Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of IC Markets vs ATFX, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Between 51% and 89% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
When comparing online brokers IC Markets and ATFX, both are privately held companies that are not registered as banks, but they differ in their regulatory standing and trust scores. IC Markets was established in 2007 and holds two Tier-1 licenses, signifying a high level of trust. However, it holds no Tier-2 licenses, meaning it relies solely on its primary licenses for credibility. Its ForexBrokers.com Trust Score stands at 84, placing it in the trusted category.
On the other hand, ATFX, founded in 2017, boasts a stronger regulatory position with four Tier-1 licenses, which indicates a high degree of trust, as well as two Tier-2 licenses. This gives ATFX a slight edge regarding regulatory oversight. Their ForexBrokers.com Trust Score is 85, also marking them as a trusted broker. Both brokers offer high trust levels, but ATFX has a more diverse range of regulatory credentials.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2007 | 2017 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 4 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 2 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 3 | 1 |
When comparing the commissions and fees of online brokers IC Markets and ATFX, IC Markets stands out for its competitive pricing structure, achieving a 5-star rating. It is ranked as the 5th best broker out of 62 in the Commissions and Fees category according to ForexBrokers.com. IC Markets offers three different account types: a commission-free Standard account and two commission-based accounts called Raw Spread and cTrader Raw Spread. The cTrader account, linked to the cTrader platform, charges $3 per side for every 100,000 units, resulting in $6 per round turn. In contrast, the Raw Spread account using MetaTrader (MT4/MT5) comes with a slightly higher commission of $3.5 per side, or $7 per round turn.
IC Markets features remarkably low effective spreads, with an average spread of 0.02 pips for EUR/USD when using the cTrader account, which rises to an all-in cost of 0.62 pips when commissions are added. For those on MetaTrader, this cost increases slightly to 0.72 pips. Alternatively, the commission-free Standard account has a spread of 0.62 pips, providing a competitive edge. Additionally, IC Markets offers discounts for active traders who exceed 100 standard lots per month, further appealing to high-volume traders.
ATFX, on the other hand, receives a 3-star rating and is ranked 59th in the same category by ForexBrokers.com, highlighting less favorable positions in terms of commissions and fees. While specific average spread data for ATFX is not available, these rankings indicate that the broker's fee structure may not be as competitive as IC Markets’. Therefore, traders prioritizing low trading costs and flexible account options might find IC Markets to be the superior choice between these two brokers.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $200 | $500 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.62 | N/A |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.62 | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
IC Markets and ATFX both offer a variety of investment options with a strong presence in the forex trading sector. IC Markets stands out by offering an impressive 3,583 tradeable symbols, including 61 forex pairs, compared to ATFX's 150 symbols and 44 forex pairs. Both brokers provide access to forex trading as CFDs but neither allows direct buying of U.S. exchange-traded securities. However, IC Markets does provide access to international exchange-traded securities, such as Vodafone shares, which ATFX does not. Additionally, both platforms support copy trading, offering users the opportunity to mimic successful traders' strategies.
In terms of cryptocurrency offerings, neither IC Markets nor ATFX allows the purchase of actual cryptocurrencies but both offer cryptocurrency derivatives. When it comes to ratings, IC Markets holds a higher score with 4.5 stars for their range of investments, as opposed to ATFX's 3.5 stars. In rankings, IC Markets is positioned at #25 out of 62 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, whereas ATFX is ranked lower at #57, highlighting a broader and more diverse range of investments available through IC Markets.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 3583 | 150 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 61 | 44 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | No | No |
| Cryptocurrency (Derivative) | Yes | Yes |
| Disclaimers | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). |
Dive deeper: Best Copy Trading Platforms.
IC Markets and ATFX both provide a comprehensive range of trading platforms and tools suitable for various trading preferences. They offer free virtual demo accounts, allowing users to practice trading with virtual money. Both brokers support popular third-party platforms like MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5), but neither has developed a proprietary platform. Both firms also cater to Windows users with desktop download options and offer web-based trading platforms. When it comes to advanced trading options, IC Markets stands out with ZuluTrade for copy trading, a feature not available with ATFX, though both brokers offer social trading opportunities.
For traders interested in charting capabilities, both IC Markets and ATFX provide 15 drawing tools and the ability to trade directly from stock charts. Their watch lists also come with seven customizable columns for tracking different market data. Despite these similarities, IC Markets is slightly ahead in terms of overall quality, earning a four-star rating for its trading platforms and tools and ranking 17th out of 62 brokers on ForexBrokers.com. In contrast, ATFX has a slightly lower rating of 3.5 stars and ranks 61st in the same category. This distinction reflects a subtle edge in the user experience and features offered by IC Markets.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | No | No |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | Yes | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 15 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Both IC Markets and ATFX provide convenient mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android devices, allowing users to trade on the go with the latest technology. These apps offer essential features such as price alerts for stocks and forex. However, neither broker supports watchlist symbol syncing, which means changes to watchlists must be made individually in both the app and the online account. One key area where IC Markets stands out is its charting capabilities. It provides users with 30 technical studies, compared to ATFX's 7, and both brokers offer the ability to draw trendlines and view various time frames like daily or weekly on their charts. Additionally, the mobile apps from both brokers can auto-save drawings on stock or forex charts, ensuring that traders don't lose their technical analysis data.
