Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Interactive Brokers vs IFC Markets, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
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Interactive Brokers (founded 1977) and IFC Markets (founded 2006) differ in profile and transparency. Interactive Brokers is publicly traded, while IFC Markets is privately held. Neither company is a bank.
In regulation and safety, the gap is clear. Interactive Brokers holds 8 Tier-1 licenses and 2 Tier-2 licenses and has a 99/99 ForexBrokers.com Trust Score, which sits in the highly trusted 90–99 range. IFC Markets holds 1 Tier-1 license and no Tier-2 licenses, with a 73/99 Trust Score—an average-risk rating (70–79). On this scale, 80–89 is trusted, 60–69 is high risk, and below 59 is not trusted.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1977 | 2006 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 8 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 5 |
Interactive Brokers stands out for low forex trading costs, especially for active traders. Its EUR/USD average spread was 0.19 pips in Q3 2024, which works out to an effective all-in spread of about 0.59 pips after commission. IBKR charges a commission instead of marking up spreads, with forex commissions starting at 0.00002% of the U.S. dollar trade value per side and a minimum of $2 per order, or $4 round turn. That minimum can make very small trades more expensive, but larger-volume traders can qualify for lower rates. Interactive Brokers is rated 5 stars and ranked #2 out of 36 brokers for commissions and fees.
IFC Markets is less competitive on pricing overall, but it does offer some improvements for active traders through its ECN account. Its average EUR/USD spread is 1.44 pips, which is higher than the industry average of 1.08 pips. With the ECN account, the effective spread comes down to about 1.1 pips after factoring in the 0.005% commission on both sides of the trade. While that is better than its standard pricing, it still trails the lowest-cost brokers. IFC Markets is rated 4 stars and ranked #32 out of 36 brokers for commissions and fees.
In simple terms, Interactive Brokers is the better choice if keeping trading costs low is your top priority, especially for forex and larger or more frequent trades. IFC Markets may still appeal to traders looking for an ECN-style setup and no inactivity fee, but its spreads are generally wider. Overall, IBKR offers the stronger value on commissions and fees.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $1 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.226 | 1.44 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.226 | 1.1 |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
Interactive Brokers offers a much wider range of investments than IFC Markets, making it a stronger choice for traders who want access to more markets and products. It provides about 8,500 tradeable symbols, including 90 forex pairs, and lets clients trade exchange-traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges. It also supports buying actual cryptocurrency, which adds another layer of choice for investors looking beyond forex and stocks.
IFC Markets covers the basics well, but its selection is smaller, with about 630 tradeable symbols and 49 forex pairs. It does offer forex trading, international exchange-traded securities, copy trading, and cryptocurrency CFDs, but it does not provide U.S.-listed exchange-traded securities or access to actual cryptocurrency. In industry comparisons, Interactive Brokers is rated 5 out of 5 stars for range of investments and ranks #1 out of 36 brokers, while IFC Markets scores 3.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #31.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 8500 | 630 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 90 | 49 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | Yes | No |
| Cryptocurrency (CFDs) | No | 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). |
Dive deeper: Best Copy Trading Platforms.
Interactive Brokers and IFC Markets both give traders a choice of paper trading, a proprietary platform, a Windows desktop app, and a web-based platform, so either broker can work well if you want to practice first or trade from different devices. Both also let you trade directly from a stock chart, which can make it easier to place orders while watching price action. That said, Interactive Brokers stands out more for platform quality, earning 5 out of 5 stars and ranking #2 out of 36 brokers for Trading Platforms and Tools, while IFC Markets is rated 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #29.
The biggest differences are that IFC Markets includes copy trading plus MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, which may appeal to traders who want familiar third-party software or a hands-off style. Interactive Brokers does not offer those options, but it is still a strong choice for traders who want its own in-house tools and a high-rated platform experience. If you want MT4, MT5, or copy trading, IFC Markets has the edge; if you want a more highly rated all-around platform setup, Interactive Brokers comes out ahead.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| 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) | 155 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Interactive Brokers and IFC Markets both offer iPhone and Android apps, along with useful mobile features like price alerts, watchlist syncing, and the ability to draw trendlines on charts. For everyday trading on the go, each platform covers the basics well, so both should feel familiar to mobile users who want to track markets and manage trades from their phones.
