IC Markets vs Interactive Brokers
IC Markets or Interactive Brokers – which is better for UK traders 2025? Compare IC Markets and Interactive Brokers in this detailed breakdown of their platforms, features and fees.
| IC Markets | Interactive Brokers |
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| IC Markets is ranked #5 among CFD brokers. | Interactive Brokers is ranked #33 among CFD brokers. |
| IC Markets is a globally recognized forex and CFD broker known for its excellent pricing, comprehensive range of trading instruments, and premium trading technology. Founded in 2007 and headquartered in Australia, the brokerage is regulated by the ASIC, CySEC and FSA, and has attracted more than 180,000 clients from over 200 countries. | Interactive Brokers (IBKR) is a premier brokerage, providing access to 150 markets in 33 countries, along with a suite of comprehensive investment services. With over 40 years of experience, this Nasdaq-listed firm adheres to stringent regulations by the SEC, FCA, CIRO, and SFC, amongst others, and is one of the most trusted brokers for trading around the globe. |
| Pros | |
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| Cons | |
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| Awards | |
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| FCA Regulated | |
| No | Yes |
| Instruments | |
| CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, Bonds, Futures, Crypto | Stocks, Options, Futures, Forex, Funds, Bonds, ETFs, Mutual Funds, CFDs, Cryptocurrencies |
| Demo Account | |
| Yes | Yes |
| Minimum Deposit | |
| $200 | $0 |
| Payment Methods | |
| Minimum Trade | |
| 0.01 Lots | $100 |
| Regulator | |
| ASIC, CySEC, FSA, CMA | FCA, SEC, FINRA, CFTC, CBI, CIRO, SFC, MAS, MNB, FINMA, AFM |
| Mobile Apps | |
| iOS & Android | iOS & Android |
| Trading App | |
IC Markets deliver mobile apps for their cTrader, MT4, MT5 and TradingView platforms. They have been developed on Android and iOS separately, taking full advantage of the functionality available on each. With raw pricing, and spreads from 0.0, the apps deliver an excellent trading tool for all levels of trader. Yet what really stands out is how they’ve managed to maintain the lightning-fast execution speed IC Markets is known for, right within the apps. It’s a seamless trading experience that feels both professional and highly responsive. |
The IBKR Mobile app, available on both iOS and Android devices, makes your phone a powerful gateway to your IBKR accounts, offering you the freedom to keep an eye on portfolios, initiate trades, and dive into real-time quotes and charts, all while managing your account activities on the fly. This app stands out for its intuitive design, making it especially welcoming for those just starting their trading journey, providing a smoother and more accessible experience than the more complex TWS platform. |
| iOS App Rating | |
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| Android App Rating | |
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| Margin Trading | |
| Yes | Yes |
| Margin Rate | |
| 1.55 - 2.59% | |
| MetaTrader 4 | |
| Yes | No |
| MetaTrader 5 | |
| Yes | No |
| cTrader | |
| Yes | No |
| AlgoTrader | |
| No | Yes |
| OmniTrader | |
| No | Yes |
| TradingView | |
| Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | |
| No | No |
| eSignal | |
| No | Yes |
| Trading Central | |
| Yes | Yes |
| STP Account | |
| No | Yes |
| ECN Account | |
| Yes | No |
| DMA Account | |
| Yes | Yes |
| MAM Account | |
| Yes | Yes |
| PAMM Account | |
| Yes | No |
| LAMM Account | |
| No | No |
| Demat Account | |
| No | No |
| AI / Machine Learning | |
| No | Yes |
| Robo Advisor | |
| No | Yes |
| Negative Balance Protection | |
| Yes | Yes |
| Market Maker | |
| No | No |
| P2P Trading | |
| No | No |
| Spot Trading | |
| Yes | Yes |
| Auto Trading | |
| Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader, cBots on cTrader, Myfxbook AutoTrade | Capitalise.ai & TWS API |
| Copy Trading | |
| Yes | No |
| Copy Trading Platform | |
| Launched in February 2023, the IC Social app offers an intuitive way to learn, share, and mirror the positions of other traders with just a few clicks. Additionally, the app features risk management tools and supports dedicated trading groups. Alternatively, IC Markets grants access to Signal Start, along with well-known third-party copy trading platforms including ZuluTrade and cTrader Copy. | |
| Social Trading | |
| Yes | No |
| Trade Signals | |
| Signal Start | |
| VPS Hosting | |
| Yes | No |
| Tournaments | |
| No | No |
| Demo Competitions | |
| No | No |
| Ethical Investing | |
| No | Yes |
| Custodial Account | |
| No | No |
| Guaranteed Stop Loss | |
| No | No |
| Inactivity Fee | |
| $0 | $0 |
| Islamic Account | |
| Yes | No |
| Account Currencies | |
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| Commodities | |
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| CFD | |
| You gain access to over 2,250 CFDs, available for trading 24/5 across popular markets such as forex, commodities, indices, stocks, and bonds. Utilizing deep liquidity and advanced bridge technology, IC Markets ensures optimal conditions for scalpers, hedgers, and algo traders alike. | Over 8,000 CFDs are offered on a vast array of instruments, encompassing stocks, indices, forex, and commodities. Moreover, the TWS platform lends itself to seasoned traders, offering a comprehensive selection of over 100 order types and algorithms, alongside premium market data sourced from reputable sources such as Reuters and Dow Jones. |
| Leverage | |
| 1:30 (ASIC & CySEC), 1:500 (FSA), 1:1000 (Global) | 1:50 |
| FTSE Spread | |
| 1.0 | 0.005% (£1 Min) |
| GBPUSD Spread< | |
| 0.23 | 0.08-0.20 bps x trade value |
| Oil Spread | |
| 0.03 | 0.25-0.85 |
| Stocks Spread | |
| 0.02 | 0.003 |
| Forex | |
| IC Markets maintains its commitment to providing exceptionally tight 0.0-pip forex spreads on major currency pairs such as EUR/USD. This makes it an excellent option if you are seeking superior execution, with an average of 35 milliseconds. Additionally, if you are a high-volume trader, you can benefit from rebates of up to $2.50 per forex lot. | IBKR presents an extensive range of over 100 major, minor, and exotic forex pairs, surpassing the offerings of nearly all leading alternatives, though not CMC Markets. Forex trading occurs over multiple platforms and boasts institutional-grade spreads starting from 0.1 pips and 20 complex order types, including brackets, scale, and one-cancels-all (OCA) orders. |
| Assets | |
| 75 | 100+ |
| GBPUSD Spread | |
| 0.23 | 0.08-0.20 bps x trade value |
| EURUSD Spread | |
| 0.02 | 0.08-0.20 bps x trade value |
| EURGBP Spread | |
| 0.27 | 0.08-0.20 bps x trade value |
| Cryptocurrency | |
| IC Markets offers 20+ cryptocurrencies which are tradable via CFDs, including lesser-known tokens such as Avalanche, Kusama and Uniswap. Commission-free trading is available, and experienced crypto traders can access high leverage up to 1:200 in the MetaTrader platforms. | IBKR lets you purchase and hold Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Ethereum, and Litecoin at competitive commission rates and without needing a crypto wallet. Additionally, there is a range of other diverse assets to explore, such as crypto indices like the NYSE Bitcoin Index, as well as futures contracts like the BAKKT Bitcoin Futures. |
| Spread | |
| BTC 42.036 | 0.12%-0.18% |
| Coins | |
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| Crypto Lending | |
| No | No |
| Crypto Mining | |
| No | No |
| Crypto Staking | |
| No | No |
| Auto Market Maker | |
| No | No |
| IC Markets | Interactive Brokers |
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