Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Capital.com vs IC Markets
Capital.com vs IC Markets: the differences
| Compare |  Capital.com | IC Markets ReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | £20 | $200 |
| Inactivity fee | £0 | $0 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, CFDs, Crypto, Bonds, Spread betting | Stocks, Forex, CFDs, Futures, Crypto, Bonds |
| Regulators | FCA, Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) | SIPC |
| Investor protection | FSCS up to GBP 85,000 | SIPC up to USD 500,000 |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Free deposits and withdrawals | No internal deposit fees |
| Platforms | Web platform, Mobile app, MT4, TradingView | MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, CTrader, TradingView, WebTrader, IC Social |
| Stock trade fee | $0 | Not confirmed |
| Account fee | £0 | Not confirmed |
| Retail accounts that lose money | 65% | Not confirmed |
| Maximum retail leverage | 1:30 | Not confirmed |
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Key differences
- Capital.com scores higher overall: 9.3 vs 9.0.
- Regulators: only Capital.com offers FCA, Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC).
- Regulators: only IC Markets offers SIPC.
- Capital.com is licensed in 1 more country.
- Markets: only Capital.com offers ETFs, Spread betting.
- Markets: only IC Markets offers Futures.
- Platforms: only Capital.com offers Web platform, Mobile app, MT4.
- Platforms: only IC Markets offers MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, CTrader.
- Features: only IC Markets offers Copy trading.
- Pricing model: only Capital.com offers Commission free.
Our verdict on each
Capital.com
Capital.com suits traders who want one account across shares, forex, CFDs, crypto and bonds without a monthly or inactivity charge. UK clients sit under FCA regulation with FSCS protection of FSCS up to GBP 85,000. The minimum deposit of £20 is the only cost barrier, above CFI at $0.
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 | Capital.com | IC Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.2HigherAccount fee of £0, stock trade fee of $0 and no inactivity charge, with free deposits and withdrawals. | 8.9Minimum deposit of $200 sits above the site median of €4.64, while the inactivity fee is $0. |
| Offer | 9.5 | 9.8Higher |
| Trust | 9.1Higher | 8.6 |
Where they rank in our lists
| Ranking | Capital.com | IC Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 65 of 471 | 140 of 471 |
| Forex brokers | 28 of 147 | 60 of 147 |
| Low-spread forex brokers | 26 of 145 | 58 of 145 |
| CFD brokers | 22 of 122 | 50 of 122 |
Pick Capital.com if, pick IC Markets if
Pick Capital.com if cost and trust matter most.
Pick IC Markets if offer matter most.
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Capital.com | IC Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Demo account, Mobile app | Demo account, Copy trading, Mobile appCovers more |
| Pricing model | Commission free, Low feesCovers more | Low fees |
| Audience | Not confirmed | Experienced, Day traders |
| Legal entity | CAPITAL VAULT LTD | RB INTERNATIONAL MARKETS (USA) LLC |
| Headquarters | Cyprus | Not confirmed |
| Founded | 2016 | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Chat, Help centre | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Capital.com | IC Markets | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stock trade fee | $0at the median | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Account fee | £0at the median | Not confirmed | £0 |
| Retail accounts that lose money | 65%lowest quarter | Not confirmed | 72.05% |
Median across 91 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
Capital.com
Pros
- No account fee at all, which puts it joint first on that measure in our data (£0).
- No inactivity charge, also joint first in our data, so an unused balance is not quietly billed (£0).
- Stock trades cost $0 under a commission-free model.
Cons
- The minimum deposit of £20 is far higher than CFI, which asks for $0.
- Support runs on chat and help centre, so there is no phone line for questions about a leveraged position.
- Retail accounts lose 65% of money, and the market is open around the clock.
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
Capital.com
Who it suits
- Traders who want shares, forex, CFDs, crypto and bonds in one account
- UK residents who want FSCS protection alongside a CySEC regulated entity
- People who keep a balance and would otherwise pay inactivity fees
Who should look elsewhere
- eToro, if you want a social platform with copy trading
- Vantage, if you would rather start from a smaller deposit of $5
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
Capital.com
What is the minimum deposit at Capital.com?+
The minimum deposit is £20 in the UK. That is higher than CFI at $0 and Vantage at $5. Clients who want a smaller opening balance may prefer a rival on that measure.
What does it cost to open and hold an account?+
There is no account fee, so the account costs £0. There is also no inactivity charge, at £0. Both rank the brand joint first on our data, so an unused balance is not billed.
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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