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IC Markets Review

Updated:
4.6
Trust
4.2
Fees
4.9
Platforms and Tools
4.6
Customer Support
3.8
Tradable Instruments
4.7
Account Types and Terms
4.9
Deposit and Withdrawal
5.0
Research
5.0
Education
5.0
While we adhere to strict editorial integrity, this page may refer to our partners' products. Here's how we make money.Learn how we make money and our review methodology.

Please Note: For this IC Markets Review, we focused on the services provided by www.icmarkets.com/global, operated by Raw Trading Ltd an entity regulated by the FSA of Seychelles, using the Standard Account from the MetaTrader desktop platform.

The Big Picture

IC Markets is a top-notch broker for serious Forex traders and is regulated by financial bodies such as CySEC, ASIC, SCB and the FSA of Seychelles. While the services and products are mainly geared towards professional traders, beginner traders will find a lot of support and useful tools.  You can trade more than 1,700+ financial CFD instruments covering forex, stocks, indices, cryptos and commodities.

If you’re looking for a broker which provides low trading fees then IC Markets could be for you. From our live testing, the broker provides low spreads and commissions. There are three trading platforms offered which are mainly for professional traders. However, beginner traders can trade from the easy to use mobile trading app.

IC Markets Key Takeaways for 2022

  • We evaluated IC Markets according to nine categories. The broker scored highly in several categories as opening an account was a breeze and we found the trading fees to be very competitive and better than the industry average.
  • One of the lowest scores was in the Platform and Tools section but only because the three platforms offered (MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5 and cTrader) are mainly geared towards professional traders. There are a lot of support tools for beginners and we found the mobile app the easiest and fastest way to place a trade.
  • Beginners will enjoy the commission-free trading account, webinars and trading courses. There is a lot of support provided by the broker to help people get started in trading.
  • Advanced traders will enjoy access to a wealth of tools, products and support to elevate their trading. This includes access to raw spread trading accounts, the MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5 and cTrader platforms, as well as additional third-party tools like AutoChartist which provides real-time trading ideas.

What Sets IC Markets Apart from Other Brokers?

IC Markets is regulated around the world, providing a very competitive offering to traders. From our live testing, we found the trading fees such as spreads and commissions to be better than the industry average.

The ease of opening an account was great as everything is digital and they have 24/7 customer support. The broker is also very transparent in the differences of opening an account with their global entities that are regulated in different jurisdictions.

Who is IC Markets For?

IC Markets pride themselves on providing an offering that is the choice for high-volume traders, scalpers and robots. From our research and live testing, we believe this to be the case.

Trading fees were very competitive with several different accounts offering low spreads and low commissions. All of the fees are very transparent too. You can access three professional trading platforms that are geared towards advanced traders.

However, the offering is also geared to beginner traders with access to trading courses, market research, webinars, customer support and demo trading accounts to practice and hone your trading skills.

IC Markets Pros and Cons

Pros Cons
  • Great trading fees
  • Lots of tools and platforms available
  • Wide range of research and education available
  • Trading platforms have a learning curve
  • Offering may be overwhelming to beginners
  • Global entities have different investor protections

 

broker

Your Capital is at Risk

 

About the Author

Jitan Solanki
Jitan Solanki is a professional trader, market analyst, and educator. He day trades major currency and index markets and focuses on swing trading US equities and commodities.
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How Do We Rate?

When trading forex and CFDs, it is crucial to know a broker's strengths and weaknesses. That is why FX Empire developed its proprietary rating system. We put the knowledge and expertise of our reviewers to work to bring you the most suitable brokers. A total of 200 variables have been analyzed to help you choose your broker wisely. This chart describes all the categories we evaluated and rated.
How Do We Rate Chart
Visit our methodology page to learn more about our review and rating process.
IC Markets Main Features
☑️
Regulations
ASIC (Australia), CySEC (Cyprus), FSA(SC) (Seychelles)
🗺
Supported Languages
English, Spanish, Arabic, Russian, Portuguese, Chinese, Vietnamese, Italian, Thai, Indonesian
💰
Products (CFD)
Currencies, Commodities, Indices, Stocks, Bonds, Futures, Options, Crypto
💵
Min Deposit
$200
💹
Max Leverage
1:30 (ASIC), 1:30 (CySEC), 1:500 (FSA(SC))
🖥
Trading Desk Type
ECN, No dealing desk
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IC Markets Full Review

Trust

4.2
How Do We Test A Broker's Trust?
When choosing a broker, trustworthiness is one of the most important things to keep in mind. Always check the broker's regulations, know how financially secure the firm is, and find out whether the broker is transparent and reliable. These factors, calculated into our score, will help you understand if your money is safe.

