IC Markets vs. XTB
Comparison: IC Markets vs. XTB – Which broker is better? A quick comparison based on the trading platform, fees, deposit or withdrawal options, and regulation in 2026.
Tie: both brokers achieved the same rating of 60%
Basic information
| Basic information |  IC Markets |  XTB |
|---|---|---|
| Deposit | 200 EUR/USD | 1 EUR/USD |
| Spreads | 0.5 EUR/USD | 0.9 EUR/USD |
| Established | 2007 | 2002 |
| Currency Pairs (Total Forex pairs) | 90 | 71 |
| Country | UK | Poland, Cyprus, UK |
| Regulation | FCA (UK), ASIC (Australia), Cysec | FCA (UK), Authorised in the European Union (EU), Cysec |
| Trading app | MetaTrader 4 (MT4), cTrader, MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Desktop Platform (Windows), Web Platform |
| Number of CFD asset classes | 6 | 6 |
| Broker type | MM | MM |
| Support | Phone, Mail, Chat | Phone, Mail, Chat |
| 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, PayPal, Visa/Mastercard, Bank Wire |
| Real Stocks and ETFs | Yes | Yes |
*The value is indicative from the broker's website. The spread amount is variable.
72.52% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.
XTB · www.xtb.com
77% of retail CFD accounts lose 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 XTB sets it at 1 EUR/USD. Conversely, XTB scores with a lower minimum deposit. For IC Markets, the spread is 0.5 EUR/USD, while for XTB it is 0.9 EUR/USD. Tighter spreads make IC Markets a more advantageous choice. IC Markets offers 90 forex pairs, while XTB provides 71. A wider selection gives IC Markets the advantage. IC Markets was founded in 2007, while XTB has been operating since 2002. The older XTB has the upper hand in this regard. This advantage goes to XTB, while IC Markets lacks it. IC Markets is overseen by 3 regulatory bodies, while XTB has 3. In terms of regulation, both are equal. IC Markets supports 3 platforms, while XTB offers 2. A greater choice of platforms gives IC Markets the lead.
60%
IC Markets
60%
XTB
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.
XTB
- Offers real stocks and ETFs
- Automatic investing
- Pays interest on uninvested funds
- Regulated by FCA (UK) and Cysec and under supervision
- Video content and webinars for clients
- XTB is a trustworthy brand established in 2002
Comparison by Categories
Comprehensive Comparison: IC Markets vs XTB
IC Markets XTB Investments
75 % 75 %| Investments | IC Markets | XTB |
|---|---|---|
| Currency Pairs (Total Forex pairs) | 90 | 71 |
| CFDs – Total Offered | 300+ | 8600+ |
| 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
80 % 40 %| Cost | IC Markets | XTB |
|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD *The value is indicative from the broker's website. The spread amount is variable. | 0.5 | 0.9 |
| Deposit from | 200 | 1 |
| Account fee | No | No |
| Inactivity fee | Yes | Yes |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | No |
| Withdrawal fees | No | Yes |
| Deposit fees | No | Yes |
Trading app
43 % 29 %| Trading app | IC Markets | XTB |
|---|---|---|
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | No | Yes |
| Web Platform | No | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy-Trading | No | No |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | No |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No |
| Currenex | No | No |
| cTrader | Yes | No |
Trading Tools
100 % 100 %| Trading Tools | IC Markets | XTB |
|---|---|---|
| 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
100 % 100 %| Research | IC Markets | XTB |
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Weekly Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Social Sentiment – Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Yes | Yes |
Education
100 % 100 %| Education | IC Markets | XTB |
|---|---|---|
| Has Education – Forex | Yes | Yes |
| Has Education – CFDs | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Videos – Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Yes | Yes |
Forex
100 % 100 %| Forex | IC Markets | XTB |
|---|---|---|
| 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 % 82 %| Commodities | IC Markets | XTB |
|---|---|---|
| Gold | No | Yes |
| Silver | Yes | Yes |
| WIT Oil | Yes | Yes |
| Brent Oil | Yes | Yes |
| Coffee | Yes | Yes |
| Cocoa | Yes | Yes |
| Soybeans | Yes | Yes |
| Rice | Yes | No |
| Corn | Yes | No |
| Platinum | Yes | Yes |
| Palladium | Yes | Yes |
Indicies
100 % 100 %| Indicies | IC Markets | XTB |
|---|---|---|
| DAX 40 | Yes | Yes |
| S&P 500 | Yes | Yes |
| Nasdaq | Yes | Yes |
| Dow Jones | Yes | Yes |
| Nikkei | Yes | Yes |
Cryptocurrencies
50 % 60 %| Cryptocurrencies | IC Markets | XTB |
|---|---|---|
| Bitcoin | Yes | Yes |
| Litecoin | Yes | Yes |
| Ethereum | Yes | Yes |
| Ripple | Yes | Yes |
| Neo | No | No |
| Stellar | No | Yes |
| Cardano | No | No |
| Tron | No | No |
| Monero | No | No |
| EOS | Yes | Yes |
Regulations
50 % 50 %| Regulations | IC Markets | XTB |
|---|---|---|
| Cysec | Yes | Yes |
| ASIC (Australia) | Yes | No |
| FCA (UK) | Yes | Yes |
| Authorised in the European Union (EU) | No | Yes |
| CFTC Registered (USA) | No | No |
| FINMA (Switzerland) | No | No |
Support
100 % 100 %| Support | IC Markets | XTB |
|---|---|---|
| Chat | Yes | Yes |
| Phone | Yes | Yes |
| Yes | Yes |
Overall
60 % 60 %| Overall | IC Markets | XTB |
|---|
Our Recommendations
Best for XTB
Thanks to comprehensive educational materials and a user-friendly platform, XTB 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.
IC Markets XTB