Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Plus500 vs IC 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.
Plus500, established in 2008, and IC Markets, founded a year earlier in 2007, are both reputable online brokers, but they have notable differences in terms of trust and regulation. Plus500 stands out with a top-tier Trust Score of 99 from ForexBrokers.com, reflecting its strong reputation. It also holds six Tier-1 licenses and three Tier-2 licenses, making it a highly trusted option. As a publicly traded company, Plus500 enhances its transparency to investors and traders alike.
In comparison, IC Markets carries a solid Trust Score of 84, which places it in the trusted category according to ForexBrokers.com. It is backed by two Tier-1 licenses, ensuring a reliable level of regulatory compliance. However, IC Markets is not listed publicly on a stock exchange, which may factor into considerations for some investors. Neither Plus500 nor IC Markets operates as a bank, focusing solely on brokerage services. Both brokers offer dependable services, but Plus500's stronger regulatory credentials and higher trust rating might appeal more to traders prioritizing regulatory assurance.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
IC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2008 | 2007 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 6 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 3 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 3 |
When it comes to comparing commissions and fees, Plus500 shows a pricing strategy slightly above the industry standard, but doesn't quite match the top forex brokers in terms of active trader pricing. While Plus500 does not extend discounts to retail clients, it does provide cash rebates for those who qualify as Professional clients. Their average spread on EUR/USD pairs, noted at 1.5 pips in April 2024, is higher than the industry average. For commissions and fees, Plus500 has received a 4.0-star rating and ranks #25 among 62 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com.
In contrast, IC Markets stands out for its competitive cost structure, offering small effective spreads and low deposit requirements on its commission-based accounts. The brand's efficiency has earned it "Best in Class" accolades in the Commissions & Fees category in the 2024 Annual Awards. IC Markets' spread and fees may vary depending on the trading platform—cTrader or MetaTrader—and the specific account type. The cTrader Raw Spread account lists an attractive all-in cost for the EUR/USD pair at an average of 0.62 pips, making it highly competitive. IC Markets, known for offering trader discounts over 100 standard lots per month, holds a 5-star rating for commissions and fees, placing it at #5 out of 62 brokers on ForexBrokers.com.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
IC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | €100 | $200 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.5 | 0.62 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.5 | 0.62 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | Yes |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| 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 Plus500 and IC Markets, both brokers cater well to traders interested in forex and CFD trading, offering forex as both CFD and spot trading options. Plus500 stands out with a wider range of investments, showcasing 5,500 tradeable symbols and 65 forex pairs compared to IC Markets' 3,583 tradeable symbols and 61 forex pairs. Additionally, Plus500 provides access to exchange-traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges, allowing clients to buy shares of major companies like Apple and Vodafone directly. In contrast, IC Markets does not offer U.S. exchange-traded securities but does provide access to international ones.
For those interested in copy trading, IC Markets offers this feature, whereas Plus500 does not. Both brokers accommodate cryptocurrencies through derivatives rather than actual purchases, aligning with many traders' preference for speculative trading. In terms of ratings, both Plus500 and IC Markets are recognized with 4.5 stars in the Range of Investments category. Notably, Plus500 secures a slightly higher rank at #24, while IC Markets follows closely at #25, according to ForexBrokers.com. This comparison highlights that while the brokers share similar strengths, Plus500 provides a slightly broader array of investment opportunities.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
IC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 5500 | 3583 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 65 | 61 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | 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). Non-CFD share trading at Plus500 is only available through the Plus500 Invest account. | 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 the trading platforms and tools of Plus500 and IC Markets, both brokers offer traders the opportunity to practice with simulated trading through free virtual demo accounts. Plus500 stands out with its proprietary platform developed in-house, offering a web-based trading platform but lacking a Windows-based desktop download option. IC Markets, on the other hand, supports popular platforms like MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, in addition to providing a downloadable desktop platform for Windows. Moreover, IC Markets offers copy trading features, including ZuluTrade, which Plus500 does not support, giving IC Markets an edge for traders interested in social trading functionalities.
In terms of charting tools, Plus500 provides a richer set with 22 drawing tools, while IC Markets offers 15. However, IC Markets allows trading directly from stock charts, a feature not available with Plus500. For watchlist customization, Plus500 offers more flexibility with 10 columns compared to IC Markets’ 7. Despite these differences, Plus500 earns a slightly higher rating for trading platforms and tools with 4.5 stars versus IC Markets' 4 stars. According to ForexBrokers.com, Plus500 is ranked 14th among 62 brokers, while IC Markets is ranked 16th, reflecting Plus500's slight advantage in the trading platforms and tools category.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
IC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | No |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | No | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 114 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 22 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | No | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 10 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Both Plus500 and IC Markets provide user-friendly mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android users, allowing traders to seamlessly manage their investments on the go. Both platforms offer crucial features such as stock and forex price alerts, the ability to draw trendlines, and multiple time frame charts. However, Plus500 stands out with a more advanced offering by allowing users to sync watchlist symbols between the mobile app and the client's online account, a feature not available with IC Markets.
