Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of XTB 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.
XTB vs IC Markets: Both online brokers are well-regulated, each holding two Tier-1 licenses (considered the highest trust level by ForexBrokers.com). XTB was founded in 2002, is publicly traded, and also holds two Tier-2 licenses. IC Markets was founded in 2007, is not publicly traded, and holds no Tier-2 licenses. Neither broker is a bank.
According to ForexBrokers.com, XTB earns a 96/99 Trust Score (highly trusted: 90–99), while IC Markets scores 83/99 (trusted: 80–89). In practical terms, both are trusted choices, with XTB rated higher and carrying a wider mix of top- and mid-tier regulatory approvals.
| Feature |
XTB
|
IC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2002 | 2007 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 3 |
XTB and IC Markets both offer low-cost trading options, but IC Markets comes out ahead for commissions and fees. XTB earns a 4.5-star rating and ranks #13 out of 36 brokers in this category. It offers a spread-only Standard account and, for eligible clients in the U.K. and Europe, a commission-based Professional account that is being phased out in many regions. XTB’s average EUR/USD spread was 1 pip in Q4 2023, which is around the industry average but not among the cheapest available.
For most retail traders, XTB’s Standard account is usually the simpler choice, especially since the Pro account is no longer widely available. The minimum deposit is 250 in base currency, and active traders can qualify for XTB’s Lower Spread Group, which rebates 5% to 30% of the spread once trading volume reaches set levels. That said, XTB’s pricing is still best described as average rather than standout, particularly when compared with the top low-fee brokers.
IC Markets performs better overall in commissions and fees, with a 5-star rating and a #5 ranking out of 36 brokers. It offers a commission-free Standard account, plus Raw Spread accounts for MT4, MT5, and cTrader. Its all-in pricing can be very low, with average EUR/USD costs around 0.62 pips on cTrader and about 0.72 pips on MetaTrader, making it one of the stronger choices for cost-conscious traders. IC Markets also offers active trader discounts for those trading more than 100 standard lots per month.
| Feature |
XTB
|
IC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $200 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.92 | 0.62 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.92 | 0.62 |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
XTB offers a wider range of investments than IC Markets overall, with 10,900 tradeable symbols compared with 3,583 at IC Markets. XTB also gives access to more forex pairs, with 71 available versus 61 at IC Markets. Both brokers support forex trading as CFDs or spot contracts, and both offer cryptocurrency CFDs, but neither lets clients buy real, delivered crypto. XTB also stands out for offering exchange traded securities on U.S. exchanges, such as Apple shares, while IC Markets does not.
Both brokers provide access to international exchange traded securities, and IC Markets adds copy trading, which XTB does not offer. Still, XTB scores higher for range of investments, earning 5 stars and a ForexBrokers.com ranking of #14 out of 36 brokers, compared with IC Markets’ 4.5 stars and #22 ranking. For investors looking for the broadest selection of markets and assets, XTB has the edge.
| Feature |
XTB
|
IC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 10900 | 3583 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 71 | 61 |
| 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). | 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.
XTB and IC Markets both give traders a choice of a free demo account, plus desktop and web-based platforms, so each is easy to test and access from different devices. Both also let you trade directly from a chart. XTB stands out for its own in-house platform, which can appeal to traders who want something simple and broker-specific, while IC Markets does not offer a proprietary platform and instead focuses on popular third-party options.
When it comes to platform choice, IC Markets has the edge because it supports both MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, along with copy trading, while XTB does not offer these features. XTB still earns a higher Trading Platforms and Tools rating from ForexBrokers.com, at 4.5 out of 5 stars versus 4 stars for IC Markets, and it ranks higher overall in this category at #9 out of 36 brokers compared with IC Markets at #17. For traders comparing platform variety and tools, IC Markets may suit those who want MT4, MT5, and copy trading, while XTB may be better for those who prefer a broker-built platform and a higher category rating.
| Feature |
XTB
|
IC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | No |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 39 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
XTB and IC Markets both offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, and each app supports price alerts, trendline drawing, and auto-saving chart drawings. Neither broker offers watchlist syncing between the mobile app and the online account, so any watchlist changes stay separate on each platform.
Where XTB pulls ahead is in charting and overall mobile app performance. Its app includes 39 technical studies, compared with 30 at IC Markets, and it also earns a higher mobile trading app rating at 4.5 out of 5 stars versus IC Markets’ 4 stars. In ForexBrokers.com’s ranking, XTB comes in at #8 out of 36 brokers, while IC Markets ranks #22.
| Feature |
XTB
|
IC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | No | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 39 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
XTB and IC Markets both give traders useful market research, including daily market commentary, news from major sources such as Bloomberg and Reuters, a sentiment tool showing long and short positions, and an economic calendar for tracking global events. This means both brokers offer the key basics most traders want when keeping up with the markets.
The main difference is in third-party research tools. IC Markets includes Autochartist and Trading Central, while XTB does not. Even so, XTB comes out ahead overall for research, with a 5-star rating and a #9 ranking out of 36 brokers from ForexBrokers.com, compared with IC Markets’ 4-star rating and #21 ranking.
| Feature |
XTB
|
IC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | Yes |
| Trading Central | No | Yes |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
XTB and IC Markets both give beginners a solid starting point, with each broker offering forex and CFDs education, monthly live webinars, and at least 10 beginner videos plus 10 advanced videos. That means new traders can find lessons on basic trading ideas as well as more experienced topics at either firm. In plain terms, both brokers make it easy to learn the basics and keep building knowledge over time.
Where XTB stands out is in the overall quality and recognition of its learning tools. XTB is rated 5 out of 5 for Education and ranks #11 out of 36 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while IC Markets is rated 4 out of 5 and ranks #16. If education is a top priority, XTB has the edge, but IC Markets still offers plenty of useful beginner-friendly material.
| Feature |
XTB
|
IC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| 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 XTB is better than IC Markets. XTB finished with an overall rank of #7, while IC Markets finished with an overall rank of #21.
As a trusted multi-asset broker, XTB offers outstanding customer service, a wide variety of forex and CFDs, and an excellent overall trading experience. Its xStation 5 trading platform is well-designed and packed with innovative features, and XTB’s offers comprehensive educational content and market research.
| Feature |
XTB
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IC Markets
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|---|---|---|
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| Trust Score | 96 | 83 |
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Comparing XTB vs IC Markets for cryptocurrency trading: neither broker offers the ability to buy actual delivered cryptocurrencies, but both allow trading cryptocurrency CFDs.
XTB vs IC Markets: both brokers support PayPal, Skrill, and bank wire transfers for deposits and withdrawals, do not offer ACH or SEPA, and their Visa/Mastercard availability is not specified.
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 | XTB | IC Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 96 | 83 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | XTB Review | IC Markets Review |
| Broker Screenshots | XTB | IC Markets | |
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| Regulation | XTB | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 96 | 83 | |
| Year Founded | 2002 | 2007 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 2 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 1 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 3 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | XTB | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| 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) | Yes | No | |
| 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) | XTB | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or CMA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | XTB | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 10900 | 3583 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 71 | 61 | |
| 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). | 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 | XTB | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.92 | 0.62 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.92 | 0.62 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | XTB | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $200 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | XTB | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | No | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | Yes |
| Trading Tools | XTB | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 39 | 30 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | XTB | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | No | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 39 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | XTB | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | Yes | |
| Trading Central | No | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | XTB | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | XTB | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | XTB Review | IC Markets Review |
| Overall | XTB | IC Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 96 | 83 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | XTB Review | IC Markets Review |
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