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IC Markets Review 2026

9.1/10
AFM Trust Score

IC Markets is a trustworthy, globally recognised forex and CFD broker that gives institutional and retail traders direct access to the currency markets, and it is especially strong for algorithmic traders running strategies on MT4, MT5 and cTrader. Its combination of ECN and STP technology delivers low spreads, low commissions and fast execution, backed by licences held across five separately regulated entities, including ASIC in Australia and CySEC in Cyprus. Research and education are thinner than at some rivals, and its range of copy-trading routes — ZuluTrade, cTrader Copy, SignalStart and the IC Social app — is where it makes up the difference.

Risk warning: your capital is at risk. Forex and CFDs carry the potential for gains, but statistically only 11–25% of traders profit while 74–89% lose their investment. AFM earns a commission if you open an account through our links — it never changes how we score a broker.

Min. Deposit
No minimum (IC Markets Global) · $200 on the ASIC-regulated Australian entity
EUR/USD Spread
From 0.0 pips (Raw) · 0.8 pips (Standard)
Max Leverage
1:30 AU/EU retail · up to 1:5000 global
Regulation
ASIC · CySEC · FSA (Seychelles) · SCB (Bahamas) · CMA (Kenya)
Platforms
MetaTrader 4 · MetaTrader 5 · cTrader · TradingView
What we like
  • 60+ forex pairs plus CFDs on indices, stocks, commodities, bonds, crypto and futures
  • Raw ECN spreads from 0.0 pips
  • Ultra-low latency execution from Equinix NY4 and LD5 servers
  • Multilingual support with 24/7 live chat, plus phone and email
  • Depth of market on cTrader and MT5, plus the MT4 add-on suite
  • No IC Markets deposit or withdrawal fees, though bank fees can apply on international wires
  • No manipulation, limiters or requotes
  • Analytical and training materials
  • Regulated across five entities, including ASIC and CySEC
What to watch
  • US clients are not accepted
  • Trading conditions and product range differ by regulated entity
  • Payments can be delayed by a couple of days in some cases
  • Live chat is slower than phone support
  • May not suit smaller investors
  • A fair amount of documentation to get through before you start
How we reviewed IC Markets
  • Every headline figure — minimum deposit, spreads, commission, leverage and fees — was read off IC Markets’s own current published documents, not copied from another review site.
  • Each licence claim was checked against the regulator’s own public register. Regulators named on the operator’s marketing but absent from the register are not printed here.
  • Confirmed which legal entity actually onboards traders from Singapore, Malaysia and the wider region — spreads, leverage caps and investor protection differ sharply between a broker’s ASIC or FCA arm and its offshore one.
  • Scored out of 10 on the AFM Trust Score — regulation, real all-in cost, platform, market access and withdrawal experience. Commercial relationships carry no weight in the score.
  • Anything we could not confirm from a primary source was left out rather than estimated. Figures move; re-check before you deposit.

Last verified September 2026. IC Markets can change its pricing, leverage and entity terms at any time — confirm the current figures on its own site before you open an account. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.

About the reviewer
Ezekiel Chew

Ezekiel Chew

Founder & Head of Training, Asia Forex Mentor

Ezekiel has traded foreign exchange for over two decades and built the One Core Program, the trading curriculum Asia Forex Mentor teaches to retail and institutional traders across Asia. He sets the scoring criteria these broker reviews are graded against.

Full profile and credentials

How the AFM Research Lab tests brokers

On this page
  1. IC Markets Review
  2. What is IC Markets?
  3. Benefits of Trading with IC Markets
  4. IC Markets Pros and Cons
  5. IC Markets Customer Reviews
  6. IC Markets Spreads, Fees, and Commissions
  7. How IC Markets Fees Compare to other Brokers
  8. Account Types
  9. How To Open Your Account?
  10. What Can You Trade on IC Markets?
  11. IC Markets Customer Support
  12. Security for Investors
  13. Withdrawal Options and Fees
  14. IC Markets Vs Other Brokers
  15. How IC Markets Trading Options Compare against other Brokers
  16. Conclusion: IC Markets Review
  17. FAQs
  18. Verdict

IC Markets Review

The financial markets are filled with opportunities, and with the right broker you can take advantage of those opportunities. That is why we are reviewing IC Markets — a broker that offers trading solutions for professional traders and investors. From its advanced technology to its competitive pricing, IC Markets has what traders of different experience levels need to succeed in the markets.

