Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Markets.com vs IFC 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.
When evaluating online brokers, it is important to consider their regulatory standings and trust ratings to ensure your investments are in safe hands. Markets.com, established in 1999, has built a strong reputation in the industry with a Trust Score of 93 out of 99, reflecting a highly trusted status according to ForexBrokers.com. This broker holds three highly trusted Tier-1 licenses and one trusted Tier-2 license, which adds to its reliability, although it is neither publicly traded nor a bank.
IFC Markets, which came onto the scene in 2006, holds a Trust Score of 73 out of 99. This score indicates an average risk profile, supported by the broker's single Tier-2 license while lacking any Tier-1 licenses. Like Markets.com, IFC Markets is not listed on a stock exchange and does not operate as a bank. When selecting between these brokers, Markets.com may offer a more secure regulatory framework, making it a noteworthy option for those prioritizing trust and protection in their trading activities.
| Feature |
Markets.com
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1999 | 2006 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 3 | 0 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
When evaluating online brokers, the commissions and fees associated with trading are crucial considerations. Markets.com and IFC Markets are two options that differ notably in this area. While both platforms don’t provide average spread data, their ratings and rankings offer some insight into their performance. Markets.com earns a 3.5-star rating for commissions and fees, trailing behind IFC Markets, which garners a higher 4-star rating.
For traders seeking cost-effective solutions, IFC Markets ranks #39 out of 62 brokers in the Commissions and Fees category according to ForexBrokers.com. This ranking reflects its relative affordability and competitive pricing model, indicating a more favorable option for those who prioritize minimizing fees. In comparison, Markets.com is positioned at #49 out of 62 brokers, suggesting that while it may have some attractive features, its fees might be less advantageous for certain trading styles.
When choosing between Markets.com and IFC Markets, it’s essential to weigh these ratings and rankings along with other factors like platform features and customer support. Ultimately, your decision should align with your trading needs and budget priorities. Both brokers offer different strengths in the fees and commissions department, making IFC Markets a slightly more appealing choice for cost-conscious traders.
| Feature |
Markets.com
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | $1 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | N/A | 1.44 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
When comparing Markets.com and IFC Markets for their range of investments, both platforms offer forex trading as either CFD or spot contracts. Markets.com provides an impressive selection with 2179 tradeable symbols, significantly higher than IFC Markets' offering of 630 symbols. Forex enthusiasts will find 57 forex pairs available at Markets.com, surpassing IFC Markets' 49 pairs. While neither broker offers exchange-traded securities on U.S. exchanges, IFC Markets allows access to international securities like Vodafone shares, unlike Markets.com.
Both Markets.com and IFC Markets support copy trading features and offer cryptocurrency derivatives, although they don't enable the purchase of actual cryptocurrencies. According to ForexBrokers.com, Markets.com scores better with a 4-star rating for range of investments, comfortably taking the 29th spot among 62 brokers, while IFC Markets earns a 3.5-star rating, placing it at 43rd in the same category. This evaluation suggests that while both brokers have strengths, Markets.com provides a broader selection overall for traders who prioritize a more extensive range of investment options.
| Feature |
Markets.com
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 2179 | 630 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 57 | 49 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | Yes |
| 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). |
Dive deeper: Best Copy Trading Platforms.
Both Markets.com and IFC Markets provide traders with simulated trading options, allowing users to explore their platforms through a free virtual demo account. Each broker showcases its strength with proprietary platforms developed in-house. Moreover, Markets.com and IFC Markets both offer Windows-based desktop downloads and web-based trading platforms, delivering flexibility in how traders access their accounts. Copy trading abilities are also available on each platform, offering varied strategies for investors to mimic successful trades easily. Additionally, traders can use MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 with both brokers; however, neither Markets.com nor IFC Markets supports DupliTrade or ZuluTrade.
In terms of charting, there are differences. Markets.com features four drawing tools, while IFC Markets provides fifteen, giving charting enthusiasts more versatility. While Markets.com lacks the capability to trade directly from a stock chart, IFC Markets includes this functionality. For watch lists, Markets.com allows six fields, whereas IFC Markets has seven. Both brokers earn a respectable four-star rating for their trading platforms and tools. On ForexBrokers.com, Markets.com ranks higher at 26th place compared to IFC Markets at 36th out of 62 brokers, suggesting a slight edge in their trading platform offerings.
| Feature |
Markets.com
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | 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 | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 89 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 4 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | No | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 6 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Both Markets.com and IFC Markets provide mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android users, catering to traders seeking convenience and flexibility. Both apps include essential features like stock and forex price alerts and allow users to create watchlists that sync seamlessly with their online accounts. Users can also draw trendlines on stock or forex charts on both platforms. However, IFC Markets gains a slight edge when it comes to charting tools, offering 30 technical studies in its app compared to Markets.com's default on MetaTrader 4 and none on the Markets app. Additionally, IFC Markets enables viewing multiple time frames on charts and auto-saves chart drawings, features absent in the Markets.com app.
