Forex.com vs IC Markets Forex Broker Comparison
A head-to-head comparison of Forex.com and IC Markets across regulation, trading costs, platforms, and editorial scoring.
One of very few brokers accepting US retail forex clients, with deep research tools and competitive raw spreads for professional accounts.
VS
Score 4.7 / 5
4 bonusesTrue ECN routing with raw 0.0 pip spreads on majors plus commission, deep liquidity, and the cleanest MT4 / MT5 / cTrader stack we test.
Our Verdict
IC Markets winsby 0.5 pts
IC Markets edges ahead with a score of 4.7/5 vs Forex.com's 4.2/5. A narrow margin, so review the breakdown below to see where each broker has a clear advantage.
Verdict by Trader Profile
Which broker wins for each type of trader, based on costs, safety, platforms, and editorial scoring.
Best for low cost trading
Recommended
IC Markets offers tighter spreads from 0 pips vs 1 pips for Forex.com, reducing trading costs.
Best for safety & regulation
It's a tie
Both equally suited
Both brokers show an equally strong safety profile across regulation, fund protection, and client safeguards.
Best for active traders
Recommended
IC Markets has a cost edge: tighter spreads from 0 pips.
Best for platform choice
Recommended
Forex.com offers more exclusive platform options: Proprietary Web/Mobile, a proprietary platform.
Best for beginners
Recommended
IC Markets edges out Forex.com with a higher editorial score (4.7/5 vs 4.2/5), indicating a stronger overall experience for new traders.
Forex.com vs IC Markets: Side-by-Side Forex Broker Comparison
Score
= highlighted score shows which broker leads in that category| Editorial score | 4.2/ 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 | 4.1 / 5 | 4.6 / 5▲ |
Customer Support 10% weight | 4.0 / 5 | 4.5 / 5▲ |
| Founded | 1999 | 2007 |
| Headquarters | Bedminster, New Jersey, USA | Sydney, Australia |
| Min deposit | $100 | $200 |
| Spreads from | 1 pips | 0 pips |
| Commission / lot | $7/lot | $7/lot |
| Max leverage | 50:1 | 500:1 |
| Withdrawal fee | Free | Free |
| Regulators | FCA ASIC CFTC MAS NFA IIROC | FSCA ASIC CySEC |
| Platforms | MetaTrader 4 MetaTrader 5 Proprietary Web/Mobile | MetaTrader 4 MetaTrader 5 cTrader TradingView |
| Active bonuses | ||
| Visit broker | Visit Forex.com | Visit IC Markets |
Forex.com vs IC Markets Forex Broker Pros & Cons
Pros
One of the few brokers accepting US retail forex clients
Deep research tools including macro analysis
Raw spread account with competitive $7 round-turn commission
MT4, MT5 and proprietary platforms
Regulated by top-tier authorities (FCA, ASIC, CySEC)
Client funds held in segregated accounts
Negative balance protection
Investor compensation scheme coverage
No deposit fees
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
$100 minimum deposit is higher than some peers
US clients restricted to 50:1 leverage on major pairs
Raw account pricing not available in all jurisdictions
Inactivity fee applies
Cons
Not available to US residents
Higher minimum deposit than IG/OANDA
No proprietary platform
Forex.com vs IC Markets: Detailed Category Breakdown
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
1
Forex.com
criteria win
1
IC Markets
criteria win
Highlighted rows show where the two brokers differ
| Criteria | Forex.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 | Pass | Pass |
| No deposit fee | Pass | Pass |
| No inactivity fee | Fail | Pass |
| Transparent pricing page | Pass | Pass |
| Platforms & Tools | ||
| MT4/MT5 available | Pass | Pass |
| Proprietary platform | Pass | 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 |
Forex.com vs IC Markets: Frequently Asked Questions
Based on our independent editorial scoring, IC Markets ranks higher with a score of 4.7/5 vs 4.2/5 for Forex.com. The best choice still depends on your individual trading needs; Forex.com and IC Markets may each suit different trader profiles.
IC Markets offers tighter spreads starting from 0 pips, compared to Forex.com's spreads from 1 pips. Tighter spreads lower the cost per trade, particularly valuable for high-frequency and scalping strategies.
Forex.com has a lower minimum deposit of $100, while IC Markets requires at least $200. This makes Forex.com more accessible for traders with limited starting capital.
Both Forex.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: Forex.com has a lower minimum deposit ($100), lowering the barrier to entry; both brokers offer negative balance protection. Also weigh up educational resources and customer support quality before deciding.
Forex.com offers maximum leverage of 50:1, 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 Forex.com and IC Markets charge the same commission of $7 per lot on applicable accounts.
Forex.com supports MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, Proprietary Web/Mobile and IC Markets offers MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader, TradingView; both support MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5; Forex.com exclusively offers Proprietary Web/Mobile; IC Markets exclusively offers cTrader, TradingView.
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