Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of IFC Markets vs Axi, 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.
IFC Markets and Axi are both online brokers that were founded in the mid-2000s, with IFC Markets establishing itself in 2006 and Axi in 2007. Neither broker is publicly traded or operates as a bank. When considering trust, IFC Markets holds a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score rating of 73, which places it in the "average risk" category. Axi, on the other hand, is rated at 82, making it a more trusted option according to the same scale.
In terms of regulatory licenses, IFC Markets holds one Tier-2 license, which indicates a level of trust, but lacks the highly trusted Tier-1 licenses. Conversely, Axi owns two Tier-1 licenses, reflecting a higher degree of regulatory trust. Both brokers hold one Tier-2 license each, reinforcing their commitment to regulatory compliance, but Axi's additional Tier-1 licenses give it an edge in terms of perceived trustworthiness.
| Feature |
IFC Markets
|
Axi
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2006 | 2007 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 0 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
IFC Markets and Axi both hold a strong reputation when it comes to their commissions and fees, each rated at four out of five stars. This star rating indicates that they both offer good value in this area, though specifics like average spread data are not disclosed. Consumers may find comfort in knowing that both brokers are competitively positioned in comparison to other financial services, ensuring that typical trading costs are kept reasonable.
When considering the rankings provided by ForexBrokers.com, IFC Markets is positioned at #39 out of 62 brokers for the Commissions and Fees category. Axi follows closely, ranked at #44. These rankings suggest that IFC Markets is slightly more favorable in terms of the commission and fee structure compared to Axi. However, both brokers remain in the upper half of the list, underscoring their commitment to offering cost-effective trading solutions.
Whether you opt for IFC Markets or Axi, each promises a credible fee structure with respectable star ratings. Despite the absence of specific average spread data, the available information portrays both brokers as viable options for traders seeking reasonable fees in their trading endeavors. The small ranking difference between the two does point to IFC Markets having a slight edge. However, both remain strong contenders in the field of online brokerage services.
| Feature |
IFC Markets
|
Axi
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $1 | $0 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.44 | N/A |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
When comparing the range of investment options offered by IFC Markets and Axi, both platforms provide forex trading through CFDs or spot contracts. IFC Markets has a significant lead in the number of tradeable symbols, offering 630 options, compared to Axi's 175. However, Axi exceeds in providing more tradeable forex pairs, with 65 available compared to IFC Markets' 49 pairs. Neither broker offers access to U.S. exchange-listed securities, such as buying shares in Apple directly, but IFC Markets stands out by allowing clients to invest in international exchange-traded securities, like shares in Vodafone.
Both IFC Markets and Axi offer copy trading, giving users the ability to emulate successful traders' strategies. In the realm of cryptocurrency, neither broker allows the purchase of actual digital currencies, but both offer the option to dabble in cryptocurrency derivatives. Despite having the same 3.5-star rating for their range of investments, IFC Markets holds a slightly better position at rank 43 compared to Axi's rank of 55 among 62 brokers on ForexBrokers.com. This ranking reflects IFC Markets' broader range of investment opportunities.
| Feature |
IFC Markets
|
Axi
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 630 | 175 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 49 | 65 |
| 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). |
Dive deeper: Best Copy Trading Platforms.
When evaluating IFC Markets and Axi, both brokers provide essential features for traders, such as simulated trading options with free virtual demo accounts and web-based trading platforms. However, IFC Markets distinguishes itself by offering a proprietary platform, while Axi utilizes the popular MetaTrader 4 (MT4) platform without a custom-built option. Both brokers support Windows-based desktop trading and allow trading directly from stock charts, with equal capabilities of 15 drawing tools for detailed technical analysis. IFC Markets, however, provides MetaTrader 5 (MT5), which Axi lacks. Additionally, Axi offers ZuluTrade for social trading, adding an extra layer of functionality for traders interested in copy trading strategies available from both brokers.
Charting customization is similar for both with seven watchlist columns, offering traders detailed views of the market. However, when diving into the user experience and overall capabilities of trading platforms and tools, IFC Markets slightly edges out with a 4-star rating compared to Axi's 3.5 stars. This difference is reflected in IFC Markets' higher ranking at #36 out of 62 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, whereas Axi stands at #62, indicating a broader set of tools and perhaps a more comprehensive trading experience with IFC Markets.
| Feature |
IFC Markets
|
Axi
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | 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 | No |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | Yes |
| 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.
When it comes to mobile trading apps, both IFC Markets and Axi provide apps for iPhone and Android users, ensuring accessibility across popular platforms. Both brokers also offer stock or forex price alerts, allowing traders to stay informed on the go. Charting capabilities are robust in both apps, with each offering 30 technical studies and the ability to draw trendlines on charts. Moreover, both apps support viewing different time frames such as daily or intraday, which can aid in detailed analysis.
