IC Markets Review 2026

Trust

IC Licensing

How Does IC Protect You?

I reviewed IC’s terms and conditions, risk notice, and order execution policy to confirm its safety mechanisms and best practices. I accessed those by clicking ‘Legal Documents’ at the bottom of the main page.

I noticed that, unlike other brokers, IC’s negative balance protection policy is confirmed in its risk disclosure and not in its terms and conditions document.

Here is what I found out about the broker:

To learn more about the most important safety mechanisms and how they apply to you, check our dedicated guide on client protections.

Issuing an Excess of Loss policy, as Raw Trading Ltd has done, is rare and worth praising, as the broker was not legally mandated to do so. By taking such extra steps, IC demonstrates its commitment to client safety.

Stability and Transparency

By checking IC’s LinkedIn profile, I learned that the broker is headquartered in Australia and was founded in 2007. Its company size is reported in the 1000-1500 range, which is considerably more than what most other CFD brokers report. I also learned that IC has global offices in the Seychelles, the UK, Cyprus, the Bahamas, and elsewhere.

I also found IC’s legal documents easily accessible and written in clear, easy-to-understand language, without complicated jargon or major omissions of important information. This is important because it enables newcomers to quickly familiarize themselves with IC and its many services.

Is IC Legit?

Based on my research, I concluded that IC is legit because of the following factors:

• It is tightly supervised by several regulators, including top-tier CySEC and ASIC.
• It keeps client funds in segregated accounts across all entities.
• It guarantees negative balance protection across all entities.
• Has issued an Excess of Loss policy with client coverage of $1 million.

Fees

IC Trading Fees

IC Spreads

I tested IC’s spreads on Standard and Raw accounts on 30 July during the London and New York market openings. I used live accounts on the MetaTrader 5 platform. Here are my results:

The Standard account offers better-than-average spreads across all major markets. The $12 BTCUSD and 3-cent AAPL spreads were especially impressive, beating their respective benchmarks several times over. I also appreciated the low $0.02 crude oil spread, which came in significantly lower than the $0.04 average.

Raw Account’s spreads also beat the industry averages across the board and offer some of the most competitive conditions in the industry. Energy, stock, index, and crypto spreads were consistent with the spreads I recorded with the Standard account, while FX pairs and metals traded significantly lower.

IC Commissions

In addition to spreads, IC charges round-trip commissions on the Raw account. A round-turn (also round-trip) commission is a fee you pay to open and close a full-sized contract (100,000 units).

I tested IC’s commissions on 30 July 2026. I used a live Raw account with the MetaTrader 5 platform.

The values listed below are for one full base currency contract (100,000 units):

I discovered that it is better to use IC’s Raw account with the cTrader platform rather than MT4 or MT5, because it features lower commissions. The $6 commission on forex pairs and metals and the $2 commission on stocks are aligned with the industry average. Instruments from other asset classes are exempt from such a commission.

IC Swaps

I tested IC’s swaps on a Standard account on 30 July 2026. I used a live account with the MetaTrader 5 platform.

The values listed below are for one full base currency contract (100,000 units):

IC’s FX, crypto, and stock swaps are broadly aligned with the industry average, while energy and index overnight costs were significantly better. The highlight of my testing was the $12.04 swap long I recorded on the DOW 30, which beat the industry average of $86.05 by 7x.

Please note that swaps fluctuate over time and are subject to changing interest rates.

Are IC’s Fees Competitive?

To help you understand how much you’ll pay to trade each instrument, I calculated the cost of trade using the formula: spread rate x pip value + commission rate (swaps are not included).

My calculation was another proof that IC is an undeniably low-cost broker. When comparing the two accounts side by side, I found that the Standard Account offers more favorable conditions for trading the GBPJPY pair, Apple shares, and the Dow Jones 30 index. I estimated a $9.92 cost of trade (CoT) on the pair vs the Raw account’s $12.08. The CoT for Apple shares came in at $5 vs $9, while the DOW 30 sat at $9.5 vs $18.

Raw Account offers better overall conditions for trading EURUSD ($7 vs $8), gold ($16 vs $20,5), Tesla ($10 vs $20), and the DAX 40 index ($11.8 vs $18.88). While prices on WTI and BTCUSD were the same on both accounts.

IC Non-Trading Fees

Inactivity Fee: IC does not charge an inactivity fee on dormant accounts.

Deposit and Withdrawal Fees: There are no handling fees for deposits or withdrawals with IC. However, third-party processing fees may apply.

Platforms and Tools

IC cTrader Platform

I tested the desktop cTrader platform for this review. I downloaded it from the client area and had it installed in a couple of minutes. The platform is available in English, French, German, Arabic, and several other languages.

I consider cTrader the most feature-rich platform for retail trading. It has everything – from advanced chart visuals to actionable trading signals by Autochartist, and from off-the-shelf trading bots to a comprehensive coding environment for programming custom-built trading algorithms.

