IC Markets vs. FXCM
Comparison: IC Markets vs. FXCM – Which broker is better? A quick comparison of platform, fees, deposits, withdrawals and regulation.
Winner of this comparison: IC Markets with an overall rating of 60%
Basic information
| Basic information |  IC Markets |  FXCM |
|---|---|---|
| Deposit | 200 EUR/USD | 50 EUR/USD |
| Spreads | 0.5 EUR/USD | 1 EUR/USD |
| Established | 2007 | 1999 |
| Currency Pairs (Total Forex pairs) | 90 | 20 |
| Country | UK | Germany |
| Regulation | FCA (UK), ASIC (Australia), Cysec | FCA (UK), Authorised in the European Union (EU), ASIC (Australia), Cysec |
| Trading app | MetaTrader 4 (MT4), cTrader, MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Desktop Platform (Windows), Web Platform, Social Trading / Copy-Trading |
| Number of CFD asset classes | 6 | 7 |
| Broker type | MM | MM |
| Support | Phone, Mail, Chat | Phone, Mail |
| Funding methods | * Some of the payment methods may not be available in your country. Skrill, Qiwi, FasaPay, PayPal, Poli, Visa/Mastercard, Bank Wire | * Some of the payment methods may not be available in your country. Skrill, GiroPay, Qiwi, FasaPay, UnionPay, BitPay, Klarna, PaySafeCard, PayPal, Advcash, Cryptocurrencies, Poli, WebMoney |
| Real Stocks and ETFs | Yes | Yes |
*The value is indicative from the broker's website. The spread amount is variable.
73.46% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Between 61 % and 89 % of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
Comparison Result
In terms of overall rating, both brokers are equal – both have 60%. IC Markets requires a minimum deposit of 200 EUR/USD, while FXCM sets it at 50 EUR/USD. Conversely, FXCM scores with a lower minimum deposit. For IC Markets, the spread is 0.5 EUR/USD, while for FXCM it is 1 EUR/USD. Tighter spreads make IC Markets a more advantageous choice. IC Markets offers 90 forex pairs, while FXCM provides 20. A wider selection gives IC Markets the advantage. IC Markets was founded in 2007, while FXCM has been operating since 1999. The older FXCM has the upper hand in this regard. This advantage goes to FXCM, while IC Markets lacks it. IC Markets is overseen by 3 regulatory bodies, while FXCM has 4. Stricter oversight at FXCM gives it an advantage. IC Markets supports 3 platforms, while FXCM offers 3. In terms of platform count, both are on the same level.
60%
IC Markets
52%
FXCM
Key Strengths
IC Markets
- Competitive spreads and low commissions: Low variable spreads, from 0 pips.
- Wide range of trading instruments: Trading with over 2250 instruments.
- Support for all trading methods: Scalping, HFT, and automated trading.
FXCM
- The broker is regulated in four Tier-1 jurisdictions and two Tier-2 jurisdictions.
- FXCM has received awards for the best tools and platforms, professional trading, algorithmic trading, and copy trading.
- FXCM publishes monthly execution reports, including statistics on slippage and order execution quality.