While both platforms receive a solid 4-star rating for their mobile trading apps, they are ranked differently by ForexBrokers.com. Markets.com holds the #33 spot out of 62 brokers in the Mobile Trading Apps category, whereas IFC Markets is ranked at #52. This suggests that, despite similar ratings, Markets.com's app is positioned as slightly more favorable when considering broader industry standards. Both apps provide real-time quotes in their watchlists, ensuring that traders can make informed decisions on the go. Whether you prioritize advanced charting tools or overall app ranking might guide your choice between these two platforms for mobile trading.
| Feature |
Markets.com
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | (default on MT4, none on Markets app) | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | No | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | No | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
Markets.com and IFC Markets both provide traders with daily market commentary and an economic calendar, helping investors stay informed about global economic events. However, a significant difference lies in their access to top-tier forex news sources: Markets.com delivers updates from reputable institutions like Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones, whereas IFC Markets does not offer such premium news access. Both brokerages provide sentiment-based trading tools that highlight market positions across various instruments, though neither incorporates advanced technical analysis or fundamental research tools from companies like Autochartist and Trading Central.
Despite these similarities, Markets.com holds a slight edge in overall research offerings, earning a 4-star rating compared to IFC Markets’ 3.5 stars, according to ForexBrokers.com. The superior ranking positions Markets.com 17th out of 62 brokers in the Research category, while IFC Markets ranks 40th, indicating that Markets.com might be a preferable choice for those prioritizing comprehensive news access and research tools in their trading platform.
| Feature |
Markets.com
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No |
| 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 exploring educational resources for beginners, Markets.com and IFC Markets each have distinct offerings. IFC Markets stands out for its extensive library of over ten forex or CFDs educational pieces, providing a wealth of knowledge through various articles, videos, and more. However, it falls short in offering ongoing monthly webinars, something Markets.com consistently provides to help traders stay updated and engaged in a more dynamic way. Both platforms offer a collection of beginner videos to help novices get started on their trading journey, ensuring foundational topics are well-covered.
For those looking for more advanced insights, both Markets.com and IFC Markets present over ten advanced educational videos tailored for experienced traders. Markets.com exceeds in delivering monthly interactive webinars, offering direct engagement and real-time learning not available at IFC Markets. Conversely, IFC Markets provides a comprehensive investor dictionary with over 50 investing terms, a feature not present at Markets.com. Ratings for educational resources reflect these distinctions; Markets.com earns four stars, while IFC Markets receives 3.5 stars. Interestingly, IFC Markets ranks slightly higher at #30 compared to Markets.com’s #34 in ForexBrokers.com’s Education category.
| Feature |
Markets.com
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | No | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | No | No |
| 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 Markets.com is better than IFC Markets. Markets.com finished with an overall rank of #23, while IFC Markets finished with an overall rank of #44.
Thanks to its web-based MarketsX platform, Markets.com is easy to use and new trader friendly. However, Markets.com is pricey and lacks the feature-rich trading tools required to compete with the best trading platforms.
| Feature |
Markets.com
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IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 93 | 73 |
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While neither Markets.com nor IFC Markets allows the purchase of actual delivered cryptocurrency, both offer the opportunity to trade cryptocurrency derivatives.
Both Markets.com and IFC Markets do not support ACH, SEPA, or PayPal transactions, but Markets.com stands out by offering Skrill as an option for deposits and withdrawals, whereas both platforms accept Visa, Mastercard, and bank wire transfers.
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 | Markets.com | IFC Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 93 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
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| Broker Screenshots | Markets.com | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
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| Mobile Trading Gallery (click to expand) | |||
| Research Gallery (click to expand) | |||
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| Regulation | Markets.com | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 93 | 73 | |
| Year Founded | 1999 | 2006 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 3 | 0 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Markets.com | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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) | Markets.com | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | No | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | Markets.com | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 2179 | 630 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 57 | 49 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | Yes | |
| 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). |
| Cost | Markets.com | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | N/A | 1.44 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Markets.com | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | $1 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | Markets.com | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | 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 | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Markets.com | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | No | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 6 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 89 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 4 | 15 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | No | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Markets.com | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | (default on MT4, none on Markets app) | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | No | Yes |
| Research | Markets.com | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Markets.com | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | No | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | No | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | No | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Markets.com | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/JPY | Yes | Yes | |
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CAD | Yes | Yes | |
| NZD/USD | No | Yes | |
| AUD/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| Review |
| Overall | Markets.com | IFC Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 93 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review |
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