Availability & Features

Chart Parameters

cTrader’s analytical tools include:

Order Types

cTrader features the following order types:

cTrader App

I tested the cTrader App by IC on my personal Google Pixel phone running Android. I downloaded the App from the Google Play Store and had it installed in seconds.

The cTrader app is an all-in-one solution supporting trading and account management on the go. You can use it to place all basic order types, including market, limit, and stop. I also counted 65 technical indicators, 23 drawing tools, 11 timeframes, and 5 chart types with the app.

The app also allows you to set price alerts and configure watchlists. Another perk is that it features actionable trading signals from Autochartist, which can be replicated with a few quick taps.

I found the cTrader app very practical, though its one meaningful limitation applies to all other apps: its charting capabilities are limited by the fact that the app runs on low-resolution devices. Because of that, I recommend doing your technical analyses on cTrader’s desktop or web versions.

IC Execution Parameters

Execution Model

IC operates as a Straight-Through-Processing (STP) broker without a dealing desk. It means that client orders are routed to the broker’s pool of liquidity providers, where they get filled at the best possible price.

Execution Speed

I measured IC’s average order execution speed using MetaTrader 5’s speed gauge. I placed orders on the EURUSD, GBPJPY, gold, crude oil, Tesla, Dow Jones 30, Germany 40, and Bitcoin. These orders were executed in quick succession on 29 July, just after the New York market opening.

Please note that I used a demo account for my hands-on tests because I did not deposit real capital to my live account. Here are my results:

I calculated IC’s average order execution speed at 515ms, which came in considerably higher than the industry benchmark of 243ms (based on the performance of 12 brokers I recently reviewed).

However, it should be noted that I conducted my testing of Raw Trading Ltd (Seychelles) from my home country of Bulgaria, and there is likely a significant distance between me and the broker’s servers, which may result in extra latency. If I had instead tested IC’s EU-based entity, the speed performance would have been much better and closer to the broker’s reported 40ms average. This is why, for speed-sensitive traders like scalpers, it’s best to sign up with their local broker entities.

Tradable Instruments

What CFDs Can You Trade With IC?

Below, I collected some samples from IC’s range of trading assets:

Customer Support

Customer Support Channels

Customer Support Test

I carried out my first test of IC’s chatbot on 30 July at around 19:30 CET. I began by asking the automated chatbot a straightforward question about the available support languages. It responded by saying that assistance is available in English and Chinese.

I then asked whether IC charges a handling fee for deposits and withdrawals, and inquired about the broker’s execution model, VPS hosting, and professional account parameters. The AI bot provided exhaustive answers to all my questions and was never confused about the nature of my inquiries. I rate IC support as better than that provided by many other brokers.

Deposit and Withdrawal

Please note that I did not deposit any real funds with IC for the purposes of this review.

How Do You Deposit Money with IC

Note that if your deposit currency differs from your account base currency, you may have to pay a conversion fee.

How Do You Withdraw Money with IC

Account Types and Terms

How to Open an Account With IC

To open an account with IC, follow these simple steps:

1. Click ‘Start Trading’ at the top-right corner of the main page.
2. Choose your country of residence and enter your name.
3. Provide your email address and proceed with the registration.
4. Enter the OTP password sent to your email address.
5. State your DoB, phone number, and physical address.
6. Upload proof of ID and proof of address to verify your account.
7. Configure the parameters of your trading account.

IC Account Types

I learned that the Standard account is calibrated for commission-free trading and floating spreads starting at 0.8 pips, whereas the Raw account features spreads starting at 0.0 pips and a $6 round-trip commission per full-sized contract (100,000 units).

Both accounts have no minimum deposit requirement, but the choice of trading platforms on the Raw account is wider (MT4, MT5, cTrader, and TradingView), which is why I’d recommend it if you need more than MetaTrader. However, the maximum retail leverage with cTrader and TradingView is capped at 1:1000 on the Raw account, while you can trade with leverage up to 1:5000 on the Standard account (Raw Trading Ltd).

I also learned that, according to the broker, the Raw Pro and Raw Pro+ accounts have progressively lower fees. However, they also have quite high barriers to entry. $5,000 and $100,000, respectively.

What Leverage Does IC Offer?

The maximum retail leverage at IC is 1:5000, which considerably exceeds the industry average of 1:500. It means that if you open a trade with a $100 margin and use the full 1:5000 leverage, you would be able to open a position worth $500,000.

A word of caution: Trading on margin with high leverage is extremely risky and may result in significant losses.

IC Restricted Countries

IC does not accept traders from the USA, Canada, New Zealand, Iran, North Korea, or any other jurisdiction where trading leveraged products is prohibited by law.

Research

Economic Calendar

The economic calendar from Trading Central is a standard tool for tracking upcoming market events, such as financial statements and major economic releases. You can filter upcoming events by date, market impact, country, and more. The calendar also includes consensus forecasts and historical numbers.

