Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Capital.com vs IFC Markets, 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.
Capital.com, established in 2016, and IFC Markets, founded in 2006, both offer online brokerage services, yet differ significantly in their regulatory standings. Capital.com boasts a higher ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 87, marking it as a trusted platform. In comparison, IFC Markets holds a Trust Score of 73, placing it in the average risk category. Neither company is publicly traded or operates as a bank. However, Capital.com holds three Tier-1 licenses, renowned for high trust, while IFC Markets has none. Both brokers maintain one Tier-2 license, recognized as trusted but less stringent than Tier-1 regulations.
| Feature |
Capital.com
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2016 | 2006 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 3 | 0 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
When comparing Capital.com and IFC Markets in terms of commission and fees, Capital.com shines brighter. With a robust 5-star rating for its commissions and fees, Capital.com is ranked third out of 62 brokers by ForexBrokers.com. It offers a universal account for retail traders and a professional account for eligible traders. One of Capital.com's standout features is its competitive trading costs, including an average spread of 0.67 pips for the EUR/USD, which is slightly below the industry average, making it a cost-effective choice for forex traders.
In contrast, IFC Markets has a slightly lower rating, earning 4 stars for its commissions and fees, and is ranked 39th out of 62 brokers by ForexBrokers.com. A notable drawback with IFC Markets is that average spread data is not readily available, making it more challenging for traders to evaluate exact trading costs. Despite this, it still holds a respectable position in the rankings and offers competitive features for traders.
Overall, Capital.com's lower average spreads and higher rankings make it a more attractive option for those focused on minimizing costs in their trading activities. Both platforms have their unique merits, but for traders prioritizing low fees, Capital.com has a distinct advantage with its transparent and competitive pricing model.
| Feature |
Capital.com
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $20 | $1 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.67 | 1.44 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.67 | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
When comparing Capital.com and IFC Markets for their investment options, it's clear that Capital.com offers a larger range of tradeable symbols with 3007 available, including 125 forex pairs. Meanwhile, IFC Markets has 630 tradeable symbols and 49 forex pairs. Both brokers provide CFD trading on forex, but neither offers direct exchange-traded U.S. securities. Capital.com is highly rated at 4.5 stars for its investment range, ranking 22nd out of 62 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com, reflecting its broad selection of derivatives, including cryptocurrency derivatives.
On the other hand, IFC Markets provides international exchange-traded securities, such as shares from the London Stock Exchange, which Capital.com does not offer. Moreover, IFC Markets supports copy trading, which is appealing for users interested in replicating strategies from experienced traders. However, it holds a lower rating of 3.5 stars for its range of investments and stands at 43rd in the ForexBrokers.com ranking. While both platforms do not allow actual cryptocurrency purchases, they offer similar crypto derivative options, catering to traders interested in speculative investments without holding the assets directly.
| Feature |
Capital.com
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 3007 | 630 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 125 | 49 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | 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.
Capital.com and IFC Markets both provide comprehensive trading platforms and tools that cater to various trader needs. Each broker offers a proprietary platform developed in-house, as well as a range of options, including Windows-based desktop downloads and web-based platforms for browser access. Both brokers support MetaTrader 4 (MT4), a popular choice among traders, but only IFC Markets extends support to MetaTrader 5 (MT5). For those interested in copying trading strategies, IFC Markets offers this service, while Capital.com does not. On the charting front, Capital.com provides more drawing tools, with 18 available compared to IFC Markets' 15.
When it comes to trading directly from a stock chart or assessing assets through watch lists, both companies allow for trading directly from charts, though Capital.com offers more fields in their watch lists with 11 compared to IFC Markets' 7 fields. It's worth noting that Capital.com is highly rated with 4.5 stars and ranks 12th out of 62 brokers for their Trading Platforms and Tools, indicating strong user satisfaction. IFC Markets, although slightly lower in ratings and rankings, still holds a commendable position with 4 stars and a rank of 36. Both platforms provide a free virtual demo account for those looking to practice before committing real funds, offering a valuable entry point for new and experienced traders alike.
| Feature |
Capital.com
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 83 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 18 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 11 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Both Capital.com and IFC Markets provide versatile mobile trading apps available for iPhone and Android users, ensuring convenience for traders on the go. Both platforms allow users to receive stock or forex price alerts and offer charting capabilities with 30 technical studies, the ability to draw trendlines, and view various time frames such as daily, weekly, and intraday. Features like watchlists with real-time quotes are also available on both apps, and any drawings made are automatically saved for future reference. However, IFC Markets holds an edge with watchlist symbol syncing, allowing watchlists to remain consistent across devices and their online accounts, a feature that Capital.com lacks.
