IC Markets Review 2024
IC Markets Overall rating
| Rating | Weight | |
| User Rating |
4.8 (676 reviews)
 |
3 |
| Popularity |
5.0
|
3 |
| Regulation |
5.0
|
2 |
| Pricing rating |
5.0
|
1 |
| Features |
5.0
|
1 |
| Customer Support |
5.0
|
1 |
Pros
- Well-established broker founded in 2007.
- High user rating of 4.8 out of 5 based on 675 reviews.
- Regulated by ASIC, CYSEC, and FSA.
- Offers a wide range of tradable instruments across various asset classes.
- Competitive spreads on forex and commodities.
- High organic monthly traffic indicating popularity.
- Advanced trading platforms including MT4 and MT5.
- Provides negative balance protection for EU clients.
Cons
- Not publicly traded, lacks transparency in financials.
- High spreads on certain instruments compared to competitors.
- Investor compensation scheme only available for EU clients.
- No support for cryptocurrencies under ASIC regulation.
- Limited maximum leverage for retail clients under ASIC and CYSEC regulations.
We tested IC Markets using real-money live accounts. Our reviews are unique in that they do not have any bias for or against any broker and are driven purely on the underlying data we compile from live account testing, regulatory data, and opinions from customers. We list all brokers and do not charge a fee for it. Read our About Us page to read our editorial guidelines and how we make money.
Trustworthiness & Regulation
IC Markets is a well-established broker, founded in 2007, and has grown to become one of the leading brokers in the industry. It is regulated by multiple authorities including ASIC in Australia, CYSEC in Cyprus, and FSA in Seychelles. IC Markets has received 675 user reviews, with 629 from verified real trading accounts, and boasts an impressive rating of 4.8 out of 5. It ranks first among 1103 forex brokers based on user ratings and expert analysis. Additionally, IC Markets receives significant web traffic, with 3,059,000 organic monthly visits, ranking it 13th out of 1103 forex brokers for organic traffic.
Despite its robust regulatory framework and high user ratings, it is essential to remember that even highly regulated and successful financial firms have failed in the past. Therefore, while IC Markets appears trustworthy and popular, investors should always exercise caution.
| Company | Licenses & Regulations | Segregated Client Money | Deposit Compensation Scheme | Negative Balance Protection | Rebates | Max. Leverage Retail Clients |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| International Capital Markets Pty Ltd |  |
 |
|
|
30 : 1 | |
| IC Markets (EU) Ltd | |
up to €20,000 |
|
|
30 : 1 | |
| Raw Trading Ltd | |
|
|
|
500 : 1 |
Deposit Insurance
IC Markets supports investor compensation programs as part of its regulatory frameworks. Under CYSEC regulation, clients are eligible for compensation of up to €20,000 in the event the firm fails. However, there is no deposit compensation scheme for clients under ASIC and FSA regulations. It is crucial for traders to understand the protection offered by their chosen regulatory jurisdiction.
Spreads and Costs
IC Markets offers competitive spreads across various asset classes. Compared to other market-leading brokers, IC Markets provides low spreads on forex and commodities, while its spreads on indices and cryptocurrencies are generally in line with industry averages.
Combined Spread/Commission Costs by Asset Class Compared to Market Leading Brokers
| Broker - Account Type | Crypto Average | Forex Average | Indices Average | Commodities Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IC Markets - Raw Spread | 9.97 | 1.22 | 1.02 | 0.07 |
| IC Markets - Standard | 10.09 | 1.49 | 1.05 | 0.09 |
| Axi - PRO | 13.67 | 1.22 | 1.55 | 0.07 |
| Pepperstone - Standard | 9.85 | 1.65 | 2.14 | 0.08 |
| XM Group - Standard | 39.34 | 2.49 | 3.8 | - |
Crypto averages comprise (BTCUSD, ETHUSD), forex averages comprise (EURUSD, USDJPY, GBPJPY, EURGBP, AUDNZD, CADCHF), indices averages comprise (US30, AUS200), and commodities average comprises (XAUUSD, XAGUSD). Data is sampled every 10 seconds for 24 hours to calculate the average. Forex is stated in pips, and the others are stated in base currency. All spreads including both spread and commission calculated in.