IC Markets is regulated through several separately licensed entities, including the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) and the Financial Services Authority of Seychelles (FSA). From a variety of trading instruments, including CFDs on forex, commodities, indices, stocks, bonds, cryptocurrencies and futures, IC Markets has developed an intuitive platform with advanced tools that allow algorithmic traders to benefit from their strategies.

In this detailed review of IC Markets we dive deep into the broker’s features and services. We look at its trading instruments, customer service, account types, fees, deposits and withdrawals, and other important aspects. By the end you will have a clearer understanding of what IC Markets offers and how those services map to your trading needs.

So let’s get started.

At Asia Forex Mentor, we believe in delivering a comprehensive and unbiased review of different trading platforms. We have used the following criteria to evaluate the features and services of IC Markets: Regulations (what regulations does the broker comply with?), Customer Support (how is IC Markets’ customer service?), Trading Platforms (what platforms does IC Markets offer?), Account Types (what types of accounts are available?), Fees (how much are the trading fees?), Deposits & Withdrawals (what payment methods are available?). After a complete evaluation of IC Markets against these criteria we concluded that it is one of the most reliable brokers in the forex market. It offers an excellent selection of tradable instruments along with safety and security of funds, and has earned an excellent reputation among traders and several awards since its foundation in 2007.

What is IC Markets?

IC Markets is a forex broker founded in 2007. The broker provides access to several instrument classes, including forex, and CFDs on indices, metals, stocks, bonds and futures, across 60+ currency pairs and more. In July 2026 the broker rebranded from IC Markets to IC and migrated its global site from icmarkets.com to ic.com; the legal entities, licences and trading conditions were unchanged, and the Australian and Cyprus entities remain at icmarkets.com.au and icmarkets.eu.

IC Markets operates through several separately licensed entities, and which one you trade with depends on where you live. International Capital Markets Pty Ltd holds an Australian Financial Services Licence from ASIC (AFSL 335692, issued 2 July 2009); IC Markets (EU) Ltd is authorised by the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission as a Cyprus Investment Firm (CIF licence 362/18); Raw Trading Ltd is authorised by the Seychelles Financial Services Authority as a Securities Dealer (licence SD018); IC Markets Ltd is licensed by the Securities Commission of The Bahamas (SIA-F214); and IC Markets (KE) Limited is licensed by Kenya’s Capital Markets Authority (licence 199). Traders outside Australia and the EU are generally onboarded under the Seychelles or Bahamas entity, which do not carry the same investor protections as the ASIC or CySEC licences.

IC Markets offers an ECN trading environment with some of the tightest spreads in the industry, starting at 0.0 pips. It draws on pricing aggregated from around 25 institutional-grade liquidity providers across the 60+ forex pairs IC streams, giving strong liquidity and order fills. The broker is a strong option for algorithmic traders because of its low latency and ultra-low trading fees.

IC Markets falls short of its competitors on research and education, though it more than makes up for it in supported third-party tools and plugins. It also offers a wide range of payment options and impressive customer support. Whether you are new to trading or an experienced investor, IC Markets has something to offer.

What is IC Markets?

Benefits of Trading with IC Markets

IC Markets provides some of the best working conditions available for scalpers. The broker has some of the quickest order execution in the world, and the ability to use expert advisers is a significant benefit for traders who prefer intraday trading. It also gives traders excellent customer support and a wide variety of trading instruments and options.

IC Markets’ trading servers are located in LD5 (London) and NY4 (New York) and are maintained to the highest standards. Order execution speed increases and latency is minimised because the servers connect to price providers over fibre-optic lines. IC Markets also offers a number of protection mechanisms so that traders know they are dealing with a reliable broker.

IC Markets sets itself apart by continuously adopting modern technology to improve customer service and offer more favourable trading conditions. Traders also get genuine market-depth tools: cTrader offers Level II pricing with full depth of market (DOM) and VWAP indicators, and MetaTrader 5 has its own Depth of Market window showing the full range of available prices. IC Markets bundles a suite of MT4 add-ons as well — Trade Terminal, Mini Terminal, Market Manager, Sentiment Trader, Correlation Trader, Session Map and others — whose order tickets include built-in calculators that work out a stop-loss or trade size from a fixed cash risk, alongside the pip, margin, swap and profit calculators on the website. Together these help experienced traders size and manage positions more precisely.

Another useful feature is one-click trading, which helps traders place orders quickly and easily. This benefits beginners and experienced traders alike. Concluding transactions is straightforward thanks to the technology that routes and organises orders directly to price providers.

