Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of OANDA 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.
OANDA and IFC Markets are both well-regarded online brokers, but they have different backgrounds and regulatory standings. Founded in 1996, OANDA has established itself with a high Trust Score of 93 out of 99, placing it in the category of highly trusted brokers. OANDA boasts seven Tier-1 licenses, indicating strong regulatory oversight. Meanwhile, IFC Markets, founded a decade later in 2006, is rated with a Trust Score of 73, marking it as average risk in terms of trust, and holds one Tier-2 license, with no Tier-1 licenses to enhance its regulatory profile.
Both OANDA and IFC Markets are privately owned and are not publicly traded on any stock exchange. Additionally, neither broker operates as a bank. These differences in regulatory compliance and history can be crucial factors for traders when selecting a platform that aligns with their safety and security expectations.
| Feature |
OANDA
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1996 | 2006 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 0 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
When comparing OANDA and IFC Markets in terms of commissions and fees, both brokers share a commendable four-star rating. However, OANDA holds a slight edge, ranked 34th out of 62 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, while IFC Markets takes the 39th position. OANDA stands out with its comprehensive forex trading services, though users generally face steep costs due to high effective spreads. Its pricing options are most comparable to brokers like FOREX.com and FxPro, but the minimum spread cost could be marginally higher than those offering sub-pip spreads. For traders looking to mitigate costs, OANDA provides a core pricing model with lower spreads, offset by a per-side commission, which can effectively reduce the overall expenses.
Despite not being a discount broker, OANDA offers a competitive advantage with its precise automated execution across various accounts. Its core pricing structure is particularly beneficial for sizable trades, requiring a $10,000 minimum deposit. Here, users can enjoy lower spreads plus a commission that approximates to 1 pip. This makes the total cost for core pricing slightly better than the commission-free model. Furthermore, micro lot trading is made exceptionally accessible, with OANDA reducing the minimum trade size to as small as one unit. To sweeten the deal, their Elite Trader program offers substantial rebates and subscription reimbursements for high-volume traders.
IFC Markets does not provide average spread data, which makes direct cost comparisons challenging. Without fixed-period average spread figures, measuring precise cost differences between these brokers poses difficulties for potential clients. OANDA, however, strives for transparency by routinely publishing a trailing average of its spreads, although a fixed period comparison is not available. Ultimately, both brokers hold similarities in their ratings, but OANDA's detailed offerings and ranking suggest a slightly more favorable standing in trading costs and commission structures.
| Feature |
OANDA
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $1 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.61 | 1.44 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.61 | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | 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 the range of investments offered by OANDA and IFC Markets, traders will find some distinct differences between the two platforms. OANDA boasts a much larger selection of tradable symbols, with a total of 3,928, compared to IFC Markets' offering of 630. In the realm of forex trading, OANDA provides access to 68 tradable forex pairs, while IFC Markets offers 49. Both brokers support forex trading through CFDs and spot contracts, offering ease and versatility to forex traders. However, unlike IFC Markets, which does not support the purchase of actual cryptocurrency, OANDA stands out by offering both the purchase of actual crypto and cryptocurrency derivatives.
For those interested in exchange-traded securities, neither OANDA nor IFC Markets provides access to U.S. exchanges to buy shares such as Apple. However, IFC Markets expands its reach by allowing investment in international exchange-traded securities like Vodafone from the London Stock Exchange, a feature absent in OANDA. Both platforms include copy trading capabilities, further complementing their trading portfolio. In terms of investment range quality, ForexBrokers.com rates OANDA slightly higher at 4 stars and ranks it 27th out of 62 brokers, while IFC Markets receives a 3.5-star rating, ranking 43rd. These evaluations reflect their tangible offerings and user experience in accessing diverse market instruments.
| Feature |
OANDA
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 3928 | 630 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 68 | 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) | Yes | 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.
When comparing the trading platforms and tools of OANDA and IFC Markets, both brokers provide a broad array of features that cater to diverse trading needs. Initially, each broker offers a simulated trading environment through a free virtual demo account, allowing new traders to gain experience without financial risk. Additionally, they both provide proprietary platforms and support popular options like MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, ensuring versatility in trading strategies. While both platforms are accessible via Windows-based desktops and web browsers, they differ slightly in the specifics of their charting tools. OANDA excels with 431 drawing tools, significantly more than IFC Markets' offering of 15. Both brokers, however, facilitate trading directly from stock charts and accommodate the functionality for copy trading, even though they do not support DupliTrade or ZuluTrade.
