Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of FOREX.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.
FOREX.com, established in 1999, stands out in the online brokerage industry with a high Trust Score of 99, reflecting its reliability and credibility. Notably, it is publicly traded and holds seven Tier-1 licenses, which are regarded as highly trusted by ForexBrokers.com. This makes FOREX.com a standout option for those seeking a trusted platform for trading, even though it is not a bank.
On the other hand, IFC Markets, founded in 2006, offers a more moderate level of trust with a Trust Score of 73. While it holds one Tier-2 license, indicating a trusted status, it lacks any Tier-1 licenses. Unlike FOREX.com, IFC Markets is not publicly traded, which may influence investor confidence. Both FOREX.com and IFC Markets are not banks, maintaining their focus purely on online brokerage services.
| Feature |
FOREX.com
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1999 | 2006 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 0 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
When comparing online brokers FOREX.com and IFC Markets regarding commissions and fees, FOREX.com emerges as a versatile option offering multiple execution methods and account types. Rated at 4.5 stars, FOREX.com is ranked #13 out of 62 brokers in the Commissions and Fees category. The broker provides visibility through transparent execution statistics, although it can be slightly more expensive than the industry average, especially within the U.S. For MetaTrader users, the Standard account, which has higher average spreads of 1.4 on the EUR/USD for U.S. clients, may not be ideal unless they prefer the perks of market-maker execution.
FOREX.com has shifted strategies with its DMA account being replaced globally by the RAW account, boasting typical EUR/USD spreads of 0.13 pips, although these accounts are subject to commissions. Meanwhile, the RAW Spread account also offers similar commission-based pricing with volume-based rebates for active traders, available in Canada, the U.S., and the European Union. Traders must consider the tiered rebate system and structure of the RAW account, where the commission is $7 per Standard lot, effectively making costs comparable to the Standard account unless trading volumes exceed $50 million monthly.
IFC Markets offers a straightforward approach to fees, although average spread data is not provided. Rated slightly lower than FOREX.com at 4 stars, IFC Markets ranks #39 from the list of 62 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com. Lack of detailed spread statistics makes it challenging to gauge overall costs exactly, but the simpler fee structure might appeal to traders who prefer a more predictable cost setup without the complexity of multiple tiered accounts and rebates.
| Feature |
FOREX.com
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | $1 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.4 | 1.44 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.9 | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
When it comes to forex trading, both FOREX.com and IFC Markets provide options for trading as either CFDs or spot contracts, catering to a wide range of trader preferences. FOREX.com shines with 5,500 tradeable symbols, significantly exceeding IFC Markets' 630 offerings. In the realm of forex pairs, FOREX.com again leads with 91 available pairs compared to IFC Markets' 49. Despite both platforms limiting access to U.S. exchange-traded securities, IFC Markets edges ahead by offering international exchange-traded securities, unlike FOREX.com.
For those interested in crypto trading, both brokers offer cryptocurrency derivatives but lack options for purchasing actual cryptos. One of the standout differences is IFC Markets' copy trading feature, which is not offered by FOREX.com. Rated five stars for its range of investments, FOREX.com is ranked 7th out of 62 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, contrasting with IFC Markets' 3.5-star rating and a 43rd place ranking. These differences highlight FOREX.com as a strong choice for those focused on variety, while IFC Markets offers specific advantages like international securities and copy trading.
| Feature |
FOREX.com
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 5500 | 630 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 91 | 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.
FOREX.com and IFC Markets both equip traders with versatile trading platforms and a variety of tools, appealing to different trading styles. Both brokers offer demo accounts for practice, enabling users to explore their platforms without financial risk. Each offers proprietary platforms and supports both MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 for those familiar with these popular trading environments. Downloadable desktop and web-based platforms are available from both brokers, providing flexibility in how and where you trade. However, IFC Markets stands out by offering copy trading, a feature that FOREX.com doesn't provide, potentially appealing for those interested in mirroring experienced traders' strategies.
When it comes to technical features, there are notable differences. FOREX.com impresses with 239 drawing tools for charting, significantly more than IFC Markets' 15. This disparity may offer more nuanced chart analysis for detail-oriented traders on FOREX.com. Both brokers allow trading directly from charts, streamlining the trading experience. In terms of watch lists, FOREX.com again offers more comprehensive options with 20 columns compared to IFC Markets' seven. These extensive features contribute to FOREX.com’s impressive five-star rating and its higher ranking of seventh out of 62 brokers in the Trading Platforms and Tools category, while IFC Markets holds a respectable four-star rating and is ranked 36th.
| Feature |
FOREX.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) | Yes | Yes |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 88 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 239 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 20 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Both FOREX.com and IFC Markets provide iPhone and Android apps that excel in delivering comprehensive trading experiences. Their apps come equipped with essential features like price alerts and watchlist syncing, ensuring traders can stay updated and manage their portfolios swiftly. Additionally, both platforms allow users to view multiple time frames on charts and offer the capability to draw trendlines on stock or forex charts, with automatic saving of drawings enhancing ease of use.