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IC Markets scored average points in this category as they have two global entities that are regulated by tier 1 financial regulators and two that are regulated by tier 3 financial regulators. However, the broker has added in some of its own safeguards to protect you, such as insurance, negative balance protection and segregated client accounts.

We also found the broker is very transparent in its dealings. All of its entities provide clear information on what protections you have or do not have. This is important as the broker is being upfront about how they will treat you as a client which is always good to know. They also provide more protections and safeguards than is required, meaning they take your safety seriously.

As IC Markets was founded in 2007 they provide strong stability. Having been in business for so long and to have navigated the changes in the financial markets since that time means they are serious about the business and what they provide to its clients.

Why Is It Important to Know Where Your Broker Subsidiary (Entity) is Regulated?

The location of a broker will dictate the level of regulatory oversight and protections offered to investors. Due to a regulatory clampdown from tier 1 regulators such as the FCA, CySEC and ASIC, many brokers have moved offshore so it’s worthwhile doing your due diligence.

We look for several things when analysing the safety and trust of a broker. This includes:

  1. Segregation of client funds from company funds. Having client funds segregated from company funds is always important as you don’t want your broker to use your funds to run their business!
  2. A negative balance protection policy. This means that your account cannot go into a negative balance from adverse movements in the market.
  3. Compensation scheme. Does the entity or regulator provide access to compensation in the event a broker goes bust?
  4. Are additional safeguards put in place by the broker even when they are not required to do so? This is a great measure of just how serious your broker takes your safety!

Some financial regulators make it a regulatory requirement to offer some of these features, while others do not.

IC Markets Regulations

IC Markets operates four different entities around the world (two tier 1 regulators and two tier 3 regulators):

  • Raw Trading Ltd – authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority (FSA) of Seychelles, a tier 3 regulator.
  • International Capital Markets Pty Ltd – authorised and regulated by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), a tier 1 regulator.
  • IC Markets (EU) Ltd – authorised and regulated by the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC), a tier 1 regulator.
  • IC Markets Ltd – authorised and regulated by the Securities Commission of the Bahamas (SCB), a tier 3 regulator.
Raw Trading Ltd International Capital Markets Pty Ltd IC Markets (EU) Ltd
Operation www.icmarkets.com/global www.icmarkets.com/au www.icmarkets.com/eu
Regulation FSA Seychelles ASIC CySEC
Segregated Funds Yes Yes Yes
Negative Balance Protection Yes Yes Yes
Compensation Scheme Yes, insurance up to $1,000,000 per client No Yes, Investor Compensation Fund

*Regulations up to date as of 5 November 2021.

Raw Trading Ltd (FSA Seychelles) – Protections and Safeguards

Raw Trading Ltd operates www.icmarkets.com/global. While the FSA of Seychelles is considered a tier 3 financial regulator, this entity has added in extra safeguards for its clients, such as:

  • Insurance coverage up to $1,000,000 per client.
  • Keeping client funds with tier 1 banks and segregated from company funds.
  • Providing a negative balance protection policy.

It’s not a regulatory requirement to do this – as it is for brokers regulated by CySEC or ASIC – so it’s great to see IC Markets providing this for accounts opened under this entity.

The authorisation and licencing of Raw Trading Ltd can be confirmed on the FSA register. 

IC Markets FSA Seychelles Regulation
IC Markets FSA Seychelles Regulation

International Capital Markets Pty Ltd (ASIC) – Protections and Safeguards

The International Capital Markets Pty Ltd entity operates www.icmarkets.com/au and is authorised and regulated by ASIC which is considered a tier 1 financial regulator. The oversight from the regulator tends to be higher than offshore jurisdictions but there is no compensation scheme available if the broker goes bust.

