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 comparing IC Markets and Markets4you, both brokers offer traders solid platforms and tools. Each provides a free demo account for simulated trading, making it easy for beginners to practice before investing real money. While IC Markets does not have its own in-house platform, Markets4you offers a proprietary platform alongside its other options. Both brokers support Windows desktop downloads, web-based platforms, and popular trading platforms like MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5. They also provide copy trading services, though IC Markets additionally supports ZuluTrade, whereas Markets4you does not.
For charting and analysis, both brokers deliver a range of tools, including 15 drawing options and the ability to trade directly from stock charts. Their watch lists include seven fields for detailed tracking of market activity. Despite these similarities, they differ in their standing in the industry, with IC Markets ranked 17th in the Trading Platforms and Tools category by ForexBrokers.com, in contrast to Markets4you's 52nd position. Both brokers are rated 4 stars in this category, highlighting a balanced offering for traders, though IC Markets may hold a slight edge in industry reputation.
| 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.
Both IC Markets and Markets4you provide valuable market research tools that cater to traders looking to make informed decisions. Each platform offers daily market commentary and forex news from top-tier sources such as Bloomberg and Reuters. They also incorporate technical and fundamental research tools from companies like Autochartist and Trading Central, ensuring users have access to high-quality analytical resources. While IC Markets offers a sentiment-based trading tool that showcases the market's long and short positions across various instruments, Markets4you lacks this feature. However, both brokers provide an economic calendar that highlights key global economic events.
Despite the similarities, IC Markets holds a slight edge in research offerings with a 4-star rating compared to Markets4you's 3.5 stars. Additionally, ForexBrokers.com ranks IC Markets at #22 out of 62 brokers for research, while Markets4you is positioned at #47. This difference highlights IC Markets' more comprehensive research tools and resources, offering a more robust package for traders seeking an enhanced trading experience.
| 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 beginners, IC Markets and Markets4you both offer a solid foundation with more than 10 educational pieces focusing on forex and CFDs. However, IC Markets stands out with their commitment to continuous learning through monthly online webinars and a comprehensive archive of past sessions. In contrast, Markets4you lacks the same level of interactive engagement, as it does not provide ongoing monthly webinars. Both platforms maintain searchable archives of previous webinars, ensuring that learners can revisit valuable information at their convenience.
IC Markets further distinguishes itself by providing an extensive range of beginner and advanced educational videos, specifically catering to traders at different experience levels. Moreover, their investor dictionary helps clarify terms with clear definitions of over 50 investing concepts, a feature absent in Markets4you. With a higher education rating of 4 stars and a better rank of #16 out of 62 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, IC Markets emerges as a more comprehensive choice for those eager to learn about trading. On the other hand, Markets4you, despite having a favorable rating of 3.5 stars, ranks lower at #25, indicating some room for enhancement in their educational offerings.
| 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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