The biggest difference is in charting and overall mobile app quality. Interactive Brokers stands out with 155 technical studies, a 5-star Mobile Trading Apps rating, and a #4 ranking out of 36 brokers from ForexBrokers.com. IFC Markets offers 30 technical studies, a 4-star rating, and a #34 ranking. One area where IFC Markets has an edge is that its mobile app automatically saves chart drawings, while Interactive Brokers does not.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 155 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | No | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
Interactive Brokers has a clear edge over IFC Markets for market research. Both brokers provide daily market commentary, a sentiment tool, and an economic calendar, but Interactive Brokers goes much further with access to top-tier forex news from sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones. It also includes research tools from Trading Central, TipRanks, and Acuity Trading, giving traders more ways to follow market moves and find trade ideas. IFC Markets covers the basics, but it does not offer those extra research sources.
That difference is reflected in the ratings and rankings. Interactive Brokers is rated 5 stars for Research and ranks #3 out of 36 brokers in the ForexBrokers.com Research category, while IFC Markets is rated 3.5 stars and ranks #30. For traders who want deeper market insight and more third-party research tools, Interactive Brokers is the stronger choice.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central | Yes | No |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | Yes | No |
| Acuity Trading | Yes | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
For beginners looking for trading education, Interactive Brokers has a clear edge over IFC Markets. Interactive Brokers offers forex and CFD learning materials, monthly online client webinars, at least 10 beginner trading videos, and at least 10 advanced videos for more experienced traders. It also holds a 5-star Education rating and ranks #1 out of 36 brokers for Education at ForexBrokers.com, making it a strong choice for traders who want plenty of guidance as they learn.
IFC Markets also provides beginner and advanced trading videos, but it does not offer monthly online client webinars, and its education offering is rated lower overall. While it still gives new traders some helpful content, its 3.5-star Education rating and #25 ranking out of 36 suggest a more limited learning experience compared with Interactive Brokers. For learners who want more frequent teaching sessions and a wider range of educational support, Interactive Brokers comes out ahead.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 Interactive Brokers is better than IFC Markets. Interactive Brokers finished with an overall rank of #2, while IFC Markets finished with an overall rank of #33.
Interactive Brokers is a highly trusted multi-asset broker with an extensive offering of tradeable global markets. It delivers competitive fees and high-quality research and education, as well as a modern, institutional-grade trading platform suite.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
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IFC Markets
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|---|---|---|
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| Trust Score | 99 | 73 |
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Online broker Interactive Brokers lets you buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrency but does not offer cryptocurrency CFDs, whereas IFC Markets offers cryptocurrency CFDs but does not support buying actual (delivered) crypto.
Comparing deposit and withdrawal methods, Interactive Brokers supports ACH/SEPA and bank wire transfers while IFC Markets supports bank wires but not ACH/SEPA; neither broker offers PayPal or Skrill, and 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 | Interactive Brokers | IFC Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Interactive Brokers Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Interactive Brokers | IFC Markets | |
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| Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Regulation | Interactive Brokers | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 73 | |
| Year Founded | 1977 | 2006 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | ||
| Tier-1 Licenses | 8 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 5 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Interactive Brokers | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Japan (FSA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | Yes | ||
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | ||
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Interactive Brokers | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | ||
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or CMA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| India (SEBI Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | Interactive Brokers | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 8500 | 630 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 90 | 49 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | Yes | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (CFDs) | No | 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). |
| Cost | Interactive Brokers | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.226 | 1.44 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.226 | 1.1 | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | No | Yes |
| Funding | Interactive Brokers | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $1 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | Interactive Brokers | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| 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 | No |
| Trading Tools | Interactive Brokers | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 155 | 30 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Interactive Brokers | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 155 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Interactive Brokers | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | Yes | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Interactive Brokers | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Interactive Brokers | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | Interactive Brokers Review |
| Overall | Interactive Brokers | IFC Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Interactive Brokers Review |
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