Overall, IC Markets works well for traders at every level, from beginners to experienced investors. With its features, customer service and reliable trading platforms, IC Markets delivers a strong trading experience.

Benefits of Trading with IC Markets

IC Markets Pros and Cons

IC Markets comes with its own set of pros and cons, depending on what a trader is looking for.

Pros

  • Wide range of instruments to trade (60+ forex pairs, plus CFDs on indices, stocks, commodities including metals, bonds, crypto and futures)
  • Low spreads starting from 0.0 pips
  • High-technology servers and low latency
  • Excellent customer service with multilingual support
  • Comprehensive third-party tools and plugins
  • Various payment options, with no deposit or withdrawal fees charged by IC Markets, though third-party bank and e-wallet fees can still apply
  • No manipulation, limiters or requotes

Cons

  • US clients are not accepted
  • Trading proposals and conditions differ depending on the regulating authority

IC Markets Pros and Cons

IC Markets Customer Reviews

We collected a number of IC Markets reviews from different sources and concluded that the majority of traders are happy with their decision to use the broker. They are satisfied with order execution, fast withdrawals, the level of security and many other features.

In general, reviews strongly suggest that IC Markets is a good choice for traders of all levels. The broker provides comprehensive services and a wide range of financial instruments that can be used to profit from the markets.

The only drawback we noticed is a delay in payments in some cases. That can usually be resolved by contacting customer support.

IC Markets Spreads, Fees, and Commissions

IC Markets Spreads

The Standard account runs on IC Markets’ MetaTrader 4 and 5 servers, which are located in the Equinix NY4 data centre in New York and cross-connected to IC Markets’ network for low-latency execution. It charges an all-inclusive spread from 0.8 pips on EUR/USD with no commission. If you want an account that allows micro-lot trading from 0.01 lots, deep institutional-grade liquidity, ECN spreads starting at 0.0 pips and a commission of $3.50 per lot per side ($7.00 round turn per standard lot), the Raw Spread account on MT4 or MT5 is the one to look at.

The cTrader ECN account is similar to the MT4 account with a few notable differences. The main one is that cTrader is used mainly by professional traders trading larger size. The applicable spread also starts at 0 pips, with a commission of $3.00 per lot per side ($6.00 round turn), and execution on cTrader happens through Equinix LD5.

IC Markets Fee

Our experts checked the fees and commissions charged by IC Markets and found them quite competitive.

Under the IC Markets fee structure, costs fall into two groups. Trading fees are incurred when you trade: the spread, the per-lot commission on the commission-based Raw Spread and cTrader accounts, and the overnight swap on positions held past rollover. Non-trading fees are everything else — deposit, withdrawal and inactivity charges. IC Markets levies none of these on its global accounts: no deposit fee, no withdrawal fee and no inactivity fee. Third-party charges can still apply — IC’s own withdrawal terms note that international bank wire transfers may incur intermediary and/or beneficiary bank fees, and IC reserves the right to apply a processing fee where deposited funds were never actually traded.

Minimum Deposit Fee

With IC Markets Global there is no minimum deposit at all — the Standard, Raw Spread and cTrader accounts all show a $0 minimum, so you can start with whatever you are comfortable risking. Clients onboarded to IC’s ASIC-regulated Australian entity are still shown a $200 starting deposit, and IC’s newer, early-access Raw Pro and Raw Pro+ tiers require $5,000 and $100,000.

Overnight Fee

The IC Markets overnight fee is based on the interest-rate differential between the two currencies involved and on whether you are buying or selling. Fees therefore vary depending on the pair you trade, so it is worth being aware of them before they show up in your account balance.

Inactivity Fee

Whether IC Markets charges an inactivity fee depends on which entity holds your account, and two of the three do charge one.

  • IC Markets (EU) Ltd (CySEC, licence 362/18): an account with no executed trade for six consecutive months is charged EUR 10 (or account-currency equivalent), per account, per month, starting the first business day after the sixth full inactive month and monthly thereafter until trading resumes or the account is closed. Logging in, depositing, withdrawing or transferring funds between accounts does not count as activity and does not reset the clock. A reminder email is sent at five months. The fee is taken from available balance, will not push the account negative, and is not charged while you are holding open positions.
  • International Capital Markets Pty Ltd (ASIC, AFSL 335692): an account is deemed inactive after 12 months or more with no transaction opened or closed and no open position held, and is then charged a monthly inactivity fee of AUD $20 (or base-currency equivalent) — or the entire remaining cash balance if that balance is under AUD $20. Placing an order without executing a trade does not count as activity.
  • IC Markets Global (Raw Trading Ltd, Seychelles FSA, licence SD018) is the only one of the three where IC states no account inactivity fee applies.

