IC Marketsvs
StakeStock Broker Comparison
IC Markets and Stake face off in a stocks comparison, contrasting CFDs and platforms with real share ownership and commission-free trading. The tension centers on access, cost, and user experience.
Who should choose IC Markets vs Stake?
Find out which stock broker best suits your investing profile.
Choose if…
Choose IC Markets if you want 24/5 live chat and phone support.
Choose if…
Choose IC Markets if you want access to short selling. Choose Stake if you want commission-free stock trading. Choose Stake if you want real share ownership.
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 Stake: Side-by-Side Stock Broker Comparison
 |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Editorial score | 4.1/ 5 | 3.9/ 5 |
| Min deposit | $200 | N/A |
| Spreads from | 0 pips | N/A |
| Commission / lot | $7/lot | N/A |
IC Markets vs Stake 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 Stake: Detailed Category Breakdown
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
5
IC Markets
criteria wins
1
Stake
criteria win
Highlighted rows show where the two brokers differ
| Criteria | IC Markets | Stake |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Pass |
| Costs | ||
| Commission-free trading | Fail | Pass |
| No deposit fee | — | Pass |
| Features | ||
| Fractional shares | Fail | Fail |
| Dividend reinvestment (DRIP) | Fail | Fail |
| Extended hours trading | Fail | Fail |
| IPO access | Fail | Fail |
| Short selling | Pass | Fail |
| 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 Stake: Frequently Asked Questions
The scores are close: IC Markets rates 4.1/5 and Stake rates 3.9/5. 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 Stake. Check both brokers' websites for up-to-date spread and commission pricing.
IC Markets requires $200. Minimum deposit information is not currently available for Stake.
Both IC Markets and Stake 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. 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 Stake 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 Stake supports Proprietary Web/Mobile. IC Markets has exclusive access to cTrader and MetaTrader 5 and TradingView and MetaTrader 4. Stake has exclusive access to Proprietary Web/Mobile.
Stake 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.
Both IC Markets and Stake are covered by a compensation scheme according to our data, providing an additional safety net for your stock investments. Confirm the specific scheme and coverage limit that applies to your account before depositing.
