Comparison of Exness and IC Markets
| Feature | Exness | IC Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Broker | ||
| Year Founded | 2008 | 2007 |
| Broker Type | MM, STP, ECN | ECN, DMA |
| Dealing | A-book, B-book | A-book |
| Execution | Market | Market |
| Regulation | FCA, SFSA, FSCA, FSC, BVIFSC, CySEC, CBCS, CMA | SFSA, ASIC, CySEC, CMA |
| Platforms | MetaTrader 4 (MT4), MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | MetaTrader 4 (MT4), MetaTrader 5 (MT5), cTrader, TradingView |
| Spread | ⬊ Low | ⬊ Low |
| Maximum Leverage | 1:2000 | 1:500 |
| Minimum Deposit | $10 | $200 |
| Base Currencies | USD, EUR, RUB, GBP, AUD, CHF, JPY, ZAR, NZD, SGD, CAD, HKD, CNY, UAH, MYR, IDR, THB, VND, KWD, AED, HUF, MXN, NGN, JOD, ARS, AZN, BDT, BHD, BND, EGP, BRL, GHS, INR, KES, KRW, KZT, MAD, OMR, PHP, PKR, QAR, SAR, UGX, UZS, XOF, ILS | USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, CHF, JPY, NZD, SGD, HKD |
| Funding Methods | Bank Wire, Credit Card, Debit Card, Skrill, Neteller, Perfect Money | Bank Wire, Credit Card, Debit Card, Neteller, PayPal, Skrill, Bpay, FasaPay, Klarna, POLi, Rapidpay |
| Inactivity Fee | ✖ | ✖ |
| Interest on Margin | ✖ | ✖ |
| Withdrawal Fee | ✖ | ✖ |
| Investor Protection | UK Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS), Investor Compensation Fund (ICF) | Investor Compensation Fund (ICF) |
| Protection Size | £85 000 / €20 000 | €20 000 |
| Segregated Accounts | ✔ | ✔ |
| Negative Balance Protection | ✔ | ✔ |
| Guaranteed Stop Loss | ✖ | ✔ |
| Copy Trading | ✔ | ✔ |
| VPS | ✔ | ✔ |
| MAM/PAMM | ✖ | ✖ |
| Scalping Allowed | ✔ | ✔ |
| EAs/Robots | ✔ | ✔ |
| Depth of Market (DOM) | ✔ | ✔ |
| Tradable Assets (CFDs) | Currencies, Indices, Stocks, Cryptocurrencies, Metals, Energies | Currencies, Indices, Stocks, ETFs, Bonds, Cryptocurrencies, Metals, Energies, Soft Commodities |
| Review | Exness Review | IC Markets Review |
About Exness
Exness is a well-established forex and CFD broker that has been serving traders globally since 2008. Renowned for its transparency and client-centric approach, Exness offers a diverse range of trading instruments, including currency pairs, commodities, cryptocurrencies, and indices. The broker is regulated by reputable authorities such as the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in the UK and the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC), providing traders with a secure and trustworthy trading environment. One of the key strengths of Exness is its competitive trading conditions. Traders benefit from tight spreads, low commissions, and fast execution speeds, which are crucial for successful trading. Exness provides access to the popular MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 platforms, catering to both novice and experienced traders with advanced tools and features. The broker also offers responsive customer support available in multiple languages, ensuring assistance is readily available when needed. However, it's important to note that Exness does not accept clients from certain countries due to regulatory restrictions. While the broker offers a solid range of trading instruments, some traders may find the selection less extensive compared to other brokers. Additionally, educational resources and market analysis tools are somewhat limited, which might not fully meet the needs of traders seeking comprehensive educational support.