With this entity, client money is held in segregated accounts with AA rated Australian banks.

The authorisation and licencing of International Capital Markets Pty Ltd can be confirmed on the ASIC register. 

IC Markets ASIC Regulation
IC Markets ASIC Regulation

IC Markets (EU) Ltd (CySEC) – Protections and Safeguards

The IC Markets (EU) Ltd entity operates www.icmarkets.com/eu and is authorised and regulated by CySEC which is considered a tier 1 financial regulator.

With this entity, it is a regulatory requirement for the broker to segregate client funds from their own, offer a negative balance protection policy and be part of the Investor Compensation Fund to protect clients in the event of default.

The authorisation and licencing of IC Markets (EU) Ltd can be confirmed on the CySEC register.

IC Markets CySEC Regulation
IC Markets CySEC Regulation

Fees

4.9
How Do We Test A Broker's Fees?
Broker fees can be difficult to understand. We test the broker's platforms and examine commissions, spreads, and overnight fees to ensure that you can determine if trading with this broker is worth your time and money.

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IC Markets trading fees are very competitive and better than the industry average. The Forex and Stock fees were great, while the Commodity fees were just in line with the industry average.

There are a variety of different fees to look at when choosing a broker.

  • Trading fees are those associated with buying and selling a financial instrument and include:
    • Commission – The cost to enter and exit a trade.
    • Spread – The cost between the buy price and sell price
    • Overnight swap fee – The cost of holding a leveraged position overnight.
    • Conversion fees – The cost to convert your base currency into the currency of the asset you are trading, if it is different.
  • Non-trading fees are charges that are not related to buying and selling a financial instrument and include:
    • Deposit and withdrawal fees (discussed further down this review)
    • Inactivity fees – The cost to have a trading account opened with zero activity on it.

IC Markets Trading Fees

In our live trading test for fees, we used the commission-free Standard trading account from the FSA of Seychelles regulated entity (Raw Trading Ltd).

We viewed the live spread for Forex, indices and commodities at two different times of the day – around 8 am and 2 pm London time on 19 October 2021. The live spread for stocks was viewed at 2.45 pm London time which is just after the US market open.

These times generally cover the most liquid sessions of the day.

What did we find? IC Markets are very competitive and better than the industry average.

Instrument London AM Spread London PM Spread
EURUSD 0.6 0.6
GBPJPY 1.2 1.5
Gold 1.8 1.9
WTI Oil 0.03 0.03
DAX 40 0.5 0.5
Dow 30 1.3 1.3
Apple 0 0.04
Tesla 0 0.3

The overnight swap fees were also in line with the industry average. This fee is important for long-term traders, as overnight fees can add up if you are holding trades for a long period of time.

Are IC Markets Trading Fees Good?

Forex, indices and stock trading fees are very competitive with IC Markets and better than the industry average. Many brokers will advertise a 1 point spread on the DAX 40. With IC Markets it is only 0.5 points, meaning you are getting more of the profit in your account.

The spread for GBPJPY was also very competitive at 1.2 and 1.5 pips. Some brokers would easily quote 5 pips for such a volatile currency pair.

The best thing is that these are the spreads for the commission-free trading account. The spreads on the broker’s other account types are likely to be even lower but with a commission to pay to buy and sell.

The commodity trading fees, while still competitive, were just in line with the industry average. The stock fees were also surprising too as there is no commission to pay to buy and sell as there are for many other brokers.

IC Markets Non-Trading Fees

Some brokers impose an inactivity fee on trading accounts if there is no activity on your account, such as the buying and selling of an instrument, deposits and withdrawals, for a certain period of time.

With IC Markets there are zero inactivity fees.

Platforms and Tools

4.6
How Do We Test A Broker's Platforms and Tools?
Platforms are where you trade, so they must be secure, fast, and accessible while offering you the tools you need to succeed. Each broker's desktop, web, and mobile platforms are evaluated according to the order types, speed of execution, ease of use, and other 'need to know' features.