However, there are notable differences between the two. IFC Markets provides a seamless experience with its ability to sync watchlist symbols across devices, whereas Axi lacks this feature. Additionally, IFC Markets automatically saves chart annotations, a utility that Axi does not offer. Despite these differences, both brokers allow traders to create watchlists with real-time quotes. In terms of user ratings, IFC Markets has a slight edge with a 4-star rating compared to Axi’s 3.5 stars, reflecting a generally more favorable user experience. According to ForexBrokers.com, IFC Markets ranks higher in the mobile trading apps category at #52 out of 62 brokers, while Axi is placed at #59.
| Feature |
IFC Markets
|
Axi
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | No |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
IFC Markets and Axi each provide unique offerings for market research, catering to the varied needs of traders. IFC Markets stands out with its daily market commentary and sentiment-based trading tool, which shows the ratio of long or short positions across different instruments. Additionally, IFC Markets offers an economic calendar that highlights current and upcoming global economic events. However, the platform does not deliver forex news from premier sources like Bloomberg, nor does it provide technical analysis tools from Autochartist or Trading Central. Despite these omissions, IFC Markets holds a research rating of 3.5 stars, ranking it at number 40 out of 62 brokers on ForexBrokers.com.
In contrast, Axi excels by offering forex news from renowned sources such as Bloomberg and provides technical analysis tools from Autochartist, enhancing its appeal to traders who value timely insights from trusted sources. Like IFC Markets, Axi also features a sentiment-based trading tool and an economic calendar to track global financial events. However, Axi does not provide daily market commentary and lacks support from Trading Central, Acuity Trading, or TipRanks. As a result, Axi is rated with three stars for research and is ranked 55th out of 62 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com.
| Feature |
IFC Markets
|
Axi
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | No |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | Yes |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
For beginners diving into the world of trading, educational resources are key to understanding concepts like forex and CFDs. IFC Markets and Axi both provide a wide array of educational content aimed at newbies. Each broker offers at least 10 educational pieces, including articles and videos, to help those new to forex and CFDs grasp essential trading knowledge. When it comes to webinars, Axi stands out by hosting online educational webinars each month, unlike IFC Markets, which does not feature any. However, neither broker offers a searchable archive of previous webinars for continued learning.
Both IFC Markets and Axi cater to beginners and provide specific video content tailored to beginners. However, IFC Markets goes a step further with advanced educational videos designed for more experienced traders, which isn't the case with Axi. Additionally, each broker offers an investor dictionary with over 50 investing terms defined, aiding in greater financial literacy. Rated for education, IFC Markets receives a slightly higher rating at 3.5 stars and ranks #30, compared to Axi's 3-star rating and #26 ranking among 62 brokers on ForexBrokers.com. These ratings reflect each platform's strengths and appeal to both new and advancing traders.
| Feature |
IFC Markets
|
Axi
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | No | Yes |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | No | No |
| 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 IFC Markets is better than Axi. IFC Markets finished with an overall rank of #45, while Axi finished with an overall rank of #49.
IFC Markets is a well-established broker that has been in operation for 17 years. Forex traders at IFC Markets gain access to multiple trading platforms, a growing range of tradeable markets, and a balanced offering of research and educational content. However, IFC Markets’ Trust Score suffers due to the broker’s limited range of regulatory licenses.
| Feature |
IFC Markets
|
Axi
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 73 | 82 |
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Neither IFC Markets nor Axi offers the ability to buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrency, but both platforms provide options to trade cryptocurrency derivatives.
While both IFC Markets and Axi offer Visa, Mastercard, and bank wire options for depositing and withdrawing funds, Axi differentiates itself by also providing Skrill as a payment method, whereas neither platform supports ACH or SEPA transfers or 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 | IFC Markets | Axi | |
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| Trust Score | 73 | 82 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
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| Broker Screenshots | IFC Markets | Axi | |
|---|---|---|---|
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| Regulation | IFC Markets | Axi | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 73 | 82 | |
| Year Founded | 2006 | 2007 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | No | No | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 0 | 2 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | IFC Markets | Axi | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| 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). | No | No |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | IFC Markets | Axi | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | IFC Markets | Axi | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 630 | 175 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 49 | 65 | |
| 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). |
| Cost | IFC Markets | Axi | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.44 | N/A | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | IFC Markets | Axi | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $1 | $0 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | IFC Markets | Axi | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | 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 | No | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | Yes |
| Trading Tools | IFC Markets | Axi | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | IFC Markets | Axi | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | No |
| Research | IFC Markets | Axi | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | No | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | Yes | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | IFC Markets | Axi | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | No | Yes | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | No | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | IFC Markets | Axi | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Overall | IFC Markets | Axi | |
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| Trust Score | 73 | 82 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review |
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