Pros
- Provides a secure trading environment
- Tight spreads and fast execution
- Suits different trading styles and experience levels
- Access to MT4 and MT5 with advanced features
- Assistance available in multiple languages
- Includes forex, commodities, cryptocurrencies, and indices
Cons
- Does not accept clients from certain countries
- Fewer educational materials compared to some competitors
- Less extensive selection than some other brokers
- No proprietary or alternative platforms offered
About IC Markets
IC Markets is a leading forex and CFD broker, well-known for its exceptional trading conditions and advanced technology. Established in 2007 and regulated by multiple top-tier authorities, including ASIC, CySEC, and the FSA Seychelles, IC Markets has earned a solid reputation among retail and institutional traders alike. The broker is particularly favored by scalpers, day traders, and algorithmic traders for its ultra-tight spreads, fast execution speeds, and no-dealing-desk (NDD) model. With access to powerful platforms like MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, and cTrader, IC Markets offers a seamless trading experience across various asset classes, including forex, indices, commodities, and cryptocurrencies. Its focus on transparency, competitive pricing, and exceptional liquidity ensures that traders can execute strategies efficiently. However, while IC Markets excels in trading infrastructure, it offers limited educational resources, which may not fully cater to beginners.
Pros
- Regulated by top-tier authorities (ASIC, CySEC)
- Tight spreads starting from 0.0 pips on Raw Spread accounts
- No dealing desk (NDD) model ensures transparent and fast execution
- Excellent platforms: MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, and cTrader
- High liquidity and competitive pricing ideal for scalping and algorithmic trading
- Wide range of tradable assets, including cryptocurrencies
- Dedicated 24/7 customer support
Cons
- Restricted availability in some regions due to regulatory constraints
- Withdrawal fees may apply for certain methods
Exness & IC Markets Regulation
| Feature | Exness | IC Markets |
|---|---|---|
Companies | Exness (UK) Ltd, Nymstar Limited, Vlerizo (Pty) Ltd, Tortelo Limited, Venico Capital Limited, Exness (Cy) Ltd, Exness B.V., Tadenex Limited | Raw Trading Ltd, International Capital Markets Pty Ltd, IC Markets (EU) Ltd, IC Markets (KE) Limited |
Countries | United Kingdom, Seychelles, South Africa, Mauritius, British Virgin Islands, Cyprus, Curacao, Kenya | Seychelles, Australia, Cyprus, Kenya |
Regulators | FCA, SFSA, FSCA, FSC, BVIFSC, CySEC, CBCS, CMA | SFSA, ASIC, CySEC, CMA |
Investor Protection | UK Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS), Investor Compensation Fund (ICF) | Investor Compensation Fund (ICF) |
Investor Protection Size | £85 000 / €20 000 | €20 000 |
Publicly Traded | ||
Segregated Accounts | ||
Guaranteed Stop Loss | ||
Negative Balance Protection |
Account Types
| Account | Exness | IC Markets |
|---|---|---|
Market Maker Account | ||
| Account Name | Pro | — |
| Min Deposit | $200 | — |
| Lot Size | 0.01 | — |
| Spread Type | Floating | — |
| Execution | Market | — |
| Min Spread | 0.1 | — |
| Fee | No | — |
| Max Leverage | 1:2000 | — |
| Stop Out | 0% | — |
| Margin Call | 30% | — |
STP Account | ||
| Account Name | Standard | — |
| Min Deposit | $10 | — |
| Lot Size | 0.01 | — |
| Spread Type | Floating | — |
| Execution | Market | — |
| Min Spread | 0.3 | — |
| Fee | No | — |
| Max Leverage | 1:2000 | — |
| Stop Out | 0% | — |
| Margin Call | 60% | — |
