Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Questrade 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.
Questrade (founded 2000) and IFC Markets (founded 2006) are online brokers that are privately held and not banks. Each holds one Tier-1 regulatory license (highly trusted by ForexBrokers.com) and no Tier-2 licenses.
On ForexBrokers.com’s Trust Score, Questrade earns 85/99 (trusted), while IFC Markets earns 73/99 (average risk). With the same number of top-tier licenses but a higher Trust Score, Questrade edges IFC Markets on overall regulatory standing.
| Feature |
Questrade
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2000 | 2006 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 5 |
Questrade Global uses a spread-only pricing model for forex, so you do not pay a separate trading commission. Instead, the cost is built into the bid-ask spread, which can start at 0.8 pips in normal market conditions but was closer to 2.1 to 2.5 pips on average for major pairs at the time of review. That can make a standard lot trade cost about $20 in all-in spread costs. For CFDs, Questrade adds a small spread plus a $9.95 USD fee per unit, which can make trades expensive; for example, one Tesla CFD unit can cost about $19.95 USD to open and close, before overnight financing charges. Questrade is rated 3.5 stars and is ranked #33 out of 36 brokers for commissions and fees.
IFC Markets is a bit more flexible on pricing. Its average EUR/USD spread is 1.44 pips, which is above the industry average of 1.08, so it is not the cheapest choice for casual forex trading. However, active traders may find better value with its ECN account, where the effective spread is about 1.1 pips after a 0.005% commission on both sides of the trade. The broker also stands out by not charging inactivity fees and by offering active trader discounts, which can help reduce overall trading costs. IFC Markets is rated 4 stars and is ranked #32 out of 36 brokers for commissions and fees.
Overall, IFC Markets has a slight edge over Questrade in the commissions and fees category, mainly because of its ECN pricing and lack of inactivity fees. Questrade can become costly on both forex and CFD trades, especially once its spread-only forex pricing and per-unit CFD fee are taken into account. If low trading costs are a top priority, IFC Markets appears to offer the better value of the two.
| Feature |
Questrade
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $1 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.8 or higher | 1.44 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | 1.1 |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
When it comes to range of investments, Questrade offers more choice in several key areas. It lists 675 tradeable symbols and 110 forex pairs, compared with IFC Markets’ 630 symbols and 49 forex pairs. Both brokers offer forex trading as a CFD or spot contract, but neither lets clients buy actual U.S.-listed shares directly, such as Apple stock. Questrade also does not offer international exchange-traded securities, copy trading, or cryptocurrency products in either real or CFD form.
IFC Markets, meanwhile, has a broader mix of asset types in some areas. It supports international exchange-traded securities, copy trading, and cryptocurrency CFDs, though it also does not offer actual delivered crypto or U.S.-listed shares. Based on ForexBrokers.com ratings, Questrade scores higher for range of investments at 5 stars and ranks #12 out of 36 brokers, while IFC Markets is rated 3.5 stars and ranked #31. Overall, Questrade appears stronger for forex variety, while IFC Markets offers a wider selection beyond forex through international shares, copy trading, and crypto CFDs.
| Feature |
Questrade
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 675 | 630 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 110 | 49 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | No |
| Cryptocurrency (CFDs) | No | Yes |
| Disclaimers |
Dive deeper: Best Copy Trading Platforms.
Questrade and IFC Markets both give traders a choice of simulated paper trading, a proprietary platform, a Windows desktop app, and a web-based platform, so each broker covers the basics well for online trading. Both also let users place trades directly from a stock chart, which can make it easier to react quickly while looking at price movements. On ForexBrokers.com, both brokers are rated 4 out of 5 stars for Trading Platforms and Tools, with Questrade ranked #28 out of 36 and IFC Markets close behind at #29.
The main difference is in the extra trading tools. IFC Markets supports copy trading plus MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, giving it more options for traders who want popular third-party platforms or to follow other traders. Questrade does not offer copy trading, MT4, or MT5, so it may appeal more to users who prefer a simpler setup with its own platform and core trading features.
| Feature |
Questrade
|
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) | 64 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Questrade and IFC Markets both offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, along with stock or forex price alerts and watchlist syncing between the app and online account. Each app also lets users draw trendlines on charts and saves those drawings automatically, which makes it easier to keep track of trading ideas across devices.