Withdrawal Fee

IC Markets does not charge an additional fee for deposits or withdrawals. You should still check with your bank to make sure it does not charge its own fees before withdrawing.

IC Markets Commission

There is no commission on the Standard account. IC does not charge a withdrawal fee either, including on international bank wires. It notes only that international bank wire transfers can take up to 14 days and may incur additional intermediary and/or beneficiary bank fees — charges levied by the banks in the transfer chain, not by IC, and which IC states it is not responsible for. IC does reserve the right to apply a processing fee where deposited funds have not been used for trading.

IC Markets Leverage

IC Markets offers leverage, and the amount you get depends on the entity you trade under. Leverage opens the forex market to people who would not otherwise have access, because it requires a relatively small initial deposit to cover margin. Leverage also magnifies losses if it is not used correctly, and losses can exceed your initial deposit.

The leverage available at IC Markets is as follows:

  • Australian retail clients (ASIC): 1:30 on major forex pairs
  • European retail clients (CySEC): 1:30 on major forex pairs
  • International entity (Raw Trading Ltd, Seychelles FSA): up to 1:5000 on forex majors and minors

Global leverage is tiered by position size — 1:5000 on the first 0–25 lots, 1:3000 from 25–50, 1:1000 from 50–100 and 1:500 above 100 lots, with each portion margined at its own tier’s rate; FX exotics start at 1:3000. Maximums elsewhere are 1:2000 on gold (1:1000 on silver), 1:500 on energies and crypto, 1:200 on indices, futures and bonds, and 1:20 on share CFDs. These are fair-weather figures: during IC’s Higher Margin Requirement windows — 30 minutes before the daily close and 15 minutes after the open, from Friday’s close through the weekend, and either side of high-impact news — FX leverage is cut to 1:500 or lower, and stock CFDs drop to 1:10 an hour before the close and 1:5 in the final 15 minutes.

IC Markets Spreads, Fees, and Commissions

How IC Markets Fees Compare to other Brokers

A side-by-side look at how IC Markets’ deposit, withdrawal, inactivity and commission charges stack up against other brokers.

How IC Markets Fees Compare to other Brokers
Broker IC Markets AvaTrade RoboForex Alpari
Min Deposit No minimum (Global) · $200 on the ASIC entity $100 $10 $30
Withdrawal Fees No No Yes Yes
Inactivity Fees Yes on two of three entities — EU (CySEC): EUR 10 per account per month after six consecutive months without a trade, with logins, deposits and withdrawals not resetting the clock and no charge while positions are open; Australia (ASIC): AUD $20 per month after 12 months of no trading, or the whole remaining balance if under AUD $20; Global (Raw Trading Ltd, Seychelles): none Yes — $50 / EUR 50 / GBP 50 after every 3 consecutive months of non-use, charged again each successive 3-month period, plus a $100 / EUR 100 / GBP 100 annual administration fee after 12 consecutive months of non-use (both "unless prohibited by law") No — RoboForex Ltd’s client agreement sets no inactivity or dormancy fee, though it reserves the right to stop maintaining an account that has made no transactions in the 45 days after opening Yes — an "Inactive Account Fee" of USD $120 (or currency equivalent) per account per year, charged at Alpari’s discretion once a positive-balance account has gone 12 consecutive months with no deposits and no trading; Alpari may also deduct any remaining balance under 10 EUR/USD after 30 days of inactivity
Deposit Fees No No No Yes
CFD Commission Fees Yes No No Yes

Account Types

IC Markets segments its accounts by platform rather than offering a FIX tier: the Raw Spread account trades on MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, the cTrader Raw Spread account on cTrader and TradingView, and the commission-free Standard account on MetaTrader 4 and 5. Spreads, commissions and fees differ depending on the account type you choose. A swap-free option can be applied to Raw Spread and Standard accounts across all three platforms, and the broker has recently introduced two higher-tier Raw Pro and Raw Pro+ accounts for larger balances. FIX API is not an account type but a connectivity option, and IC Markets provides it only through cTrader — the broker states it does not offer a FIX API connection into MetaTrader 4 or 5.

Below are the three main account types traders can choose from, plus the demo option:

cTrader Raw Spread (cTrader and TradingView)

A commission of $3.00 is charged per lot per side ($6.00 round turn). Spreads are among the lowest in the market, from 0 pips. Pricing is aggregated from up to 25 liquidity providers, and orders are filled against the full order book at volume-weighted average price (VWAP), so traders benefit from a deep pool and low spreads even during volatile periods. This account is ideal for active traders and scalpers because it offers the most cost-effective trading conditions.