ECN Account | ||
| Account Name | Raw Spread | Standard |
| Min Deposit | $200 | $200 |
| Lot Size | 0.01 | 0.01 |
| Spread Type | Floating | Floating |
| Execution | Market | Market |
| Min Spread | 0 | 0.6 |
| Fee | $7 per 1 lot | No |
| Max Leverage | 1:2000 | 1:500 |
| Stop Out | 0% | 50% |
| Margin Call | 30% | 100% |
Zero Account | ||
| Account Name | Zero | Raw Spread |
| Min Deposit | $200 | $200 |
| Lot Size | 0.01 | 0.01 |
| Spread Type | Floating | Floating |
| Execution | Market | Market |
| Min Spread | 0 | 0 |
| Fee | $7 per 1 lot | $7 per 1 lot |
| Max Leverage | 1:2000 | 1:500 |
| Stop Out | 0% | 50% |
| Margin Call | 30% | 100% |
Cent Account | ||
| Account Name | Standard Cent | — |
| Min Deposit | $10 | — |
| Lot Size | 0.01 | — |
| Spread Type | Floating | — |
| Execution | Market | — |
| Min Spread | 0.3 | — |
| Fee | No | — |
| Max Leverage | 1:2000 | — |
| Stop Out | 0% | — |
| Margin Call | 60% | — |
| Additional Features | ||
| Demo Account | ||
| VIP Account | ||
| Swap-Free Account | ||
| Copy Trading | ||
| VPS | ||
| PAMM/MAM Accounts | ||
Funding and Fees
| Feature | Exness | IC Markets |
|---|---|---|
Base currencies | USD, EUR, RUB, GBP, AUD, CHF, JPY, ZAR, NZD, SGD, CAD, HKD, CNY, UAH, MYR, IDR, THB, VND, KWD, AED, HUF, MXN, NGN, JOD, ARS, AZN, BDT, BHD, BND, EGP, BRL, GHS, INR, KES, KRW, KZT, MAD, OMR, PHP, PKR, QAR, SAR, UGX, UZS, XOF, ILS | USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, CHF, JPY, NZD, SGD, HKD |
Deposit and withdrawal methods | Bank Wire, Credit Card, Debit Card, Skrill, Neteller, Perfect Money | Bank Wire, Credit Card, Debit Card, Neteller, PayPal, Skrill, Bpay, FasaPay, Klarna, POLi, Rapidpay |
Inactivity fee | ||
Interest on margin | ||
Withdrawal fee |
Trading Platforms and Conditions
| Feature | Exness | IC Markets |
|---|---|---|
Trading Platforms | MetaTrader 4 (MT4), MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | MetaTrader 4 (MT4), MetaTrader 5 (MT5), cTrader, TradingView |
Execution Speed | 10 ms | 40 ms |
Scalping | ||
Expert Advisors (EAs) | ||
Depth of Market (DOM) | ||
Spread | low | low |
Trading Assets
| Asset | Exness | IC Markets |
|---|---|---|
Currencies | 95 | 61 |
Indices | 10 | 25 |
Stocks | 98 | 2175 |
Cryptocurrencies | 11 | 21 |
Bonds | 0 | 10 |
Metals | 15 | 7 |
Energies | 3 | 5 |
Soft Commodities | 0 | 8 |
ETFs | 0 | 38 |
Education and Analytics
| Feature | Exness | IC Markets |
|---|---|---|
Economic Calendar | ||
Indicators | ||
Robots | ||
Signals | ||
Autochartist | ||
Expert Analytics | ||
News Feed | ||
Education Articles | ||
Webinars | ||
Seminars |
Customer Support
| Contact | Exness | IC Markets |
|---|---|---|
Email | support@exness.com | support@icmarkets.com |
Phone | +35725030959 | +2484671976 |
Facebook | ||
LinkedIn | ||
YouTube | YouTube | — |
Instagram | ||
Twitter |
Which Broker is Better?
After comparing Exness and IC Markets, Exness comes out ahead as our overall pick. It ranks higher in our internal scoring and delivers a stronger balance of pricing (spreads/fees), platform experience, and product range. That said, the runner-up may still be a better fit if you prioritize specific needs—like a particular account type, funding method, or niche instruments. This is not financial advice; always choose a broker that matches your goals and local regulatory requirements.
More Comparisons
Andriy Bondarenko
Broker Analyst
Andriy is a seasoned expert in broker reviews with over a decade of experience in finance and trading. Under his leadership, the team produces in-depth and unbiased analyses of leading trading platforms.