Overall Rating: ★★★★☆ (4.4/5.0)

IC Markets is one of the world’s leading True ECN forex and CFD brokers, founded in 2007 and headquartered in Sydney, Australia. The broker is best known for its ultra-low spreads, fast execution speeds, and access to deep liquidity pools via MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, and cTrader. IC Markets caters to both retail and institutional traders, with a reputation for transparency, reliability, and top-tier regulation.

This IC Markets review breaks down the broker’s trading conditions, regulation, pricing structure, and overall suitability for traders in 2025.

Key Features

IC Markets is built for serious traders looking for institutional-grade conditions and direct market access.

• Trading Platforms:
  • MetaTrader 4 (MT4)
  • MetaTrader 5 (MT5)
  • cTrader
  • Web and mobile trading supported
• Markets Offered:
  • Forex, indices, commodities, bonds, futures, shares, and cryptocurrencies
  • Over 2,100 instruments
• Account Types:
  • Raw Spread Account (ECN)
  • Standard Account (no commission)
• Leverage:
  • Up to 1:30 for EU/AU clients
  • Up to 1:500 for international clients
• Minimum Deposit:
  • $200

Regulation and Security

IC Markets operates under multiple entities with strong regulatory oversight in key jurisdictions.

• ASIC (Australia) – AFSL 335692
• CySEC (Cyprus) – Licence No. 362/18
• FSA (Seychelles) – Offshore entity for global clients
• Segregated client funds held in top-tier banks
• Negative balance protection (EU and Australia)
• No investor compensation scheme under Seychelles entity

Pricing and Costs

IC Markets offers some of the tightest spreads in the industry, with raw pricing and low commissions.

• Spreads:
  • From 0.0 pips on Raw Spread accounts
  • Standard accounts: From 0.6 pips
• Commission:
  • $3.5 per lot per side ($7 round-turn) on Raw accounts
• Deposit/Withdrawal Fees:
  • No deposit fees
  • Withdrawals typically free (some methods may incur third-party fees)
• Inactivity Fee:
  • None – one of the few brokers with no inactivity charge

Educational Resources and Customer Support

IC Markets provides solid trading support, although education is more geared toward intermediate and advanced traders.

• Education:
  • Video tutorials, platform guides, articles
  • No structured beginner-level curriculum
• Market Analysis:
  • Daily blogs, technical analysis, and trading tools
• Customer Support:
  • 24/7 live chat and email
  • Multilingual support

Risk Management Tools

IC Markets offers platform-based risk controls but lacks proprietary features for risk assessment.

• Stop-loss, take-profit, and margin alerts
• No guaranteed stop-loss orders (GSLOs)
• No built-in risk dashboard or calculator
• Leverage adjustment available upon request

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Ultra-tight spreads and institutional-grade execution
• MT4, MT5, and cTrader platform access
• Regulated by ASIC, CySEC, and FSA
• 24/7 customer support and deep liquidity
• No inactivity fees

Cons

• No guaranteed stop-loss orders
• Education more suited to experienced traders
• Offshore entity lacks compensation scheme
• Minimum deposit is higher than some entry-level brokers

Conclusion: Is IC Markets the Right Choice?

Yes — IC Markets is ideal for serious traders looking for low-cost, high-speed execution on reliable platforms. With tight spreads, transparent fees, and strong regulation, it stands as one of the best choices for scalpers, algorithmic traders, and professional users.

Beginners might find platforms like AvaTrade or Vantage more user-friendly, but for execution quality and cost, IC Markets ranks among the elite.