Where Questrade stands out is charting depth, with 64 technical studies in its mobile app compared with 30 at IFC Markets. Even so, IFC Markets has a slightly higher mobile trading app rating at 4 stars versus Questrade’s 3.5 stars. In ForexBrokers.com’s Mobile Trading Apps category, Questrade ranks #28 out of 36 brokers, while IFC Markets ranks #34.
| Feature |
Questrade
|
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 | 64 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When comparing Questrade vs IFC Markets for market research, each broker has a few clear strengths. Questrade offers tools from Autochartist, Trading Central, and TipRanks, which can help traders spot possible setups and get ideas from third-party research. IFC Markets, on the other hand, stands out with daily market commentary, a sentiment tool that shows long and short positions, and an economic calendar for tracking key global events. Neither broker offers forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones, and neither provides research tools from Acuity Trading.
Overall, both Questrade and IFC Markets are rated 3.5 out of 5 stars for research, but IFC Markets edges ahead in ForexBrokers.com’s ranking, placing #30 out of 36 brokers compared with Questrade’s #34. If you want more third-party analysis tools, Questrade may be the better fit; if you prefer daily commentary, sentiment data, and an economic calendar, IFC Markets has the stronger market research package.
| Feature |
Questrade
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | No | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | No |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
| Trading Central | Yes | No |
| Client sentiment data | No | Yes |
| TipRanks | Yes | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | No | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When it comes to education for beginners, IFC Markets has the edge over Questrade. IFC Markets offers at least 10 beginner trading videos and at least 10 advanced videos, while Questrade does not meet those marks. Neither broker offers monthly educational webinars, and neither is listed as having at least 10 pieces of forex or CFD-focused education. Even so, both brokers receive the same Education rating of 3.5 out of 5 stars.
Looking at ForexBrokers.com’s Education ranking, IFC Markets also places a little higher than Questrade, ranking #25 out of 36 brokers compared with Questrade at #28. For new traders who want more video-based learning, IFC Markets is the stronger choice, while Questrade offers a more limited set of beginner resources by comparison.
| Feature |
Questrade
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | No | No |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | No | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | No | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 63 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that Questrade is better than IFC Markets. Questrade finished with an overall rank of #29, while IFC Markets finished with an overall rank of #33.
Earning an 85 Trust Score, Questrade Global is a secure, CIRO-regulated platform ideal for Canadians wanting forex and stocks in one place. However, with live EUR/USD spreads going as high as 2.1 to 2.5 pips, cost-conscious day traders might find better value with cheaper alternatives.
| Feature |
Questrade
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IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 85 | 73 |
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Questrade vs IFC Markets: neither broker lets you buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrency, but while Questrade also does not offer cryptocurrency CFDs, IFC Markets does provide crypto CFD trading.
Questrade vs IFC Markets: both support bank wire transfers for deposits and withdrawals, neither offers ACH/SEPA, PayPal, or Skrill, and 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.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | Questrade | IFC Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 85 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Questrade Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Questrade | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Regulation | Questrade | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 85 | 73 | |
| Year Founded | 2000 | 2006 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | No | ||
| Tier-1 Licenses | 1 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 5 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Questrade | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | |||
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | ||
| Japan (FSA Authorised) | No | ||
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | No | ||
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | No | ||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | No | ||
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | No | ||
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | ||
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | No |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Questrade | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | ||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | ||
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or CMA Authorised) | No | ||
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | ||
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No |
| Investments | Questrade | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 675 | 630 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 110 | 49 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (CFDs) | No | Yes | |
| Disclaimers |
| Cost | Questrade | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.8 or higher | 1.44 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | 1.1 | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | No | Yes |
| Funding | Questrade | 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 | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | Questrade | 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 | Questrade | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 64 | 30 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Questrade | 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 | 64 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Questrade | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | No | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | No | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | Yes | No | |
| Client sentiment data | No | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | No | Yes |
| Education | Questrade | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | No | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | No | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | No | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Questrade | 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 | Questrade Review |
| Overall | Questrade | IFC Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 85 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Questrade Review |
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