IC Markets vs Interactive Brokers (2026): Which Broker Is Better?
IC Markets
Regulated by ASIC · CySEC · FSA · Min. deposit $0
Interactive Brokers
Regulated by SEC · FINRA · CFTC · Min. deposit $0
Our verdict
Interactive Brokers wins on trust, market breadth, and cost efficiency at scale, offering a wide range of assets, including real stocks, futures, bonds, spot crypto, and forex. IC Markets wins on the leveraged forex and CFD workflow, with support for TradingView, MetaTrader, and cTrader, micro lots, higher leverage, and simpler funding.
This is not a matchup between two versions of the same thing. IC Markets is a specialist leveraged forex and CFD broker built around raw spreads and the TradingView, MetaTrader, and cTrader ecosystems. Interactive Brokers is a Nasdaq-listed, S&P 500 multi-asset institution that also operates one of the cheapest currency desks in retail finance. The relevant question is not which is better in the abstract but which type of account you actually need.
Interactive Brokers' strengths include trust, breadth, and strong financing. It joined the S&P 500 in August 2025 and, by year's end, managed 4.4 million client accounts and approximately $780 billion in customer equity. The firm operates under rigorous, multi-layered regulation from the SEC, FCA, ASIC, and MAS. One account provides access to forex, stocks, ETFs, options, futures, bonds, funds, and spot cryptocurrencies on global exchanges, with CFDs available to eligible non-U.S. clients. It is one of the few brokers in this series that accept U.S. residents. Idle cash works too: USD balances over 10,000 currently earn approximately 3% annually on eligible accounts, and margin financing rates are among the industry's lowest. At institutional size, its forex pricing is tighter of the two, with tiered commissions ranging from 0.08 to 0.2 basis points on interbank spreads.
IC Markets primarily focuses on daily leveraged forex trading. It supports MT4, MT5, cTrader, and TradingView, whereas Interactive Brokers offers none of the first three. It also offers copy trading options through cTrader Copy, Myfxbook, and ZuluTrade, whereas Interactive Brokers offers none. The minimum trading size at IC Markets is 0.01 lots, whereas Interactive Brokers requires a minimum order of 25,000 units (0.25 lots). Unlike IBKR, which charges a $2 minimum commission per order, IC Markets has no minimum commission. IC Markets also offers leverage up to 1:500 through its offshore entities, whereas IBKR's forex leverage is limited by margin caps and can trigger automated liquidations. Funding at IC Markets is straightforward, with options such as cards, PayPal, and Skrill, whereas Interactive Brokers accepts only bank transfers. Additionally, opening an account at IC Markets is faster and involves less paperwork.
Costs depend on trade size. Measured all-in EUR/USD costs are roughly the same for a standard lot, about 0.59 pips at Interactive Brokers, including commission, versus about 0.62 on IC Markets' cTrader account. Beyond the standard lot size, IBKR offers an advantage because its commission tiers and cash interest offset financing costs. Below this threshold, IC Markets is more affordable and straightforward, since there are no minimum fees or ticket sizes to complicate things. IC Markets' flat per-lot pricing is easier to understand than IBKR's complex, multi-tiered schedule, which requires significant effort to interpret.
Our assessment shows that the key difference is what you trade. Investors and professionals seeking a single account for portfolio management, position sizing, and cash interest should consider Interactive Brokers. Beginners should be aware that neither broker is ideally suited to them, though IC Markets offers a gentler introduction. IC Markets is better suited for dedicated forex and CFD traders, EA users, copy traders, and micro-lot traders. Many experienced traders keep both brokers: one serves as their portfolio hub, and the other as their leveraged forex platform, since each fulfills different needs.
