Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of IC Markets vs Trading 212, 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.
IC Markets vs Trading 212: IC Markets was founded in 2007, while Trading 212 started in 2004. Neither broker is publicly traded or operates as a bank.
For regulation and safety, IC Markets holds 2 Tier-1 licenses (considered highly trusted by ForexBrokers.com), and Trading 212 holds 3 Tier-1 licenses; both have 0 Tier-2 licenses. Trust Scores from ForexBrokers.com are 83/99 for IC Markets and 82/99 for Trading 212—both in the “trusted” 80–89 range (90–99 highly trusted, 70–79 average risk, 60–69 high risk, under 59 not trusted).
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2007 | 2004 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 3 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 3 | 0 |
When comparing IC Markets and Trading 212 on commissions and fees, IC Markets comes out ahead for low trading costs, especially for forex and CFD traders. IC Markets offers three account types: a commission-free Standard account and two commission-based Raw Spread accounts. Its pricing is especially strong on major pairs like EUR/USD, where the all-in cost can be very low, and active traders may also qualify for discounts. IC Markets is rated 5 stars and ranks #5 out of 36 brokers for Commissions and Fees.
Trading 212 advertises zero-commission trading, but that does not mean trading is free, since spreads still apply on CFDs and forex. For its CFD account, the minimum deposit is low, but its published average EUR/USD spread of 2.7 pips is much higher than the industry average, which makes it more expensive to trade than IC Markets in this category. Trading 212 is rated 4 stars and ranks #27 out of 36 brokers for Commissions and Fees.
In short, IC Markets is the better pick for cost-conscious traders, while Trading 212 may appeal more to people looking for simple zero-commission messaging and a low entry deposit. If low spreads and overall trading costs are your main goal, IC Markets offers the stronger value.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $200 | €1 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.62 | 2.7 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.62 | 2.7 |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | Yes |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
When comparing IC Markets and Trading 212 for range of investments, Trading 212 comes out ahead overall. It offers a larger selection of tradeable symbols, with about 13,000 compared with IC Markets’ 3,583, and it also lists more forex pairs, with 180 versus 61. Both brokers let you trade forex as CFDs, and both support international exchange-traded shares, but Trading 212 also gives access to U.S.-listed shares like Apple, which IC Markets does not. Trading 212 additionally lets you buy actual cryptocurrency, while both brokers offer crypto CFDs.
IC Markets still has a few strengths of its own, including copy trading, which Trading 212 does not offer. However, for investors looking for the widest mix of markets and assets, Trading 212 is the stronger choice. That is reflected in its Range of Investments score of 5 stars and a #15 ranking out of 36 brokers, compared with IC Markets’ 4.5 stars and #22 ranking.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 3583 | 13000 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 61 | 180 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | Yes |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | No |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | Yes |
| 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). | 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.
IC Markets and Trading 212 both give traders a free demo account, web-based access, and the ability to place trades straight from a price chart. Neither broker offers a proprietary platform, so each relies on third-party tools instead of an in-house system. Both are rated 4 out of 5 stars for trading platforms and tools, with IC Markets ranked slightly higher by ForexBrokers.com at #17 out of 36 brokers, compared with Trading 212 at #19.
Where IC Markets stands out is in platform choice and advanced trading features. It supports a Windows desktop download, MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, and copy trading, while Trading 212 does not offer these options. For traders who want more desktop access, popular MetaTrader support, or the chance to copy other traders, IC Markets has the edge. Trading 212 may still appeal to beginners who want a simple browser-based setup and paper trading, but IC Markets offers more tools overall for active traders.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | No | No |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | No |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | No |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | No |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 102 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
When comparing IC Markets vs Trading 212 for mobile trading apps, both brokers give iPhone and Android users access to trading on the go, plus stock and forex price alerts, trendline tools, and auto-saving chart drawings. Each app is rated 4 out of 5 stars for mobile trading, so both offer a solid experience for everyday traders who want to check markets and manage trades from a phone.
