A head-to-head comparison of Capital.com and IC Markets across regulation, trading costs, platforms, and editorial scoring.
Very low minimum deposit, AI-powered trading insights, zero commission, and strong FCA/ASIC/CySEC regulation - accessible for new traders.
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 edges ahead with a score of 4.7/5 vs Capital.com's 4.3/5. A narrow margin, so review the breakdown below to see where each broker has a clear advantage.
Which broker wins for each type of trader, based on costs, safety, platforms, and editorial scoring.
IC Markets offers tighter spreads from 0 pips vs 0.6 pips for Capital.com, reducing trading costs.
Both brokers show an equally strong safety profile across regulation, fund protection, and client safeguards.
IC Markets has a cost edge: raw/ECN spreads, tighter spreads from 0 pips.
IC Markets offers more exclusive platform options: MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader, TradingView.
IC Markets edges out Capital.com with a higher editorial score (4.7/5 vs 4.3/5), indicating a stronger overall experience for new traders.
| Editorial score | 4.3/ 5 | 4.7/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Score Breakdown | ||
Trust & Regulation 40% weight | 4.3 / 5 | 4.6 / 5▲ |
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 | $200 |
| Spreads from | 0.6 pips | 0 pips |
| Commission / lot | N/A | $7/lot |
| Max leverage | 30:1 | 500:1 |
| Withdrawal fee | Free | Free |
| Regulators | FCA ASIC MAS CySEC CMA | FSCA ASIC CySEC |
| Platforms | Proprietary Web/Mobile | MetaTrader 4 MetaTrader 5 cTrader TradingView |
| Active bonuses | ||
| Visit broker | Visit Capital.com | Visit IC Markets |
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
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
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 |
Based on our independent editorial scoring, IC Markets ranks higher with a score of 4.7/5 vs 4.3/5 for Capital.com. The best choice still depends on your individual trading needs; Capital.com and IC Markets may each suit different trader profiles.
IC Markets offers tighter spreads starting from 0 pips, compared to Capital.com's spreads from 0.6 pips. Tighter spreads lower the cost per trade, particularly valuable for high-frequency and scalping strategies.
Capital.com has a lower minimum deposit of $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. Both are considered safe. Check each broker's specific regulatory bodies to confirm coverage in your jurisdiction.
For beginners: Capital.com has a lower minimum deposit ($20), lowering the barrier to entry; both brokers offer negative balance protection. Also weigh up educational resources and customer support quality before deciding.
Capital.com offers maximum leverage of 30:1, 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.
IC Markets charges $7 per lot on commission-based accounts. Commission details for the other broker are not currently available. Check their website for up-to-date pricing.
Capital.com supports Proprietary Web/Mobile and IC Markets offers MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader, TradingView; Capital.com exclusively offers Proprietary Web/Mobile; IC Markets exclusively offers MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader, TradingView.
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