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IC Markets provides users with the ability to trade on three professional trading platforms – MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5 and cTrader for mobile, web and desktop which has a steep learning curve. The mobile app is the easiest, simplest and fastest way to trade.

The platforms and tools provided by IC Markets are mainly aimed towards advanced and professional traders. The MT4, MT5 and cTrader platforms come equipped with a lot of features for technical analysis, algorithmic trading, indicator customisation and social trading – as well as add-ons such as AutoChartist plugins for real-time trading ideas.

IC Markets provides access to straight through processing (STP) and electronic communications network (ECN) dealing. This means orders are routed straight through to the market giving you the best data and fills.

Which Platforms Are Suitable for Beginner and Advanced Traders?

The MetaTrader suite of trading platforms is considered to be the most popular trading platform in the world. Many Forex and CFD brokers offer these platforms to their clients. However, cTrader is another globally recognised platform that is mainly geared towards professional, short-term and algorithmic traders.

While there will be a learning curve for beginner traders for these platforms, it’s well worth it as there are a lot of features available. However, if you’re looking for a quick and simple way to buy and sell, then use the mobile app as that is the fastest way.

IC Markets Desktop/Web Platform

The IC Markets MT4, MT5 and cTrader desktop and web platforms are designed for professional traders. Beginners will find the web platform the easiest to use but there will still be a learning curve.

For our test, we downloaded the MT5 desktop platform for Windows. It’s an upgraded version of the MT4 platform and comes packed with features designed for professional traders.

  • Lots of advanced tools for professional traders
  • Great for technical analysis and algorithmic trading
  • Good level of customisation on desktop, limited on web
  • Learning curve for beginners but easy to use over time

Charts

As soon as you open the brokers desktop or web platform you will have a chart in front of you. The web platform is limited to being able to view just one chart, whereas the desktop allows you to have multiple charts open at one time.

Searching for your instrument on the chart is not that simple. You need to search for it in the market watch window and then drag it onto the chart. But the charts are clean and you can access 21 timeframes on MT5, along with 38 different technical indicators.

Below is a screenshot of the IC Markets MetaTrader 5 desktop platform for Windows:

IC Markets MetaTrader 5 Desktop Platform
IC Markets MetaTrader 5 Desktop Platform

Orders

You can place live market trades which enter you in the market at the current price. You can also place pending trades that will enter you in the market at a set predefined price level that you type into the order ticket.

Expiry orders are also available which helps you to manage your overall risk in the market and make sure you don’t open a trade at the wrong time. You can also set alerts in the desktop platform but not the web platform.

General Ease of Use

Both the MetaTrader 5 desktop and web platforms have a small learning curve. The easiest way to trade is through the MetaTrader 5 web platform as no download is required. You have the chart on the left side and access to different indicators and timeframes.

The desktop platform takes some time to get used to as there are a lot of customisations available that you don’t have on the web platform. For example, the desktop platform allows you to have multiple charts open at once and you can organise them in any size you wish. You cannot do this on the web platform.

Beginner traders will enjoy the simplicity of the web platform. Advanced traders will enjoy the level of customisations available and access to more trading tools such as algorithmic trading and customised indicators.

Other Features

The MetaTrader desktop platforms also allow you to access the MetaTrader Marketplace where you can download algorithmic trading strategies and build customised indicators.

Furthermore, IC Markets provides an additional plugin for MetaTrader called AutoChartist. This is an external tool that scans the market for opportunities and provides you with real-time trading ideas.

IC Markets Mobile App

In our live test, we used the MetaTrader 4 mobile trading app. We found it to be the easiest and fastest way for beginners to trade with simple design and navigation.

The MetaTrader 4 mobile trading app comes with a range of features that allow you to manage your account, view your positions and place live trades on the go. The download process was easy and is a great way for beginner traders to start trading.

Devices

You can download the mobile app for Android and iOS devices. In our test, we downloaded the MetaTrader 4 mobile app which is available on Android and iOS operating devices and can be downloaded from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store.

Charts

In the MT4 mobile app, there are several icons at the bottom where you can access real-time quotes, charts, position history or settings. Viewing the chart is simple and can be done by clicking on the market of your choice.

