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BROKER REVIEW

IC Markets Review

A detailed look at IC Markets' regulation, trading costs, platforms, execution, available markets and account experience.

9.6
InvestingDo Score
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Best For Active Traders
Platforms MT4 · MT5 · cTrader
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!

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QUICK VERDICT

IC Markets at a glance

9.6

IC Markets is positioned toward traders seeking competitive pricing, multiple professional trading platforms and broad access to forex and CFD markets.

Its strongest appeal is likely to be among active traders who place particular emphasis on execution, raw-spread pricing and platform choice.

Minimum Deposit Varies
Spreads From 0.0 pips*
Platforms MT4 / MT5 / cTrader
Account Types Standard / Raw
Asset Coverage Multi-Asset
Review Score 9.6 / 10
REVIEW BREAKDOWN Weighted Score
Regulation & Trust 9.5
Trading Costs 9.8
Platforms 9.6
Execution 9.7
Market Access 9.3
Account Experience 9.4
Overview Regulation Trading Costs Platforms Accounts Markets Pros & Cons FAQ
BROKER OVERVIEW

IC Markets review overview

A closer look at the broker's overall positioning, account structure, trading environment and the types of traders it may suit.

OUR VIEW

A trading-focused broker with competitive pricing and broad platform choice.

IC Markets is widely positioned toward active forex and CFD traders who value low-cost account structures, access to multiple trading platforms and a broad selection of instruments.

Its appeal is particularly strong for traders looking for raw-spread pricing and access to platforms such as MetaTrader and cTrader. However, actual conditions can vary depending on the legal entity, account type and jurisdiction serving the client.

BEST SUITED FOR Active and cost-conscious traders

Traders who prioritize platform flexibility, competitive pricing and broader market access.

LESS SUITED FOR Users seeking a very simple investing experience

The platform ecosystem and account choices may feel more trading-oriented than beginner-investing focused.

+
ADVANTAGES

What stands out

✓
Competitive pricing structure

Raw-spread account options can appeal to active forex traders.

✓
Strong platform selection

Support for MetaTrader and cTrader provides flexibility for different trading styles.

✓
Broad market access

Multiple asset classes are available through the broker's CFD offering.

✓
Trading-focused environment

The overall offering is designed around active market participation rather than passive investing.

−
LIMITATIONS

What to consider

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Conditions vary by legal entity

Regulation, leverage, products and protections can differ depending on the jurisdiction.

!
Raw pricing may include commission

A low quoted spread does not necessarily represent the complete trading cost.

!
CFD trading carries significant risk

Leverage can amplify both gains and losses, making risk management important.

!
Not a traditional investing platform

Users looking primarily for long-term share ownership may prefer a different type of platform.

BOTTOM LINE IC Markets is strongest when evaluated as a trading platform rather than a general investing app.

Traders who value pricing, platform flexibility and execution may find the offering attractive, but jurisdiction-specific conditions should always be reviewed before opening an account.

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REGULATION & TRUST

How we assess broker trust

TRUST SCORE 9.5 20% of total review
OUR ASSESSMENT

Regulation should be evaluated by legal entity, not brand name alone.

Large international brokers may operate through multiple legal entities. The regulator, leverage limits, available products and client protections can therefore differ depending on the entity that serves a particular customer.

For IC Markets, traders should confirm which legal entity they are opening an account with and review the regulator, client agreement and applicable protections for their own jurisdiction before funding an account.

01 Legal Entity Identify the company that will actually hold the trading account.
02 Regulator Check the regulator supervising that specific entity.
03 Client Protections Review fund segregation and other applicable safeguards.
04 Jurisdiction Understand which rules apply where the account is registered.
REGULATORY STRUCTURE Multiple entities may serve different regions

The exact entity available to a client can depend on location and eligibility. Always verify the current structure on the broker's official website and regulator records.

AU
ENTITY TYPE

Australian Entity

Clients eligible for an Australian-regulated entity should verify the company name and current license directly with the relevant Australian regulator.

Verify current entity
EU
ENTITY TYPE

European Entity

European clients may be served under a regional legal entity with rules and protections that differ from those in other markets.

Verify current entity
INT
ENTITY TYPE

International Entity

International clients may be onboarded through another regulated entity, potentially with different leverage and protection rules.

Verify current entity
TRUST CHECKLIST What we look for
20% WEIGHT
01 Regulatory Oversight Licensing and supervision
02 Fund Segregation Client-money handling
03 Legal Transparency Entity disclosure
04 Risk Disclosure Clear client information
!
Regulation does not remove trading risk.

A regulated broker can still offer leveraged products that involve substantial risk. Regulatory status should be considered alongside product risk, pricing, execution and the trader's own circumstances.

TRUST TAKEAWAY Verify the entity before evaluating the protections.

