A head-to-head comparison of ACY Securities and IC Markets across regulation, trading costs, platforms, and editorial scoring.
ASIC-regulated Australian broker with broad 2,200+ instrument coverage, TradingView integration, and raw ECN accounts - stronger on instrument breadth than on brand recognition.
True ECN routing with raw 0.0 pip spreads on majors plus commission, deep liquidity, and the cleanest MT4 / MT5 / cTrader stack we test.
IC Markets comes out ahead with an editorial score of 4.7/5 compared to ACY Securities's 4/5.
Which broker wins for each type of trader, based on costs, safety, platforms, and editorial scoring.
Both brokers offer spreads from 0 pips.
IC Markets has a stronger safety profile: top-tier regulation, compensation scheme, segregated funds, negative balance protection.
IC Markets offers more exclusive platform options: cTrader.
IC Markets edges out ACY Securities with a higher editorial score (4.7/5 vs 4/5), indicating a stronger overall experience for new traders.
| Editorial score | 4.0/ 5 | 4.7/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Score Breakdown | ||
Trust & Regulation 40% weight | 4.3 / 5 | 4.6 / 5▲ |
Fees & Spreads 30% weight | 4.3 / 5 | 5.0 / 5▲ |
Platforms & Tools 20% weight | 4.2 / 5 | 4.6 / 5▲ |
Customer Support 10% weight | 3.9 / 5 | 4.5 / 5▲ |
| Founded | 2011 | 2007 |
| Headquarters | Sydney, Australia | Sydney, Australia |
| Min deposit | $50 | $200 |
| Spreads from | 0 pips | 0 pips |
| Commission / lot | $7/lot | $7/lot |
| Max leverage | 500:1 | 500:1 |
| Withdrawal fee | Free | Free |
| Regulators | ASIC FSA Seychelles | FSCA ASIC CySEC |
| Platforms | MetaTrader 4 TradingView MetaTrader 5 | MetaTrader 4 TradingView MetaTrader 5 cTrader |
| Active bonuses | ||
| Visit broker | Visit ACY Securities | Visit IC Markets |
Pros
2,200+ instruments including share CFDs and ETF CFDs
TradingView integration for browser-based chart execution
ASIC regulated with Tier 1 investor protections
Raw ECN spreads from 0.0 pips at $7 round-turn commission
Client funds held in segregated accounts
Negative balance protection
No deposit fees
No inactivity fee
MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 supported
Mobile trading app available
Advanced charting tools included
Transparent pricing with clear cost disclosure
24/5 live chat support
Phone support available
Multilingual customer support
Pros
True ECN routing with raw 0.0 pip spreads
All three major platforms (MT4, MT5, cTrader)
Deep liquidity from 25+ tier-1 sources
Regulated by top-tier authorities (FCA, ASIC, CySEC)
Client funds held in segregated accounts
Negative balance protection
Investor compensation scheme coverage
No deposit fees
No inactivity fee
MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 supported
Mobile trading app available
Advanced charting tools included
Transparent pricing with clear cost disclosure
24/5 live chat support
Phone support available
Multilingual customer support
Cons
$200 minimum for ECN Ultra account
Less established brand than IC Markets or Pepperstone in Australia
Limited proprietary tools
No investor compensation scheme
No proprietary platform
Cons
Not available to US residents
Higher minimum deposit than IG/OANDA
No proprietary platform
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
| Criteria | ACY Securities | IC Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Trust & Regulation | ||
| Top-tier regulator (FCA, ASIC, CFTC, etc.) | Pass | Pass |
| Segregated client funds | Pass | Pass |
| Negative balance protection | Pass | Pass |
| Compensation scheme (e.g. FSCS) | Fail | Pass |
| Fees & Spreads | ||
| Raw/ECN spreads available | Pass | Pass |
| No deposit fee | Pass | Pass |
| No inactivity fee | Pass | Pass |
| Transparent pricing page | Pass | Pass |
| Platforms & Tools | ||
| MT4/MT5 available | Pass | Pass |
| Proprietary platform | Fail | Fail |
| Mobile app | Pass | Pass |
| Advanced charting tools | Pass | Pass |
| Customer Support | ||
| 24/5 live chat | Pass | Pass |
| Phone support | Pass | Pass |
| Multilingual support | Pass | Pass |
Based on our independent editorial scoring, IC Markets ranks higher with a score of 4.7/5 vs 4/5 for ACY Securities. The best choice still depends on your individual trading needs; ACY Securities and IC Markets may each suit different trader profiles.
Both ACY Securities and IC Markets offer spreads starting from 0 pips, making them equivalent on this metric. Consider commissions and account types when evaluating total trading costs.
ACY Securities has a lower minimum deposit of $50, while IC Markets requires at least $200. This makes ACY Securities more accessible for traders with limited starting capital.
Both ACY Securities and IC Markets hold licences from top-tier regulators, indicating a high standard of regulatory oversight. Both are considered safe. Check each broker's specific regulatory bodies to confirm coverage in your jurisdiction.
For beginners: ACY Securities has a lower minimum deposit ($50), lowering the barrier to entry; both brokers offer negative balance protection. Also weigh up educational resources and customer support quality before deciding.
ACY Securities offers maximum leverage of 500:1, while IC Markets offers up to 500:1. Available leverage varies by account type, instrument, and jurisdiction. Higher leverage amplifies both potential profits and losses. Always use appropriate risk management.
Both ACY Securities and IC Markets charge the same commission of $7 per lot on applicable accounts.
ACY Securities supports MetaTrader 4, TradingView, MetaTrader 5 and IC Markets offers MetaTrader 4, TradingView, MetaTrader 5, cTrader; both support MetaTrader 4, TradingView, MetaTrader 5; IC Markets exclusively offers cTrader.
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