IC Markets Review at a glance
IC Markets is positioned around FX and CFD trading, with account pricing split between spread-inclusive and raw-spread-plus-commission models. Its global and EU sites publish different legal and pricing details; those pages must not be blended into one universal account offer. Confirm which IC Markets company appears in the application agreement before comparing leverage or cost figures.
| BrokerChooser snapshot field | Captured value |
|---|---|
| BrokerChooser directory score | 4.4/5 |
| Fee-level label | Low |
| Fee-level score | 4.5/5 |
| Mobile-platform score | 3.8/5 |
| Popularity snapshot | 283,595 |
| Inactivity-fee flag | Not flagged in the source snapshot |
| Investor-protection flag | Flagged in the source snapshot; verify the applicable scheme |
BrokerChooser risk-warning snapshot for IC Markets Review: 73.42% of retail CFD accounts lose money. This value belongs to the captured directory record; verify the current warning displayed for your country, product and contracting entity because it can differ by service.
Markets and products
The IC Markets Global account pages describe trading across FX and other CFDs with platform choices that include MetaTrader, cTrader and TradingView connectivity for eligible accounts. The exact catalogue and account features depend on region. Check instrument specifications for spread, contract size, trading hours, margin and overnight rates instead of assuming that the same market or leverage is available on every legal entity.
Fees and trading costs
IC Markets Global describes a Standard MetaTrader account with no separate trade commission and a spread markup, and a Raw Spread account with a commission charged per side. The published global overview also lists separate cTrader/TradingView pricing. These examples demonstrate why the account, platform and account currency must be known before calculating cost; EU pricing is governed by separate disclosures and can differ.
Platforms and tools
The official account overview links MetaTrader and cTrader, with TradingView availability on the relevant cTrader/raw-spread route. MetaTrader accounts can suit users who rely on expert advisors; cTrader has a different platform and commission schedule. Check whether your preferred platform, API/integration, symbol list and account currency are offered under the local legal entity.
Regulation and investor protection
IC Markets Global states that Raw Trading Ltd is regulated by the Seychelles Financial Services Authority under Securities Dealer Licence SD018. The EU site separately names IC Markets (EU) Ltd and its Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission authorisation. These are different companies with different client terms and leverage limits; do not treat one entity’s licence as the regulator for every IC Markets account.
Deposits, withdrawals and account management
Minimum deposits, withdrawal methods, processing times, base currencies and conversion fees depend on the chosen entity and account. Official legal-document hubs include deposit/withdrawal and inactivity policies, which should be reviewed before funding. Check bank and payment-provider charges as well as broker fees, and avoid relying on a third-party comparison’s generic minimum-deposit figure.
Potential strengths and trade-offs
Potential strength: IC Markets may suit active FX/CFD traders who understand how to compare raw spread plus commission against spread-only pricing, and who want a choice of trading platforms. The trade-off is that “raw” does not mean cost-free: commission, slippage, funding and currency conversion all affect final results, while the regulatory regime depends heavily on the contracting entity.
Trade-off to weigh: Choose the entity first, then compare the fees for the exact account and platform. Verify leverage restrictions, commissions on both sides, overnight swaps, inactivity policies and withdrawal procedures. The global site and EU site should be treated as distinct source sets.
Official sources
Snapshot scores and labels are reproduced as dated source data for context. They are not Best4xBrokers test results, and they do not measure the chance of making a profit. Leveraged trading can lead to rapid losses.
IC Markets account types: compare the pricing models
IC Markets Global publishes different structures for Standard MetaTrader, Raw Spread MetaTrader and Raw Spread cTrader/TradingView accounts. These examples belong to the Global site and must not be assumed to match IC Markets (EU) Ltd or another affiliate. On the Global account overview, Standard MetaTrader is shown with no separate commission and spreads from 0.8 pips; Raw Spread MetaTrader shows spreads from 0.0 with a published USD example of $3.50 per standard lot per side ($7 round turn); and the Raw Spread cTrader example uses a $3 commission per USD 100,000 traded. The provider says commission rules vary by product and account.
| Global account example | Published pricing | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Standard · MetaTrader | $0 separate commission; spreads from 0.8 pips | Compare actual spreads during your trading sessions |
| Raw Spread · MetaTrader | Spreads from 0.0; $3.50 per standard lot per side in the published USD example | Add both sides of commission plus spread |
| Raw Spread · cTrader/TradingView | $3 per USD 100,000 traded in the published example | Confirm account currency and eligible product commission |
The Global help centre says the described account can be opened without a minimum deposit requirement, but a payment provider, account region or practical margin requirement may still affect how much capital is needed. A low deposit threshold is not a recommendation to trade with insufficient risk capital. Verify the current terms during registration.
IC Markets markets and platform choices
IC Markets Global advertises 60-plus currency pairs and a broader catalogue of CFDs, including metals, indices, shares, bonds, cryptocurrency-related products and futures CFDs. These are not all direct investments in the underlying asset; each symbol has its own contract, margin, trading hours and overnight treatment. Review the live specification for the exact symbol before submitting an order.
The Global site lists MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 and, for the relevant Raw Spread route, cTrader with TradingView connectivity. Platform choice can change commission calculation and order workflow. Verify the exact terminal and permitted product for your account, particularly if you rely on expert advisers or automated strategies.
IC Markets safety: confirm the contracting company
IC Markets Global states that IC and IC Markets Global are trading names of Raw Trading Ltd, regulated by the Seychelles Financial Services Authority under Securities Dealer licence SD018. IC Markets EU publishes a separate set of legal documents for IC Markets (EU) Ltd, including costs, leverage, client categorisation, complaints and funding policies. These are different legal arrangements. Use the name and company details in your account agreement to find the correct regulator register entry and client-asset terms.
Regulation does not protect investments from market losses. Confirm which client-money rules, compensation arrangements if any, complaint route and negative-balance terms apply to your specific entity, residence and product.
IC Markets funding, withdrawals and account setup
The official help centre separates account opening, deposits, withdrawals, trading conditions and product specifications. Before sending funds, check supported payment methods in your location, account base currency, conversion treatment and the withdrawal route. Complete identity checks through the official account portal and retain the fee schedule that applies to the entity actually serving you.
Before the first live order, verify symbol, contract size, lot size, stop/limit behaviour, spread, margin and overnight-swap direction. On a commission account, understand how the selected terminal books the fee, including opening/closing side treatment. A demo account helps with the interface but does not prove that live spreads or execution will match the simulation.
IC Markets FAQs
Is Raw Spread always cheaper than Standard?
Not automatically. Raw Spread adds a separate commission while Standard uses a spread markup in the published Global example. The lower-cost choice depends on actual spread, instrument, size, account currency and holding time.
Does “spreads from 0.0 pips” mean every trade has zero spread?
No. It is a minimum/starting figure, not a promise that a spread remains at zero. Check the live quote and all applicable commission at the time of the trade.
Does the Seychelles licence apply to every IC Markets account?
No. Global and EU sites identify different legal arrangements. Verify the contracting entity in your own account paperwork.
Are all products direct investments?
No. The Global catalogue includes CFDs, which provide derivative exposure instead of ownership of the underlying asset. Read the instrument specification.
IC Markets editorial verdict
IC Markets is best compared as a platform-led FX/CFD provider whose pricing changes between Standard, Raw Spread MetaTrader and cTrader. Price the trade size and holding period you expect to use, then confirm the account entity and regional protections. The directory score on this page is captured third-party data, not a Best4xBrokers live-account test.
Official references: Global account comparison · Official help centre · IC Markets EU legal documents · Spreads and commissions.