Raw Spread (MetaTrader 4 and 5)

The average spread on EUR/USD is 0.1 pips, and the commission is $3.50 per lot per side ($7.00 round turn). This account suits scalpers as well as users of expert advisers, because trading takes place on the MetaTrader 4 and 5 platforms.

Standard (MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5)

The EUR/USD spread starts from 0.8 pips all-inclusive, and there is no commission — though positions held overnight still incur the standard swap charge. This account type works well for managed trading as well as for users of expert advisers. It also suits beginners, thanks to an intuitive and user-friendly interface.

Demo Account

IC Markets offers free demo accounts across all four of its platforms — MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader and TradingView — so traders can practise their strategies with virtual funds before committing capital. Demo accounts expire after 30 days of inactivity and, once archived, cannot be reactivated, though a new demo can be opened at any time from the client area. Accounts are available in up to 10 global currencies, and client funds are fully segregated from the company’s own. Traders who follow Sharia rules are covered by the swap-free (Islamic) account option.

Account Types

How To Open Your Account?

Here is a step-by-step guide to opening an account with IC Markets:

  • Go to IC Markets and click “Open an Account” or “Start Trading”.
  • Complete the application form with your personal details — country, first and last name, email and phone number — then click next.
  • Choose the type of account you want to create (individual, corporate or joint), or select an Islamic account.
  • Add your address and date of birth and click next again.
  • In the next window, choose between MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5 and cTrader, and select your base currency.
  • Choose your security question and read the terms and conditions before clicking submit.

After the accounts team approves your application you will receive an email containing your trading account login details and password. With those you can access your account and start trading.

How To Open Your Account?

What Can You Trade on IC Markets?

Instrument range differs by entity. IC Markets’ global entity (Raw Trading Ltd, regulated by the Seychelles FSA, licence SD018) and its European entity (IC Markets (EU) Ltd, CySEC licence 362/18) both advertise over 2,850 tradable instruments. The ASIC-regulated Australian entity (International Capital Markets Pty Ltd, AFSL 335692) offers a narrower range, advertised as over 2,250 tradeable products. Retail leverage is capped at 1:30 under both ASIC and CySEC, against up to 1:5000 on the Seychelles entity. The main instrument classes are:

  • Forex: 61 currency pairs covering majors, minors and exotics, with spreads from 0.0 pips on Raw Spread accounts.
  • Indices: CFDs on 23 stock indices, including the US30, S&P 500 and Hang Seng.
  • Commodities: over 22 commodity CFDs spanning energy, metals and agriculture. Crude oil, Brent, gold and silver can be traded as both spot and futures CFDs, while natural gas, platinum and palladium are spot-only and the agricultural products (wheat, corn, soybeans, coffee, sugar, cotton, cocoa and orange juice) are offered only as futures CFDs with fixed expiry dates. IC’s EU (CySEC) entity lists over 28 commodities.
  • Stocks: over 2,100 stock CFDs across the ASX, NASDAQ and NYSE, with further listings from London, Xetra, Euronext, Tokyo and Hong Kong on the Seychelles entity — all available only through the MetaTrader 5 platform.
  • Cryptocurrencies: CFDs on around 19 crypto pairs, including Bitcoin and Ethereum. Leverage differs sharply by entity — retail crypto CFD leverage is capped at 1:2 with the ASIC (Australia) and CySEC (EU) entities, while the offshore Seychelles entity advertises far higher. Crypto is also the one asset class IC trades at weekends: IC states you can trade cryptocurrency seven days a week on all its platforms, noting that some symbols may not be available on weekends, while every other market is weekday-only.
  • Bonds: CFDs on 9 government bonds from the US, UK, Europe and Japan, including the Euro Bund and the US 10-Year T-Note, giving traders exposure to the bond markets.
  • Futures: 4+ global futures CFDs with no separate commission — costs are built into the spread — including the ICE Dollar Index and the CBOE VIX Index. Futures CFDs are available on MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 only (not cTrader or TradingView).

IC Markets Customer Support

IC Markets offers customer support by phone, live chat and email. According to trader reviews, phone support is strong, with representatives responding quickly and in a friendly manner.

Live chat and email support are available 24/7 and are multilingual, while phone support runs to market hours, from Sunday 22:00 to Friday 22:00 GMT. The staff are professional, knowledgeable and ready to help with technical matters.