The carts are clean and you can access 9 timeframes, along with 30 different technical indicators for technical analysis.

Below are some screenshots of the IC Markets MetaTrader 4 mobile app for iOS devices:

IC Markets MetaTrader 4 Mobile App for iOS
IC Markets MetaTrader 4 Mobile App for iOS

Orders

The mobile app allows you to place pending trades or enter live at the market. Unfortunately, you cannot add expiries or set alerts.

General Ease of Use

The mobile app is the easiest platform to get started with. The download is simple and the navigation is user friendly. Everything is laid out in a simple and structured manner that allows you to navigate between several core categories which include Quotes, Chart, Trade, History and Settings.

The Quotes icon allows you to see real-time prices quotes of the instruments available to trade on. You can create watchlists in this section and add to your list, as well as view information such as an instrument’s opening hours.

If you click on an instrument it will give you several options including Chart and Trade. Chart will take you to a live chart of the instrument. Here it is simple to view different timeframes, as well as perform technical analysis using drawing tools and technical indicators.

The learning curve is small for the mobile app and a great place to start trading.

Other Features

Most of the additional trading features are on the desktop platform. The mobile app provides a simple way to place trades and manage positions.

Tradable Instruments

4.7
How Do We Test A Broker's Tradable Instruments?
In this section, we check the broker’s market offering and how varied the instruments and asset classes are. It will allow you to check if they offer what you're looking for and what you can trade.

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With IC Markets you can trade on more than 1,700+ financial CFD instruments covering all the major asset classes including Forex, stocks, indices, commodities, bonds and cryptocurrencies.

The range of instruments available to trade on is above the industry average. The Forex pairs include majors, minors and exotic currencies while commodities include metals, energies and softs.

The stock offering covers equities listed on the Australia Stock Exchange (ASX), the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and the NASDAQ Exchange but no equities from European exchanges.

What are CFDs?

CFDs, or Contracts for Difference, is a derivative product that allows you to speculate on the price direction of a financial instrument allowing you to profit from rising and falling markets. You can also trade on margin which means you can control a large position with a smaller deposit, amplifying both gains and losses.

What Can You Trade with IC Markets?

With IC Markets you can trade CFDs on:

  • 1,600+ stocks
    • ASX, NYSE, NASDAQ
  • 61 Forex pairs
    • Majors, minors and exotics
  • 25 indices
    • Global Cash and futures indices
  • 22 commodities
    • Metals, energies and softs
  • 18 cryptocurrencies
    • Mostly against the USD
  • 9 bonds
    • US, UK, European and Japanese

This is a great offering covering all the major markets across all the different asset classes. Many retail brokers would not offer bonds as it is not heavily traded by retail traders but mainly professionals.

Below is a list of just some of the available markets for trading:

Forex Indices
EURUSD | GBPJPY | AUDNZD | USDCHF | GBPCAD | AUDSGD | USDTHB ASX 200 | Germany 40 | Japan 225 | UK 100 | Wall Street 30 | Canada 60 | Netherlands 25
Commodities Stocks
XAUUSD | XTIUSD | Wheat Rio Tinto Ltd | Apple | Tesla
Crypto Bonds
BTCUSD | ETHUSD | LTCUSD Euro Bund | US 10 YR T-Note | Japanese 10 YR

*Details regarding the available assets are taken from the IC Markets trading platform and website and are correct at the time of this review.

IC Markets offers a really good range of tradable instruments and the number of instruments available is well above the industry average.

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Customer Support

3.8
How Do We Test A Broker's Customer Support?
Traders tend to underestimate customer support, but it might be a crucial feature in moments of crisis. In our rating, we check the contact methods available, how accessible a live agent is and how helpful the responses are. This information will allow you to know if a broker can provide full support when you need it.

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IC Markets has great live chat customer support 24/7 with knowledgeable agents. However, we couldn’t connect to the telephone number provided on two separate occasions.

You can access customer support in a variety of languages which include English, Chinese, Indonesian, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Thai and Vietnamese.

Why is customer support important? If you need help with your platform, or question a trade execution or have any administration issues you want to know that you can contact your broker as fast as possible when you want!

