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XTB vs IFC Markets 2025

ForexBrokers.com

Written by ForexBrokers.com

February 05, 2025

In this head to head comparison of XTB vs IFC Markets, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.

XTB
5/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: $0 info
  • Trust Score: 96
  • Tradeable Symbols (Total): 7184 info
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

Comparing XTB and IFC Markets offers insights into their trustworthiness and regulatory landscapes. XTB, established in 2002, stands out with a high trust score of 96 out of 99 according to ForexBrokers.com. As a publicly traded company, XTB boasts two Tier-1 licenses, which are considered highly trusted, and two Tier-2 licenses, adding layers of credibility to its operations. Furthermore, while not a bank, its public trading status underscores transparency and strong investor confidence.

In contrast, IFC Markets, founded in 2006, holds a trust score of 73, marking it as an average risk broker. Unlike XTB, IFC Markets is not publicly traded and does not hold any Tier-1 licenses, positioning it differently in terms of regulatory strength. Despite holding only one Tier-2 license, IFC Markets continues to serve its clients while navigating its own regulatory pathway. The differences in licensing and public transparency between XTB and IFC Markets highlight distinct choices based on user trust preferences.

Feature XTB logoXTB
IFC Markets logoIFC Markets
Year Founded info 2002 2006
Publicly Traded (Listed) info Yes No
Bank info No No
Tier-1 Licenses info 2 0
Tier-2 Licenses info 2 1
Tier-3 Licenses info 1 0
Tier-4 Licenses info 2 1

Fees

If you’re comparing commissions and fees at XTB and IFC Markets, XTB earns 4.5/5 stars and ranks #13 out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, while IFC Markets earns 4/5 stars and ranks #32 out of 63. Both keep pricing straightforward, but their costs vary by account type, trade size, and how actively you trade.

XTB offers a spread-only Standard account and a commission-based Professional account reserved for elected professionals in the U.K. and EU; the Pro option is being phased out and isn’t promoted in most regions. In Q4 2023, the average EUR/USD spread on XTB was about 1.0 pip. For smaller trade sizes, the Standard account is typically cheaper; at higher volumes, Standard and Pro pricing is similar. XTB also runs the Lower Spread Group for active traders, rebating 5% to 30% of the spread once you hit monthly volume tiers (from about 20 to 1,000 lots). Minimum deposits start at 250 in your base currency. Overall, XTB’s pricing sits near the industry average, though it doesn’t beat the very lowest-cost brokers.

IFC Markets’ average EUR/USD spread is about 1.44 pips—above the 1.08-pip industry average—so its classic pricing is less competitive than XTB’s headline spread. More active traders can consider IFC Markets’ ECN account, where the effective EUR/USD cost can be around 1.1 pips after a 0.005% commission is charged on each side of the trade. IFC Markets also doesn’t charge inactivity fees and offers active-trader discounts. Bottom line: XTB looks sharper for smaller trade sizes and general use, while IFC Markets can make more sense if you qualify for its ECN plan and trade larger volumes.

Feature XTB logoXTB
IFC Markets logoIFC Markets
Minimum Deposit info $0 info $1
Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account info 0.92 info 1.44 info
All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active info 0.92 info 1.1 info
Non-wire bank transfer info No No
PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes No
Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes No
Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes Yes

Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.

Featured Offers


Range of investments

XTB vs IFC Markets: for range of investments, XTB lists 7,184 tradeable symbols and 71 forex pairs, while IFC Markets offers 630 symbols and 49 pairs. Both let you trade forex either as CFDs or spot contracts. XTB also lets clients buy exchange-traded shares directly on both U.S. and international exchanges, whereas IFC Markets offers direct shares on some international exchanges but not on U.S. markets. Both brokers provide cryptocurrency trading through CFDs but do not offer actual coins. Copy trading is available at IFC Markets but not at XTB.

In independent testing of range of investments, XTB scores 5 out of 5 stars and ranks 14th out of 63 brokers, while IFC Markets earns 3.5 stars and ranks 31st. Choose XTB if you want far more markets and the ability to buy U.S. and global stocks outright; consider IFC Markets if you value copy trading and are comfortable with a smaller selection.

Feature XTB logoXTB
IFC Markets logoIFC Markets
Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) info Yes Yes
Tradeable Symbols (Total) info 7184 info 630
Forex Pairs (Total) info 71 49
U.S. Stocks (Shares) info Yes No
Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) info Yes Yes
Copy Trading info No Yes
Cryptocurrency (Underlying) info No No
Cryptocurrency (CFDs) 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

XTB and IFC Markets both make it easy to get started with a free demo account and give you multiple ways to trade, including web-based platforms and Windows desktop downloads. Each broker also offers its own proprietary platform and supports trading directly from charts, which is handy for quick entries and exits.