It’s available from the client area, and I found it easy to use.

IC Insights

IC Insights is a proprietary market research tool, powered by TipRanks. This unique sentiment gauge allows you to compare market experts’ expectations for popular instruments, such as Apple shares, with crowd sentiment. The idea is to assess mid- to long-term bullish and bearish pressures and forecast potential trajectories. I have not encountered similar tools with other brokers, which is why I awarded IC with extra credit for the initiative and innovation. IC Insights could be very useful for longer-term buy-and-hold traders.

Trading Central

You can access the Trading Central content from the Client Area. By downloading and installing the MT4/MT5 plugin, you can obtain actionable trading signals directly on the platform. Those flag viable trading opportunities as they emerge. Each signal usually features an entry level, stop-loss level, and take-profit level.

I checked one such signal for a bearish reversal on the AUDUSD pair from a major resistance level at 0.70180. The signal correctly forecasted the reversal and subsequent drawback towards the nearest support at 0.69270.

Autochartist

Autochartist is another major price-action analysis service, similar to Trading Central, that offers actionable trading signals. Autochartist is already integrated into IC’s cTrader platform, and can also be added to MT5 by installing an add-on.

I prefer Autochartist to Trading Central because each signal contains more information, such as the type of emerging patterns (e.g., rising wedges, XYZ patterns, channels, etc.) and the quality of the signal (i.e., its likelihood of coming true).

Web TV

From IC’s Web TV service, you can access valuable market reviews and other types of video content, including technical analyses by Trading Central on various instruments. I found this type of content useful for traders who prefer a hands-off approach to keeping up with the latest market developments.

Live Analyses and IC Blog

Last but not least, IC publishes high-quality in-house market reviews and breakdowns that are available on both the broker’s YouTube channel and blog. This content suits traders who wish to understand what, how, and why drives the market.

Education

Webinars

IC’s webinars were the highlight of my testing. You can sign up for future events from the website, or access a vast library of more than 940 past episodes from the broker’s YouTube channel. I counted 203 episodes in English, 222 in Arabic, 234 in Indonesian, 234 in Thai, and 48 in Chinese. While the webinar series lacks a specific structure, it covers all major trading topics, including technical analysis, fundamental analysis, trading psychology, and risk management.

Podcast

IC’s podcast is your go-to place for deep discussions on unconventional trading topics, where you can learn new things and take a break from your day-to-day trading worries. Delve into the mind of a CFO or ponder what future is there for bullion in an increasingly digitalized world. I counted 6 seasons of IC’s podcast, spanning more than 50 episodes.

Blog Articles

IC’s blog is where you will find more structure and logical progression in your learning journey. I identified 6 broad topics, including “Trading 101”, “Technical Analysis”, “Fundamental Analysis”, “Risk Management”, “Building a Trading Plan”, and “Trading Psychology”. In total, I counted 174 articles and read some of them. The articles are tightly written and aimed at first-time traders who require a clear and well-structured learning experience.

Platform Tutorials

I also found over 50 platform tutorials on the IC’s YouTube channel. They cover popular retail platforms like MT4, MT5, cTrader, and TradingView.

The Bottom Line

IC is one of those rare brokers with which I struggle to identify a single standout feature, because it excels in so many ways. The broker offers a seemingly endless supply of trading platforms, layered market research, including content from Trading Central and Autochartist, and a vast educational library of webinars and other materials.

IC has rapidly gained a reputation for its super-low fees. My live testing confirmed it: the costs on instruments like EURUSD, Gold, and the Dow Jones 30 beat the competition across the board. The highlights of my testing were the 0.8-pip EURUSD, $0.02 WTI, 3-cent AAPL, and $12 BTCUSD spreads I captured with the Standard account. You can find even lower prices on the Raw account, which comes with the same $0 minimum deposit requirement as the Standard account.

Trading software is another category where IC excels. The broker has got you covered with its vast range of popular platforms, such as MT4, MT5, cTrader, and TradingView. But it does not stop there. IC also provides IC Social, ZuluTrade, and Signal Start for social and copy trading. And the cherry on top – the sponsored VPS hosting for low-latency trading.

I didn’t find any major drawbacks to IC, though if I had to be picky, I would say that the broker’s range of tradable instruments could be more diverse. In particular, IC could add more low-risk securities, such as ETFs and treasuries.

From everything I learned, I’d say that IC will satisfy the needs of almost every type of trader – from the cautious beginner to the experienced high-frequency trader.

What I Did not Test

Please note that for this review of IC, I did not:

1. Use a live account to test IC’s order execution speeds;
2. Upload proof of ID and proof of address to fully verify my IC live accounts;
3. Deposit or withdraw real capital into or from IC. My score for the Deposits and Withdrawals category is based on my assessment of the broker’s payment options and listed fees.