Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
BUX vs IC Markets
What sets them apart
| Compare |  BUX | IC Markets ReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs | Stocks, Forex, CFDs, Futures, Crypto, Bonds |
| Regulators | Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM) | SIPC |
| Investor protection | EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 | SIPC up to USD 500,000 |
| Platforms | BUX app | MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, CTrader, TradingView, WebTrader, IC Social |
| Minimum deposit | Not confirmed | $200 |
| Stock trade fee | €3.99 | Not confirmed |
| Account fee | €2.99 | Not confirmed |
| Inactivity fee | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.75% | Not confirmed |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Not confirmed | No internal deposit fees |
| Interest on cash | 2% | Not confirmed |
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Key differences
- IC Markets scores higher overall: 9.0 vs 8.6.
- Regulators: only BUX offers Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM).
- Regulators: only IC Markets offers SIPC.
- Markets: only BUX offers ETFs.
- Markets: only IC Markets offers Forex, CFDs, Futures.
- Platforms: only BUX offers BUX app.
- Platforms: only IC Markets offers MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, CTrader.
- Features: only BUX offers Fractional shares.
- Features: only IC Markets offers Demo account, Copy trading.
- Audience: only BUX offers Beginners.
Our verdict on each
BUX
BUX suits investors who want a Dutch broker for stocks and ETFs and accept a set fee per trade. It charges an account fee of €2.99 and a stock trade fee of €3.99, which is why the offer score sits at 2.1 and the overall score at 2.1.
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 | BUX | IC Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.4 | 8.9HigherMinimum deposit of $200 sits above the site median of €4.64, while the inactivity fee is $0. |
| Offer | 8.7 | 9.8Higher |
| Trust | 8.7Higher | 8.6 |
What each covers
| Markets | BUX | IC Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | No |
| Forex | No | Yes |
| CFDs | No | Yes |
| Futures | No | Yes |
| Crypto | No | Yes |
| Bonds | No | Yes |
Where they rank in our lists
| Ranking | BUX | IC Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 203 of 471 | 140 of 471 |
Licences and countries
| Country | BUX | IC Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Netherlands | Not confirmed | |
| United States | Not confirmed | SIPC SIPC member 71021 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | BUX | IC Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Fractional shares, Mobile app | Demo account, Copy trading, Mobile app |
| Pricing model | Low fees | Low fees |
| Audience | Beginners, Experienced | Experienced, Day traders |
| Legal entity | BUX B.V. | RB INTERNATIONAL MARKETS (USA) LLC |
| Headquarters | Netherlands | Not confirmed |
| Founded | 2013 | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Email, Chat, Help centre | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | BUX | IC Markets | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | Not confirmed | $200highest quarter | $25 |
| Stock trade fee | €3.99above the median | Not confirmed | €1 |
| Account fee | €2.99highest quarter | Not confirmed | €0 |
| Inactivity fee | Not confirmed | $0at the median | $0 |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.75%highest quarter | Not confirmed | 0.45% |
| Interest on cash | 2%lowest quarter | Not confirmed | 3% |
Median across 134 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
BUX
Pros
- Fees follow a low-fee model: a stock trade fee of €3.99 per trade, an account fee of €2.99 and a currency exchange fee of 0.75%.
- Regulated by the Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM), with money held under the EU ICS up to EUR 20,000.
- Aimed at both beginners and experienced investors, with fractional shares and a mobile app listed in fractional shares and mobile app.
Cons
- The account fee of €2.99 applies on top of a stock trade fee of €3.99, so frequent trading costs add up.
- On stock trade fee it ranks 136 of 161, so cheaper share dealing sits elsewhere.
- Markets are limited to stocks and etfs, where CFI offers stocks, etfs and forex.
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
BUX
Who it suits
- Investors who want a regulated European broker covering stocks and etfs at a flat fee per trade.
- People who prefer mobile investing, since fractional shares and mobile app includes fractional shares and a mobile app.
- Readers who weigh protection first, since money sits under the EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 at a broker regulated by the Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM).
Who should look elsewhere
- Traders who want forex, contracts for difference or crypto, since CFI covers stocks, etfs and forex and BUX covers stocks and etfs.
- Share dealing fans after a free stock trade fee, since eToro lists $0 against the €3.99 here.
- Anyone put off by a standing charge, given the account fee of €2.99 where Vantage lists $0.
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
BUX
How much does it cost to buy a share at BUX?+
A stock trade costs €3.99 per trade under a low-fee model, and a currency exchange fee of 0.75% applies on currency conversions. Because the trade fee is a flat amount rather than a percentage, the cost does not grow with the size of the order. A flat account fee of €2.99 also applies to the account.
Is there an account or inactivity fee?+
There is an account fee of €2.99, charged on the account regardless of how much it holds. That is a flat charge rather than a percentage, so it does not rise as the portfolio grows. BUX ranks 108 of 138 on this line, which places it towards the expensive end of the brands compared here.
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.
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