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Head to head
IC Markets or IG? Fees, regulation, platform and product range compared side by side — with a verdict drawn from the data.
Risk warning: CFDs and leveraged products are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly. Investments can fall in value. Past performance is not an indicator of future results.
One of the cheapest routes to raw institutional FX pricing - as long as you check which entity you are signing with.
The most complete leveraged-trading operation in Europe — and it prices like it knows that.
Advertising disclosure: where a partnership is active, we may earn a commission through broker links. The provider’s terms apply. Commissions do not influence our ratings; paid placements are separately labelled as sponsored.
Four decision axes, each derived from the recorded data.
Overall IG takes it, 4.5 against 4.2 out of 5. IG is the cheaper of the two: a reference EUR 5,000 stock order costs €0.00 there against €5.00. IG scores 100 against 70 out of 100 on the group index. Your account's protection depends on its legal entity. IG covers more ground with 13 of 14 asset classes against 9. On platform and app IG is ahead, 4.6 against 4.1 out of 5. Which one is right depends on which of these axes matters for your trading profile.
IGIGIGIGIGUp to four brokers at once — every row a decision point.
Data as of: 30 Aug 2026
| Criterion | ||
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 4.2 | 4.5 — Better |
| Group index | 70 of 100 | 100 of 100 |
| Best for | Algorithmic and EA tradersScalping and high-frequency FXcTrader usersHigh-volume tradersCopy trading | Experienced CFD and spread bet tradersMulti-asset traders who want one accountUK ISA and SIPP investorsDirect market access share tradingUS options and futures from Europe |
| Regulation | ASICCySECFSCAFSASCBCMA | FCABaFinFINMAASICMASJFSADFSA |
| Top-tier licences | 1 | 6 — Better |
| Investor protection | €20,000 | CHF 100,000 — Better |
| Listed group | No | Yes |
| Banking licence | No | Yes |
| Segregated client accounts | Yes | Yes |
| Negative balance protection | Yes | Yes |
| Audited financials | Yes | Yes |
| Disclosed regulatory actions | 1 | None |
| Founded | 2007 | 1974 |
| Headquarters | Sydney, AU | London, GB |
| Fees | 4.7 — Better | 4.0 |
| Safety & regulation | 3.9 | 4.9 — Better |
| Trading platform | 4.5 | 4.7 — Better |
| Product range | 3.7 | 4.9 — Better |
| Mobile app | 3.6 | 4.5 — Better |
| Research | 3.6 | 4.6 — Better |
| Customer support | 4.5 — Better | 4.3 |
| Deposit & withdrawal | 4.4 — Better | 4.2 |
| Account opening | 4.3 — Better | 4.2 |
| Education | 3.3 | 4.5 — Better |
| Reference order EUR 5,000 | €5.00 | €0.00 — Better |
| Minimum deposit | €200 | None — Better |
| Stocks (per order) | 0.1 % | Free |
| US stocks | US$0.02/share | Free |
| ETFs | Not offered | Free |
| Options | Not offered | US$1 |
| Futures | in the spread | US$1 |
| Crypto | in the spread | n/a |
| Bonds (order) | in the spread | n/a |
| Funds (order) | n/a | n/a |
| EUR/USD spread | 0.8 pips — Better | 0.9 pips |
| Index CFD spread | n/a | 1 points |
| FX conversion | n/a | 0.8 % |
| Inactivity fee | €10 · after 6 months | None — Better |
| Custody fee | None | None |
| Withdrawal fee | free | free |
| Deposit fee | free | free |
| Overnight financing | n/a | n/a |
| Other fees |
|
|
| Asset classes (of 14) | 9 | 13 — Better |
| Exchanges | n/a | n/a |
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | No | Yes |
| Options | No | Yes |
| Futures | Yes | Yes |
| Forex | Yes | Yes |
| CFDs | Yes | Yes |
| Crypto | Yes | Yes |
| Bonds | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | No | Yes |
| Commodities | Yes | Yes |
| Indices | Yes | Yes |
| Warrants | No | Yes |
| Spread betting | No | Yes |
| Social trading | Yes | No |
| Platforms | MetaTrader 4MetaTrader 5cTraderTradingViewIC Markets appFIX API | IG web platformIG Trading appProRealTimeL2 DealerMetaTrader 4TradingViewIG REST & streaming API |
| Demo account | Yes | Yes |
| Fractional shares | No | No |
| Maximum leverage | 1:30 · Pro 1:500 | 1:30 |
| Account opening | Digital application, usually approved within one business day | Fully online; typically same-day approval, 1–3 business days when manual document checks are triggered |
| Account types | Raw Spread (MT4/MT5)cTrader RawStandardRaw ProRaw Pro+Swap-free | CFD accountSpread betting accountShare dealing, ISA and SIPPUS Options & FuturesProfessional account |
| Payment methods | Bank transferSEPACredit cardDebit cardPayPalSkrillNetellerApple PayGoogle PayCrypto | Bank transferSEPACredit cardDebit cardPayPal |
| Account currencies | EURUSDGBP | GBPEURUSDCHFAUDSGDJPY |
| Deposit time | Instant to 12 hours on cards and e-wallets, 1-3 business days by bank transfer | Instant by card or PayPal; 1–3 business days by bank transfer |
| Withdrawal time | Same day to 1 business day on e-wallets and crypto, 2-5 business days by bank wire | 1–5 business days depending on method and entity |
| Free withdrawals | n/a | n/a |
| Languages | EnglishGermanSpanishFrenchItalianPortugueseChineseVietnameseThaiArabic | EnglishGermanFrenchItalianSpanishDutchSwedishPolishChineseJapanese+1 |
| Channels | PhoneEmailLive chat | PhoneEmailLive chat |
| Availability | 24/7 | 24/5, with limited weekend cover for IG's weekend markets |
Editorial assessment based on the recorded data.
IC Markets
One of the cheapest routes to raw institutional FX pricing - as long as you check which entity you are signing with.
Pros
Cons
Best for
IG
The most complete leveraged-trading operation in Europe — and it prices like it knows that.
Pros
Cons
Best for
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Advertising disclosure: where a partnership is active, we may earn a commission through broker links. The provider’s terms apply. Commissions do not influence our ratings; paid placements are separately labelled as sponsored.
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