When it comes to watchlists, both IC Markets and ATFX allow users to create lists with real-time quotes, making it easier for traders to keep track of market movements. In terms of user ratings and rankings, IC Markets scores slightly better with a 4-star rating, compared to ATFX's 3.5 stars. According to ForexBrokers.com, IC Markets is ranked at #22 out of 62 brokers for mobile trading apps, whereas ATFX lags behind at #62. This comparison highlights that while both brokers offer strong mobile trading experiences, IC Markets has a slight edge in terms of charting features and user ratings.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 7 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When comparing IC Markets and ATFX in the realm of market research, both brokers provide daily market commentary, ensuring traders stay informed with regular updates. However, IC Markets excels by delivering forex news sourced from top-tier outlets like Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones, unlike ATFX. Both platforms offer impressive analysis tools from Autochartist and Trading Central, enhancing a trader’s ability to make informed decisions. Despite this, only IC Markets provides a sentiment-based trading tool that reveals long or short position ratios, giving its users a deeper insight into market trends.
Both brokers offer comprehensive economic calendars, allowing traders to monitor global news events and their potential impacts. Despite some similarities, there's a notable difference in their ratings, with IC Markets scoring a commendable 4 stars for research, as opposed to ATFX's 3 stars. This distinction is further highlighted in their rankings by ForexBrokers.com, where IC Markets is positioned at #22 out of 62 brokers, significantly ahead of ATFX, which is ranked at #54. This analysis suggests that while both brokers are equipped with useful tools, IC Markets provides a more expansive range of market research resources, thus offering enhanced insights for traders.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | Yes |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When comparing the educational resources offered by IC Markets and ATFX, beginners have several aspects to consider. Both brokers provide a rich selection of educational content relating to forex and CFDs, including at least ten diverse pieces such as articles, videos, and webinars. IC Markets, however, stands out by offering live online educational webinars each month, a feature ATFX does not provide. Although both brokers maintain searchable archives of past webinars and offer at least ten beginner-friendly trading videos, IC Markets further distinguishes itself by also providing a more comprehensive suite of advanced educational videos. This additional content may appeal to traders seeking to progress beyond the basics.
Further enhancing its appeal for beginners, IC Markets supplies an investor dictionary featuring definitions for over 50 common investing terms, similar to ATFX's offering. When assessing their overall educational offerings, IC Markets receives a higher rating of four stars, compared to ATFX's three stars. Ranked 16th among 62 brokers by ForexBrokers.com for education, IC Markets is notably ahead of ATFX, which ranks 28th. This suggests that IC Markets may offer a more extensive and varied educational experience for traders eager to enhance their knowledge and trading skills.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 62 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that IC Markets is better than ATFX. IC Markets finished with an overall rank of #20, while ATFX finished with an overall rank of #51.
IC Markets’ competitive pricing and scalable execution make it an excellent option for algorithmic traders. Though it supports an impressive range of third-party tools and plugins, IC Markets’ research and education offerings are not as impressive as those offered by industry leaders.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 84 | 85 |
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Both IC Markets and ATFX do not offer the ability to purchase actual delivered cryptocurrency, but they do provide options to trade cryptocurrency derivatives.
Comparing the deposit and withdrawal options for IC Markets and ATFX, both do not support ACH or SEPA transfers, while IC Markets supports PayPal and both brokers accept Skrill, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wires, with ATFX not offering PayPal.
Please note:
We review each broker’s overall global offering – a “Yes” checkmark in our Compare Tool does not guarantee the availability of any specific features in your country of residence. To verify the availability of any features within your country of residence, please contact the broker directly.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | IC Markets | ATFX | |
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| Trust Score | 84 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IC Markets Review |
| Broker Screenshots | IC Markets | ATFX | |
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| Regulation | IC Markets | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 84 | 85 | |
| Year Founded | 2007 | 2017 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 4 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 2 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 3 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | IC Markets | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | No | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | No | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | IC Markets | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | No | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | IC Markets | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 3583 | 150 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 61 | 44 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | No | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (Derivative) | Yes | Yes | |
| Disclaimers | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). |
| Cost | IC Markets | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.62 | N/A | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.62 | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | IC Markets | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $200 | $500 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | IC Markets | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | No | No | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes | |
| cTrader | Yes | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | Yes | No |
| Trading Tools | IC Markets | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 15 | 15 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | IC Markets | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 7 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | IC Markets | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | IC Markets | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | IC Markets | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/JPY | Yes | Yes | |
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CAD | Yes | Yes | |
| NZD/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| AUD/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| Review | IC Markets Review |
| Overall | IC Markets | ATFX | |
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| Trust Score | 84 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IC Markets Review |
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