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IC Markets Review 2026

True ECNASIC & CySEC Regulated2250+ Instruments
4.8
out of 5
★★★★★
Reviewed March 2026 by the forex.mobile editorial team
TL;DR — IC Markets at a Glance
  • 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
✓ Tested with Real Account✓ Live Spreads VerifiedLast tested: March 2026

Overview

IC Markets is an Australian ECN broker founded in 2000, regulated by ASIC, CySEC, and SCB. It has established itself as the premier destination for scalpers and high-frequency traders, offering true ECN execution with 0.0 pip raw spreads through its Raw pricing accounts. With deep institutional liquidity and no dealing desk intervention, IC Markets delivers professional-grade conditions.

We rate IC Markets 4.8 / 5 — second only in our comparison — for its unrivaled raw ECN spreads, cTrader support alongside MT4/MT5 and TradingView, VPS hosting for algorithmic traders, and access to over 2250 instruments. The $200 minimum deposit is the only meaningful barrier for entry-level traders.

Pros & Cons

✓ Pros
Ultra-tight raw spreads from 0.0 pips on EUR/USD
True ECN execution — no dealing desk interference
cTrader support for advanced order types and automation
Deep liquidity from 25+ institutional providers
Lightning-fast execution for scalping strategies
VPS hosting available for algorithmic traders
2250+ instruments across forex, CFDs, crypto, commodities
MT4, MT5, cTrader, and TradingView all supported
ASIC regulated for strong investor protection
✗ Cons
$200 minimum deposit — higher than XM or OANDA
SCB (Seychelles) entity offers less regulatory protection
No copy trading or social trading features
Commission applies on Raw ECN accounts ($3.50/lot)
Standard account spreads are wider (around 1.0 pip)

Who Is IC Markets Best For?

Scalpers & High-Frequency Traders
0.0 pip raw spreads and true ECN execution make IC Markets the top choice for scalping. No dealing desk means no requotes or price manipulation.
📈
ECN & Professional Traders
With 25+ institutional liquidity providers and direct market access via cTrader or MT5, IC Markets delivers professional-grade trading conditions.
🔨
Algorithmic Traders
Full EA support on MT4/MT5 and cAlgo on cTrader, plus free VPS hosting, make IC Markets ideal for automated strategies running 24/5.
🌏
High-Volume Traders
Deep liquidity ensures minimal slippage even on large orders. The Raw ECN account becomes increasingly cost-effective at higher volumes.

Who Should Avoid IC Markets?

📚
Complete Beginners
IC Markets lacks the guided onboarding and extensive education library found at XM or AvaTrade. The ECN environment can be overwhelming for first-time traders.
👥
Social & Copy Traders
IC Markets does not offer copy trading features. If mirroring expert traders matters to you, eToro or AvaTrade's DupliTrade are better suited.
💰
Micro-Account Traders
The $200 minimum deposit rules out traders who want to start with $5 or $10. XM's $5 minimum is a better fit for those testing the waters.
🇺🇸
US-Based Traders
IC Markets does not accept US clients. OANDA is the best regulated alternative for traders based in the United States.

Spreads & Fees Deep Dive

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 one of the most 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.

Also Compare Ic Markets With

What Traders Are Saying

Verified reviews from Trustpilot · Updated monthly

★ 4.852,000+ reviews
★★★★★

“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

Rated #1 for Raw ECN Spreads 2026

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