The email support department is also responsive, usually replying within a day or two.

The broker maintains an online knowledge base with answers to many common questions and issues. The FAQ section is detailed and answers most queries. Live chat support, however, could be faster.

Overall, IC Markets’ customer support is excellent and consistently provides quick, helpful assistance.

Seychelles — Raw Trading Ltd

  • Email: support@icmarkets.com
  • Phone: +248 467 19 76
  • Office hours: Monday–Saturday (AEDT) 07:00–07:00 | Sunday–Friday (GMT) 22:00–22:00
  • Registered address (Seychelles FSA register): Eden House, 1st Floor, Eden Island, Mahe, Seychelles

Australia — International Capital Markets Pty Ltd (Head Office)

  • Email: support@icmarkets.com.au
  • Phone: +61 (0)2 8014 4280
  • Fax: +61 (0)2 8072 2120
  • Legal address: Suite 2, Level 6, 50 Carrington Street, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia

Cyprus — IC Markets (EU) Ltd

  • Email: support@icmarkets.eu
  • Phone: +357 25 010480
  • Legal address: 86 Franklinou Roosvelt, 4th floor, Office 401, 3011 Omonoia, Limassol, Cyprus

IC Markets Customer Support

Security for Investors

A broker must have solid risk management, sufficient assets and qualified staff to obtain a licence. IC Markets also undergoes regular external audits to ensure its services remain reliable. On top of that, the broker has implemented two-factor authentication, data-encryption protocols and other measures to keep customer funds and accounts safe.

When a broker meets all the requirements of a regulatory body, it creates reliable protection for consumers of financial products. It ensures there are rules in place covering consumer rights and obligations, and it helps safeguard the assets held under that licence.

IC Markets is also well known for ultra-low-latency order execution. Its two Equinix data centres in New York and London deliver exceptional results and let traders execute in a more secure and reliable way.

Below are some of the advantages and disadvantages of IC Markets on this front:

Withdrawal Options and Fees

Traders pay nothing to IC Markets for deposits or withdrawals, although intermediary and beneficiary banks in the transfer chain can charge their own fees on international wires.

Withdrawals requested through the secure client area before 12:00 AEST are processed the same day. Withdrawal routing depends on how you funded the account. With IC Markets Global (Raw Trading Ltd, Seychelles), funds are paid back to Mastercard and Visa, bank wire transfer, PayPal, Neteller, Skrill, and Thai or Vietnamese internet banking. Accounts funded by POLi/BPay, Rapidpay, Klarna or broker-to-broker transfer are paid out by bank wire rather than back through the original rail. UnionPay and cryptocurrency (BTC, ETH, USDC, USDT) are accepted for deposits only — Bitcoin deposits are returned by bank wire, not to a crypto wallet. IC’s EU entity offers a narrower set: cards, e-wallets and wire transfer only.

How long it takes to receive withdrawn funds depends on the method:

  • Credit/debit cards — 3 to 5 working days
  • PayPal / NETELLER / Skrill — usually within 24 hours; IC has to process the request first, and requests submitted after the 12:00 AEST/AEDT cut-off are only processed the next business day
  • Domestic wire transfer — 1 working day

Note that withdrawals must be made using the same method as your deposit. If you deposited by debit card, for example, you must withdraw to that card. Only verified users can request payments.

IC Markets’ operations department is prompt, so you should not have to wait long. Withdrawal currencies available are USD, CAD, EUR, GBP, SGD, NZD, CHF, JPY, AUD and HKD.

IC Markets Vs Other Brokers

Here is how IC Markets compares with other top-rated brokers:

#1. IC Markets vs AvaTrade

AvaTrade is a leading name in the financial markets and is considered low risk, with an average trust rating of 93 out of 99. According to ForexBrokers.com, IC Markets holds an overall Trust Score of 83 out of 99 (as of September 2026), placing it in the “Trusted” band. That trust score is part of why AvaTrade’s customer base has been growing rapidly.

AvaTrade and IC Markets are both well-established, reliable CFD brokers, and both offer accessible educational programmes. Traders who want a simpler asset selection, and lower-frequency traders generally, may find AvaTrade the better fit, since commission-free trading makes portfolio building more appealing there.

High-frequency traders will get more out of IC Markets. Both brokers have trustworthy reputations, but AvaTrade is slightly better for newer traders because of its proprietary mobile platform. On the other hand, IC Markets sets no minimum deposit on its global entity, and the 1:5000 leverage available there makes it more competitive than AvaTrade’s 1:30.

