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 vs IFC Markets: safety and regulation at a glance. According to ForexBrokers.com, a Trust Score of 90–99 is highly trusted, 80–89 trusted, 70–79 average risk, 60–69 high risk, and under 59 should not be trusted. FOREX.com scores 99/99 (highly trusted) and holds seven Tier-1 licenses plus two Tier-2 licenses. IFC Markets scores 73/99 (average risk) with one Tier-1 license and no Tier-2 licenses, signaling lighter oversight than FOREX.com.
History and corporate status also differ. FOREX.com, founded in 1999, is publicly traded and not a bank. IFC Markets, founded in 2006, is not publicly traded and is also not a bank. If top-tier regulation and the highest Trust Score matter most, FOREX.com stands out; if you’re comfortable with an average-risk profile, IFC Markets may still fit your needs.
| Feature |
FOREX.com
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1999 | 2006 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 5 |
When comparing commissions and fees, FOREX.com comes out ahead of IFC Markets for most traders. FOREX.com earns a 4.5-star rating and ranks #15 out of 36 brokers for commissions and fees. Its pricing can be a little higher than the industry average on the Standard account, especially for U.S. clients, where the EUR/USD spread averaged 1.4 pips. However, FOREX.com also offers a RAW account with much tighter spreads, around 0.13 pips on EUR/USD, plus a commission of $7 per standard lot, along with volume-based rebates for active traders.
IFC Markets is a bit less competitive on price overall, with a 4-star rating and a rank of #32 out of 36 brokers in the commissions and fees category. Its average EUR/USD spread is 1.44 pips, which is above the industry average of 1.08 pips. For more active traders, IFC Markets’ ECN account can lower the effective cost to about 1.1 pips after commission, and it also stands out for having no inactivity fee and offering active trader discounts.
In simple terms, FOREX.com is the stronger choice if you want better overall pricing options and more ways to reduce trading costs as your volume grows. IFC Markets may still work for traders who value no inactivity fee and active trader perks, but its typical spreads are less appealing than FOREX.com’s lower-cost account options.
| Feature |
FOREX.com
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | $1 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.00 | 1.44 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.13 | 1.1 |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
When it comes to range of investments, FOREX.com offers a much wider selection than IFC Markets. FOREX.com supports forex trading as both a CFD and spot contract, with 80 currency pairs and about 5,500 tradeable symbols overall. It also gives clients access to exchange traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges, plus cryptocurrency CFDs. IFC Markets also offers forex trading as a CFD or spot contract, but with fewer choices: 49 forex pairs and about 630 tradeable symbols. It does not offer U.S.-listed exchange traded securities, though it does provide international shares and cryptocurrency CFDs.
For extra features, IFC Markets includes copy trading, while FOREX.com does not. Neither broker offers actual, delivered cryptocurrency. Based on this category, FOREX.com earns a 5-star rating for Range of Investments and ranks #6 out of 36 brokers, while IFC Markets is rated 3.5 stars and ranks #31. For traders who want more markets and more ways to invest, FOREX.com has the clear edge.
| Feature |
FOREX.com
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 5500 | 630 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 80 | 49 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| 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). |
Dive deeper: Best Copy Trading Platforms.
FOREX.com and IFC Markets both give traders a wide range of platform choices, including a free demo account, a proprietary platform, a Windows desktop app, a web-based platform, MetaTrader 4, and MetaTrader 5. Each broker also lets users trade directly from charts, which can make order entry faster and easier for active traders. In short, both brokers cover the main needs for trading platforms and tools, whether you prefer to trade on a browser, download software, or use the MetaTrader setup.
The main difference is that IFC Markets adds copy trading, while FOREX.com does not. FOREX.com, however, earns the edge in overall platform quality, with a 5-star rating for Trading Platforms and Tools and a #5 ranking out of 36 brokers from ForexBrokers.com, compared with IFC Markets’ 4-star rating and #29 ranking. For traders comparing FOREX.com vs. IFC Markets, both are strong choices, but FOREX.com appears to offer a slightly better all-around platform experience.
| Feature |
FOREX.com
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 90 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
FOREX.com and IFC Markets both offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, along with price alerts and watchlist symbol syncing so changes carry over between the app and your online account. Each app also lets you draw trendlines on charts and automatically saves those drawings, making it easier to review and manage trades on the go. For everyday mobile trading, both brokers cover the core features most users look for.
The biggest difference is in charting tools and overall app quality. FOREX.com offers 90 technical studies in its mobile app, compared with 30 at IFC Markets, which gives active traders more chart options to work with. That wider tool set helps explain why FOREX.com earns a 5-star Mobile Trading Apps rating and ranks #2 out of 36 brokers, while IFC Markets holds a 4-star rating and ranks #34.
| Feature |
FOREX.com
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 90 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
FOREX.com offers a stronger market research experience than IFC Markets overall. Both brokers provide daily market commentary, a sentiment tool that shows long and short positioning, and an economic calendar with upcoming global events. However, FOREX.com goes further by adding forex news from major sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones, plus Trading Central tools for technical and fundamental analysis. IFC Markets does not offer those news or Trading Central features, which may matter if you want more in-depth trading insights.
That difference is reflected in their research scores and rankings. FOREX.com earns 5 out of 5 stars for Research and ranks #7 out of 36 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while IFC Markets is rated 3.5 stars and ranks #30. In simple terms, both brokers cover the basics, but FOREX.com gives traders more high-quality research resources and a better overall market research lineup.
| Feature |
FOREX.com
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central | Yes | No |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
For beginners looking for trading education, FOREX.com stands out as the stronger choice. It offers forex and CFD learning content with at least 10 educational pieces, runs online client webinars at least once a month, and provides 10+ beginner videos as well as 10+ advanced videos. This wide range of learning tools helps new traders start with the basics and keep learning as they grow. FOREX.com is also rated 5 out of 5 stars for Education and ranks #4 out of 36 brokers in the ForexBrokers.com Education category.
IFC Markets also offers useful learning material for beginners, including at least 10 beginner videos and 10 advanced videos on trading topics. However, it does not offer monthly educational webinars, and its education offering is rated lower overall. IFC Markets has a 3.5 out of 5 Education rating and ranks #25 out of 36 brokers, making it a more limited option compared with FOREX.com for traders who want more frequent and varied educational support.
| Feature |
FOREX.com
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No |
| 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 FOREX.com is better than IFC Markets. FOREX.com finished with an overall rank of #4, while IFC Markets finished with an overall rank of #33.
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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FOREX.com vs IFC Markets: neither broker lets you buy real, delivered cryptocurrencies, but both offer cryptocurrency CFD trading.
In a head-to-head comparison of deposit and withdrawal options, FOREX.com supports ACH/SEPA, PayPal, Skrill, and bank wire transfers, while IFC Markets only supports bank wires and does not offer ACH/SEPA, PayPal, or Skrill (Visa/Mastercard availability is not specified for either broker).
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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| Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
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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 | ||
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 1 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 5 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | FOREX.com | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | ||
| Japan (FSA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | No | ||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | Yes | ||
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | ||
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | FOREX.com | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | ||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | ||
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or CMA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | ||
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No |
| Investments | FOREX.com | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 5500 | 630 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 80 | 49 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| 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). |
| Cost | FOREX.com | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.00 | 1.44 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.13 | 1.1 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | No | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | FOREX.com | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | $1 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | FOREX.com | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | FOREX.com | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 90 | 30 | |
| 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 Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 90 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | FOREX.com | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | FOREX.com | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | FOREX.com | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| 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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