Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
IC Markets vs LiteFinance
What sets them apart
| Compare | IC Markets ReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |  LiteFinance |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $200 | $10Lower |
| Markets | Stocks, Forex, CFDs, Futures, Crypto, Bonds | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, CFDs, Crypto |
| Regulators | SIPC | CySEC |
| Investor protection | SIPC up to USD 500,000 | EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | No internal deposit fees | No deposit or withdrawal fees charged by broker |
| Platforms | MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, CTrader, TradingView, WebTrader, IC Social | MT4, MT5, CTrader |
| Inactivity fee | $0 | Not confirmed |
| Retail accounts that lose money | Not confirmed | 81% |
| Maximum retail leverage | Not confirmed | 1:1000 |
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
- Regulators: only IC Markets offers SIPC.
- Regulators: only LiteFinance offers CySEC.
- Minimum deposit is lower at LiteFinance: $10 vs $200.
- Markets: only IC Markets offers Futures, Bonds.
- Markets: only LiteFinance offers ETFs.
- Platforms: only IC Markets offers MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, TradingView.
- Platforms: only LiteFinance offers MT4, MT5.
- Features: only LiteFinance offers Crypto.
- Audience: only IC Markets offers Experienced, Day traders.
- Audience: only LiteFinance offers Beginners.
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.
LiteFinance
LiteFinance is a Cyprus regulated broker aimed at beginners, with a minimum deposit of $10, no deposit or withdrawal fees and CySEC oversight on file. It suits retail traders starting small across forex, stocks, CFDs and crypto who want a single account and a demo to practise in.
Score breakdown
| Area | IC Markets | LiteFinance |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.9Minimum deposit of $200 sits above the site median of €4.64, while the inactivity fee is $0. | 9.0HigherEntry at $10 with no deposit or withdrawal fees charged by the broker keeps the opening cost of an account light. |
| Offer | 9.8Higher | 9.0 |
| Trust | 8.6 | 8.9Higher |
Pick IC Markets if, pick LiteFinance if
Pick IC Markets if offer matter most.
Pick LiteFinance if trust and minimum deposit matter most.
Feature by feature
| Markets | IC Markets | LiteFinance |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | No | Yes |
| Forex | Yes | Yes |
| CFDs | Yes | Yes |
| Futures | Yes | No |
| Crypto | Yes | Yes |
| Bonds | Yes | No |
If neither fits
ActivTrades has minimum deposit at $0, against $200 for IC Markets and $10 for LiteFinance.
ActivTrades reviewWhere these facts come from
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
LiteFinance
- fxscouts.com: 6 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- litefinance.org: 5 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- brokersway.com: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | IC Markets | LiteFinance |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 132 of 490 | 136 of 490 |
| Forex brokers | 57 of 147 | 60 of 147 |
| Low-spread forex brokers | 55 of 145 | 58 of 145 |
| CFD brokers | 48 of 122 | 51 of 122 |
| Copy trading platforms | 13 of 37 | 14 of 37 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | IC Markets | LiteFinance |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Demo account, Copy trading, Mobile app | Copy trading, Demo account, Mobile app, CryptoCovers more |
| Pricing model | Low fees | Not confirmed |
| Audience | Experienced, Day traders | Beginners |
| Legal entity | RB INTERNATIONAL MARKETS (USA) LLC | Liteforex (Europe) LTD |
| Founded | Not confirmed | 2005 |
| Support channels | Not confirmed | Chat |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | IC Markets | LiteFinance | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $200highest quarter | $10at the median | $10 |
| Inactivity fee | $0at the median | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Retail accounts that lose money | Not confirmed | 81%highest quarter | 70.375% |
Median across 99 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.
LiteFinance
Pros
- CySEC regulation in Cyprus under licence 093/08, with EU investor compensation of EU ICS up to EUR 20,000.
- Entry at $10 and no deposit or withdrawal fees charged by the broker keep the cost of starting small.
- The market list, stocks, etfs and forex, puts currency, shares, ETFs, CFDs and crypto on a single account.
Cons
- Support runs on chat alone, so no phone line or email desk is listed for account problems.
- Retail leverage runs to 1:1000, which magnifies a loss long before the balance is gone.
- An entry point of $10 is higher than $0 at CFI and higher than $5 at Vantage.
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
LiteFinance
Who it suits
- The audience is beginners, so a first account with a small deposit and a demo to learn on fits the profile.
- Retail traders who put safety of the money first, with CySEC oversight and compensation of EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 under an EU scheme.
- Copy traders and mobile traders, since copy trading, a demo account, a mobile app and crypto all sit under copy trading, demo account and mobile app.
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone after a lower entry point than $10: CFI opens at $0.
- Traders who want futures, since stocks, etfs and forex runs wider than the stocks, etfs and forex list here.
- Anyone who needs phone or email support, because contact runs on chat only.
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.
LiteFinance
What is the minimum deposit at LiteFinance?+
You can fund an account from $10, and the broker charges no deposit or withdrawal fees of its own on top. The minimum is a funding floor rather than a charge, so the balance you send is the balance that works. Check it against the size of the first position you want to open, because a small balance caps how much you can hold at once.
Is LiteFinance regulated?+
Yes. Accounts are held under CySEC, the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission, and the Cyprus licence is listed as 093/08. The regulated entity is Liteforex (Europe) LTD. Confirm the entity named on your own account matches the regulated one before you fund it.