Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Global Prime vs IC Markets
Where Global Prime and IC Markets differ
| Compare |  Global Prime | IC Markets ReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0Lower | $200 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, CFDs, Crypto, Metals | Stocks, Forex, CFDs, Futures, Crypto, Bonds |
| Regulators | Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), Vanuatu Financial Services Commission (VFSC), SIPCCovers more | SIPC |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | $0 deposit fees | No internal deposit fees |
| Platforms | MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5 | MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, CTrader, TradingView, WebTrader, IC SocialCovers more |
| Inactivity fee | Not confirmed | $0 |
| EUR/USD spread | 0.1% | Not confirmed |
| Account types | Joint, Corporate | Not confirmed |
| Maximum retail leverage | 1:1000 | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Investor protection (SIPC up to USD 500,000).
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
- Global Prime scores higher overall: 9.4 vs 9.0.
- Regulators: only Global Prime offers Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), Vanuatu Financial Services Commission (VFSC).
- Global Prime is licensed in 2 more countries.
- Minimum deposit is lower at Global Prime: $0 vs $200.
- Markets: only Global Prime offers ETFs, Metals.
- Markets: only IC Markets offers Futures, Bonds.
- Platforms: only IC Markets offers CTrader, TradingView, WebTrader.
- Features: only Global Prime offers Crypto.
- Features: only IC Markets offers Copy trading, Mobile app.
- Pricing model: only Global Prime offers Commission free.
Our verdict on each
Global Prime
Global Prime is a low-cost broker for traders who already work in a standard terminal and want shares, forex and CFDs in one place. A minimum deposit of $0 and a listed EUR/USD spread of 0.1% keep the running costs down, though leverage of 1:1000 is not for beginners.
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 | Global Prime | IC Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.7Higher | 8.9Minimum deposit of $200 sits above the site median of €4.64, while the inactivity fee is $0. |
| Offer | 9.2 | 9.8Higher |
| Trust | 9.4Higher | 8.6 |
What each covers
| Markets | Global Prime | IC Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | No |
| Forex | Yes | Yes |
| CFDs | Yes | Yes |
| Futures | No | Yes |
| Crypto | Yes | Yes |
| Bonds | No | Yes |
| Metals | Yes | No |
Availability and regulation
| Country | Global Prime | IC Markets |
|---|---|---|
| United States | SIPC SIPC member 3337 | SIPC SIPC member 71021 |
| Australia | Not confirmed | |
| Vanuatu | Not confirmed |
Choosing between them
Pick Global Prime if cost, trust, minimum deposit, and regulators matter most.
Pick IC Markets if offer and platforms matter most.
How they place
| Ranking | Global Prime | IC Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 55 of 471 | 140 of 471 |
| Forex brokers | 23 of 147 | 60 of 147 |
| Low-spread forex brokers | 21 of 145 | 58 of 145 |
| CFD brokers | 18 of 122 | 50 of 122 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Global Prime | IC Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Demo account, Crypto | Demo account, Copy trading, Mobile app |
| Pricing model | Commission free, Low feesCovers more | Low fees |
| Audience | Not confirmed | Experienced, Day traders |
| Legal entity | TD PRIME SERVICES LLC | RB INTERNATIONAL MARKETS (USA) LLC |
| Headquarters | Australia | Not confirmed |
| Founded | 2010 | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Global Prime | IC Markets | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0below the median | $200highest quarter | $25 |
| Inactivity fee | Not confirmed | $0at the median | $0 |
| EUR/USD spread | 0.1%lowest quarter | Not confirmed | 0.65% |
Median across 134 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
Global Prime
Pros
- Regulated by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), the Vanuatu Financial Services Commission (VFSC) and SIPC (Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), Vanuatu Financial Services Commission (VFSC) and SIPC), so the money sits in a regulated structure.
- One account covers stocks, ETFs, forex, CFDs, crypto and metals (stocks, etfs and forex) on MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 (MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5).
- A demo account is offered, so you can test the terminals before funding, and pricing comes in commission free and low fees variants.
Cons
- Account types run to joint and corporate only, with no ISA, SIPP or IRA listed, so tax wrappers sit elsewhere.
- Leverage of 1:1000 magnifies losses as much as gains, so oversized positions hurt quickly.
- SIPC cover attaches to TD PRIME SERVICES LLC, the US entity, while the brand sits in Australia, so the entity on your account matters.
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
Global Prime
Who it suits
- Traders who already work in MetaTrader 4 or MetaTrader 5 and want one account for shares, forex, CFDs and crypto.
- Anyone testing a platform first, since a demo account is offered and both joint and corporate accounts sit in the range (joint and corporate).
Who should look elsewhere
- Not for beginners: leverage of 1:1000 turns a wrong position into a fast loss, and the platforms are MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 rather than a simplified app.
- Not for futures traders: eToro lists stocks, etfs and forex, which adds futures that the Global Prime markets list leaves out.
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
Global Prime
What will it cost me to get started?+
The minimum deposit is $0 and the published deposit charge is $0 deposit fees. What you pay afterwards depends on the account model you pick, either commission-free or low-fee (commission free and low fees), and on the spread you trade through, with an EUR/USD spread of 0.1% listed.
How is my money protected?+
Global Prime is registered with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) and the Vanuatu Financial Services Commission (VFSC), and it appears on the SIPC membership list. The listed investor protection is SIPC up to USD 500,000. That cover belongs to the US entity, so check the legal entity named on your account before you fund it.
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.
Other options to compare
Other matchups
- Global Prime vs Scalable Capital
- Global Prime vs Charles Schwab
- Global Prime vs PU Prime
- Global Prime vs Vantage Markets
- Global Prime vs Betterment
- Global Prime vs Abf Trade Eu
- Global Prime vs Tradier
- Global Prime vs InvestEngine
- Global Prime vs Lightspeed Financial
- Global Prime vs Firstrade
- Global Prime vs TradeZero
- Global Prime vs Alpari
- Global Prime vs Exness
- Global Prime vs ActivTrades
- Global Prime vs XTB
- IC Markets vs NAGA
- Global Prime vs eToro
- IC Markets vs Mintos
- Global Prime vs Robinhood
- Global Prime vs Kraken
- IC Markets vs EBC Financial Group
- Global Prime vs Traders Place
- Global Prime vs Lightyear