Two brokers are pitted against each other to test how regulation, costs, and platforms translate into trading reality. The tension between safety and access drives the comparison.
IC Markets leads in editorial score, backed by stronger regulation, broader instrument access, and investor protections versus AMarkets.
Find out which broker best suits your trader profile.
Choose AMarkets if…
Choose AMarkets if you want a low entry point and cheaper per-lot commissions.
Choose IC Markets if…
Choose IC Markets if you want advanced charting, true ECN with raw spreads, and strong regulatory protections.
Which broker wins for each type of trader, based on costs, safety, platforms, and editorial scoring.
Both brokers offer spreads from 0.00 pips.
| Editorial score | 3.8/ 5 | 4.7/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Score Breakdown | ||
Trust & Regulation 40% weight | 3.4 / 5 | 4.6 / 5▲ |
Pros
MT4, MT5, and cTrader all available
Competitive $6 round-turn ECN commission
Mature PAMM platform with full performance transparency
No inactivity fee
Client funds held in segregated accounts
Raw spread account available
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
| Criteria | AMarkets | IC Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Trust & Regulation | ||
| Top-tier regulator (FCA, ASIC, CFTC, etc.) | Fail | Pass |
| Segregated client funds | Pass | Pass |
| Negative balance protection | Fail | 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 | Fail | Pass |
| Customer Support | ||
| 24/5 live chat | Pass | Pass |
| Phone support | Pass | Pass |
| Multilingual support | Pass | Pass |
IC Markets rates 4.7/5 versus 3.8/5 for AMarkets. IC Markets edges ahead on our composite score, though both brokers meet a reasonable standard for most traders.
Both AMarkets and IC Markets start from 0 pips, making them equivalent on this metric. Compare commissions and account types to evaluate total trading costs.
AMarkets has $100, while IC Markets requires at least $200. This makes AMarkets more accessible for traders with limited starting capital.
IC Markets holds top-tier regulation (ASIC, FSCA, CySEC), providing stronger investor protections. AMarkets may be regulated but does not hold top-tier status in our data. Verify regulatory status on each regulator's public register before depositing funds.
For beginners, two factors stand out: AMarkets requires a lower minimum deposit ($100), lowering the barrier to entry, and IC Markets provides negative balance protection, capping losses at your deposit amount. Also compare demo account availability and educational resources before deciding.
AMarkets lists maximum leverage of 3000:1, while IC Markets lists up to 500:1. Available leverage depends on your jurisdiction. EU retail clients under ESMA rules are capped at 1:30 on major forex pairs.
AMarkets charges $6 per lot, lower than IC Markets's $7 per lot. Lower commissions benefit active traders who execute many trades per day.
AMarkets supports cTrader, MetaTrader 5, MetaTrader 4, while IC Markets supports cTrader, MetaTrader 5, TradingView, MetaTrader 4. Both provide cTrader and MetaTrader 5 and MetaTrader 4. IC Markets has exclusive access to TradingView.
IC Markets wins for safety and regulation due to ASIC, CySEC, FSCA licensing and investor protections.
IC Markets wins for active traders thanks to deep liquidity and large instrument universe.
AMarkets is better suited for scalpers: lower commission ($6/lot).
IC Markets offers MT4 MT5 cTrader and TradingView integration.
AMarkets wins for beginners with a lower $100 minimum deposit.
IC Markets wins for instrument variety with 2200 instruments.
Fees & Spreads 30% weight | 4.0 / 5 | 5.0 / 5▲ |
|---|
Platforms & Tools 20% weight | 4.1 / 5 | 4.6 / 5▲ |
|---|
Customer Support 10% weight | 3.9 / 5 | 4.5 / 5▲ |
|---|
| Founded | 2007 | 2007 |
|---|
| Headquarters | Kingstown, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | Sydney, Australia |
|---|
| Min Deposit | $100▼ lower | $200 |
|---|
| Spreads From | 0 pips | 0 pips |
|---|
| Commission / lot | $6/lot▼ lower | $7/lot |
|---|
| 0.6 pips▼ lower | 0.7 pips |
| Max Leverage | 3,000:1 | 500:1▲ higher |
|---|
| Inactivity Fee | None | None |
|---|
| Deposit Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Deposit methods | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardSkrillNetellerWebMoneyCrypto | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardSkrillNetellerPayPal |
|---|
| Withdrawal methods | Bank transferCredit cardSkrillNetellerWebMoneyCrypto | Bank transferCredit cardSkrillNeteller |
|---|
| Withdrawal Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Regulators | SVGFSA | ASIC FSCA CySEC |
|---|
| Platforms | cTrader MetaTrader 5 MetaTrader 4 | cTrader MetaTrader 5 TradingView MetaTrader 4 |
|---|
| Active bonuses |
|---|
No deposit fees
MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 supported
Mobile trading app available
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
SVG FSA registration only, no meaningful retail investor protection
No EU or Tier 1 licensed entity
Very high leverage (3000:1) is a risk amplifier
No top-tier regulatory licence
No negative balance protection
No investor compensation scheme
No proprietary platform
Limited charting capabilities
Cons
Not available to US residents
Higher minimum deposit than IG/OANDA
No proprietary platform
Dig deeper into each broker’s features, fees, and regulation.
Score 3.8 / 5
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