Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
FOREX.com vs IC Markets
Where FOREX.com and IC Markets differ
| Compare |  FOREX.com | IC Markets ReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $100Lower | $200 |
| Markets | Forex, CFDs, Crypto | Stocks, Forex, CFDs, Futures, Crypto, BondsCovers more |
| Regulators | FCA, NFA/CFTC, ASIC | SIPC |
| Investor protection | FSCS up to GBP 85,000 | SIPC up to USD 500,000 |
| Inactivity fee | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Retail accounts that lose money | 74% | Not confirmed |
| EUR/USD spread | 1.2% | Not confirmed |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Not confirmed | No internal deposit fees |
| Platforms | Not confirmed | MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, CTrader, TradingView, WebTrader, IC Social |
We earn a commission when you sign up through links on this site. Partner status can affect where a brand appears in our rankings.
Key differences
- FOREX.com scores higher overall: 9.1 vs 9.0.
- Regulators: only FOREX.com offers FCA, NFA/CFTC, ASIC.
- Regulators: only IC Markets offers SIPC.
- FOREX.com is licensed in 2 more countries.
- Minimum deposit is lower at FOREX.com: $100 vs $200.
- Markets: only IC Markets offers Stocks, Futures, Bonds.
- Features: only FOREX.com offers Crypto.
- Features: only IC Markets offers Copy trading.
- Pricing model: only FOREX.com offers Commission free.
- Pricing model: only IC Markets offers Low fees.
Our verdict on each
FOREX.com
FOREX.com suits UK retail traders who want one commission-free account covering forex, CFDs and crypto under a named UK regulator. The trade-off is the price of entry: a $100 minimum deposit sits well above the €4.64 median across the brands compared here.
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 | FOREX.com | IC Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.3Commission-free pricing with a 1.2% EUR/USD spread, though the $100 minimum deposit is steep against the €4.64 site median. | 8.9HigherMinimum deposit of $200 sits above the site median of €4.64, while the inactivity fee is $0. |
| Offer | 8.8 | 9.8Higher |
| Trust | 9.8Higher | 8.6 |
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | FOREX.com | IC Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Forex brokers | 48 of 147 | 60 of 147 |
| Low-spread forex brokers | 46 of 145 | 58 of 145 |
| CFD brokers | 39 of 122 | 50 of 122 |
What each covers
| Markets | FOREX.com | IC Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | No | Yes |
| Forex | Yes | Yes |
| CFDs | Yes | Yes |
| Futures | No | Yes |
| Crypto | Yes | Yes |
| Bonds | No | Yes |
Pick FOREX.com if, pick IC Markets if
Pick FOREX.com if minimum deposit matter most.
Pick IC Markets if cost, offer, and markets matter most.
Sources behind this comparison
FOREX.com
- compareforexbrokers.com: 8 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 | FOREX.com | IC Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Crypto, Demo account, Mobile app | 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 | FOREX.com | IC Markets | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $100above the median | $200highest quarter | $25 |
| Inactivity fee | Not confirmed | $0at the median | $0 |
| Retail accounts that lose money | 74%above the median | Not confirmed | 72.05% |
| EUR/USD spread | 1.2%highest quarter | Not confirmed | 0.65% |
Median across 134 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
FOREX.com
Pros
- Commission-free pricing means the 1.2% EUR/USD spread is the cost you can actually see before you trade
- Regulated in the UK by the FCA, in the US by the NFA/CFTC and in Australia by the ASIC
- UK clients have investor protection of FSCS up to GBP 85,000 behind the firm
Cons
- The $100 minimum deposit sits above $0 at CFI and $5 at Vantage, so entry is the main hurdle
- Retail accounts lose money at 74%, above the 70.15% median for the brands compared here
- The range stops at forex, CFDs and crypto, without the shares, ETFs and futures that appear in 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
FOREX.com
Who it suits
- UK retail traders who want one commission-free account across forex, CFDs and crypto
- Traders who want a demo account to size up the platform before funding the $100 deposit
- People who put weight on a named UK regulator and FSCS up to GBP 85,000
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone starting with a small sum, since CFI takes $0 and Vantage $5 against a $100 entry here
- Share and ETF investors, because eToro's range runs to stocks, etfs and forex
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
FOREX.com
What does it cost to trade forex on FOREX.com?+
Pricing is commission-free, so the cost sits in the spread rather than a separate deal charge. The euro against the dollar carries a spread of 1.2%, and that figure is the one to watch if you trade often or in size. The commission-free model runs across the account, not on one pair alone.
How much do I need to deposit to open an account?+
The minimum deposit is $100. That is a clear step up from the €4.64 median across the brands compared here, and well above $0 at CFI and $5 at Vantage. Plan the funding before you open, because the threshold applies at the account level.
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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