The key differences come down to extras. IFC Markets supports MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 and also offers copy trading, while XTB does not. Despite that, XTB earns the higher marks for platform quality, rated 4.5 stars and ranked #9 out of 63 brokers for Trading Platforms and Tools, compared with IFC Markets at 4 stars and #29. If you want MT4/MT5 or copy trading, IFC Markets is the better fit; if you prefer a polished in-house platform experience, XTB stands out.

Feature XTB logoXTB
IFC Markets logoIFC Markets
Virtual Trading (Demo) info Yes Yes
Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform info Yes Yes
Desktop Platform (Windows) info Yes Yes
Web Platform info Yes Yes
Copy Trading info No Yes
MetaTrader 4 (MT4) info No Yes
MetaTrader 5 (MT5) info No Yes
Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) info 39 30
Charting - Trade From Chart info Yes Yes

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

Forex trading apps

XTB vs IFC Markets mobile app comparison: Both brokers offer iPhone and Android apps with price alerts for stocks and forex. XTB earns 4.5/5 stars and is ranked #8 out of 63 brokers for Mobile Trading Apps by ForexBrokers.com, while IFC Markets scores 4/5 stars and ranks #34.

For charting, XTB provides 39 technical indicators compared to IFC Markets’ 30. Both apps let you draw trendlines on stock or forex charts and automatically save your drawings. Watchlists are the key difference: XTB’s mobile watchlist doesn’t sync with the web platform, whereas IFC Markets syncs watchlists across devices. Choose XTB if you want more indicators and a higher-rated app; pick IFC Markets if seamless watchlist syncing matters most.

Feature XTB logoXTB
IFC Markets logoIFC Markets
Android App info Yes Yes
Apple iOS App info Yes Yes
Mobile Price Alerts info Yes Yes
Mobile Watchlists - Syncing info No Yes
Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies info 39 30
Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines info Yes Yes
Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave info Yes Yes

Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.

Market research

In the XTB vs IFC Markets research comparison, XTB takes the lead with a 5-star Research rating and a #9 ranking out of 63 brokers, while IFC Markets holds 3.5 stars and ranks #30. Both brokers publish daily market commentary and provide an economic calendar. A key difference is news: XTB streams forex news from top-tier sources such as Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones, whereas IFC Markets does not integrate these feeds.

When it comes to tools, neither broker includes Autochartist, Trading Central, TipRanks, or Acuity Trading. Both do offer sentiment data that shows the split between long and short positions across instruments. If you want premium news alongside commentary and a calendar, XTB is the stronger pick; if you only need the basics—commentary, calendar, and sentiment—IFC Markets covers those essentials.

Feature XTB logoXTB
IFC Markets logoIFC Markets
Daily Market Commentary (Articles) info Yes Yes
Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) info Yes No
Autochartist info No No
Trading Central info No No
Client sentiment data info Yes Yes
TipRanks info No No
Acuity Trading info No No
Economic Calendar info Yes Yes

Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.

Beginners and education

XTB and IFC Markets both support beginner traders with video-based forex and CFD education. Each broker offers at least 10 beginner videos plus at least 10 advanced videos for when you want to level up. A clear difference is live learning: XTB runs client webinars at least once a month, while IFC Markets does not. If you prefer real-time sessions and the chance to ask questions, XTB has that covered; if you mainly want on‑demand videos, both brokers deliver.

Independent ratings back this up. XTB earns 5 stars for Education and ranks 11th out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, while IFC Markets scores 3.5 stars and ranks 25th. For beginners who value frequent webinars alongside a solid set of videos, XTB is the stronger pick. For self-paced learners focused on beginner and advanced videos, IFC Markets is a workable choice.

Feature XTB logoXTB
IFC Markets logoIFC Markets
Webinars info Yes No
Videos - Beginner Trading Videos info Yes Yes
Videos - Advanced Trading Videos 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 XTB is better than IFC Markets. XTB finished with an overall rank of #7, while IFC Markets finished with an overall rank of #33.

As a trusted multi-asset broker, XTB offers outstanding customer service, a wide variety of forex and CFDs, and an excellent overall trading experience. Its xStation 5 trading platform is well-designed and packed with innovative features, and XTB’s offers comprehensive educational content and market research.

