IC Marketsvs
RobinhoodStock Broker Comparison
This comparison pits IC Markets and Robinhood on costs, access to global equities, and platform tools. The tension centers on balancing price discipline with investment features.
Who should choose IC Markets vs Robinhood?
Find out which stock broker best suits your investing profile.
Choose if…
Choose IC Markets if you want regulated equity CFDs with DMA access via IRESS. You benefit from 24/5 live chat and phone support.
Choose if…
Choose Robinhood if you want commission-free trading with extended hours and fractional shares.
Verdict by Trader Profile
Which broker wins for each type of stock trader, based on costs, safety, features, and editorial scoring.
Best for low cost trading
Recommended
IC Markets vs Robinhood: Side-by-Side Stock Broker Comparison
 |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Editorial score | 4.1/ 5 | 3.8/ 5 |
| Min deposit | $200 | N/A |
| Spreads from | 0 pips | N/A |
| Commission / lot | $7/lot | N/A |
IC Markets vs Robinhood Stock Broker Pros & Cons
Pros
- 2,000+ share CFDs across US, UK, ASX, European, and Asian exchanges on MT5 and IRESS
- IRESS provides genuine DMA access to ASX and major global equity markets
- Commission-transparent pricing: USD 0.02/share on US stocks, no spread markup
- ASIC and CySEC regulated, tier-1 regulatory coverage for equity CFD trading
Cons
- CFDs only, no real share ownership, ISA wrapper, or dividend reinvestment programme
IC Markets vs Robinhood: Detailed Category Breakdown
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
5
IC Markets
criteria wins
4
Robinhood
criteria wins
Highlighted rows show where the two brokers differ
| Criteria | IC Markets | Robinhood |
|---|---|---|
| Trust & Regulation | ||
| Top-tier regulator (FCA, ASIC, SEC, etc.) | Pass | Pass |
| Segregated client funds | Pass | Pass |
| Negative balance protection | Pass | Fail |
| Compensation scheme (e.g. FSCS, SIPC) | Pass | Fail |
| Costs | ||
| Commission-free trading | Fail | Pass |
| No deposit fee | — | Pass |
| Features | ||
| Fractional shares | Fail | Pass |
| Dividend reinvestment (DRIP) | Fail | Pass |
| Extended hours trading | Fail | Pass |
| IPO access | Fail | Fail |
| Short selling | Pass | Pass |
| Stock screener tool | Fail | Fail |
| Support | ||
| Mobile app | Pass | Pass |
| Advanced charting tools | Pass | Fail |
| 24/5 live chat | Pass | Fail |
| Phone support | Pass | Fail |
IC Markets vs Robinhood: Frequently Asked Questions
The scores are close: IC Markets rates 4.1/5 and Robinhood rates 3.8/5. 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. Current spread data is not available for Robinhood. Check both brokers' websites for up-to-date spread and commission pricing.
IC Markets requires $200. Minimum deposit information is not currently available for Robinhood.
Both IC Markets and Robinhood 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, IC Markets provides negative balance protection, capping losses at your deposit amount. Also compare demo account availability and educational resources on each broker's site before deciding.
IC Markets lists maximum leverage of 5:1, while Robinhood lists up to 1:4. 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 trade on commission-based accounts. Commission details for Robinhood are not currently available. Check their website for up-to-date pricing. Stock commissions may be charged as a flat rate per trade or per share; confirm the exact structure on each broker's website.
IC Markets supports cTrader, MetaTrader 5, TradingView, MetaTrader 4, while Robinhood supports Proprietary Web/Mobile. IC Markets has exclusive access to cTrader and MetaTrader 5 and TradingView and MetaTrader 4. Robinhood has exclusive access to Proprietary Web/Mobile.
Robinhood offers commission-free stock trading while IC Markets does not according to our data. Commission-free trading can reduce costs for frequent traders. Always confirm the current fee structure directly on each broker's website.
IC Markets scores higher on investor protection criteria, with compensation scheme coverage and segregated client funds. For stock investors, confirming compensation scheme coverage ensures your assets are protected up to a defined limit if the broker becomes insolvent.