In terms of technical analysis, Plus500 provides a wider range of options with 110 technical studies available in its mobile app, compared to just 30 from IC Markets. This distinction is reflected in their ratings; Plus500's mobile app is rated at 4.5 stars, placing it at the 14th position out of 62 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com, while IC Markets falls slightly behind with a 4-star rating and a 22nd position ranking. Additionally, IC Markets' app has the advantage of auto-saving chart drawings, providing added convenience for frequent traders. Both apps offer the option to create watches with real-time quotes, catering to the needs of active investors.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
IC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 110 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | No | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
Both Plus500 and IC Markets provide traders with valuable market research tools, but they differ in several key areas. Both platforms offer daily market commentary, allowing users to stay updated with the latest market trends. While Plus500 lacks news updates from renowned sources such as Bloomberg or Reuters, IC Markets delivers forex news from these top-tier sources, providing a wider range of information for informed trading decisions. Additionally, IC Markets enhances its research offerings with advanced analysis tools from Autochartist, which are absent from Plus500's suite, though both brokers do provide resources from Trading Central and sentiment-based trading tools that help inform trader strategies.
When it comes to features such as economic calendars, both Plus500 and IC Markets keep traders informed about global economic events that may impact the markets. Neither broker includes specialized tools from Acuity Trading or market research from TipRanks in their offerings. In terms of rankings and ratings, Plus500 scores slightly higher with a research rating of 4.0 stars and a ForexBrokers.com ranking of 19 out of 62 brokers. IC Markets is closely ranked in these standings, with a 4-star research rating and a 23rd place position. Understanding these distinctions can help traders select the broker that best meets their market research needs.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
IC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | Yes |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | Yes |
| 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 offered by Plus500 and IC Markets, both online brokers provide a solid foundation for beginners interested in forex or CFDs. Each platform offers over 10 educational pieces, including articles, videos, and archived webinars, ensuring that newcomers have sufficient material to start learning. Additionally, both Plus500 and IC Markets host monthly online webinars, and each has a searchable archive of past sessions, making it easy for users to revisit important topics or catch up on missed webinars.
However, there are subtle differences between the two. While both Plus500 and IC Markets offer beginner and advanced educational videos covering trading topics, IC Markets stands out by providing an investor dictionary with over 50 investing terms, a feature that Plus500 lacks. This could be particularly beneficial for beginners who are still getting familiar with trading terminology. Despite these differences, both brokers have been rated 4 stars for education on a five-star scale, although IC Markets is ranked higher in the Education category (#16) compared to Plus500 (#31) by ForexBrokers.com. These rankings reflect how closely both brokers cater to educational needs, making them valuable resources for anyone stepping into the world of trading.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
IC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | No | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 62 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that Plus500 is better than IC Markets. Plus500 finished with an overall rank of #14, while IC Markets finished with an overall rank of #20.
Plus500 is a trusted global brand that offers an easy-to-use trading platform for online traders, alongside access to a thorough selection of CFDs. Share trading is available, but only via its Plus500 Invest product offering.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
IC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 84 |
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Both Plus500 and IC Markets do not offer the ability to purchase actual delivered cryptocurrencies; however, they both provide options for trading cryptocurrency derivatives.
Neither Plus500 nor IC Markets offer ACH or SEPA transfers for depositing or withdrawing funds, but both brokers support PayPal, Skrill, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wire options, providing a versatile range of choices for managing account transactions.
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 | Plus500 | IC Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 84 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Plus500 Review | IC Markets Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Plus500 | IC Markets | |
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| Regulation | Plus500 | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 84 | |
| Year Founded | 2008 | 2007 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 6 | 2 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 3 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 3 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Plus500 | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | 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) | No | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Plus500 | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | Plus500 | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 5500 | 3583 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 65 | 61 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | 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). Non-CFD share trading at Plus500 is only available through the Plus500 Invest account. | 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 | Plus500 | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.5 | 0.62 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.5 | 0.62 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Plus500 | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | €100 | $200 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| 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 | Plus500 | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | No | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | No | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | Yes | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | Yes |
| Trading Tools | Plus500 | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 10 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 114 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 22 | 15 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | No | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Plus500 | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 110 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Plus500 | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | Yes | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Plus500 | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | No | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Plus500 | IC 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 | Plus500 Review | IC Markets Review |
| Overall | Plus500 | IC Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 84 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Plus500 Review | IC Markets Review |
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