Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
IC Markets vs XTB
Where IC Markets and XTB differ
| Compare | IC Markets ReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |  XTB |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $200 | €0 |
| Inactivity fee | $0 | €10 |
| Markets | Stocks, Forex, CFDs, Futures, Crypto, Bonds | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, CFDs, Crypto |
| Regulators | SIPC | Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC), FCA, KNF |
| Investor protection | SIPC up to USD 500,000 | EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | No internal deposit fees | Free deposits; free withdrawals above 100 EUR/USD |
| Platforms | MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, CTrader, TradingView, WebTrader, IC Social | XStation 5, XStation Mobile |
| Stock trade fee | Not confirmed | €0 |
| Account fee | Not confirmed | €0 |
| Retail accounts that lose money | Not confirmed | 77% |
| Currency conversion fee | Not confirmed | 0.5% |
| Maximum retail leverage | Not confirmed | 1:30 |
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Key differences
- XTB scores higher overall: 9.3 vs 9.0.
- Regulators: only IC Markets offers SIPC.
- Regulators: only XTB offers Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC), FCA, KNF.
- XTB is licensed in 2 more countries.
- Markets: only IC Markets offers Futures, Bonds.
- Markets: only XTB offers ETFs.
- Platforms: only IC Markets offers MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, CTrader.
- Platforms: only XTB offers XStation 5, XStation Mobile.
- Features: only IC Markets offers Copy trading.
- Features: only XTB offers Crypto.
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.
XTB
XTB suits retail traders who want to hold stocks, ETFs, forex, CFDs and crypto under one Cyprus-based account without a monthly charge. The account fee is €0, deposits cost nothing, and CySEC, FCA and KNF authorisations sit behind a legal entity founded in 2002.
Score breakdown
| Area | IC Markets | XTB |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.9Minimum deposit of $200 sits above the site median of €4.64, while the inactivity fee is $0. | 9.1Higher |
| Offer | 9.8Higher | 9.3 |
| Trust | 8.6 | 9.6Higher |
Where they rank in our lists
| Ranking | IC Markets | XTB |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 140 of 471 | 3 of 471 |
| Forex brokers | 60 of 147 | 2 of 147 |
| Low-spread forex brokers | 58 of 145 | 2 of 145 |
| CFD brokers | 50 of 122 | 2 of 122 |
Availability and regulation
| Country | IC Markets | XTB |
|---|---|---|
| Cyprus | Not confirmed | Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) MiCA CASP 259400HM2TR4U3LF5D43 |
| Poland | Not confirmed | |
| United Kingdom | Not confirmed | |
| United States | SIPC SIPC member 71021 | Not confirmed |
Feature by feature
| Markets | IC Markets | XTB |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | No | Yes |
| Forex | Yes | Yes |
| CFDs | Yes | Yes |
| Futures | Yes | No |
| Crypto | Yes | Yes |
| Bonds | Yes | No |
What we checked
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
XTB
- xtb.com: 10 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- hello-brokers.com: 5 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- esma.europa.eu: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- eupersonalfinance.eu: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
- linkedin.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | IC Markets | XTB |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Demo account, Copy trading, Mobile app | Demo account, Mobile app, Crypto |
| Pricing model | Low fees | Commission free, Low feesCovers more |
| Audience | Experienced, Day traders | Beginners |
| Legal entity | RB INTERNATIONAL MARKETS (USA) LLC | XTB Limited |
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | Cyprus |
| Founded | Not confirmed | 2002 |
| Support channels | Not confirmed | Email, Chat, Phone |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | IC Markets | XTB | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stock trade fee | Not confirmed | €0below the median | €1 |
| Account fee | Not confirmed | €0at the median | €0 |
| Retail accounts that lose money | Not confirmed | 77%highest quarter | 72.05% |
| Currency conversion fee | Not confirmed | 0.5%above the median | 0.45% |
Median across 52 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.
XTB
Pros
- Account fee of €0 on the standard account, and stock trades cost €0.
- Minimum deposit of €0, so the account opens without a funding floor.
- Regulated by CySEC, the FCA and KNF across Cyprus, the UK and Poland.
Cons
- An inactivity fee of €10 applies, unlike eToro, which has no such charge.
- Forex and CFD trading is not cost free: fx trading costs 0.5%.
- CFDs carry a high proportion of losing retail accounts, and XTB's own figure is 77%.
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
XTB
Who it suits
- Retail traders in the UK and Europe who want stocks, ETFs, forex, CFDs and crypto in one account
- Beginners who want a demo account and a mobile app before committing money
- Cost conscious traders who will not hold a balance large enough to trigger the inactivity fee
Who should look elsewhere
- Vantage, if a small minimum deposit of $5 suits a smaller starting balance better
- CFI, for traders who want forex and CFDs without paying an fx charge of 0.5%
- Anyone who plans to hold an idle balance for a long period, given the inactivity fee of €10
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.
XTB
What does XTB charge to open and hold an account?+
The account fee is €0, so there is no monthly or annual cost to keeping the account open. A stock trade costs €0 on the same account. The only recurring charge to watch is an inactivity fee of €10 for traders whose balance sits idle.
Is there a minimum deposit at XTB?+
The minimum deposit is €0, which means the account can be opened and funded with a small amount. It is a lower floor than the $5 asked by Vantage, so it suits a trader testing the platform before scaling up.
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