The relevant regulator and account protections depend on the legal entity serving the client, not simply the IC Markets brand name.

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TRADING COSTS

Understand the true cost of trading

Headline spreads are only one part of the picture. Account type, commissions, overnight financing and other charges can all affect the total trading cost.

COST SCORE 9.8 20% of total review
PRICING OVERVIEW

Raw spreads can be attractive, but commissions still matter.

IC Markets offers account structures designed around both spread-only pricing and raw-spread pricing with an additional commission. The most suitable option depends on trading frequency, instrument choice and platform.

Traders comparing brokers should focus on the total round-trip trading cost rather than the minimum advertised spread alone.

01 Spread The difference between bid and ask prices.
02 Commission An additional charge that may apply to raw accounts.
03 Swap Potential overnight financing on positions held open.
04 Other Fees Funding or third-party charges may apply in some cases.
ALL-IN COST

Don't compare spreads in isolation.

A raw account advertising a near-zero spread may still include a separate commission. The more useful comparison is the total cost of opening and closing the trade.

SPREAD Market cost
+
COMMISSION If applicable
+
FINANCING If held overnight
=
TOTAL Trading Cost
SP

Spreads

Spreads can change with liquidity, volatility and the instrument being traded.

CM

Commissions

Raw-spread accounts may charge a commission per lot or per side, depending on the platform.

SW

Swap / Financing

Positions held overnight may incur financing charges or credits depending on the instrument and direction.

FX

Currency Conversion

Conversion costs may apply when deposits, withdrawals or trading activity involve another account currency.

i
Trading costs are dynamic.

Spreads, swap rates, commissions and payment charges can change. Always confirm the latest pricing directly with the broker before relying on a cost comparison.

COST TAKEAWAY IC Markets is most compelling when total trading cost matters.

The raw-pricing structure can be attractive for active traders, but the final comparison should include both spread and commission.

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PLATFORMS & EXECUTION

Flexible platforms. Trading-focused execution.

Platform choice, order tools and execution quality can matter just as much as spreads. IC Markets offers several popular trading platforms aimed at different styles of active trading.

PLATFORMS 9.6 15% weight
EXECUTION 9.7 15% weight
MT4
FOREX STANDARD

MetaTrader 4

A widely used forex trading platform with charting, automated strategies and a large ecosystem of indicators and Expert Advisors.

  • Desktop trading
  • Mobile apps
  • Expert Advisors
  • Custom indicators
Best for Forex-focused traders
MULTI-ASSET
MT5
NEXT GENERATION

MetaTrader 5

A broader multi-asset platform with additional order types, timeframes and analytical functionality compared with MT4.

  • More timeframes
  • Expanded order tools
  • Strategy testing
  • Multi-asset support
Best for Multi-asset traders
cT
ACTIVE TRADING

cTrader

A modern trading platform known for an execution-focused interface, depth-of-market tools and a cleaner active-trading experience.

  • Depth of market
  • Advanced order entry
  • Web platform
  • Automation support
Best for Active traders
PLATFORM EXPERIENCE

Choose based on workflow, not just familiarity.

MT4 remains familiar for forex traders, MT5 provides broader functionality, while cTrader offers a more modern interface and trading workflow. The best choice depends on strategy, automation requirements and preferred order tools.

01 Desktop Full trading environment
02 Web Browser-based access
03 Mobile Trading on iOS and Android
04 Automation Algorithmic strategy support
PLATFORM COMPARISON At a glance
Feature MT4 MT5 cTrader
Forex Trading ✓ ✓ ✓
Web Access ✓ ✓ ✓
Mobile Apps ✓ ✓ ✓
Automation EA EA Algo
Multi-Asset Focus Basic Strong Strong
EXECUTION

What matters after you click buy or sell

EXECUTION SCORE 9.7
SP

Speed

Faster order processing can be especially important for active, short-term and automated strategies.

LQ

Liquidity

Access to underlying liquidity can influence spreads, fills and trading conditions during different market environments.

SL

Slippage

Fast-moving markets can produce fills above or below the requested price, especially around high-impact events.

OR

Order Handling

Traders should understand how market, limit and stop orders are handled under the broker's execution model.

ORDER FLOW A simple way to think about execution
01 Order Sent Trader submits order
→
02 Price Checked Available market pricing
→
03 Order Filled Execution occurs
→
04 Position Open Trade appears in platform
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Execution quality can vary with market conditions.

Liquidity, volatility, news events and order size can affect fills, slippage and spreads. No broker can guarantee identical execution conditions on every trade.

PLATFORM TAKEAWAY Platform flexibility is one of IC Markets' stronger features.

MT4, MT5 and cTrader give traders several ways to structure their workflow, while the execution-focused environment may particularly suit more active trading styles.

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