Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
IC Markets vs Swissquote
What sets them apart
| Compare | IC Markets ReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |  Swissquote |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $200Lower | $1,000 |
| Inactivity fee | $0Lower | $10 |
| Markets | Stocks, Forex, CFDs, Futures, Crypto, BondsCovers more | Stocks, Forex, CFDs, Crypto |
| Regulators | SIPC | Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier (CSSF) |
| Investor protection | SIPC up to USD 500,000 | EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 |
| Stock trade fee | Not confirmed | $20 |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | No internal deposit fees | Not confirmed |
| Platforms | MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, CTrader, TradingView, WebTrader, IC Social | Not confirmed |
| Maximum retail leverage | Not confirmed | 1:100 |
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Key differences
- IC Markets scores higher overall: 9.0 vs 8.8.
- Regulators: only IC Markets offers SIPC.
- Regulators: only Swissquote offers Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier (CSSF).
- Minimum deposit is lower at IC Markets: $200 vs $1,000.
- Inactivity fee is lower at IC Markets: $0 vs $10.
- Markets: only IC Markets offers Futures, Bonds.
- Features: only IC Markets offers Copy trading.
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.
Swissquote
Swissquote runs a Swiss bank entity under CSSF supervision with EU investor compensation, so it suits traders who want a bank behind the account. The trade-off is entry cost: a stock trade fee of $20 and a minimum deposit of $1,000 sit well above cheaper rivals.
Score breakdown
| Area | IC Markets | Swissquote |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.9HigherMinimum deposit of $200 sits above the site median of €4.64, while the inactivity fee is $0. | 8.3Costs run high: stock trade fee $20, minimum deposit $1,000 and inactivity fee $10 sit above site medians. |
| Offer | 9.8Higher | 9.0 |
| Trust | 8.6 | 9.0Higher |
Availability and regulation
| Country | IC Markets | Swissquote |
|---|---|---|
| Luxembourg | Not confirmed | Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier (CSSF) MiCA CASP 549300M2IHOB9P5WE714 |
| United States | SIPC SIPC member 71021 | Not confirmed |
Which one suits you
Pick IC Markets if cost, offer, minimum deposit, inactivity fee, and markets matter most.
Pick Swissquote if trust matter most.
Sources behind this comparison
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
Swissquote
- swissquote.com: 7 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- esma.europa.eu: 4 facts, checked September 26, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | IC Markets | Swissquote |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 140 of 471 | 187 of 471 |
| Forex brokers | 60 of 147 | 80 of 147 |
| Low-spread forex brokers | 58 of 145 | 78 of 145 |
| CFD brokers | 50 of 122 | 67 of 122 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | IC Markets | Swissquote |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Demo account, Copy trading, Mobile appCovers more | Demo account, Mobile app |
| Pricing model | Low fees | Not confirmed |
| Audience | Experienced, Day traders | Not confirmed |
| Legal entity | RB INTERNATIONAL MARKETS (USA) LLC | Swissquote Bank Europe SA |
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | Luxembourg |
| Founded | Not confirmed | 1996 |
| Support channels | Not confirmed | Phone, Help centre |
Robo-advisors
| Fact | IC Markets | Swissquote |
|---|---|---|
| Portfolio types | Not confirmed | ESG |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | IC Markets | Swissquote | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $200highest quarter | $1,000highest quarter | $25 |
| Stock trade fee | Not confirmed | $20highest quarter | $0 |
| Inactivity fee | $0at the median | $10above the median | $0 |
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.
Swissquote
Pros
- Regulated by the Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier (CSSF) in Luxembourg, with the legal entity named as Swissquote Bank Europe SA.
- Covers stocks, forex, CFDs and crypto on a single account, with retail leverage of 1:100.
- A demo account and a mobile app are both listed features, so you can test before committing.
Cons
- Costs are high for a retail account: a stock trade fee of $20 against a site median of €0.
- The minimum deposit of $1,000 ranks 191 of 213, far above the site median of €4.64.
- An inactivity fee of $10 applies, where the site median is €0.
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
Swissquote
Who it suits
- Traders moving between forex, CFDs, crypto and shares on a single account
- Investors who put weight on a supervised bank entity and investor compensation
- People who want to practise on a demo account before risking money
Who should look elsewhere
- Newcomers with a small starting balance, since the minimum deposit is $1,000
- Share buyers focused on trading costs, given the stock trade fee of $20 against eToro at $0
- Passive long term investors, because the portfolio options listed are esg
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.
Swissquote
How much does it cost to trade shares with Swissquote?+
The stock trade fee is $20, which is well above the site median of €0. Swissquote ranks 161 of 161 on this measure, so share dealing here is costly. eToro, by contrast, charges $0 per trade.
What is the minimum deposit to open an account?+
The minimum deposit is $1,000, which is a high bar for a first account. On our data Swissquote ranks 191 of 213 on this measure, against a site median of €4.64. Vantage asks for $5 and CFI for $0.
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