDs or spot contracts. While IFC Markets offers 630 tradeable symbols, TopFX slightly edges ahead with 655 symbols. In terms of forex pairs, TopFX also has a broader selection with 60 pairs compared to IFC Markets' 49 pairs. An important distinction between the two is that IFC Markets permits the trading of exchange-traded securities on international exchanges, allowing clients to buy shares like Vodafone on the London Stock Exchange. TopFX, however, does not offer trading in exchange-traded securities from international exchanges.
Copy trading is available with both IFC Markets and TopFX, enabling investors to mimic the strategies of more experienced traders. Neither platform supports the purchase of actual cryptocurrencies, focusing instead on cryptocurrency derivatives. When it comes to the range of investments, both brokers are rated 3.5 stars. However, IFC Markets is ranked slightly higher at #43 compared to TopFX's #46 in the Range of Investments category by ForexBrokers.com out of 62 brokers assessed.
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Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 630 | 655 |
Forex Pairs (Total) | 49 | 60 |
U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No |
Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | 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.
IFC Markets and TopFX both offer strong trading platforms and tools, catering to the needs of modern traders. Both brokers provide free virtual demo accounts, allowing users to practice strategies without financial risk. However, IFC Markets stands out with its proprietary platform, offering an in-house developed trading experience, whereas TopFX relies on third-party platforms. Both brokers support a Windows-based desktop platform and web-based trading, ensuring flexibility in how you manage your investments. Moreover, they both offer the popular MetaTrader 4 platform, though only IFC Markets extends this with MetaTrader 5, appealing to traders looking for advanced features and tools.
When it comes to additional features, both IFC Markets and TopFX offer copy trading capabilities, enabling users to mimic successful traders. However, neither broker supports DupliTrade or ZuluTrade. Traders can enjoy a variety of technical analysis tools, with each broker offering 15 drawing tools for charting and the ability to trade directly from charts. Their watch lists are equally feature-rich, each providing seven columns for market data. Each broker is rated four stars for their trading platforms and tools, though IFC Markets ranks slightly higher at 36th compared to TopFX's 44th position in ForexBrokers.com's rankings. This comparison highlights the nuanced differences, helping you choose the right platform to enhance your trading journey.
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Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
Proprietary Platform | Yes | No |
Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No |
DupliTrade | No | No |
ZuluTrade | No | No |
Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 30 |
Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 15 | 15 |
Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Both IFC Markets and TopFX offer iPhone and Android apps designed for mobile trading, making them accessible for users on both major mobile platforms. These apps provide essential features like stock and forex price alerts and the ability to create watchlists with real-time quotes. Each app also offers 30 technical studies for charting, along with the ability to draw trendlines and view different time frames, such as daily, weekly, or intraday. Furthermore, both apps auto-save chart drawings, enhancing convenience for traders on the go.
Despite these shared features, there is a key difference between the two apps. IFC Markets allows for watchlist symbol syncing; changes made on the mobile app will automatically update on the user’s online account, providing seamless integration. On the other hand, TopFX does not offer this syncing feature. While both brokers are rated four stars for their mobile trading apps, their rankings differ slightly, with IFC Markets holding the 52nd spot and TopFX the 51st, out of 62 brokers, as listed by ForexBrokers.com. This makes both platforms comparable in functionality, with the choice between them hinging on specific syncing needs.
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Android App | Yes | Yes |
Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No |
Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 30 |
Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes |
Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When it comes to market research offerings, IFC Markets and TopFX cater to different needs. IFC Markets provides daily market commentary, which can be a great resource for traders who like regular updates. However, when it comes to forex news from leading sources like Bloomberg or Reuters, TopFX has the upper hand by making such critical information available to its users. Both brokers supply sentiment-based trading tools, giving traders insights into prevailing market sentiments across various instruments. Moreover, each broker offers an economic calendar that outlines global news events, aiding traders in timing their market moves.
TopFX stands out with additional support for advanced tools, featuring technical analysis and fundamental research resources from Autochartist and Trading Central, which are not available with IFC Markets. Neither broker provides tools from companies like TipRanks or Acuity Trading. In terms of ratings, IFC Markets edges slightly ahead with a 3.5-star score compared to TopFX’s 3 stars, according to ForexBrokers.com. In the Research category, IFC Markets ranks 40th out of 62 brokers, while TopFX comes in at 59th, reflecting their respective strengths and limitations in research offerings.
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Daily Market Commentary | Yes | No |
Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | Yes |
Autochartist | No | Yes |
Trading Central (Recognia) | No | Yes |
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.