Scores compared
Category wins: IC Markets 5 · Interactive Brokers 4 · Tied 1 · across 10 categories scored for both
| Feature | IC Markets | Interactive Brokers |
|---|---|---|
Scores | ||
| Overall Rating | 4.5 | 4.4 |
| Safety & Regulation | 4.6 | 4.9 |
| Fees & Costs | 4.5 | 4.5 |
| Markets & Products | 4.5 | 4.7 |
| Platforms & Execution | 4.8 | 4.3 |
| Deposit & Withdrawal | 4.5 | 3.0 |
| Trading Tools | 4.6 | 4.8 |
| Education | 3.8 | 4.7 |
| Customer Service | 4.5 | 3.8 |
| Account Opening | 4.3 | 3.9 |
IC Markets vs Interactive Brokers: full comparison
| Feature | IC Markets | Interactive Brokers |
|---|---|---|
Company | ||
| Established | 2007 | 1977 |
| Headquarters | Level 4, 50 Carrington Street, Sydney, NSW 2000. | One Pickwick Plaza, Greenwich, CT 06830 USA |
| Broker Type | ECN / No Dealing Desk, CFD and forex broker | DMA |
| Regulation | ASIC · CySEC · FSA · SCB · CMA Kenya | SEC · FINRA · CFTC · NFA · FCA · CBI · CIRO · ASIC · MAS · SFC · DFSA · SEBI · JFSA Best value for Regulation |
| Segregated Client Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Negative Balance Protection | Yes | Yes |
| Banking License | No | No |
| Publicly Traded | No | Yes |
| Languages | English, Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, Japanese, Italian, Greek, Mandarin, Chinese, Indonesian, Thai, Arabic, Vietnamese, Bahasa Indonesia Best value for Languages | English, Arabic, Dutch, French, German, Hebrew, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish |
| Customer Support | Email, Telephone, Live Chat | Email, Phone, Live Chat |
| Customer Support Hours | 24/7 live chat, phone, and email for all clients | 24/5, Monday to Friday |
Account Types | ||
| Demo Account | Yes | Yes |
| Swap-Free Account | Yes Best value for Swap-Free Account | No |
| Joint Account | Yes | Yes |
| Corporate Account | Yes | Yes |
| Managed Account | Yes | Yes |
| PAMM / MAM Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Social / Copy Trading | Yes Best value for Social / Copy Trading | No |
Account Conditions | ||
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $0 |
| Maximum Leverage | 1:5000 | 1:50 (US), 1:30 (UK), 1:30 (EU), 1:30 (AU) |
| Payment Methods | Bank Transfer, Credit/ Debit Card, Paypal, Neteller, Skrill, UnionPay, Bpay, Broker to Broker, POLI, Thai Internet Banking, Rapidpay, Klarna, Vietnamese Internet Banking, Cryptocurrency Best value for Payment Methods | Bank Transfer, Wise, Check |
| Account Currencies | AUD, USD, EUR, CAD, GBP, SGD, NZD, JPY, HKD, CHF, Cryptocurrency | AED, AUD, CAD, CHF, CNH, CZK, DKK, EUR, GBP, HKD, HUF, ILS, JPY, MXN, NOK, NZD, PLN, RON, SEK, SGD, TRY, ZAR, USD Best value for Account Currencies |
| Bonuses | No | No |
| Contests | No | No |
Trading Conditions | ||
| Markets & Products | Forex, CFDs | Forex, CFDs, Stocks, ETFs, Crypto, Funds, Bonds, Options, Futures, Forecast Contracts Best value for Markets & Products |
| Currency Pairs | 61 Currency pairs, including major, minor, and exotic pairs. | 100+ FX Pairs. Major, Minor, and Exotic. |
| Minimum Lot Size | 0.01 Best value for Minimum Lot Size | 0.25 |
| Maximum Lot Size | 200 | 70 |
| Decimal Pricing | 5 decimals | 5 decimals |
| Order Types | Market, limit, stop, trailing stop, plus platform-specific types. | Market, Limit, Stop, Stop Limit, Trailing Stop, Bracket, OCO, GTC, IOC, FOK, and 90+ more |
| Execution Type | ECN / No Dealing Desk | Market Execution |
| Margin Call Level | 100% (varies by entity) | No traditional margin calls; real-time automatic liquidation applies. |
| Stop Out Level | 50% (retail) | When account equity falls below the maintenance margin (real-time liquidation). |
| Hedging | Yes | Yes |
| Scalping | Yes | Yes |
Fees | ||
| Spread Type | Variable | Variable |
| Spreads From | 0.1 pips (Standard Account),
0.0 pips (Raw Accounts) | 0.1 pips |
| Commission | Standard Account - $0,
Raw Spread Account - $7 (per standard lot),
Raw Spread Account (cTrader) - $3 (per standard lot),
Raw Pro Account - $3 (per standard lot)
Raw Pro+ - $2 (per standard lot) | 0.08 to 0.20 bps per trade size with a minimum of $2 (or equivalent) |
| Overnight / Swap Fees | Yes | Yes |
| Deposit Fee | No Best value for Deposit Fee | Yes |
| Withdrawal Fee | No Best value for Withdrawal Fee | Yes |
| Currency Conversion Fee | Yes | Yes |
| Account Maintenance Fee | No | No |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No |
| Custody Fee | No | No |
Platforms & Tools | ||
| Trading Platforms | IC Mobile App, WebTrader, TradingView, MT4, MT5, cTrader Best value for Trading Platforms | Web, Mobile, Desktop, TradingView |
| Mobile App | Yes | Yes |
| API Access | Yes | Yes |
| VPS Hosting | Yes | Yes |
| Automated Trading | Yes | Yes |
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Pros and cons
IC Markets
- Very low FX spreads on majors
- Tier-1 regulation (FCA)
- Strong platform lineup (MT4/MT5 + web)
- Good ETF and stock coverage
- Higher min deposit than some rivals
- Overnight financing can be pricey
Interactive Brokers
- Regulated by multiple Tier 1 authorities, including the FCA, SEC, CFTC, FINRA, CIRO, the Central Bank of Ireland, ASIC, and MAS.
- Publicly listed on Nasdaq, with audited quarterly financials and capital well above regulatory minimums.