IC Markets Customer Support Test

You can access customer support 24/7 through the live chat feature and telephone number on the broker’s website and in the client portal area.

In our live customer support test, we first called the telephone number on the website. It didn’t connect, even though we tried on two different occasions in the week.

Our experience on the live chat was far better. Your first point of contact is with a customer support bot that provides links to articles related to the question you ask.

IC Markets Live Chat Support Test Transcript
IC Markets Live Chat Support Test Transcript

We then requested further assistance from a live agent and were connected in just a few seconds. The agent answered our question well and was very fast in their response.

Deposit and Withdrawal

5.0
How Do We Test A Broker's Deposit and Withdrawal?
The deposit or withdrawal process can be a tricky one. You may discover that there are hidden fees, or that withdrawal times are longer than you anticipated. We check these factors and others so you know what to expect when trading with this broker.

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IC Markets scored very well in this section with maximum points as you can deposit and withdraw funds commission-free. There is a good range of payment methods too such as bank wire, credit/debit cards, PayPal, Neteller, Skrill and many more e-wallets.

You can also deposit funds in a wide range of currencies including AUD, USD, JPY, EUR, NZD, SGD, GBP, CAD, HKD, CHF and RMB.

IC Markets Deposit Methods

With IC Markets you can deposit funds instantly and fee-free using a variety of methods. The full range of methods are clearly highlighted in the client portal area with a few highlighted below.

Method Commission Processing Time
Bank Wire Free 2-5 business days
Visa Free Instant
Mastercard Free Instant
Neteller Free Instant
Skrill Free Instant
PayPal Free Instant
UnionPay Free Instant

* For all available deposit and withdrawal options refer to the broker’s Account Funding page.

IC Markets Withdrawal Methods

You can withdraw your funds from IC Markets fee-free as well with the exception of international bank wires. These have a processing fee of 20 AUD or currency equivalent and is deducted from the withdrawal amount.

Method Commission Processing Time
Bank Wire (Domestic) Free 2-5 business days
Bank Wire (International) 20 AUD Up to 14 business days
Debit Cards Free 3-5 business days
Neteller Free Instant
Skrill Free Instant
PayPal Free Instant

Withdrawals are processed on the same day if done before 12:00 AEST/AEDT. Credit/debit card withdrawals will take 3 -5 days to reach your bank account.

Withdrawals using PayPal, Neteller and Skrill can only be made from the same account the funds were initially sent and processed instantly.

Account Types and Terms

4.9
How Do We Test A Broker's Account Types and Terms?
In order to achieve your trading goals, you need to choose the right account. We evaluate each broker's account types, how easy it is to open an account with them, and the steps involved, so you can decide if it is worth your time to open an account.

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The IC Markets entity regulated by the FSA of Seychelles offers 3 main account types. Raw Spread cTrader, Raw Spread MetaTrader and the Standard Account. Each is fast and simple to open with a low minimum deposit of $200.

IC Markets offers a good range of account types for beginner and advanced traders. The Raw Spread accounts are commission-based with spreads from 0 pips. The Standard Account is commission-free with spreads from 0.6 pips.

We feel this level of customisation to your own needs is great and the offering is above the industry average. After all, every trader is looking for something different so the more options you have the better.

Opening an account was a fast and simple process and only took us around 4 minutes. You can also access Islamic swap-free accounts and a demo trading account. You can also choose the option on which regulator you want to trade with.

IC Markets does not provide services to residents in the United States, Iran, North Korea and some other regions.

Why is Choosing the Right Account Type Important?

The account you opened will impact nearly every aspect of your trading. Different accounts will often have different fees, tradable instruments and platforms so choosing the right one for your own needs is important.

What Account Types does IC Markets Offer?

The IC Markets global entity regulated by the FSA of Seychelles offers 3 account types that are suitable for beginner and advanced traders. Some of the features are highlighted below:

  Raw Spread Raw Spread Standard
Platform cTrader MetaTrader MetaTrader
Commission $6 per lot round turn $7 per lot round turn Zero
Spread (from) 0 pips 0 pips 0.6 pips
Minimum Deposit $200 $200 $200
Leverage (up to) 1:500 1:500 1:500
Islamic Account Yes Yes Yes
Demo Account Yes Yes Yes

Source: IC Markets (Raw Trading Ltd)

One of the main differences between the accounts is the fact the Raw Spread accounts have spreads from 0 pips but is commission based.

