Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of IC Markets vs Markets4you, 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.
Both IC Markets and Markets4you were founded in 2007, offering experienced brokerage services over the years. However, a closer look at their regulatory credentials reveals key differences in trustworthiness according to ForexBrokers.com. IC Markets is notably recognized for its high level of trust, holding two Tier-1 licenses, which are regarded as highly trusted. Consequently, IC Markets has a Trust Score of 84, placing it in the 'trusted' category. Despite not being publicly traded or a bank, these factors contribute to their reliability and appeal to many investors.
In contrast, Markets4you does not hold any Tier-1 licenses, which significantly affects its Trust Score. Receiving a score of 61, Markets4you falls into the 'high risk' category. Like IC Markets, Markets4you is neither publicly traded nor a bank, but its lack of Tier-1 licenses makes it a less attractive option for those prioritizing safety in their online trading ventures. Thus, for investors prioritizing security and trust, IC Markets stands out as the more favorable choice.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
Markets4you
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2007 | 2007 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 0 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 3 | 1 |
When comparing online brokers IC Markets and Markets4you in terms of commissions and fees, IC Markets stands out as a more cost-effective and flexible option. IC Markets is highly rated with a 5-star score in the Commissions & Fees category, and holds the impressive position of #5 out of 62 brokers as per ForexBrokers.com. This broker offers a range of account types including the commission-free Standard account and two commission-based accounts—Raw Spread and cTrader Raw Spread. These accounts have competitive spread fees, with cTrader offering slightly lower commission rates. The average effective spread on the popular EUR/USD pair is 0.02 pips for the cTrader account and 0.72 pips for the MetaTrader Raw Spread account, making IC Markets a top choice for traders looking for low-cost trading options.
In contrast, Markets4you does not provide average spread data, making cost comparisons challenging. This broker is rated 3.5 stars and is ranked at #53 out of 62 brokers in the same category. While Markets4you offers trading services that might suit certain users, their fees and commissions structure lacks transparency in comparison to IC Markets, leaving potential traders with less information to base their decisions on.
Overall, if minimizing trading costs is a priority, IC Markets appears to be a superior choice with its lower spreads, multiple account options, and favorable rankings. Markets4you, while potentially serving niche needs, does not match the competitive and well-regarded fee structure of IC Markets, which further cements IC Markets’ position as one of the leading brokers in the market.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
Markets4you
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $200 | $0 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.62 | N/A |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.62 | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
When comparing IC Markets and Markets4you, it's clear that IC Markets offers a more extensive range of available investments. IC Markets provides access to 3,583 tradeable symbols, significantly outpacing Markets4you's 150. For forex enthusiasts, IC Markets also has an edge with 61 tradeable forex pairs, compared to the 43 pairs offered by Markets4you. Both platforms support forex trading via CFDs or spot contracts and offer copy trading services, giving investors a blend of flexibility and choice.
While neither broker offers the option to purchase exchange-traded securities on U.S. exchanges, IC Markets does provide access to international exchanges, allowing clients to buy shares like Vodafone. Markets4you lacks this offering. Both brokers permit trading cryptocurrency derivatives but don’t facilitate buying actual cryptocurrencies. In terms of range of investments, IC Markets is rated higher at 4.5 stars compared to Markets4you's 3.5 stars. This higher rating is echoed in their rankings on ForexBrokers.com, where IC Markets stands at #25 out of 62 brokers, while Markets4you is lower at #58, highlighting IC Markets’ broader investment choices.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
Markets4you
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 3583 | 150 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 61 | 43 |
| 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). | 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, both IC Markets and Markets4you cater to traders with diverse needs. IC Markets stands out by providing well-known platforms like MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, along with the ability for copy trading through ZuluTrade. Traders looking for a test run can enjoy a free virtual demo account, and both Windows and web-based platforms are readily available. Additionally, IC Markets provides a full suite of seven columns for watch lists and 15 drawing tools, allowing for comprehensive chart analysis and the convenience of trading directly from stock charts.
Markets4you also offers MetaTrader 4 and 5, along with a proprietary trading platform developed in-house, giving an exclusive option for their clients. Like IC Markets, Markets4you offers a free demo account and supports trading through both desktop and web-based platforms. While they share similar offerings, Markets4you does not support ZuluTrade but matches IC Markets in providing 15 drawing tools and seven columns for customized watch lists. Both brokers hold a respectable four-star rating in their trading platforms and tools, but IC Markets is ranked higher overall at #16, compared to Markets4you's #52, according to ForexBrokers.com.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
Markets4you
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | No | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | Yes | No |
| 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 comparing the mobile trading apps of IC Markets and Markets4you, both platforms offer apps for iPhone and Android devices, providing versatility for traders on the go. Each app features the ability to alert users with stock or forex price notifications and supports 30 technical studies for enhanced chart analysis. Additionally, both platforms allow users to draw trendlines on charts and easily toggle between different time frames such as daily, weekly, or intraday. However, neither app supports the synchronization of watchlist symbols between the mobile app and the online account, potentially requiring extra effort from users to keep their data consistent.
