InstaForex vs. IC Markets
Comparison: InstaForex vs. IC Markets – Which broker is better? A quick comparison based on the trading platform, fees, deposit or withdrawal options, and regulation in 2026.
Winner of this comparison: IC Markets with an overall rating of 60%
Basic information
| Basic information |  InstaForex |  IC Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Deposit | 200 EUR/USD | 200 EUR/USD |
| Spreads | 1.3 EUR/USD | 0.5 EUR/USD |
| Established | 2007 | 2007 |
| Currency Pairs (Total Forex pairs) | 82 | 90 |
| Country | Cyprus | UK |
| Regulation | Cysec | FCA (UK), ASIC (Australia), Cysec |
| Trading app | MetaTrader 4 (MT4), MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | MetaTrader 4 (MT4), cTrader, MetaTrader 5 (MT5) |
| Number of CFD asset classes | 6 | 6 |
| Broker type | ECN, MM | MM |
| Support | Phone, Mail, Chat | Phone, Mail, Chat |
| Funding methods | * Some of the payment methods may not be available in your country. Skrill, Visa/Mastercard, Bank Wire | * Some of the payment methods may not be available in your country. Skrill, Qiwi, FasaPay, PayPal, Poli, Visa/Mastercard, Bank Wire |
| Real Stocks and ETFs | Yes | Yes |
*The value is indicative from the broker's website. The spread amount is variable.
81.62% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.
72.52% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.
Comparison Result
If you don’t want to read the full comparison, the winner of our review is IC Markets, which takes the lead with a rating of 60%, while InstaForex only reaches 48%. InstaForex requires a minimum deposit of 200 EUR/USD, while IC Markets sets it at 200 EUR/USD. The entry amount is the same for both. For InstaForex, the spread is 1.3 EUR/USD, while for IC Markets it is 0.5 EUR/USD. Lower spreads at IC Markets give it the edge. InstaForex offers 82 forex pairs, while IC Markets provides 90. More options come with IC Markets. InstaForex was founded in 2007, while IC Markets has been operating since 2007. Both started in the same year, so they’re equal here. Unfortunately, neither of them offers this option. InstaForex is overseen by 1 regulatory bodies, while IC Markets has 3. Stricter oversight at IC Markets gives it an advantage. InstaForex supports 2 platforms, while IC Markets offers 3. More options are provided by IC Markets.
48%
InstaForex
60%
IC Markets
Key Strengths
InstaForex
- Wide range of instruments : InstaForex offers trading with more than 100 currency pairs, CFDs, commodities, and cryptocurrencies.
- No minimum deposit : InstaForex has no minimum deposit requirement, allowing you to start trading with any amount.
- Professional education and analysis : InstaForex provides comprehensive educational and analytical tools useful for both beginners and experienced traders.
- Quick deposits : Various deposit methods, including Bitcoin and credit cards, allow for quick and easy account funding.
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.
Comparison by Categories
Comprehensive Comparison: InstaForex vs IC Markets
InstaForex IC Markets Investments
75 % 75 %| Investments | InstaForex | IC Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Currency Pairs (Total Forex pairs) | 82 | 90 |
| CFDs – Total Offered | 2600+ | 300+ |
| Options CFD | No | No |
| Share CFDs | Yes | Yes |
| Forex CFD | Yes | Yes |
| Commodities CFD | Yes | Yes |
| ETF CFD | Yes | Yes |
| Indicies CFD | Yes | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency traded as actual | No | No |
| Cryptocurrency traded as CFD | Yes | Yes |
Cost
60 % 80 %| Cost | InstaForex | IC Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD *The value is indicative from the broker's website. The spread amount is variable. | 1.3 | 0.5 |
| Deposit from | 200 | 200 |
| Account fee | No | No |
| Inactivity fee | Yes | Yes |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | No |
| Withdrawal fees | Yes | No |
| Deposit fees | No | No |
Trading app
29 % 43 %| Trading app | InstaForex | IC Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | No | No |
| Web Platform | No | No |
| Social Trading / Copy-Trading | No | No |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes |
| Currenex | No | No |
| cTrader | No | Yes |
Trading Tools
100 % 100 %| Trading Tools | InstaForex | IC Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Financial leverage | Yes | Yes |
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Alerts – Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Charting – Indicators / Studies (Total) | Yes | Yes |
| Charting – Drawing Tools (Total) | Yes | Yes |
| Charting – Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Stop-Loss | Yes | Yes |
| Finacial Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Daily financial news | Yes | Yes |
| Order Type – Trailing Stop | Yes | Yes |
Research
67 % 100 %| Research | InstaForex | IC Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Weekly Webinars | No | Yes |
| Social Sentiment – Currency Pairs | No | Yes |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Yes | Yes |
Education
83 % 100 %| Education | InstaForex | IC Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Has Education – Forex | Yes | Yes |
| Has Education – CFDs | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Videos – Advanced Trading Videos | No | Yes |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Yes | Yes |
Forex
100 % 100 %| Forex | InstaForex | IC Markets |
|---|---|---|
| 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
36 % 91 %| Commodities | InstaForex | IC Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Gold | Yes | No |
| Silver | Yes | Yes |
| WIT Oil | Yes | Yes |
| Brent Oil | Yes | Yes |
| Coffee | No | Yes |
| Cocoa | No | Yes |
| Soybeans | No | Yes |
| Rice | No | Yes |
| Corn | No | Yes |
| Platinum | No | Yes |
| Palladium | No | Yes |
Indicies
100 % 100 %| Indicies | InstaForex | IC Markets |
|---|---|---|
| DAX 40 | Yes | Yes |
| S&P 500 | Yes | Yes |
| Nasdaq | Yes | Yes |
| Dow Jones | Yes | Yes |
| Nikkei | Yes | Yes |
Cryptocurrencies
40 % 50 %| Cryptocurrencies | InstaForex | IC Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Bitcoin | Yes | Yes |
| Litecoin | No | Yes |
| Ethereum | Yes | Yes |
| Ripple | Yes | Yes |
| Neo | No | No |
| Stellar | No | No |
| Cardano | Yes | No |
| Tron | No | No |
| Monero | No | No |
| EOS | No | Yes |
Regulations
17 % 50 %| Regulations | InstaForex | IC Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Cysec | Yes | Yes |
| ASIC (Australia) | No | Yes |
| FCA (UK) | No | Yes |
| Authorised in the European Union (EU) | No | No |
| CFTC Registered (USA) | No | No |
| FINMA (Switzerland) | No | No |
Support
100 % 100 %| Support | InstaForex | IC Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Chat | Yes | Yes |
| Phone | Yes | Yes |
| Yes | Yes |
Overall
48 % 60 %| Overall | InstaForex | IC Markets |
|---|
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 IC Markets
The trading platform of broker IC Markets offers an intuitive interface and advanced features for efficient trading.
Lowest Costs IC Markets
offers competitive spreads and lower fees, making it ideal for active traders.
InstaForex IC Markets