In terms of usability features, their watch lists also show variance; OANDA offers six customizable columns, whereas IFC Markets offers seven, providing marginally more flexibility for traders monitoring multiple assets. Despite these differences, both brokers receive a four-star rating for Trading Platforms and Tools. However, OANDA ranks higher at #16 compared to IFC Markets’ #36 on ForexBrokers.com’s list of 62 brokers. This ranking may reflect some of the subtle advantages OANDA holds in platform versatility and tool offerings, underscoring its slight edge in user experience for platform functionality and charting capabilities.
| Feature |
OANDA
|
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) | 81 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 431 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 6 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Both OANDA and IFC Markets offer robust mobile trading apps compatible with iPhone and Android devices. Traders can receive price alerts and draw trendlines on charts with both platforms, which also support multiple time frames like daily, weekly, and intraday. Each app provides 30 technical studies for charting, and any drawings made automatically save. Creating watchlists with real-time quotes is easy on both apps, though only IFC Markets allows watchlist syncing across devices, offering a seamless experience for changes made between mobile and desktop.
When it comes to ratings, OANDA's mobile trading app shines with a 5-star rating, ranking 7th out of 62 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com. IFC Markets, while offering similar functionalities, holds a 4-star rating and is ranked 52nd in the same category. This highlights OANDA's superior user experience and greater approval from users compared to IFC Markets.
| Feature |
OANDA
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When comparing OANDA and IFC Markets for market research, several factors come into play. Both brokers provide daily market commentary and economic calendars, allowing traders to stay informed about market movements and global news events. However, the distinction becomes clear in the quality of forex news, as OANDA draws insights from top-tier sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, unlike IFC Markets. OANDA also excels by providing Autochartist tools, which are not available with IFC Markets, thereby enhancing its offerings for technical analysis.
Furthermore, OANDA and IFC Markets both offer sentiment-based trading tools that present ratios of long or short positions, enabling traders to gauge market sentiment effectively. However, neither broker provides research tools from companies like Trading Central, Acuity Trading, or market insights from TipRanks. Ultimately, OANDA's comprehensive research offerings are reflected in its high rating of 5 stars for research and a top-five ranking from ForexBrokers.com, far surpassing IFC Markets' 3.5-star rating and 40th place ranking.
| Feature |
OANDA
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | Yes | 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 comparing the educational resources provided by OANDA and IFC Markets for beginners, both platforms offer a comprehensive range of materials on forex and CFDs. Each broker supplies more than 10 educational pieces that include articles, videos, and webinars, which help newcomers understand the intricacies of trading. OANDA distinguishes itself by offering monthly online educational webinars, complete with a searchable archive for clients who wish to revisit these learning sessions. In contrast, IFC Markets does not provide regular educational webinars or an archive feature. Both brokers do, however, offer more than 10 educational videos aimed at beginners, as well as advanced video content for more experienced traders.
In addition to videos and webinars, both OANDA and IFC Markets provide investor dictionaries, each with over 50 investing terms, helping traders better understand industry jargon. Despite these similarities, OANDA's educational offerings are rated higher, with a 5-star rating compared to IFC Markets’ 3.5 stars. This distinction is reflected in their rankings by ForexBrokers.com, with OANDA securing the 22nd spot out of 62 brokers, whereas IFC Markets ranks 30th. Clearly, OANDA provides a more enriched educational experience for traders looking to enhance their knowledge and skills in online trading.
| Feature |
OANDA
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 62 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that OANDA is better than IFC Markets. OANDA finished with an overall rank of #12, while IFC Markets finished with an overall rank of #45.
A trusted global brand, OANDA stands out for its reputation and quality market research. Its regulatory track record is strong, and its support for third-party features bolsters its overall offering.
| Feature |
OANDA
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IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 93 | 73 |
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When comparing OANDA and IFC Markets for cryptocurrency trading, OANDA provides the ability to buy both actual cryptocurrencies and derivatives, while IFC Markets only offers cryptocurrency derivatives.
OANDA provides a variety of options for depositing and withdrawing funds, including ACH or SEPA transfers, PayPal, Skrill, Visa or Mastercard, and bank wires, whereas IFC Markets supports Visa or Mastercard and bank wires but lacks ACH or SEPA transfers, PayPal, and Skrill as options.
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 | OANDA | IFC Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 93 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | OANDA Review |
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| Regulation | OANDA | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 93 | 73 | |
| Year Founded | 1996 | 2006 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 0 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | OANDA | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | 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) | Yes | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | OANDA | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | No | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | OANDA | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 3928 | 630 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 68 | 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) | Yes | 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 | OANDA | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.61 | 1.44 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.61 | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | OANDA | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $1 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | OANDA | 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 | OANDA | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 6 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 81 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 431 | 15 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | OANDA | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | OANDA | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | OANDA | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | OANDA | IFC 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 | OANDA Review |
| Overall | OANDA | IFC Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 93 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | OANDA Review |
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