#2. IC Markets vs RoboForex

RoboForex is another trusted broker with a long operational history and a well-maintained reputation. RoboForex offers a variety of account types, research tools, trading instruments, free exclusive trading signals and powerful trading capabilities, which makes it well suited to advanced traders.

IC Markets and RoboForex are both reputable brokers, but they differ in several respects. One of the biggest differences is the number of currency pairs: IC Markets offers 61, while RoboForex offers 28.

RoboForex asks for a minimum deposit of $10, while IC Markets sets no minimum deposit. RoboForex has the edge on trading assets, education and analytics, and it offers bonuses to its traders. IC Markets is the better choice for professionals because of its lower fees, stronger regulation and deeper liquidity.

#3. IC Markets vs Alpari

Alpari is popular for its low commission rates and suits both beginners and more experienced traders. Alpari has been trading since 1998, but it is not regulated by the FSA. Its international business today is operated by Parlance Trading Ltd, which states it is licensed by the Mwali International Services Authority (MISA) in the Comoros under licence T2023236 — an offshore registration, not a tier-1 regulator. There is no investor compensation scheme behind that licence, so client-money protection and avenues of recourse are weaker than at an ASIC- or CySEC-regulated broker like IC Markets. The group’s separate UK arm, the FCA-regulated Alpari (UK) Ltd, entered special administration in January 2015 after the Swiss franc de-peg and no longer trades.

IC Markets and Alpari both offer MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5. Both also offer cryptocurrency CFDs on MT4 and MT5, so crypto is not the dividing line. The main difference is scale and regulation: IC Markets lists 2,850+ instruments on its global entity, including around 20 crypto CFD pairs, and holds ASIC, CySEC and Seychelles FSA licences; Alpari lists 750+ instruments and is now operated offshore by Parlance Trading Ltd under a Mwali International Services Authority (Comoros) licence.

IC Markets lists around 2,250 financial instruments under its Australian entity and over 2,850 under its global and European entities, against Alpari’s 750+. If you want a broker with more stocks, IC Markets is the better choice; if you want the lowest possible entry point, Alpari’s minimum deposit starts at $30 on its Micro account (rising to $100 Standard, $300 ECN and $500 Pro ECN), while IC Markets sets no minimum deposit on its retail accounts.

IC Markets compared with the other AFM-recommended brokers
IC Markets Pepperstone AvaTrade
AFM Trust Score 9.1 / 10 8.8 / 10 8.4 / 10
Minimum deposit No minimum (Global) · $200 (ASIC entity) No minimum $100
EUR/USD spread From 0.0 pips (Raw Spread) From 0.0 pips (Razor) From 0.8 pips
Commission $3.50 per lot per side (Raw) $3.50 per lot per side (Razor) None — built into the spread
Max leverage 1:30 AU/EU retail · up to 1:5000 global 1:30 AU/EU · up to 1:500 offshore 1:30 CBI/ASIC · up to 1:400 BVI
Regulation ASIC · CySEC · FSA (Seychelles) · SCB (Bahamas) · CMA (Kenya) ASIC · FCA · CySEC · DFSA · BaFin · CMA · SCB CBI · ASIC · CySEC · BVI FSC
Platforms MT4 · MT5 · cTrader · TradingView MT4 · MT5 · cTrader · TradingView · Pepperstone Platform MT4 · MT5 · WebTrader · AvaTradeGO · AvaOptions
Founded 2007 2010 2006
Headquarters Sydney, Australia Melbourne, Australia Dublin, Ireland
Best suited to Algorithmic and high-frequency traders Active traders wanting the widest regulation Beginners and options traders

How IC Markets Trading Options Compare against other Brokers

A fuller side-by-side of instrument coverage, platforms and asset classes.

