Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of IC Markets vs Exness, 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.
IC Markets (founded 2007) and Exness (founded 2008) are private brokers and not banks. On ForexBrokers.com’s 0–99 Trust Score scale (90–99 highly trusted; 80–89 trusted; 70–79 average risk; 60–69 high risk; under 59 not trusted), IC Markets scores 83 and Exness scores 80—placing both in the trusted range.
Both brokers hold two Tier-1 licenses, which ForexBrokers.com considers highly trusted. Exness also holds three Tier-2 licenses, while IC Markets holds none, giving Exness a broader set of mid-tier approvals. Since neither company is publicly traded, your choice may come down to regional regulation needs and platform preferences.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
Exness
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2007 | 2008 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 3 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 3 | 3 |
When comparing IC Markets vs. Exness for commissions and fees, IC Markets comes out ahead for overall low-cost trading. IC Markets offers three account types: a commission-free Standard account and two commission-based Raw Spread accounts, with very tight effective spreads that can be especially appealing for forex traders. Its cTrader Raw Spread pricing is slightly cheaper than its MT4/MT5 Raw Spread account, and active traders may also qualify for volume discounts. IC Markets is rated 5 out of 5 stars for Commissions & Fees and ranks #5 out of 36 brokers in this category.
Exness also gives traders several account choices, including Standard Cent, Standard, Pro, Zero Spread, and Raw accounts, plus copy trading options. In general, its commission-based accounts offer lower spreads than its commission-free accounts, but the pricing structure is less competitive overall than IC Markets. The Zero Spread and Raw accounts charge commissions, with the Raw account reaching up to $7 per round turn lot, while the Standard and Standard Cent accounts are simpler but usually cost more through wider spreads. Exness is rated 4 out of 5 stars for Commissions & Fees and ranks #31 out of 36 brokers.
For traders focused on keeping costs low, IC Markets is the stronger pick on fees, especially if you trade often or use commission-based pricing. Exness still offers a useful range of account types, but IC Markets has the edge for tighter all-in trading costs and a better ranking in this category.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
Exness
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $200 | $100 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.62 | N/A |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.62 | N/A |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
IC Markets offers a wider range of investments overall than Exness. Both brokers support forex trading as CFDs or spot contracts, and both offer cryptocurrency CFDs rather than direct crypto ownership. However, IC Markets lists 3,583 tradeable symbols compared with Exness’s 239, and it provides 61 forex pairs versus Exness’s 78. That means Exness has slightly more forex pairs, while IC Markets gives traders access to a much larger selection of markets overall.
IC Markets also stands out for its extra investment options, including exchange-traded securities on international exchanges and copy trading, while Exness does not offer either feature. Neither broker offers U.S.-listed exchange-traded securities or delivered cryptocurrency. Based on range of investments, IC Markets is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranked #22 out of 36 by ForexBrokers.com, while Exness is rated 3.5 stars and ranked #34, making IC Markets the more varied choice for most investors.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
Exness
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 3583 | 239 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 61 | 78 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | No |
| Copy Trading | Yes | No |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | No |
| Cryptocurrency (CFDs) | 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.
When it comes to trading platforms and tools, IC Markets and Exness are closely matched overall. Both brokers support free demo accounts, Windows desktop downloads, web-based trading, MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, and trading directly from charts, so either one gives traders plenty of familiar ways to place and manage trades. Both also earn 4 out of 5 stars for this category, showing that each offers a solid platform setup for everyday trading needs.
The main differences are in platform variety and extra features. Exness offers its own proprietary platform, while IC Markets does not, which may appeal to traders who want a broker-built option. IC Markets, on the other hand, offers copy trading, and Exness does not. In ForexBrokers.com’s ranking for Trading Platforms and Tools, Exness comes in slightly higher at #15 out of 36 brokers, while IC Markets is ranked #17, making Exness a bit stronger on paper overall.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
Exness
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | No | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | No |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 106 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
IC Markets and Exness both make it easy to trade on the go, since each broker offers iPhone and Android apps, price alerts, and the ability to draw trendlines on charts. Both mobile apps are also rated 4 out of 5 stars for mobile trading. That said, Exness has a slight edge in overall mobile app ranking, placing #18 out of 36 brokers compared with IC Markets at #22.
For charting tools, Exness offers more choice with 100 technical studies in its mobile app, while IC Markets provides 30. Exness also lets watchlists sync between the mobile app and online account, which is helpful if you switch between devices. IC Markets does not offer watchlist syncing, but it does automatically save chart drawings in the app, while Exness does not. In short, Exness may suit traders who want more chart tools and syncing, while IC Markets may appeal to those who value saved drawings in the app.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
Exness
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | No | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 100 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When it comes to market research, both IC Markets and Exness give traders a useful set of tools. Each broker offers daily market commentary, forex news from major sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones, plus an economic calendar to track key global events. Both also include Trading Central research tools, which can help with technical analysis.
IC Markets has a slight edge overall because it adds Autochartist and a sentiment tool that shows how many traders are buying or selling a currency pair, while Exness does not offer these features. This broader research range may help IC Markets edge ahead for traders who want more market insight. That difference is reflected in their ratings and rankings too, with IC Markets scoring 4 out of 5 stars for Research and placing #21 out of 36 brokers, compared with Exness at 3.5 stars and #31.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
Exness
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
| Trading Central | Yes | Yes |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | No |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
IC Markets and Exness both give beginners plenty of learning material, including forex and CFDs education with at least 10 pieces of content, regular client webinars, and 10 or more beginner and advanced videos. That means new traders can find helpful lessons on both platforms, whether they are just starting out or want to build on basic trading knowledge.
That said, IC Markets comes out a little ahead in education quality. It is rated 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #16 out of 36 brokers for Education on ForexBrokers.com, while Exness is rated 3.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #21. For beginners comparing the two, IC Markets appears to offer the stronger overall educational experience, though Exness still provides a solid range of learning tools.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
Exness
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 63 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that IC Markets is better than Exness. IC Markets finished with an overall rank of #21, while Exness finished with an overall rank of #31.
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
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Exness
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| Trust Score | 83 | 80 |
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In the IC Markets vs Exness cryptocurrency trading comparison, neither broker offers buying actual (delivered) cryptocurrencies, but both allow trading cryptocurrency CFDs.
IC Markets vs Exness: both online brokers do not support ACH or SEPA transfers, both support Skrill and bank wire transfers, IC Markets supports PayPal while Exness does not, and Visa/Mastercard availability is not specified for either.
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 | Exness | |
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| Trust Score | 83 | 80 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IC Markets Review | Exness Review |
| Broker Screenshots | IC Markets | Exness | |
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| Regulation | IC Markets | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 83 | 80 | |
| Year Founded | 2007 | 2008 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 2 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 3 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 3 | 3 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | IC Markets | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (FSA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | No | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | |||
| 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 | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or CMA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | Yes |
| Investments | IC Markets | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 3583 | 239 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 61 | 78 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (CFDs) | 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 | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.62 | N/A | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.62 | N/A | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | IC Markets | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $200 | $100 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | IC Markets | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | No | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | No | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes | |
| cTrader | Yes | No |
| Trading Tools | IC Markets | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 106 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | IC Markets | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 100 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | IC Markets | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central | Yes | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | IC Markets | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | IC Markets | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | IC Markets Review | Exness Review |
| Overall | IC Markets | Exness | |
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| Trust Score | 83 | 80 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IC Markets Review | Exness Review |
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