Feature XTB logoXTB
IFC Markets logoIFC Markets
Overall Rating info 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Trust Score info 96 73
Range of Investments 5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Trading Fees 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Trading Platforms 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Research 5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Mobile Trading 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Education 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars

FAQs

Can you trade cryptocurrency with XTB or IFC Markets?

Both online brokers XTB and IFC Markets do not support buying actual (delivered) cryptocurrencies, but they do offer cryptocurrency CFD trading, enabling traders to speculate on crypto price movements without owning the underlying assets.

What funding options does each broker offer?

For deposits and withdrawals, XTB supports PayPal and Skrill in addition to bank wire transfers (no ACH/SEPA), while IFC Markets supports bank wire transfers but does not offer ACH/SEPA, PayPal, or Skrill.

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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 XTB IFC Markets
Overall Rating info 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Trading Fees 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Range of Investments 5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Trading Platforms 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Mobile Trading 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Research 5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Education 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Trust Score info 96 73
Winner check_circle
Review XTB Review
Broker Screenshots XTB IFC Markets
Broker Gallery (click to expand) info
XTB xStation mobile trading app sentiment XTB xStation 5 web platform XTB website news headlines and sentiment. XTB educational course intermediate article lesson details
Regulation XTB IFC Markets
Trust Score info 96 73
Year Founded info 2002 2006
Publicly Traded (Listed) info Yes No
Bank info No No
Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). info Yes
Tier-1 Licenses info 2 0
Tier-2 Licenses info 2 1
Tier-3 Licenses info 1 0
Tier-4 Licenses info 2 1
Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) XTB IFC Markets
Australia (ASIC Authorised) info No
Canada (CIRO Authorised) info No
Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) info No
Japan (FSA Authorised) info No
Singapore (MAS Authorised) info No
Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) info
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
Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) XTB IFC Markets
Kenya (CMA Authorised) info
Israel (ISA Authorised) info No
South Africa (FSCA Authorised) info Yes Yes
UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) info Yes info
India (SEBI Authorised) info No
Jordan (JSC Authorised) info
Investments XTB IFC Markets
Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) info Yes Yes
Tradeable Symbols (Total) info 7184 info 630
Forex Pairs (Total) info 71 49
U.S. Stocks (Shares) info Yes No
Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) info Yes Yes
Copy Trading info No Yes
Cryptocurrency (Underlying) info No No
Cryptocurrency (CFDs) 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 XTB IFC Markets
Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account info 0.92 info 1.44 info
All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active info 0.92 info 1.1 info
Inactivity Fee info Yes No
Order execution: Agency info Yes Yes
Order execution: Market Maker info Yes Yes
Funding XTB IFC Markets
Minimum Deposit info $0 info $1
PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes No
Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes No
Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes Yes
Non-wire bank transfer info No No
Trading Platforms XTB IFC Markets
Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform info Yes Yes
Desktop Platform (Windows) info Yes Yes
Web Platform info Yes Yes
Copy Trading info No Yes
MetaTrader 4 (MT4) info No Yes
MetaTrader 5 (MT5) info No Yes
cTrader info No No
Trading Tools XTB IFC Markets
Virtual Trading (Demo) info Yes Yes
Price Alerts info Yes Yes
Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) info 39 30
Charting - Trade From Chart info Yes Yes
Charts can be saved info Yes Yes
Mobile Trading XTB IFC Markets
Android App info Yes Yes
Apple iOS App info Yes Yes
Mobile Price Alerts info Yes Yes
Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] info
Mobile Watchlists - Syncing info No Yes
Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies info 39 30
Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines info Yes Yes
Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave info Yes Yes
Mobile Research - Economic Calendar info Yes Yes
Research XTB IFC Markets
Daily Market Commentary (Articles) info Yes Yes
Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) info Yes No
Autochartist info No No
Trading Central info No No
TipRanks info No No
Client sentiment data info Yes Yes
Economic Calendar info Yes Yes
Education XTB IFC Markets
Webinars info Yes No
Videos - Beginner Trading Videos info Yes Yes
Videos - Advanced Trading Videos info Yes Yes
Major Forex Pairs XTB IFC Markets
GBP/USD [DELETED] info
USD/JPY [DELETED] info
EUR/USD info Yes Yes
USD/CHF [DELETED] info
USD/CAD [DELETED] info
NZD/USD [DELETED] info
AUD/USD [DELETED] info
Review XTB Review
Overall XTB IFC Markets
Overall Rating info 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Trading Fees 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Range of Investments 5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Trading Platforms 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Mobile Trading 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Research 5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Education 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Trust Score info 96 73
Winner check_circle
Review XTB Review
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