Comparison by Categories
Comprehensive Comparison: IC Markets vs FXCM
IC Markets FXCM Investments
75 % 88 %| Investments | IC Markets | FXCM |
|---|---|---|
| Currency Pairs (Total Forex pairs) | 90 | 20 |
| CFDs – Total Offered | 300+ | 200+ |
| Options CFD | No | Yes |
| Share CFDs | Yes | No |
| Forex CFD | Yes | Yes |
| Commodities CFD | Yes | Yes |
| ETF CFD | Yes | Yes |
| Indicies CFD | Yes | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency traded as actual | No | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency traded as CFD | Yes | Yes |
Cost
80 % 20 %| Cost | IC Markets | FXCM |
|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD *The value is indicative from the broker's website. The spread amount is variable. | 0.5 | 1 |
| Deposit from | 200 | 50 |
| Account fee | No | No |
| Inactivity fee | Yes | Yes |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | Yes |
| Withdrawal fees | No | Yes |
| Deposit fees | No | Yes |
Trading app
43 % 43 %| Trading app | IC Markets | FXCM |
|---|---|---|
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | No | Yes |
| Web Platform | No | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy-Trading | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | No |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No |
| Currenex | No | No |
| cTrader | Yes | No |
Trading Tools
100 % 60 %| Trading Tools | IC Markets | FXCM |
|---|---|---|
| Financial leverage | Yes | No |
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Alerts – Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Charting – Indicators / Studies (Total) | Yes | No |
| Charting – Drawing Tools (Total) | Yes | Yes |
| Charting – Trade From Chart | Yes | No |
| Stop-Loss | Yes | Yes |
| Finacial Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Daily financial news | Yes | Yes |
| Order Type – Trailing Stop | Yes | No |
Research
100 % 50 %| Research | IC Markets | FXCM |
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | No |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Weekly Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Social Sentiment – Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | No |
| Research | Yes | No |
Education
100 % 67 %| Education | IC Markets | FXCM |
|---|---|---|
| Has Education – Forex | Yes | No |
| Has Education – CFDs | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Videos – Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | No |
| Education | Yes | Yes |
Forex
100 % 100 %| Forex | IC Markets | FXCM |
|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD | Yes | Yes |
| USD/JPY | Yes | Yes |
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes |
| USD/CHF | Yes | Yes |
| USD/CAD | Yes | Yes |
| NZD/USD | Yes | Yes |
| AUD/USD | Yes | Yes |
Commodities
91 % 36 %| Commodities | IC Markets | FXCM |
|---|---|---|
| Gold | No | No |
| Silver | Yes | Yes |
| WIT Oil | Yes | No |
| Brent Oil | Yes | Yes |
| Coffee | Yes | No |
| Cocoa | Yes | Yes |
| Soybeans | Yes | Yes |
| Rice | Yes | No |
| Corn | Yes | No |
| Platinum | Yes | No |
| Palladium | Yes | No |
Indicies
100 % 80 %| Indicies | IC Markets | FXCM |
|---|---|---|
| DAX 40 | Yes | No |
| S&P 500 | Yes | Yes |
| Nasdaq | Yes | Yes |
| Dow Jones | Yes | Yes |
| Nikkei | Yes | Yes |
Cryptocurrencies
50 % 40 %| Cryptocurrencies | IC Markets | FXCM |
|---|---|---|
| Bitcoin | Yes | No |
| Litecoin | Yes | No |
| Ethereum | Yes | Yes |
| Ripple | Yes | No |
| Neo | No | No |
| Stellar | No | Yes |
| Cardano | No | Yes |
| Tron | No | No |
| Monero | No | Yes |
| EOS | Yes | No |
Regulations
50 % 67 %| Regulations | IC Markets | FXCM |
|---|---|---|
| Cysec | Yes | Yes |
| ASIC (Australia) | Yes | Yes |
| FCA (UK) | Yes | Yes |
| Authorised in the European Union (EU) | No | Yes |
| CFTC Registered (USA) | No | No |
| FINMA (Switzerland) | No | No |
Support
100 % 67 %| Support | IC Markets | FXCM |
|---|---|---|
| Chat | Yes | No |
| Phone | Yes | Yes |
| Yes | Yes |
Overall
60 % 52 %| Overall | IC Markets | FXCM |
|---|
Our Recommendations
Best for IC Markets
Thanks to comprehensive educational materials and a user-friendly platform, IC Markets is an ideal choice for new traders.
Best Platform
Both brokers offer excellent trading platforms with similar features and user-friendliness.
Lowest Costs IC Markets
offers competitive spreads and lower fees, making it ideal for active traders.
IC Markets FXCM