Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
IC Markets vs Traders Place
What sets them apart
| Compare | IC Markets ReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |  Traders Place |
|---|---|---|
| Markets | Stocks, Forex, CFDs, Futures, Crypto, Bonds | Stocks, ETFs, Crypto, Bonds, Funds |
| Regulators | SIPC | Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) |
| Investor protection | SIPC up to USD 500,000 | EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 |
| Platforms | MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, CTrader, TradingView, WebTrader, IC Social | Traders Place App |
| Minimum deposit | $200 | Not confirmed |
| Stock trade fee | Not confirmed | €0 |
| Account fee | Not confirmed | €0 |
| Inactivity fee | $0 | Not confirmed |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | No internal deposit fees | Not confirmed |
| Account types | Not confirmed | Joint |
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Key differences
- IC Markets scores higher overall: 9.0 vs 8.9.
- Regulators: only IC Markets offers SIPC.
- Regulators: only Traders Place offers Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin).
- Markets: only IC Markets offers Forex, CFDs, Futures.
- Markets: only Traders Place offers ETFs, Funds.
- Platforms: only IC Markets offers MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, CTrader.
- Platforms: only Traders Place offers Traders Place App.
- Features: only IC Markets offers Demo account, Copy trading.
- Features: only Traders Place offers Crypto, Fractional shares.
- Pricing model: only IC Markets offers Low fees.
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.
Traders Place
Traders Place is a German broker built around a commission-free model, with stocks, ETFs, bonds, funds and crypto in a joint account and an overall score of 6.6. It suits investors who want a low running cost and a regulated German setup, with crypto included rather than bolted on.
Score breakdown
| Area | IC Markets | Traders Place |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.9Minimum deposit of $200 sits above the site median of €4.64, while the inactivity fee is $0. | 9.3HigherStock trade fee €0 and account fee €0 sit at ranking position 1 and 1. |
| Offer | 9.8Higher | 8.9 |
| Trust | 8.6 | 8.6 |
Side by side, item by item
| Markets | IC Markets | Traders Place |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | No | Yes |
| Forex | Yes | No |
| CFDs | Yes | No |
| Futures | Yes | No |
| Crypto | Yes | Yes |
| Bonds | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | No | Yes |
How they place
| Ranking | IC Markets | Traders Place |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 140 of 471 | 27 of 471 |
Pick IC Markets if, pick Traders Place if
Pick IC Markets if offer matter most.
Pick Traders Place if cost matter most.
Where 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
Traders Place
- tradersplace.de: 8 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- esma.europa.eu: 4 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | IC Markets | Traders Place |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Demo account, Copy trading, Mobile app | Crypto, Fractional shares, Mobile app |
| Pricing model | Low fees | Commission free |
| Audience | Experienced, Day traders | Not confirmed |
| Legal entity | RB INTERNATIONAL MARKETS (USA) LLC | Traders Place GmbH & Co. KGaA |
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | Germany |
| Support channels | Not confirmed | Email, Phone, Help centre |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | IC Markets | Traders Place | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $200highest quarter | Not confirmed | $25 |
| Stock trade fee | Not confirmed | €0below the median | €1 |
| Account fee | Not confirmed | €0at the median | €0 |
| Inactivity fee | $0at the median | Not confirmed | $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.
Traders Place
Pros
- Regulated by Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin), with investor protection of EU ICS up to EUR 20,000.
- A broad market list, stocks, etfs and crypto, covering equities, ETFs, bonds, funds and crypto.
- Fractional shares, crypto and a mobile app sit in crypto, fractional shares and mobile app, with Traders Place App as the platform.
Cons
- Contact options are limited to email, phone and help centre, with no live chat channel listed.
- The market list covers stocks, etfs and crypto, so forex and CFD traders are not served.
- Retail accounts that lose money run at 70.15% across the brands compared here, so a commission-free model does not remove the risk.
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
Traders Place
Who it suits
- Couples who want a joint account, since joint lists joint.
- Investors who want equities, ETFs, bonds, funds and crypto in a single account: stocks, etfs and crypto.
- Savers who want a German regulated broker with phone and email support: email, phone and help centre.
Who should look elsewhere
- Traders who want forex or CFDs, since CFI lists them in stocks, etfs and forex.
- Investors who prefer to check the cost model against a rival priced in another currency, such as eToro at $0.
Current offers
Traders Place
Current offer
Bonus
Neukundenbonus
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | IC Markets | Traders Place |
|---|---|---|
| Germany | No | Yes |
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.
Traders Place
What does it cost to buy shares at Traders Place?+
Stock trades are charged at €0 and the pricing model is listed as commission-free, so no commission is added to a share purchase. The account fee is €0 as well, which keeps the cost of holding a plain brokerage account low for a buy and hold investor.
Does Traders Place charge to keep an account open?+
The account fee is €0, and the only account type listed is joint, as joint shows. That suits a couple holding securities together under a single pricing structure. Stock trades themselves are charged at €0, so the account charge is not offset by a per-trade commission.
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