Written by ForexBrokers.com
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.
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.
XTB vs IFC Markets: XTB was founded in 2002 and is publicly traded, while IFC Markets started in 2006 and is not listed on a stock exchange. Neither broker is a bank. For regulation, XTB holds 2 Tier-1 licenses and 2 Tier-2 licenses, and earns a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 96/99, which places it in the highly trusted category. IFC Markets holds 1 Tier-1 license and no Tier-2 licenses, with a Trust Score of 73/99, indicating average risk.
According to ForexBrokers.com, Trust Scores of 90–99 are highly trusted, 80–89 trusted, 70–79 average risk, 60–69 high risk, and below 59 not trusted. In practical terms, XTB’s higher score and greater number of top-tier licenses suggest stronger overall oversight compared with IFC Markets. Always consider regulation and listing status alongside your trading needs when choosing between these brokers.
| Feature |
XTB
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2002 | 2006 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 5 |
XTB has a better showing on commissions and fees than IFC Markets overall. XTB scores 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #13 out of 36 brokers for the Commissions and Fees category. Its pricing is generally in line with the industry average, with Q4 2023 data showing an average EUR/USD spread of 1 pip on the spread-only Standard account. XTB also offers an active trader rebate program, called Lower Spread Group, which can return 5% to 30% of the spread once trading volume reaches set levels. The minimum deposit starts at 250 in base currency, and for most retail traders the Standard account is the more practical choice.
IFC Markets is more mixed on pricing. It earns 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #32 out of 36 brokers for commissions and fees. Its average EUR/USD spread is 1.44, which is wider than the industry average of 1.08 and makes it less competitive for everyday forex trading. That said, active traders may find better value through IFC Markets’ ECN account, where the effective spread comes to about 1.1 pips after the 0.005% commission on both sides of a trade.
In simple terms, XTB is the stronger choice if low trading costs matter most, especially for standard retail forex trading. IFC Markets can still appeal to traders who use its ECN account or want the benefit of no inactivity fees and active trader discounts, but its regular spread pricing is not as attractive. For commissions and fees alone, XTB comes out ahead.
| Feature |
XTB
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $1 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.92 | 1.44 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.92 | 1.1 |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
XTB has a much wider range of investments than IFC Markets, making it the stronger choice for traders who want more variety. XTB offers 10,900 tradeable symbols and 71 forex pairs, compared with IFC Markets’ 630 symbols and 49 forex pairs. Both brokers support forex trading, international exchange-traded securities, and cryptocurrency CFDs, but only XTB also lets clients buy U.S.-listed shares such as Apple as actual stocks rather than CFDs.
IFC Markets does have one advantage: it offers copy trading, which XTB does not. However, when it comes to overall market access, XTB comes out ahead with a 5-star Range of Investments rating and a #14 ranking out of 36 brokers, while IFC Markets is rated 3.5 stars and ranked #31. Neither broker offers direct purchase of actual cryptocurrency.
| Feature |
XTB
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 10900 | 630 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 71 | 49 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | 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.
XTB and IFC Markets both give traders a strong starting point with free demo accounts, plus both offer their own in-house platform, a Windows desktop app, and a web-based platform for trading in a browser. Each also lets users place trades straight from a chart, which can make order entry quicker and easier for active traders. In terms of overall platform quality, XTB scores higher at 4.5 out of 5 and ranks #9 out of 36 brokers for Trading Platforms and Tools, while IFC Markets scores 4 out of 5 and ranks #29.
The main difference is that IFC Markets gives traders more platform choices and extra features, including copy trading and access to MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, which may appeal to those who want familiar third-party tools. XTB does not offer copy trading or the MetaTrader platforms, so it may suit traders who prefer a simpler setup centered on XTB’s own platform. For charting and watch lists, both brokers provide trading tools, though neither broker’s exact indicator or watch list field counts were provided here.
| Feature |
XTB
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 39 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
XTB and IFC Markets both make it easy to trade from a phone, with iPhone and Android apps available for each. Both apps also support stock or forex price alerts, trendline drawing, and automatic saving of chart drawings, which can help traders follow the market and mark key levels on the go. XTB stands out for charting depth, offering 39 technical studies in its mobile app compared with 30 at IFC Markets.
One key difference is watchlist syncing: IFC Markets lets watchlists update between the mobile app and online account, while XTB does not. Overall, XTB has the stronger mobile app profile, with a 4.5-star rating and an #8 ranking out of 36 brokers for Mobile Trading Apps, compared with IFC Markets’ 4-star rating and #34 ranking. For traders who want more chart tools and a higher-rated app, XTB has the edge, while IFC Markets may appeal to those who value synced watchlists.
| Feature |
XTB
|
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 | 39 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
XTB and IFC Markets both give traders useful market research basics, including daily market commentary, a sentiment tool showing long and short positions, and an economic calendar with upcoming global events. Neither broker includes research from Autochartist, Trading Central, TipRanks, or Acuity Trading. Where XTB stands out is in its forex news coverage, which includes top-tier sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones, while IFC Markets does not offer this type of premium news feed.
Overall, XTB is the stronger choice for market research. It earns 5 out of 5 stars for Research and ranks #9 out of 36 brokers in ForexBrokers.com’s Research category, compared with IFC Markets at 3.5 stars and #30. For traders who want broader news access and a higher-rated research experience, XTB has the edge.
| Feature |
XTB
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central | No | No |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
XTB is the stronger choice for beginners who want more learning support. It offers forex and CFD education, hosts online educational webinars at least once a month, and provides at least 10 beginner videos as well as 10 advanced videos. That focus is reflected in its 5-star Education rating and its #11 ranking out of 36 brokers by ForexBrokers.com. IFC Markets also offers at least 10 beginner videos and 10 advanced videos, but it does not provide monthly educational webinars. It is rated 3.5 stars for Education and ranks #25 out of 36, making its learning section less complete overall.
For new traders, the main difference is depth and consistency. XTB gives beginners more ways to learn forex and CFD basics through a wider mix of educational content and regular webinars, while IFC Markets covers some of the same ground but with fewer learning options for ongoing support. If you want more frequent guidance and a larger education library, XTB has the edge; if you only need basic video lessons, IFC Markets may still meet your needs.
| Feature |
XTB
|
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 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
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IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
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| Trust Score | 96 | 73 |
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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.
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.
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 | XTB | IFC Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 96 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | XTB Review |
| Broker Screenshots | XTB | IFC Markets | |
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| Regulation | XTB | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 96 | 73 | |
| Year Founded | 2002 | 2006 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | ||
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 1 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 5 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | XTB | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | No | ||
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | ||
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | ||
| Japan (FSA Authorised) | No | ||
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | No | ||
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | |||
| 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) | XTB | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | ||
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or CMA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | ||
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | XTB | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 10900 | 630 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 71 | 49 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | 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 | XTB | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.92 | 1.44 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.92 | 1.1 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | XTB | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $1 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | XTB | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | XTB | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 39 | 30 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | XTB | 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 | 39 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | XTB | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | XTB | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | XTB | 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 | XTB Review |
| Overall | XTB | IFC Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 96 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | XTB Review |
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