When it comes to technical studies, FOREX.com significantly outshines IFC Markets, offering 88 options compared to IFC Markets' 30. Both apps allow the creation of watchlists with real-time quotes, yet FOREX.com edges out with a higher user satisfaction, earning a five-star rating against IFC Markets’ four stars. According to ForexBrokers.com, FOREX.com is ranked impressively at #3 out of 62 brokers for mobile trading apps, while IFC Markets is placed at #52, reflecting FOREX.com's superior standing in mobile trading services.
| Feature |
FOREX.com
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 88 | 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 FOREX.com and IFC Markets, several differences stand out. FOREX.com provides daily market commentary and access to forex news from leading sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, keeping traders informed with high-quality information. On the other hand, while IFC Markets also offers daily market commentary, it does not provide forex news from these recognized names. Both brokers offer sentiment-based trading tools, allowing traders to gauge the overall market mood by showing the ratio of long or short positions across various instruments.
FOREX.com further enhances its research capabilities with Trading Central tools, offering detailed technical analysis that sets it apart from IFC Markets, which lacks such features. Both brokers offer access to an economic calendar displaying key global events, helping traders stay updated on market-moving news. Rated at 4.5 stars for research, FOREX.com is a top contender ranked at #9 out of 62 brokers. In contrast, IFC Markets holds a 3.5-star rating, with a rank of #40, highlighting a notable gap in research offerings between the two platforms.
| Feature |
FOREX.com
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | 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.
When comparing the educational resources available for beginners, both FOREX.com and IFC Markets offer at least ten educational pieces focused on forex and CFDs, which include a mix of articles, videos, and archived webinars. While both platforms provide a variety of resources, beginners may find FOREX.com more accommodating with its added benefits. FOREX.com offers monthly online educational webinars that are not available through IFC Markets, alongside an accessible archive of past webinar recordings, giving learners the flexibility to polish their skills at their own convenience.
Both brokers cater to different levels of expertise with beginner and advanced educational videos, helping traders progress from foundational knowledge to more complex strategies. Additionally, each platform provides an investor dictionary featuring over 50 investing terms, aiding beginners in grasping essential terminology. However, FOREX.com takes the lead with a 4.5-star education rating and a strong fourth-place ranking out of 62 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com, in contrast to IFC Markets' 3.5-star rating and 30th rank. This comparison suggests FOREX.com is a preferable choice for newcomers seeking comprehensive educational support.
| Feature |
FOREX.com
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | 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 FOREX.com is better than IFC Markets. FOREX.com finished with an overall rank of #5, while IFC Markets finished with an overall rank of #45.
FOREX.com is a trusted brand that delivers an excellent trading experience for forex and CFDs traders across the globe. It offers a wide range of markets and provides an impressive suite of proprietary platforms – alongside limited access to MetaTrader.
| Feature |
FOREX.com
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 73 |
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Both FOREX.com and IFC Markets do not allow the purchase of actual (delivered) cryptocurrency, but they do offer the ability to buy cryptocurrency derivatives.
When comparing online brokers FOREX.com and IFC Markets in terms of funding options, FOREX.com offers more flexibility by supporting ACH or SEPA transfers and PayPal, in addition to Visa, Mastercard, and bank wires, whereas IFC Markets does not support ACH, SEPA, or PayPal, but does offer Visa, Mastercard, and bank wire transactions, making it crucial for users to consider their preferred funding methods when choosing between these platforms.
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 | FOREX.com | IFC Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | FOREX.com Review |
| Broker Screenshots | FOREX.com | IFC Markets | |
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| Regulation | FOREX.com | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 73 | |
| Year Founded | 1999 | 2006 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 0 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | FOREX.com | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | Yes | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | FOREX.com | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | FOREX.com | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 5500 | 630 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 91 | 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 | FOREX.com | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.4 | 1.44 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.9 | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | FOREX.com | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | $1 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | FOREX.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) | Yes | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | FOREX.com | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 20 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 88 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 239 | 15 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | FOREX.com | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 88 | 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 | FOREX.com | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | FOREX.com | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | 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 | FOREX.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 | FOREX.com Review |
| Overall | FOREX.com | IFC Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | FOREX.com Review |
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