Our data comes from our sophisticated spread analyzer tool, which collects live account information and syncs with our performance analytics system. To compare all brokers and instruments with the latest live data, visit our spread analyzer tool. A spread is the difference between the bid (sell) and ask (buy) price of an asset and can vary widely between brokers and account types. Some brokers charge higher spreads but no commission, while others charge both, making it crucial to assess the total cost, which includes both spread and commission. Our values reflect this all-in cost. Note that some brokers may set low costs on popular pairs like EURUSD but higher rates on other instruments. Many brokers also advertise "as low as" spreads that may not reflect the true average or include commissions. Comparing true all-in cost averages across various instruments and asset classes is vital for accurate assessment.
Combined Spread/Commission Costs Per Instrument Compared to Market Leading Brokers
| Broker - Account Type | BTCUSD | ETHUSD | EURUSD | USDJPY | GBPJPY | EURGBP | AUDNZD | CADCHF | US30 | AUS200 | XAUUSD | XAGUSD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IC Markets - Raw Spread | 16.95 | 3 | 0.7 | 1.16 | 1.56 | 0.82 | 1.71 | 1.38 | 0.92 | 1.12 | 0.12 | 0.02 |
| IC Markets - Standard | 17.19 | 3 | 0 .88 | 1.14 | 2.12 | 1.35 | 1.84 | 1.6 | 0.92 | 1.18 | 0.16 | 0.02 |
| Axi - PRO | 25.03 | 2.3 | 0.54 | 1.31 | 1.84 | 0.72 | 1.44 | 1.46 | 2 | 1.1 | 0.13 | 0.02 |
| Pepperstone - Standard | 16.71 | 3 | 1.05 | 1.3 | 2.31 | 1.31 | 2.2 | 1.73 | 2.73 | 1.56 | 0.15 | 0.02 |
| XM Group - Standard | 73.74 | 4.94 | 1.29 | 2.06 | 4.02 | 2.37 | 2.91 | 2.31 | 4.18 | 3.42 | - | - |
Swap Rates/Financing Fees
Swap fees, also known as financing fees, are the cost of holding a trading position overnight. Positive swap rates pay out money, while negative swap rates incur a cost. IC Markets has some of the most competitive swap rates in the industry. Its average swap rate is lower compared to most market-leading brokers, making it a cost-effective choice for traders who hold positions overnight.
| Broker | Best | Average | USDJPY Swap Short | USDJPY Swap Long | NZDUSD Swap Short | NZDUSD Swap Long | XAUUSD Swap Short | XAUUSD Swap Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IC Markets | Best | -2.27 | -2.59 | 1.25 | -0.10 | -0.14 | 20.78 | -32.84 |
| Axi | -- | -3.19 | -2.65 | 1.40 | -0.04 | -0.13 | 15.30 | -33.00 |
| Pepperstone | -- | -3.03 | -2.61 | 1.22 | -0.14 | -0.13 | 23.75 | -40.25 |
| XM | -- | -5.04 | -3.66 | 1.09 | -0.16 | -0.20 | 19.67 | -46.99 |
| FxPro | -- | -4.60 | -2.99 | 0.94 | -0.14 | -0.15 | 18.50 | -43.75 |
Does IC Markets Offer Islamic/Swap-free Accounts?
Islamic accounts, also known as swap-free accounts, are designed for traders who cannot earn or pay interest due to religious reasons. IC Markets offers swap-free Islamic accounts to its clients. These accounts do not incur swap or rollover charges on overnight positions. To be eligible for an Islamic account, clients must adhere to Islamic law, and the broker may require proof of religious affiliation. Traders can request an Islamic account by contacting IC Markets' customer support.