Despite the similarities, there are differences in their overall rankings. IC Markets' app stands out, achieving a higher placement at #22 in the Mobile Trading Apps category according to ForexBrokers.com, suggesting a more favorable user experience compared to Markets4you, which ranks at #50. Both apps provide the convenience of creating watchlists with real-time quotes and automatically saving chart drawings, making them useful tools for both novice and experienced traders. Rated equally at four stars, these apps are reliable choices though IC Markets holds a slight edge in perceived performance.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
Markets4you
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | 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 | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When comparing market research features, both IC Markets and Markets4you offer traders valuable insights and tools. They each provide daily market commentary and access to forex news from renowned sources like Bloomberg and Reuters. Additionally, both brokers equip traders with technical analysis tools from Autochartist and Trading Central. However, IC Markets stands out by providing a sentiment-based trading tool that shows the ratio of long or short positions, a feature not available with Markets4you. Both brokers offer an economic calendar to track global news events, though neither provides research tools from Acuity Trading or market insights from TipRanks.
Despite the similarities, IC Markets earns a higher rating for research capabilities with a score of 4 stars, compared to Markets4you's 3.5 stars. This distinction is reflected in their rankings by ForexBrokers.com, where IC Markets secures the 23rd position out of 62 brokers, while Markets4you is ranked 47th. For traders seeking comprehensive market research, IC Markets may offer a slight edge due to its additional sentiment-based trading tools and higher research rating.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
Markets4you
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | Yes |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When it comes to educational resources for beginner traders, IC Markets leads with a comprehensive suite of content. They provide over ten educational pieces on forex and CFDs, complemented by monthly live webinars and a searchable archive. Their beginner-focused educational videos, totaling over ten, make complex trading topics accessible even to novices. Additionally, IC Markets offers more than ten advanced videos for those looking to deepen their trading knowledge. An extensive investor dictionary helps clarify trading terms, making learning smoother for beginners.
Markets4you also makes an effort to cater to beginner education with a set of over ten educational pieces on forex and CFDs and an archive of past client webinars. However, they fall short in several areas when compared to IC Markets. They do not offer live monthly webinars or a robust selection of beginner and advanced educational videos, limiting options for traders eager to learn via multimedia content. They also lack an extensive investor dictionary, which can be a helpful learning tool. While Markets4you holds a respectable 3.5-star rating for education, they rank behind IC Markets in the industry at position #26 compared to IC Markets' #16 ranking.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
Markets4you
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 62 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that IC Markets is better than Markets4you. IC Markets finished with an overall rank of #20, while Markets4you finished with an overall rank of #55.
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
|
Markets4you
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 84 | 61 |
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Both IC Markets and Markets4you do not offer the ability to buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrency; however, both platforms provide the option to trade cryptocurrency derivatives.
IC Markets and Markets4you both provide Visa, Mastercard, Skrill, and bank wire options for funding accounts, but only IC Markets supports PayPal, and neither broker offers ACH or SEPA transfers for deposits or withdrawals.
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 | Markets4you | |
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| Trust Score | 84 | 61 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IC Markets Review |
| Broker Screenshots | IC Markets | Markets4you | |
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| Regulation | IC Markets | Markets4you | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 84 | 61 | |
| Year Founded | 2007 | 2007 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 0 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 3 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | IC Markets | Markets4you | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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) | No | 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) | IC Markets | Markets4you | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | No | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | No | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | IC Markets | Markets4you | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 3583 | 150 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 61 | 43 | |
| 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). | 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 | Markets4you | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.62 | N/A | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.62 | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | IC Markets | Markets4you | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $200 | $0 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | IC Markets | Markets4you | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | No | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes | |
| cTrader | Yes | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | Yes | No |
| Trading Tools | IC Markets | Markets4you | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | IC Markets | Markets4you | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | 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 | Yes | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | IC Markets | Markets4you | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | IC Markets | Markets4you | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | IC Markets | Markets4you | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD | Yes | No | |
| USD/JPY | Yes | No | |
| EUR/USD | Yes | No | |
| USD/CHF | Yes | No | |
| USD/CAD | Yes | No | |
| NZD/USD | Yes | No | |
| AUD/USD | Yes | No | |
| Review | IC Markets Review |
| Overall | IC Markets | Markets4you | |
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| Trust Score | 84 | 61 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IC Markets Review |
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