Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
IC Markets vs Interactive Brokers
IC Markets vs Interactive Brokers: the differences
| Compare | IC Markets ReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |  Interactive Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $200 | $0Lower |
| Markets | Stocks, Forex, CFDs, Futures, Crypto, Bonds | Bonds, ETFs, Forex, Funds, Futures, Options, Stocks |
| Regulators | SIPC | SEC, FCA, SIPCCovers more |
| Platforms | MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, CTrader, TradingView, WebTrader, IC Social | Client Portal, IBKR Desktop, IBKR Mobile, Trader Workstation |
| Stock trade fee | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Inactivity fee | $0 | Not confirmed |
| Margin rate | Not confirmed | 4.38% |
| Options contract fee | Not confirmed | $0.65 |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | No internal deposit fees | Not confirmed |
| Account types | Not confirmed | ISA, SIPP, IRA, Joint, Corporate |
| Interest on cash | Not confirmed | 3.38% |
Same on both: Investor protection (SIPC up to USD 500,000).
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Key differences
- Interactive Brokers scores higher overall: 9.6 vs 9.0.
- Regulators: only Interactive Brokers offers SEC, FCA.
- Interactive Brokers is licensed in 1 more country.
- Minimum deposit is lower at Interactive Brokers: $0 vs $200.
- Markets: only IC Markets offers CFDs, Crypto.
- Markets: only Interactive Brokers offers ETFs, Funds, Options.
- Platforms: only IC Markets offers MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, CTrader.
- Platforms: only Interactive Brokers offers Client Portal, IBKR Desktop, IBKR Mobile.
- Features: only IC Markets offers Demo account, Copy trading.
- Features: only Interactive Brokers offers Fractional shares.
Our verdict on each
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.
Interactive Brokers
Interactive Brokers suits investors who want a single account across ISA, SIPP, IRA, joint and corporate holdings, with stocks, bonds, funds, forex, options and futures behind it. It ranks 1 of 213 brands on minimum deposit at $0, and stock trades are charged at $0.
Score breakdown
| Area | IC Markets | Interactive Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.9Minimum deposit of $200 sits above the site median of €4.64, while the inactivity fee is $0. | 9.3HigherStock trades cost $0, the minimum deposit is $0 and an options contract costs $0.65. |
| Offer | 9.8Higher | 9.6Account types cover isa, sipp and ira, and the market list spans bonds, etfs and forex. |
| Trust | 8.6 | 9.8Higher |
Where they rank in our lists
| Ranking | IC Markets | Interactive Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 140 of 471 | 44 of 471 |
| Forex brokers | 60 of 147 | 16 of 147 |
| Low-spread forex brokers | 58 of 145 | 14 of 145 |
| Futures trading platforms | 37 of 82 | 10 of 82 |
Availability and regulation
| Country | IC Markets | Interactive Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| United States | SIPC SIPC member 71021 | SIPC SIPC member 53615 |
| United Kingdom | Not confirmed | FCA 208159 |
Side by side, item by item
| Markets | IC Markets | Interactive Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | No | Yes |
| Forex | Yes | Yes |
| CFDs | Yes | No |
| Options | No | Yes |
| Futures | Yes | Yes |
| Crypto | Yes | No |
| Bonds | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | No | Yes |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | IC Markets | Interactive Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Demo account, Copy trading, Mobile app | Fractional shares, Mobile app |
| Pricing model | Low fees | Commission free, Low feesCovers more |
| Audience | Experienced, Day traders | Not confirmed |
| Legal entity | RB INTERNATIONAL MARKETS (USA) LLC | INTERACTIVE BROKERS LLC |
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | United States |
| Founded | Not confirmed | 1978 |
| Support channels | Not confirmed | Help centre, Community |
Robo-advisors
| Fact | IC Markets | Interactive Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| Portfolio types | Not confirmed | ETF |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | IC Markets | Interactive Brokers | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $200highest quarter | $0below the median | $25 |
| Stock trade fee | Not confirmed | $0at the median | $0 |
| Inactivity fee | $0at the median | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Margin rate | Not confirmed | 4.38%below the median | 8.75% |
| Options contract fee | Not confirmed | $0.65above the median | $0.625 |
| Interest on cash | Not confirmed | 3.38%above the median | 3% |
Median across 134 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
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.
Interactive Brokers
Pros
- A stock trade costs $0 and the minimum deposit is $0, the pairing behind rank 1 of 161 on stock trade fees among the brokers tracked here.
- The account types listed cover isa, sipp and ira, so an ISA, SIPP, IRA, joint or corporate account all sit under a single provider.
- bonds, etfs and forex puts stocks, ETFs, bonds, funds, forex, options and futures on the same account, with a margin rate of 4.38% for geared positions.
Cons
- Support runs on help centre and community, so a phone line and live chat sit outside the offer.
- bonds, etfs and forex covers shares, ETFs, bonds, funds, forex, options and futures but leaves out crypto and CFDs, which eToro lists in stocks, etfs and forex.
- An options contract costs $0.65 against a stock trade at $0, so options strategies pay a visible premium per contract.
Who each suits
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
Interactive Brokers
Who it suits
- Investors holding money across several wrappers, since the account types listed cover isa, sipp and ira.
- Traders who want options, futures, forex and bonds alongside shares on a single account, per bonds, etfs and forex.
- Anyone starting with a small balance: the minimum deposit is $0 and fractional shares appear in the feature list (fractional shares and mobile app).
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone who trades crypto or CFDs, since bonds, etfs and forex leaves both out while eToro lists them in stocks, etfs and forex.
- Readers who want a stated entry figure as a signal of the provider's target size, since Vantage publishes $5 where this broker's minimum is $0.
Questions about each
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.
Interactive Brokers
What does it cost to trade shares?+
A stock trade is charged at $0 and the minimum deposit is $0, so opening an account and dealing in shares carry no charge. The money sits in derivatives and leverage instead, where an options contract costs $0.65 and the margin rate is listed at 4.38%.
Is my money protected?+
The regulatory list runs to SEC, FCA and SIPC, and investor protection is stated as SIPC up to USD 500,000. The UK entry is the FCA under licence 208159, while the US side names the SEC and the SIPC membership SIPC member 53615. The protection figure describes the scheme stated for the account and says nothing about how a trade performs.
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