Other Fees
In addition to spreads and swap rates, IC Markets charges other fees that traders should be aware of:
| Fee Type | Amount |
|---|---|
| Withdrawal Fees | Free for most methods, but $20 for international bank transfers. |
| Inactivity Fees | No inactivity fees. |
| Deposit Fees | Free for most methods, but may incur fees from intermediary banks. |
Comparison to other Brokers
IC Markets stands out among industry-leading brokers due to its high user ratings, competitive spreads, and extensive regulatory oversight. Compared to brokers like Axi, XM, FxPro, and Pepperstone, IC Markets offers lower average spreads and swap rates. Its well-established presence since 2007 and high organic web traffic further highlight its popularity and trustworthiness. However, it lacks the financial transparency of publicly traded companies and offers limited leverage under some regulatory jurisdictions.
What Can you Trade?
| Asset Class | Number of Instruments |
|---|---|
| Forex CFD | 61 |
| Crypto CFD | 13 |
| Stock CFD | 2100+ |
| Stock Index CFD | 25 |
| Commodities CFD | 28 |
| Bond CFD | 9 |
| Futures CFD | 4 |
IC Markets offers a wide range of tradable instruments, including CFDs on forex, cryptocurrencies, stocks, stock indices, commodities, bonds, and futures. Traders can access detailed information on available instruments on IC Markets' trading products page.
Trading CFDs or derivatives means you do not own the underlying asset, but instead speculate on its price movement. This allows for leveraged trading, where you can control a larger position with a smaller amount of capital. While leverage can amplify gains, it also increases the risk of significant losses.
Trading Platforms - Mobile, Desktop, Automated
| Platform | Device |
|---|---|
| Metatrader 4 | Desktop, Mobile, Web |
| Metatrader 5 | Desktop, Mobile, Web |
IC Markets offers the popular MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 platforms for desktop, mobile, and web trading. These platforms are known for their advanced charting tools, extensive range of indicators, and support for automated trading through Expert Advisors (EAs). MT4 and MT5 use the MQL programming language, which is relatively easy to learn and allows traders to create custom indicators and automated trading strategies.
Additionally, IC Markets supports automated trading, which enables traders to execute trades based on predefined criteria without manual intervention. This feature is particularly beneficial for those who use complex trading strategies and want to take advantage of market opportunities around the clock.
Available Leverage
IC Markets offers varying leverage levels depending on the regulatory jurisdiction and the type of instrument traded. Under ASIC and CYSEC regulations, the maximum leverage for retail clients is 30:1, while under FSA regulation in Seychelles, leverage can go up to 500:1. This flexibility allows traders to choose the leverage that best suits their risk tolerance and trading strategy.
Prohibited Countries
IC Markets cannot open client accounts for residents of the United States, Canada, Israel, Iran, and some other countries due to regulatory restrictions. For a full list of prohibited countries, traders should refer to the broker's website or contact customer support.
IC Markets Account types
| Standard | Raw Spread | cTrader Raw | |
| Commission | - | 7.00 USD\7.00 AUD\5.00 GBP\5.50 EUR\9.00 SGD\54.25 HKD | $3.00 Per Side Per 100K USD Traded |
| Maximum leverage | 500:1 | ||
| Mobile Platform | MT4 Mobile | cTrader Mobile | |
| Trading Platform | MT4, MT5, WebTrader | cTrader, WebTrader | |
| Spread Type | Variable Spread | ||
| Minimum Deposit | 200 | ||
| Minimum Trade Size | 0.01 | ||
| Trailing Stops |  | ||
| Scalping Allowed | | ||
| Hedging Allowed | | ||
| Islamic Accounts | | ||
| Standard | |
| Maximum leverage | 500:1 |
| Typical Spread | 1.0-1.1 |
| Trading platform | MT4MT5WebTrader |
| Mobile platform | MT4 Mobile |