The commission charged per lot (100,000 units of currency), per round turn (to enter and exit) is $6 when using the cTrader platform and $7 when using the MetaTrader platform.

You can access the same account types and conditions from other entities under IC Markets. However, the main difference will be how much leverage you have access to.

For example, opening an account in Europe or Australia would mean the broker needs to comply with leverage restrictions imposed by the regulator (CySEC and ASIC).

This means you can open the same account with access to the same commissions and spreads but the CySEC and ASIC regulated accounts will only offer a maximum of 30:1 leverage to retail traders.

What is CFD Leverage?

Leverage in CFD trading allows you to open a large position with a smaller deposit. For example, a 30:1 trading leverage means you can have $30,000 exposure with only a $1,000 investment. A 500:1 trading leverage means you can have a $500,000 exposure with only a $1,000 investment.

But leverage is a double-edged sword. It can amplify your winning and losing trades. This is one reason regulators such as CySEC, ASIC and the FCA cut the leverage brokers can offer retail traders – to make it safer for beginners.

As the IC Markets global entity (Raw Trading Ltd) is regulated offshore by the FSA of Seychelles, they do provide access to higher leverage up to 500:1.

How to Open an Account with IC Markets

We found opening an account with IC Markets was a fast and simple process. In fact, it took less than 4 minutes to open a Standard Account. Everything is done digitally so you can be up and running in just a few minutes.

Here is the step by step process we used to open an account with the IC Markets FSA of Seychelles regulated entity.

  • Step 1: To start the process you just need to input your name, email and phone number.
  • Step 2: Provide some more details about yourself such as financial information and experience.
  • Step 3: Choose your account configuration – the account type, platform and base currency of your account.
  • Step 4: Deposit funds and start trading.

To withdraw funds you will also need to verify your identity which is standard procedure for regulated brokers. We found this process to be easy as you just need to upload proof of ID (passport or driver’s licence) and proof of residence (utility bill or bank statement).

You can upload your documents, access your trading accounts, platform downloads and additional features all through the IC Markets client portal area. This customised area is great to manage all of your trading activity.

IC Markets Client Portal
IC Markets Client Portal

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Research

5.0
How Do We Test A Broker's Research?
Research options provided by brokers may not be seen as the most important feature for some traders, but they can give you an edge over the competition. Staying on top of important market news announcements and being aware of big themes can be very helpful. The rating system provides a clear picture of how well your broker fulfills this service.

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IC Markets provides an impressive range of research. This includes live analysis sessions, technical and fundamental analysis articles and forecasts and ideas from Trading Central and AutoChartist and is above the industry average.

IC Markets scored maximum points in this category as it provides a great range of research materials. This includes live analysis sessions with their in-house analyst, as well as regularly updated technical and fundamental analysis articles.

On the broker’s website, there is a dedicated Market Analysis Blog called Information Hub for Serious Traders. This area has a large range of research materials suitable for beginner and advanced traders.

IC Markets Market Analysis Blog
IC Markets Market Analysis Blog

From the client portal area, you can also access more research from third-party company Trading Central which gives you access to daily market reports, featured ideas and analysis of news from social media and financial institutions. Trading Central is an investment and analytics firm which provides reports, research and tools for brokers.

You can also access a web version of the third-party tool called AutoChartist which is another technology and analytic company. This tool will give you access to a range of technical analysis trading ideas and opportunities in real-time helping you with finding trading opportunities.

These tools are great for both beginner and advanced traders.

IC Markets AutoChartist Web
IC Markets AutoChartist Web

Education

5.0
How Do We Test A Broker's Education?
Educating yourself on how to trade the financial markets can make the difference between success and failure. We check the educational content provided by the broker, its quality and suitability for beginners and advanced traders.

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You can access high-quality education materials from IC Markets. This includes trading videos, platform tutorial videos, articles and trading courses – suitable for beginner and advanced traders.