The biggest difference is in watchlist syncing and chart tools. Trading 212 lets you sync watchlists between its mobile app and online account, while IC Markets does not. Trading 212 also offers far more technical studies for mobile charting, with 104 compared with IC Markets’ 30. In ForexBrokers.com’s mobile trading apps ranking, Trading 212 places higher at #17 out of 36 brokers, while IC Markets is ranked #22.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | No | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 104 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When it comes to market research, IC Markets has the edge over Trading 212. IC Markets offers daily market commentary, Autochartist tools, Trading Central research, forex news from major sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, a sentiment tool, and an economic calendar. Trading 212 also provides forex news, sentiment data, and an economic calendar, but it does not include daily commentary, Autochartist, or Trading Central tools.
That difference is reflected in their research scores and rankings. IC Markets is rated 4 out of 5 stars for Research and ranks #21 out of 36 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while Trading 212 is rated 3.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #32. For traders who want more built-in market analysis and trading ideas, IC Markets offers the stronger research package.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | No |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | 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.
When it comes to learning resources for beginners, IC Markets has the edge over Trading 212. IC Markets offers forex and CFDs education with at least 10 pieces of content focused on these markets, plus monthly educational webinars, which can be especially helpful for new traders who want guided learning. It also provides at least 10 beginner videos and at least 10 advanced videos, so learners can start with the basics and keep going as their skills improve. Trading 212 also offers at least 10 beginner videos and at least 10 advanced videos, but it does not provide monthly educational webinars and does not match IC Markets on forex or CFDs education content.
Overall, IC Markets is rated 4 out of 5 for Education and ranks #16 out of 36 brokers in the ForexBrokers.com Education category, while Trading 212 is rated 3.5 out of 5 and ranks #20. For beginners looking for more structured forex and CFDs learning support, IC Markets appears to offer the better educational package, although Trading 212 still gives traders access to a solid set of video lessons.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 IC Markets is better than Trading 212. IC Markets finished with an overall rank of #21, while Trading 212 finished with an overall rank of #25.
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
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
|
| Trust Score | 83 | 82 |
| Range of Investments |
|
|
| Trading Fees |
|
|
| Trading Platforms |
|
|
| Research |
|
|
| Mobile Trading |
|
|
| Education |
|
|
IC Markets vs Trading 212: Trading 212 lets you buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrency while IC Markets does not, and both online brokers offer cryptocurrency CFDs.
Comparing deposit and withdrawal methods, IC Markets supports PayPal, Skrill, and bank wire transfers but not ACH or SEPA, while Trading 212 supports ACH/SEPA and bank wires but not 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.
Select Brokers
↓×Compare
0 of 5| Overall Rating | IC Markets | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Trading Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Trading Platforms |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 83 | 82 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IC Markets Review | Trading 212 Review |
| Broker Screenshots | IC Markets | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
|
|
| Regulation | IC Markets | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 83 | 82 | |
| Year Founded | 2007 | 2004 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 3 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 3 | 0 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | IC Markets | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (FSA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | No | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | |||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | No | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | IC Markets | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | No | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | IC Markets | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 3583 | 13000 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 61 | 180 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | Yes | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | Yes | |
| 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). | 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 | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.62 | 2.7 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.62 | 2.7 | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | IC Markets | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $200 | €1 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | IC Markets | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | No | No | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | No | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | No | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | No | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No | |
| cTrader | Yes | No |
| Trading Tools | IC Markets | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 102 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | IC Markets | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 104 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | IC Markets | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | No | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | IC Markets | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | IC Markets | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | IC Markets Review | Trading 212 Review |
| Overall | IC Markets | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Trading Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Trading Platforms |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 83 | 82 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IC Markets Review | Trading 212 Review |
IG
FOREX.com
CMC Markets
XTB
eToro
AvaTrade
Pepperstone
FP Markets
Tickmill