| Spread type | Variable Spread |
| Minimum deposit | 200 |
| Minimum Trade Size | 0.01 |
| Trailing Stops | |
| Scalping Allowed | |
| Hedging Allowed | |
| Islamic Accounts |
|
| Raw Spread | |
| Commission | 7.00 USD\7.00 AUD\5.00 GBP\5.50 EUR\9.00 SGD\54.25 HKD |
| Maximum leverage | 500:1 |
| Typical Spread | 0.0-0.1 |
| Trading platform | MT4MT5WebTrader |
| Mobile platform | MT4 Mobile |
| Spread type | Variable Spread |
| Minimum deposit | 200 |
| Minimum Trade Size | 0.01 |
| Trailing Stops | |
| Scalping Allowed | |
| Hedging Allowed | |
| Islamic Accounts |
|
| cTrader Raw | |
| Commission | $3.00 Per Side Per 100K USD Traded |
| Maximum leverage | 500:1 |
| Typical Spread | 0.1 |
| Trading platform | cTraderWebTrader |
| Mobile platform | cTrader Mobile |
| Spread type | Variable Spread |
| Minimum deposit | 200 |
| Minimum Trade Size | 0.01 |
| Trailing Stops | |
| Scalping Allowed | |
| Hedging Allowed | |
| Islamic Accounts |
|
IC Markets Web traffic
| Websites |
icmarkets.com
|
| Organic monthly visits | 3,059,697 (88%) |
| Organic traffic rank | 13 out of 1103 (Forex Brokers) |
| Paid monthly visits | 430,707 (12%) |
| Total monthly visits | 3,490,404 |
| Bounce rate | 40% |
| Pages per visit | 4.07 |
| Average visit duration | 00:03:40.9620000 |
IC Markets Profile
| Company Name | International Capital Markets Pty Ltd |
| Categories | Forex Brokers, Cryptocurrency Brokers, Forex Rebates, Cryptocurrency Rebates |
| Primary Category | Forex Brokers |
| Year Founded | 2007 |
| Headquarters | Australia |
| Office Locations | Australia, China |
| Account Currency | AUD, CAD, CHF, EUR, GBP, JPY, NZD, SGD, USD, HKD |
| Client funds bank | National Australian Bank (NAB), Westpac Banking Corporation |
| Support Languages | Arabic, Bulgarian, Chinese, English, French, German, Indonesian, Italian, Korean, Malay, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Thai, Vietnamese, Czech, Croatian |
| Funding Methods | Bank Wire, BPAY, Broker to Broker, China Union Pay, Credit Card, FasaPay, Neteller, PayPal, POLi, Skrill, Klarna, RapidPay |
| Financial Instruments | Futures, Forex, Shares, Indices, Bonds, Oil/Energies, Cryptocurrencies, Metals, Soft Commodities (coffee, sugar...) |
| Prohibited Countries | Afghanistan, Angola, American Samoa, Central African Republic, Congo, Ivory Coast, Cook Islands, Cuba, Gambia, Guinea, Guam, Guinea Bissau, Israel, Iraq, Iran, Kyrgyzstan, Cambodia, North Korea, Lebanon, Libya, Mali, Myanmar, Northern Mariana Islands, Martinique, New Caledonia, Niue, New Zealand, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Puerto Rico, Reunion, Russia, Sudan, Sierra Leone, Senegal, Somalia, Syria, Tokelau, United States, Virgin Islands, U.s., Wallis and Futuna, Yemen, Mayotte, Zimbabwe, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Republic Of The Congo, Saint Barthelemy, Sint Maarten, South Sudan |
24 hour support
Segregated Accounts
Islamic Accounts
Accepts Canadian clients
Accepts Japanese Clients
Non expiring demo
Trading API
Cent accounts
Negative balance protection
Social trading
Regulatory deposit insurance
Trailing stops
Bonuses
Interest on margin
Fixed spread
Variable spread
IC Markets User reviews
)
Newer user ratings have greater impact than older ratings and user ratings have no impact after 5+ years old. The more reviews a company receives, the higher the maximum possible aggregate user rating. After 100 reviews a company can receive the highest rating, which is an average of their user ratings.
IC Markets Regulation / Money Protection
| Company | Licenses & Regulations | Segregated Client Money | Deposit Compensation Scheme | Negative Balance Protection | Rebates | Max. Leverage Retail Clients |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| International Capital Markets Pty Ltd |
|
|
|
|
30 : 1 | |
| IC Markets (EU) Ltd |
|
up to €20,000
|
|
|
30 : 1 | |
| Raw Trading Ltd |
|
|
|
|
500 : 1 |
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