- No minimum deposit is required to open a cash account.
- Low, commission-based forex pricing at 0.20 basis points, falling to 0.08 at high volume.
- Direct market access with IB SmartRouting and institutional-grade execution quality.
- Over 100 currency pairs, along with stocks, ETFs, options, futures, bonds, and crypto, in one account.
- Broad choice of account base currencies.
- Competitive margin financing rates.
- Professional-grade platforms in TWS and IBKR Desktop, plus full TradingView integration.
- Extensive API support for algorithmic and systematic trading via REST, Python, and FIX.
- Comprehensive free education through IBKR Campus and robust built-in research tools.
- Not beginner-friendly, with a steep learning curve for the Trader Workstation
- The minimum order of 25,000 units (0.25 lots) excludes micro-lot traders
- Document-heavy account opening that takes longer than most retail brokers' account openings
- Funding is limited to bank transfers, with no card or e-wallet options
- Complex, multi-layered pricing that takes effort to understand
- Customer support quality is inconsistent and below the standard the platform sets
- No support for MetaTrader 4 or MetaTrader 5
- Real-time automated liquidation rather than traditional margin calls, which can catch unprepared traders off guard
Which is better for…
Safety and trust
Interactive Brokers
Interactive Brokers is a Nasdaq-listed S&P 500 constituent with 4.4 million accounts, approximately $780 billion in client equity, and licenses from the SEC, FCA, ASIC, and MAS. IC Markets, in contrast, is soundly regulated by ASIC and CySEC, but it is privately held and operates offshore entities.
Range of markets
Interactive Brokers
Interactive Brokers offers real stocks, ETFs, options, futures, bonds, funds, and spot currencies in a single account. Additionally, eligible non-US clients can access more than 8,000 CFDs. In contrast, IC Markets offers 2,200+ instruments, all CFDs, and does not include ownership of the underlying asset.
Leveraged forex trading
IC Markets
IC Markets offers micro lots starting at 0.01 lots, whereas IBKR’s minimum order size is 25,000 units (0.25 lots). It also has no per-order commission floor, unlike IBKR's $2 minimum commission, and offers leverage up to 1:500 offshore, whereas IBKR's forex is margin-capped. This is the workflow IC Markets is designed for.
Platforms and copy trading
IC Markets
IC Markets offers MT4, MT5, cTrader, and TradingView, along with copy trading options through IC Social, cTrader Copy, Myfxbook, and ZuluTrade. In contrast, Interactive Brokers neither supports MetaTrader nor cTrader and lacks copy trading features. However, its TWS, IBKR Desktop, and API are excellent for systematic trading, and it integrates with TradingView.
Forex costs at size
Interactive Brokers
Interactive Brokers' tiered commissions, ranging from 0.2 to 0.08 basis points on interbank prices, result in all-in EUR/USD costs of about 0.59 pips, slightly below IC Markets' 0.62, and decrease as volume increases. At typical retail levels, the two are nearly identical.
Beginners
IC Markets
Neither IC Markets nor Interactive Brokers is a beginner-focused broker, but IC Markets' card and e-wallet funding, $200 minimum deposit, and familiar MetaTrader setup are more beginner-friendly than IBKR's document-heavy onboarding, bank-transfer-only funding, and the steep learning curve of the Trader Workstation.
Frequently asked questions
On a standard lot, costs are nearly level, with all-in EUR/USD costs of roughly 0.59 pips at Interactive Brokers, including commission, compared to about 0.62 at IC Markets on cTrader. Interactive Brokers becomes more cost-effective at higher trading volumes due to its tiered commission structure. In contrast, IC Markets offers lower costs for small and micro trades because it has no $2 per-order minimum and no minimum trade size of 25,000 units, unlike Interactive Brokers.
Both brokers segregate client funds, but Interactive Brokers has a higher level of accountability. It is publicly listed, a member of the S&P 500, and regulated by top-tier authorities such as the SEC, FCA, ASIC, and MAS, with regional protections in place. IC Markets is also credibly regulated, primarily by ASIC and CySEC, and its offshore entities are licensed by the Seychelles FSA, though it remains a private company.
No. Interactive Brokers does not support MT4, MT5, or cTrader. Instead, it offers Trader Workstation, IBKR Desktop, the web portal, and GlobalTrader, along with a comprehensive API suite and TradingView integration.
No. The minimum forex order is 25,000 units (0.25 lots) of the base currency, excluding micro-lot strategies. IC Markets supports orders as low as 0.01 lots.
IC Markets offers up to 1:500 through its offshore entities and 1:30 to retail clients under ASIC and CySEC. Forex leverage at Interactive Brokers is substantially lower and margin-based, and positions that breach requirements face real-time automated liquidation rather than a traditional margin call.
Yes, Interactive Brokers is a US-based broker that accepts US residents, whereas IC Markets does not.
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CFDs are complex instruments that carry a high risk of rapid losses due to leverage. Between 74% 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 the risk of losing your money.