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IC Markets Review 2026
- ›True ECN model with 0.0 pip raw spreads and $3.50/lot commission (Raw account)
- ›ASIC and CySEC regulated, among the most trusted for fund safety globally
- ›Supports MT4, MT5, cTrader, and TradingView, the widest platform range in the industry
- ›2,250+ instruments across forex, commodities, indices, crypto, and equities
Overview
IC Markets is an Australian ECN broker founded in 2000, regulated by ASIC, CySEC, and SCB. It is one of the most popular brokers among scalpers and high-frequency traders, offering true ECN execution with 0.0 pip raw spreads through its Raw pricing accounts. Deep institutional liquidity and no dealing desk intervention keep execution quality high.
We rate IC Markets 4.5 / 5, second only to Exness in our comparison. The raw ECN spreads (0.02 pips average on EUR/USD), cTrader support alongside MT4/MT5 and TradingView, VPS hosting for algorithmic traders, and access to over 2250 instruments justify the score. The $200 minimum deposit is the only meaningful barrier for entry-level traders.
Pros & Cons
Who Is IC Markets Best For?
IC Markets is built for scalpers and high-frequency traders who need 0.0 pip raw spreads with true ECN execution and no dealing desk interference. Professional and institutional-style traders benefit from 25+ liquidity providers and direct market access via cTrader or MT5. Algorithmic traders will appreciate full EA support plus free VPS hosting, and high-volume traders get deep liquidity with minimal slippage even on large orders.
Who Should Avoid IC Markets?
Complete beginners may find IC Markets overwhelming -- it lacks the guided onboarding and education library you get at XM or AvaTrade. There is no copy trading functionality, so social traders should look at eToro or AvaTrade's DupliTrade. The $200 minimum deposit also rules out micro-account traders who want to start with $5 or $10, and US-based traders are not accepted at all.
Spreads & Fees Deep Dive
IC Markets spreads, measured Thu, 14 May 2026 15:35:19 UTC
Compare all 12 brokers →Account: Raw · Commission: $3.50/side per lot
| Pair | Spread | Cost / lot | vs Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUR/USD | 0.0 pips | $0.00 | -0.1 pips |
| GBP/USD | 0.1 pips | $1.00 | -0.1 pips |
| USD/JPY | 0.0 pips | $0.00 | -0.1 pips |
| XAU/USD | 0.1 pips | $0.50 | -0.1 pips |
Source: IC Markets public trading conditions, sampled during normal liquidity. Cost calculated at $10/pip per standard lot. How we measure · Raw JSON. Total tracked pairs: 8.
IC Markets offers two account types: Standard and Raw. The Standard account features floating spreads averaging 1.0 pip on EUR/USD with no commission, suitable for longer-term traders who prefer all-in pricing. The Raw account (available on MT4/MT5 or cTrader) delivers 0.0 pip spreads with a $3.50 per side commission ($7 round-turn) on MetaTrader, or $3.00 per side on cTrader.
This is true ECN pricing, meaning IC Markets acts purely as a conduit to its liquidity pool, a network of 25+ institutional providers including banks and dark pools. The result is some of the tightest spreads available in retail trading, with average EUR/USD raw spreads of just 0.02 pips during the London session. Volume rebates are available for traders exceeding $500M monthly notional.
Platform Review
IC Markets supports MT4, MT5, cTrader, and TradingView, covering all major trading communities. MetaTrader 4 remains the workhorse for EA-based trading, with IC Markets being popular MT4 hosts globally. cTrader on IC Markets is particularly well-regarded: the Level 2 DOM (depth of market), cAlgo for algorithmic trading, and cTrader Copy for mirror trading set it apart.
TradingView integration allows traders to execute directly from TradingView charts using their IC Markets account, excellent for chart-focused traders who prefer TradingView's superior visual tools. The IC Markets mobile apps for iOS and Android are stable and full-featured. Free VPS hosting is available for active traders executing 15+ round-turn lots per month.
Regulation & Safety
IC Markets is regulated by ASIC (Australia), CySEC (Cyprus), and the SCB (Seychelles). The ASIC and CySEC licenses are tier-1 regulators with mandatory client fund segregation and negative balance protection. Australian clients are covered by the AFCA dispute resolution scheme; EU/Cypriot clients benefit from the CySEC ICF (Investor Compensation Fund) up to €20,000.
All client funds are held in segregated accounts with National Australia Bank and Westpac, two of Australia's 'Big Four' banks. IC Markets holds audited trust accounts and publishes its regulatory status transparently. The broker does not engage in market-making against clients, operating as a true no-dealing-desk (NDD) broker for all account types.
Deposit & Withdrawal
The minimum deposit is $200 for both Standard and Raw accounts. IC Markets accepts Visa/Mastercard, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller, bank wire, BPAY (Australia), FasaPay, and cryptocurrency (Bitcoin, Ethereum, Tether). Deposits via cards and e-wallets are typically instant; bank wires take 2-5 business days.
Withdrawals are processed within 1 business day for e-wallets and cards; bank wires take 3-5 days. There are no fees charged by IC Markets for deposits or withdrawals, though payment providers may charge their own fees. The minimum withdrawal is $5 for most methods. IC Markets enforces a same-payment-method withdrawal policy for AML compliance.
Customer Support
IC Markets offers 24/7 customer support via live chat, email, and phone, including weekend support for urgent account issues. Response times on live chat are typically under 2 minutes. Support is available in English, Chinese, Korean, Thai, Malay, and several other languages. The knowledge base covers platform tutorials, trading guides, and a detailed FAQ section.
What Traders Are Saying
Verified reviews from Trustpilot · Updated monthly
“Raw spreads from 0.0 pips, genuinely the best ECN execution I've found.”
Verified Trustpilot reviewer
“Deposits and withdrawals processed same day. No issues in 3 years of trading.”
Verified Trustpilot reviewer
“Professional platform, solid regulation, support team actually knows trading.”
Verified Trustpilot reviewer
CFD trading involves risk. 74-89% of retail accounts lose money.
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