When it comes to educational resources for beginners in forex and CFDs trading, IFC Markets stands out compared to TopFX. IFC Markets provides more than 10 educational materials, such as articles and videos, aimed at helping newcomers understand the basics of trading. They also offer a collection of over 10 beginner-friendly videos to further simplify complex trading concepts. Additionally, IFC Markets includes an investor dictionary with over 50 terms, making it easier for new traders to get up to speed with trading jargon. In contrast, TopFX does not meet these educational benchmarks, leaving beginners with fewer resources to rely upon.
Neither IFC Markets nor TopFX host regular webinars or provide archives of past sessions, which can limit interactive learning opportunities. However, IFC Markets maintains a better overall rating for education, with 3.5 stars from reviewers, compared to TopFX's 3 stars. In a competitive comparison of 62 brokers, IFC Markets ranks at number 30 for education, while TopFX falls much lower at number 60. This difference highlights IFC Markets as a more preferred choice for beginners seeking comprehensive educational support in the trading world.
Feature |
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Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | No |
Client Webinars | No | No |
Client Webinars (Archived) | No | No |
Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | No |
Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 62 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that IFC Markets is better than TopFX. IFC Markets finished with an overall rank of #45, while TopFX finished with an overall rank of #61.
IFC Markets is a well-established broker that has been in operation for 17 years. Forex traders at IFC Markets gain access to multiple trading platforms, a growing range of tradeable markets, and a balanced offering of research and educational content. However, IFC Markets’ Trust Score suffers due to the broker’s limited range of regulatory licenses.
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Overall Rating |
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Trust Score | 73 | 67 |
Range of Investments |
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Both IFC Markets and TopFX do not offer the option to buy actual delivered cryptocurrency, though they both provide the ability to trade cryptocurrency derivatives.
In comparing online brokers IFC Markets and TopFX, neither provider supports ACH or SEPA transfers for deposits or withdrawals, while TopFX offers PayPal and Skrill, unlike IFC Markets; both platforms facilitate transactions via Visa, Mastercard, and bank wires.
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 5Overall Rating | IFC Markets | TopFX | |
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Overall Rating |
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Commissions & Fees |
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Range of Investments |
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Platform & Tools |
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Mobile Trading |
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Research |
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Education |
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Trust Score | 73 | 67 | |
Winner | check_circle | ||
Review | TopFX Review |
Broker Screenshots | IFC Markets | TopFX | |
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Trading Platforms Gallery (click to expand) | |||
Mobile Trading Gallery (click to expand) | |||
Research Gallery (click to expand) | |||
Education Gallery (click to expand) |
Regulation | IFC Markets | TopFX | |
---|---|---|---|
Trust Score | 73 | 67 | |
Year Founded | 2006 | 2010 | |
Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
Bank | No | No | |
Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | No | Yes | |
Tier-1 Licenses | 0 | 1 | |
Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 0 | |
Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | IFC Markets | TopFX | |
---|---|---|---|
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) | No | No | |
USA (CFTC Authorized) | No | No | |
New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | No | |
Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | No | Yes |
Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | IFC Markets | TopFX | |
---|---|---|---|
Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | No | No | |
India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
Investments | IFC Markets | TopFX | |
---|---|---|---|
Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 630 | 655 | |
Forex Pairs (Total) | 49 | 60 | |
U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No | |
Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | 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 | IFC Markets | TopFX | |
---|---|---|---|
Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.44 | 1.03 | |
All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | 0.88 | |
Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No | |
Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | No | |
Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
Funding | IFC Markets | TopFX | |
---|---|---|---|
Minimum Deposit | $1 | Depends on payment method | |
PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | No |
Trading Platforms | IFC Markets | TopFX | |
---|---|---|---|
Proprietary Platform | Yes | No | |
Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No | |
cTrader | No | Yes | |
DupliTrade | No | No | |
ZuluTrade | No | No |
Trading Tools | IFC Markets | TopFX | |
---|---|---|---|
Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 7 | |
Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 30 | |
Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 15 | 15 | |
Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
Mobile Trading | IFC Markets | TopFX | |
---|---|---|---|
Android App | Yes | Yes | |
Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No | |
Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 30 | |
Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Research | IFC Markets | TopFX | |
---|---|---|---|
Daily Market Commentary | Yes | No | |
Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | Yes | |
Autochartist | No | Yes | |
Trading Central (Recognia) | No | Yes | |
TipRanks | No | No | |
Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Education | IFC Markets | TopFX | |
---|---|---|---|
Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | No | |
Client Webinars | No | No | |
Client Webinars (Archived) | No | No | |
Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | No |
Major Forex Pairs | IFC Markets | TopFX | |
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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 | TopFX Review |
Overall | IFC Markets | TopFX | |
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Overall Rating |
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Commissions & Fees |
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Range of Investments |
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Platform & Tools |
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Mobile Trading |
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Research |
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Education |
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Trust Score | 73 | 67 | |
Winner | check_circle | ||
Review | TopFX Review |