Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
AvaTrade vs IC Markets
AvaTrade vs IC Markets: the differences
| Compare | AvaTrade ReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives | IC Markets ReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $100Lower | $200 |
| Inactivity fee | $50 | $0Lower |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, CFDs, Options, Crypto, Bonds | Stocks, Forex, CFDs, Futures, Crypto, Bonds |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | No deposit or withdrawal fees | No internal deposit fees |
| Platforms | MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, AvaTradeGO, WebTrader | MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, CTrader, TradingView, WebTrader, IC Social |
| Stock trade fee | $0 | Not confirmed |
| Regulators | Not confirmed | SIPC |
| Investor protection | Not confirmed | SIPC up to USD 500,000 |
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Key differences
- AvaTrade scores higher overall: 9.2 vs 9.0.
- Minimum deposit is lower at AvaTrade: $100 vs $200.
- Inactivity fee is lower at IC Markets: $0 vs $50.
- Markets: only AvaTrade offers ETFs, Options.
- Markets: only IC Markets offers Futures.
- Platforms: only AvaTrade offers AvaTradeGO.
- Platforms: only IC Markets offers CTrader, TradingView, IC Social.
- Pricing model: only AvaTrade offers Commission free.
- Pricing model: only IC Markets offers Low fees.
Our verdict on each
AvaTrade
AvaTrade is a commission-free CFD and forex broker for traders who want no deposit or withdrawal charges and free stock dealing, and who can start at a minimum deposit of $100. The catch is an inactivity fee of $50 on dormant accounts, so this suits active traders rather than occasional investors.
IC Markets
IC Markets suits experienced day-traders who want a wide market list and no account fee, and it is a weaker fit if you want to start small. The minimum deposit of $200 is the number most readers will notice, while the inactivity fee of $0 takes that worry away.
Score breakdown
| Area | AvaTrade | IC Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.7Stock dealing costs $0 with no deposit or withdrawal fees, offset by an inactivity fee of $50. | 8.9HigherMinimum deposit of $200 sits above the site median of €4.64, while the inactivity fee is $0. |
| Offer | 9.8 | 9.8 |
| Trust | Not confirmed | 8.6 |
Availability and regulation
| Country | AvaTrade | IC Markets |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Not confirmed | SIPC SIPC member 71021 |
Choosing between them
Pick AvaTrade if minimum deposit matter most.
Pick IC Markets if inactivity fee matter most.
Side by side, item by item
| Markets | AvaTrade | IC Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | No |
| Forex | Yes | Yes |
| CFDs | Yes | Yes |
| Options | Yes | No |
| Futures | No | Yes |
| Crypto | Yes | Yes |
| Bonds | Yes | Yes |
How they place
| Ranking | AvaTrade | IC Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 80 of 490 | 132 of 490 |
| Forex brokers | 37 of 147 | 57 of 147 |
| Low-spread forex brokers | 35 of 145 | 55 of 145 |
| CFD brokers | 29 of 122 | 48 of 122 |
| Copy trading platforms | 9 of 37 | 13 of 37 |
Sources behind this comparison
AvaTrade
- forexsuggest.com: 4 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- tradingcritique.com: 4 facts, checked September 26, 2026
IC Markets
- ic.com: 5 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- sipc.org: 3 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- hercules-finance.com: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- fxranking.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | AvaTrade | IC Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Demo account, Mobile app, Copy trading | Demo account, Copy trading, Mobile app |
| Pricing model | Commission free | Low fees |
| Audience | Not confirmed | Experienced, Day traders |
| Legal entity | Not confirmed | RB INTERNATIONAL MARKETS (USA) LLC |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | AvaTrade | IC Markets | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $100above the median | $200highest quarter | $10 |
| Stock trade fee | $0at the median | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Inactivity fee | $50highest quarter | $0at the median | $0 |
Median across 99 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
AvaTrade
Pros
- Stock dealing is free, with a stock trade fee of $0
- No deposit or withdrawal fees, so funding and getting money out cost nothing
- A demo account, a mobile app and copy trading are all offered
Cons
- Dormant accounts attract an inactivity fee of $50
- The minimum deposit of $100 is higher than the site median of €4.64
- Copy trading sits well below the site average of 9.6%
IC Markets
Pros
- The inactivity fee is $0, and the brand ranks at 1 of 56 brands on that measure.
- Deposit and withdrawal carry no internal fees, so moving money in and out does not add to the cost of a trade.
- You can trade stocks, forex, contracts for differences, futures, crypto and bonds from one account, which is a wider list than eToro's stocks, etfs and forex.
Cons
- The minimum deposit of $200 sits above the site median of €4.64, so the account is less accessible than CFI, where the minimum deposit is $0.
- The brand ranks at 172 of 213 brands on minimum deposit, which puts the entry cost near the expensive end of the list.
- The stated audience is experienced traders and day-traders, so a first-time investor gets less hand-holding than the low-fees brands on the site.
Who each suits
AvaTrade
Who it suits
- Traders who keep an account active and want free deposits and withdrawals
- Anyone who wants to trade forex, CFDs, options and crypto in one place
- Copy traders who want to follow other people's positions as well as run their own
Who should look elsewhere
- Investors who need a tax-sheltered investment account
- Anyone who would leave a balance sitting untouched for long periods
- CFI or Vantage suit people who want a lower starting deposit
IC Markets
Who it suits
- Experienced day-traders trading forex, contracts for differences, futures and crypto through a single account
- Anyone who trades on several platforms and wants MetaTrader, cTrader, TradingView and a web platform side by side
- Traders who want to hold an account open without paying an inactivity fee
Who should look elsewhere
- First-time investors who want a guided, beginner-led platform, where eToro suits better
- Anyone starting with a small amount, since Vantage opens at a minimum deposit of $5 against $200 here
- Long-term investors building a portfolio of funds or exchange-traded products, which eToro covers with its wider stocks, etfs and forex
Questions about each
AvaTrade
What does it cost to trade stocks at AvaTrade?+
Stock dealing carries a stock trade fee of $0, and pricing is commission-free, so there is no separate dealing commission layered on top. Other costs are thinner too: funding an account carries no deposit fee.
What is the smallest amount needed to open an account?+
The minimum deposit is $100. That sits above the site median of €4.64 and above the lower quartile of €0, so it is a higher starting bar than many brokers on the site.
IC Markets
What is the minimum deposit to open an IC Markets account?+
The minimum deposit is $200. Set that against the site median of €4.64 to see where the entry point sits, and remember this money is committed before any trade is placed. Readers starting small may prefer a lower floor elsewhere.
Is there an inactivity fee at IC Markets?+
The inactivity fee is $0, so an account can sit open without a charge for being dormant. The brand ranks at 1 of 56 brands on that measure, which makes it one of the strongest results in our data for holding costs.