When it comes to user ratings, Capital.com leads with an impressive 4.5-star rating, compared to IFC Markets' 4-star rating for their mobile trading apps. In the broader competitive landscape, Capital.com ranks 12th out of 62 brokers in the Mobile Trading Apps category according to ForexBrokers.com, showcasing its strong performance. In contrast, IFC Markets finds itself further down the list at rank 52, indicating room for improvement. Ultimately, while both apps offer similar fundamental trading experiences, Capital.com’s higher user satisfaction and ranking suggest a more favorable choice for mobile traders prioritizing ease of use and features.
| Feature |
Capital.com
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 30 |
| 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 the market research offerings of Capital.com and IFC Markets, both platforms deliver daily market commentary and provide a sentiment-based trading tool, offering traders a deeper view of market dynamics. However, neither Capital.com nor IFC Markets provide forex news from premium sources such as Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones. Additionally, both brokers lack integration with Autochartist and Trading Central for technical analysis, which means traders might need to look elsewhere for those specific tools.
Capital.com emerges as a more favored choice in the research category, earning a higher rating of 4.5 stars compared to IFC Markets' 3.5 stars. It stands out by offering market research from TipRanks, a feature not available with IFC Markets. Both brokers maintain an economic calendar for global events, yet Capital.com is ranked higher, securing the 14th spot out of 62 brokers, while IFC Markets stands at 40th. This ranking suggests Capital.com’s research services are generally more comprehensive and appreciated by users.
| Feature |
Capital.com
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | No |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | Yes | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When it comes to educational resources available to beginners, both Capital.com and IFC Markets offer online education that covers forex and CFDs, featuring a minimum of ten materials like articles or videos. However, Capital.com pulls ahead in providing additional support with a searchable archive of past webinars, while IFC Markets lacks this feature. Both brokers make an effort to cater to novice traders by offering at least ten beginner-focused educational videos, ensuring that newcomers have access to essential learning content. They also provide videos that focus on more advanced topics, catering to traders seeking more in-depth knowledge.
In terms of extra learning tools, both Capital.com and IFC Markets boast a comprehensive investor dictionary with over 50 terms explained, which is a valuable resource for those navigating the intricacies of trading. However, Capital.com stands out with a higher education rating of 4.5 stars compared to IFC Markets' 3.5 stars. Additionally, Capital.com's education offerings are ranked 8th among 62 brokers reviewed by ForexBrokers.com, while IFC Markets holds the 30th position. This highlights a more favorable evaluation of Capital.com's educational services for those getting started in trading.
| Feature |
Capital.com
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | No | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| 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 Capital.com is better than IFC Markets. Capital.com finished with an overall rank of #10, while IFC Markets finished with an overall rank of #44.
Capital.com stands out for its quality research, strong educational content, and innovative web platform. Capital.com holds fewer regulatory licenses and offers a narrower range of markets than some of the best brokers, but still significantly outperforms the industry average.
| Feature |
Capital.com
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IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
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| Trust Score | 87 | 73 |
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Both Capital.com and IFC Markets do not offer the option to buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrency, but they both allow investors to purchase cryptocurrency derivatives.
When comparing online brokers Capital.com and IFC Markets, Capital.com provides more diverse payment options, allowing deposits and withdrawals via PayPal, Skrill, Visa/Mastercard, and bank wires, while IFC Markets supports only Visa/Mastercard and bank wires, with neither supporting ACH or SEPA transfers.
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 | Capital.com | IFC Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 87 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Capital.com Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Capital.com | IFC Markets | |
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| Regulation | Capital.com | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 87 | 73 | |
| Year Founded | 2016 | 2006 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 3 | 0 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Capital.com | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| 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) | Yes | No | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | No | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Capital.com | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Capital.com | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 3007 | 630 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 125 | 49 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | 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 | Capital.com | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.67 | 1.44 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.67 | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Capital.com | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $20 | $1 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | Capital.com | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Capital.com | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 11 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 83 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 18 | 15 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Capital.com | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 30 | |
| 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 | Capital.com | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | No | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No | |
| TipRanks | Yes | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Capital.com | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | No | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Capital.com | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Capital.com Review |
| Overall | Capital.com | IFC Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 87 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Capital.com Review |
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