IC Markets scored maximum points in this section. Educational materials include videos, courses and articles which are all high quality.

There are 23 different articles in the Technical Analysis 101 section. Even more available in Fundamental Analysis 101, Risk Management 101 and Trading Psychology 101.

IC Markets AutoChartist Web
IC Markets AutoChartist Web

The education articles are well written and have detailed charts and text explanations. There is a wealth of material to go through for beginner and advanced traders.

There is also a calendar of live and upcoming webinars on the broker’s website. These are done in multiple languages and regularly throughout the month and cover topics such as Elliott Wave, Live Analysis, Using Trailing Stops and more.

The Bottom Line

If you’re looking for a broker that provides low fees and a decent range of trading platforms, then IC Markets could be for you.

While the three trading platforms are geared towards professionals, there is a lot of support to help beginner traders – especially with the additional plugins such as AutoChartist which provides trading signals.

Beginner traders will also benefit from the range of high-quality research and education resources such as articles, videos, courses and live market analysis.

Advanced traders will enjoy the flexibility of the different trading platforms and the customisations they each bring. As well as, access to raw spreads and low commissions.

FAQ

Where is IC Markets based?
IC Markets is based all around the world in Australia, Seychelles, Cyprus and the Bahamas.

Is IC Markets safe?
Yes by CySEC, ASIC, SCB and the FSA.

Yes by CySEC, ASIC, SCB and the FSA.
IC Markets makes money through its trading fees such as spreads, commissions and swaps on certain trading accounts and platforms.

Is IC Markets good for beginners?
Yes, beginner traders will find a lot of resources and help to support them.

How do I deposit in an IC Markets account?
You can deposit funds via bank wire, credit/debit card and e-wallets such as PayPal, Neteller and Skrill.

What is the min. deposit for IC Markets?
The minimum deposit is 200 USD.

How do I withdraw money from IC Markets?
You can withdraw funds via bank wire, credit/debit card and most e-wallets.

How long does it take to withdraw money from IC Markets?
International bank wires can take up to 14 days, with credit/debit cards 3-5 days. E-wallets can be instant.

What is the max leverage in IC Markets?
Under the CySEC and ASIC regulated entities the maximum leverage for retail traders is 1:30. Under the FSA Seychelles entity the maximum leverage is 1:500 for all traders.

How do I open an account with IC Markets?
You can open an account in just a few minutes through the Start Trading tab on the broker’s website.

What platforms does IC Markets offer?
MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5 and cTrader.

Does IC Markets offer demo accounts?
Yes

broker

Your Capital is at Risk

See IC Markets Full Information
Broker General Information
Trading Features
Other Details
Headquarters Country
Australia
Foundation Year
2007
Regulations
ASIC (Australia), CySEC (Cyprus), FSA(SC) (Seychelles)
Publicly Traded
No
Number Of Employees
200+
Trading Desk Type
ECN, No dealing desk
Trading platforms
MT4, MT5, cTrader
Restricted Countries
United States, Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba, North Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Lesotho, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Namibia, Mali, Niger, Iran, Guinea, Iraq, Afghanistan, Senegal, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Togo, Yemen, Botswana, Syria, Sierra Leone, Cambodia, Gambia, Tanzania, Libya, Myanmar, Bolivia, Zimbabwe
Supported Languages
English, Spanish, Arabic, Russian, Portuguese, Chinese, Vietnamese, Italian, Thai, Indonesian
Min Deposit
$200
Max Leverage
1:30 (ASIC), 1:30 (CySEC), 1:500 (FSA(SC))
Deposit Options
Wire Transfer, Credit Card, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller, Western Union
Withdrawal Options
Wire Transfer, Credit Card, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller, Western Union
Cryptocurrencies
Bitcoin Cash, Bitcoin, peercoin, Litecoin, Ripple, Dash, EOS, Ethereum
Products (CFD)
Currencies, Commodities, Indices, Stocks, Bonds, Futures, Options, Crypto
Demo Account
Yes
Islamic Account
Yes
Segregated Account
Yes
Managed Account
Yes

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