Two brokers are pitted against each other on regulation strength, cost efficiency, and platform breadth. The tension centers on whether lower costs or broader platforms matter most.
IC Markets outpaces Capital.com overall, benefiting from true ECN raw spreads and a broader platform set, while Capital.com remains strong on regulation, low minimum deposit, and AI-powered insights.
Find out which broker best suits your trader profile.
Choose Capital.com if…
Choose Capital.com if you want a very low $20 minimum deposit and a proprietary platform with zero commissions.
Choose IC Markets if…
Choose IC Markets if you want true ECN raw spreads from 0 pips with MT4/MT5 and cTrader.
Which broker wins for each type of trader, based on costs, safety, platforms, and editorial scoring.
IC Markets offers tighter spreads from 0.00 pips vs 0.60 pips for Capital.com, reducing trading costs.
| Editorial score | 4.3/ 5 | 4.7/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Score Breakdown | ||
Trust & Regulation 40% weight | 4.3 / 5 | 4.6 / 5▲ |
Pros
Very low $20 minimum deposit
AI-powered pattern recognition built into proprietary platform
Zero commission on all trades
FCA, ASIC, CySEC, and MAS regulation
Client funds held in segregated accounts
Negative balance protection
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
| Criteria | Capital.com | 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) | Pass | Pass |
| Fees & Spreads | ||
| Raw/ECN spreads available | Fail | Pass |
| No deposit fee | Pass | Pass |
| No inactivity fee | Pass | Pass |
| Transparent pricing page | Pass | Pass |
| Platforms & Tools | ||
| MT4/MT5 available | Fail | Pass |
| Proprietary platform | Pass | Fail |
| Mobile app | Pass | Pass |
| Advanced charting tools | Pass | Pass |
| Customer Support | ||
| 24/5 live chat | Pass | Pass |
| Phone support | Fail | Pass |
| Multilingual support | Pass | Pass |
The scores are close: Capital.com rates 4.3/5 and IC Markets rates 4.7/5. IC Markets has a marginal edge in our scoring, but the difference is small enough that your specific priorities — fees, platforms, or regulatory jurisdiction — should guide the final choice.
IC Markets starts from 0 pips, tighter than Capital.com's 0.6 pips. Tighter spreads lower the cost per trade, which matters most for high-frequency and scalping strategies.
Capital.com has $20, while IC Markets requires at least $200. This makes Capital.com more accessible for traders with limited starting capital.
Both Capital.com and IC Markets hold licences from top-tier regulators, indicating a high standard of regulatory oversight. Check each broker's specific regulatory bodies to confirm coverage in your jurisdiction.
For beginners, two factors stand out: Capital.com requires a lower minimum deposit ($20), lowering the barrier to entry, and both brokers provide negative balance protection. Also compare demo account availability and educational resources before deciding.
Capital.com lists maximum leverage of 30:1, 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.
IC Markets charges $7 per lot on commission-based accounts. Commission details for Capital.com are not currently available. Check their website for up-to-date pricing.
Capital.com supports Proprietary Web/Mobile, while IC Markets supports cTrader, MetaTrader 5, TradingView, MetaTrader 4. Capital.com has exclusive access to Proprietary Web/Mobile. IC Markets has exclusive access to cTrader and MetaTrader 5 and TradingView and MetaTrader 4.
Capital.com is stronger on regulation with FCA, ASIC, CySEC, and MAS.
IC Markets wins for active traders due to true ECN spreads and multiple platforms.
IC Markets is better suited for scalpers: raw/ECN spreads available, tighter spreads from 0.00 pips.
IC Markets wins for platform choice with MT4, MT5, and cTrader.
Capital.com wins for beginners due to low minimum deposit and user-friendly AI tools.
Capital.com wins for instrument variety with 6300 instruments.
Fees & Spreads 30% weight | 4.2 / 5 | 5.0 / 5▲ |
|---|
Platforms & Tools 20% weight | 4.5 / 5 | 4.6 / 5▲ |
|---|
Customer Support 10% weight | 4.2 / 5 | 4.5 / 5▲ |
|---|
| Founded | 2016 | 2007 |
|---|
| Headquarters | London, United Kingdom | Sydney, Australia |
|---|
| Min Deposit | $20▼ lower | $200 |
|---|
| Spreads From | 0.6 pips | 0 pips▼ lower |
|---|
| Commission / lot | N/A | $7/lot |
|---|
| N/A | 0.7 pips |
| Max Leverage | 30:1 | 500:1▲ higher |
|---|
| Inactivity Fee | $10/month (after 3 months) | None |
|---|
| Deposit Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Deposit methods | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardSkrillNetellerPayPalApple PayGoogle Pay | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardSkrillNetellerPayPal |
|---|
| Withdrawal methods | Bank transferCredit cardSkrillNeteller | Bank transferCredit cardSkrillNeteller |
|---|
| Withdrawal Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Regulators | FCA ASIC MAS CySEC CMA | ASIC FSCA CySEC |
|---|
| Platforms | Proprietary Web/Mobile | cTrader MetaTrader 5 TradingView MetaTrader 4 |
|---|
| Active bonuses |
|---|
Investor compensation scheme coverage
No deposit fees
No inactivity fee
Mobile trading app available
Advanced charting tools included
Transparent pricing with clear cost disclosure
24/5 live chat support
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
Proprietary platform only, no MT4 or MT5
Limited product range for advanced traders
No phone support
No raw spread account option
No MetaTrader support
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 4.3 / 5
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