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.
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
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2002 | 2006 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 0 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
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
|
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 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
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 7184 | 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 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
|
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 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
|
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.
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
|
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 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
|
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
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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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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| Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
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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 | 0 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 1 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| 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 SCA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | ||
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | XTB | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 7184 | 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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