How IC Markets Trading Options Compare against other Brokers
Broker IC Markets AvaTrade RoboForex Alpari
Instruments Available 2,250+ (ASIC entity) · 2,850+ (global and EU) 1250 100 750+
Platforms MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView, Web Trader, Mobile Apps Web Trader, MT4, MT5, AvaTradeGO, AvaOptions, DupliTrade, ZuluTrade, Mobile Apps, MQL5 MT4, MT5, Mac, Web Trader, cTrader, Tablet & Mobile Apps MT4, MT5, Web Trader, Binary, Tablet & Mobile Apps
FX / Currencies
Forex pairs offered 61 50+ 28 Not published
Major Forex pairs Yes Yes Yes Yes
Minor Forex pairs Yes Yes Yes Yes
Exotic Forex pairs Yes Yes No Yes
Cryptocurrencies (availability subject to regulation) Yes No Yes Yes
Commodity CFDs
Indices & Stock CFDs
Commodities Offered 22+ 17 21 3
Stock CFDs offered 2,100+ stock CFDs (ASX, NYSE, NASDAQ; MT5 only) Share CFDs offered — AvaTrade publishes no official count; independent 2026 counts put it around 640 8,400+ US stock CFDs on R StocksTrader (plus 3,000+ real US shares); ~35 stock CFDs on MT4/MT5 ~890 share CFDs (746 US, 87 Hong Kong, 56 UAE) — Pro ECN MT5 account only
UK Shares Yes Yes Yes No
US Shares Yes Yes Yes No
German Shares Yes Yes Yes No
Japanese Shares Yes Yes Yes No
Metals Yes Yes Yes Yes
Energies Yes Yes Yes No
Agricultural Yes Yes No No

Conclusion: IC Markets Review

IC Markets is a trustworthy, globally recognised forex broker that gives institutional and retail traders access to the global currency markets. It is especially popular among algorithmic traders because it offers excellent conditions on the MT4, MT5 and cTrader platforms. Traders also appreciate its low commissions.

IC Markets caters to automated and high-frequency traders — Raw Spread MT4 and MT5 servers co-located at the Equinix NY4, LD4 and TY3 data centres, sub-1ms latency to major VPS providers collocated there, no restrictions on expert advisers or scalping, and a zero freeze level — and it is among the highest-volume retail brokers in the world, though not far ahead of its peers. In Finance Magnates Intelligence’s 52-broker sample it topped Q4 2025 with an average USD 1.76 trillion a month, but the rest of the top five sat between USD 1.24 and 1.56 trillion, and in FM Intelligence’s Q2 2026 report EC Markets (USD 2.11 trillion) and TMGM (USD 2.03 trillion) had both moved past USD 2 trillion, with IC Markets no longer described as the leader. IC Markets also supports several copy-trading routes — ZuluTrade, cTrader Copy, Signal Start and its own IC Social app (powered by Pelican Trading) — making it easier for traders to follow the strategies of more experienced traders.

IC Markets is one of the best brokers for traders of varying experience, though we recommend it most strongly to algorithmic traders and those interested in copy trading. Combining ECN and STP technology, it offers a secure, fast trading environment with low spreads and commissions, backed by advanced tools, high execution speed and strong support.

Sources
  1. IC (formerly IC Markets) trading account types and spreads — www.ic.com/en/trading-accounts/overview (checked September 2026)
  2. ASIC registers – check an Australian financial services licence — www.asic.gov.au/online-services/search-asic-registers (checked September 2026)

IC Markets Review FAQs

Is IC Markets a trusted broker?
Yes. IC Markets has a long operational history and has maintained an excellent reputation among traders. It holds several licences, which further supports the security of traders’ funds. It is particularly trusted by traders who want to run automated strategies on the cTrader and MetaTrader platforms.
Is IC Markets regulated?
Yes, but it is not a single licensed company — it is regulated through several separately licensed entities: International Capital Markets Pty Ltd (ASIC, AFSL 335692), IC Markets (EU) Ltd (CySEC, CIF licence 362/18), Raw Trading Ltd (Financial Services Authority of Seychelles, Securities Dealer licence SD018), IC Markets Ltd (Securities Commission of The Bahamas, SIA-F214) and IC Markets (KE) Limited (Capital Markets Authority of Kenya, licence 199). Only the Australian and Cypriot entities are top-tier regulated; which entity holds your account depends on where you live, and it determines your leverage, product range and investor protections.
Is IC Markets good for beginners?
Yes. IC Markets is one of the better trading platforms for beginners. It offers tight spreads, multiple trading instruments and educational resources that help new traders get familiar with the financial markets, and it is regulated by several trusted authorities.
9.1/10
AFM Trust Score

The verdict on IC Markets

IC Markets is a trustworthy, globally recognised forex and CFD broker that gives institutional and retail traders direct access to the currency markets, and it is especially strong for algorithmic traders running strategies on MT4, MT5 and cTrader. Its combination of ECN and STP technology delivers low spreads, low commissions and fast execution, backed by licences held across five separately regulated entities, including ASIC in Australia and CySEC in Cyprus. Research and education are thinner than at some rivals, and its range of copy-trading routes — ZuluTrade, cTrader Copy, SignalStart and the IC Social app — is where it makes up the difference.

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