Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of XM Group 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 comparing XM Group and IFC Markets, both brokers offer unique qualities, but they differ significantly in their regulatory standings. XM Group, founded in 2009, holds four Tier-1 licenses, marking it as a highly trusted broker according to ForexBrokers.com, and earns a Trust Score of 88 out of 99. While not being publicly traded nor a bank, XM Group's regulatory credentials place it within the trusted range. On the other hand, IFC Markets, established in 2006, has no Tier-1 licenses but holds one Tier-2 license, which indicates a trusted status, earning it a Trust Score of 73 from ForexBrokers.com.
Neither XM Group nor IFC Markets is publicly traded or operates as a bank, which is a commonality between the two. Despite their differences in trust scores and Tier-1 licensing, both brokers provide services tailored to various trading preferences. Traders often consider these regulatory insights crucial for making informed decisions, as they reflect the brokers' capabilities to meet industry standards and safeguard client interests.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2009 | 2006 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 0 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
When comparing the commissions and fees of XM Group to IFC Markets, it's important to note the differences in their fee structures. XM Group's standard account tends to have higher spreads, and unfortunately, it doesn't publish the average spreads for its commission-based XM Zero account. On the other hand, IFC Markets doesn't provide average spread data, which can make it challenging to gauge costs precisely.
Both XM Group and IFC Markets have received a 4-star rating out of five for their commissions and fees, indicating a similar level of competitiveness in their pricing strategies. Despite the lack of specific spread data for both brokers, this rating suggests that they both provide a satisfactory experience for traders looking for value in their trading expenses.
When ranked by ForexBrokers.com, XM Group holds the 33rd position out of 62 brokers in the Commissions and Fees category, which is slightly better than IFC Markets, which is ranked at 39th. This ranking reflects a modest advantage for XM Group in terms of overall cost efficiency, although the close ranking suggests that either broker could be a viable choice depending on specific trading needs and preferences.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $5 | $1 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.6 | 1.44 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.8 | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | 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 the range of investments offered by XM Group and IFC Markets, XM Group clearly provides a wider selection. XM Group boasts an impressive 1,394 tradeable symbols, significantly surpassing IFC Markets' 630. For forex enthusiasts, XM Group offers 55 tradeable currency pairs, just slightly edging out IFC Markets, which provides 49. Notably, XM Group clients can purchase U.S. exchange listed securities, such as Apple shares, an option not available with IFC Markets. However, both brokers afford the chance to invest in international exchange traded securities like Vodafone, and both facilitate forex trading through contracts for difference (CFDs) or spot contracts.
In terms of automatic trading options, both XM Group and IFC Markets support copy trading. When it comes to cryptocurrency investments, clients of both brokers can engage in derivatives, although neither provides the option to buy actual cryptocurrencies. For a snapshot of their performance in the investment range, XM Group receives a 4.5-star rating versus IFC Markets' 3.5 stars. XM Group ranks #23 out of 62 brokers in this category, whereas IFC Markets ranks #43, highlighting XM Group's broader and more versatile offerings.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1394 | 630 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 55 | 49 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | 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.
When comparing the trading platforms and tools of XM Group and IFC Markets, both brokers generously offer free virtual demo accounts, allowing traders to practice without risk. XM Group doesn’t have its own proprietary platform but provides popular platforms like MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 on multiple device types, including Windows desktops and web browsers. In contrast, IFC Markets not only supports MetaTrader versions and browser access but also offers a proprietary platform, adding a unique touch for traders looking for diverse options.
Both XM Group and IFC Markets enable copy trading, but neither broker supports DupliTrade or ZuluTrade. For charting enthusiasts, each offers 15 drawing tools and enables trading directly from the stock chart, making analysis and execution seamless. Additionally, both brokers provide 7 fields for watchlists, helping traders keep track of market movements efficiently. With both receiving a 4-star rating for their trading platforms and tools, XM Group ranks slightly higher at #30 compared to IFC Markets at #36, according to ForexBrokers.com.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | No | 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) | 30 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 15 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Both XM Group and IFC Markets offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, making it easy for users to trade on the go. These apps provide essential features such as stock and forex price alerts and the ability to sync watchlists with the user's online account. This means any changes made are automatically updated across devices. When it comes to charting tools, both brokers offer 30 technical studies and allow users to draw trendlines and view multiple time frames like daily, weekly, or intraday. However, a notable difference is that IFC Markets’ app can auto-save chart drawings, a feature not supported in XM Group’s app.
Traders using these apps can create watchlists with real-time quotes, enhancing their market tracking capabilities. With both platforms rated 4 stars for their mobile apps, they are well-regarded in the industry. However, according to ForexBrokers.com, XM Group holds a higher ranking at #27 compared to IFC Markets, which is placed at #52 out of 62 brokers. This ranking difference could be a deciding factor for some traders when choosing between these two brokers for mobile trading.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
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 | 30 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | No | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When it comes to market research offerings, XM Group clearly edges out IFC Markets. Both platforms provide daily market commentary, but XM Group enhances the trader's experience with forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, which IFC Markets does not offer. Additionally, XM Group incorporates Trading Central's technical analytics for more in-depth analysis, a feature that is missing from IFC Markets. Both brokers, however, provide a sentiment-based trading tool and an economic calendar, aiding users in keeping track of global economic events.
From a ratings perspective, XM Group boasts a robust 5-star rating for their research tools, while IFC Markets is rated at 3.5 stars. According to ForexBrokers.com, XM Group is ranked 8th out of 62 brokers for research capabilities, whereas IFC Markets lags behind, holding the 40th position. Despite some similarities in the basic tools offered, the superior rank and resources provided by XM Group make it a more attractive choice for traders seeking detailed market insights.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | 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 available for beginners, XM Group stands out with a comprehensive approach. It provides more than ten educational pieces focused on forex and CFDs, including a searchable archive of webinars and monthly live educational webinars for its clients. XM Group also offers a variety of beginner and advanced video content to cater to traders of all experience levels. While it does not provide an investor dictionary, its overall educational offerings are rated highly, earning five stars and securing the 7th spot out of 62 brokers on ForexBrokers.com.
In contrast, IFC Markets offers a solid foundation with over ten educational pieces about forex and CFDs and various video content for both beginners and advanced traders. However, it lacks in offering live webinars and a searchable archive, which can be a drawback for those who prefer interactive learning or revisiting past sessions. IFC Markets does have an investor dictionary with over 50 investing terms, which is a helpful tool for beginners looking to build their financial vocabulary. Despite its strengths, IFC Markets received a 3.5-star rating for education and ranks 30th in the education category among 62 brokers, according to ForexBrokers.com.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
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) | No | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 62 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that XM Group is better than IFC Markets. XM Group finished with an overall rank of #17, while IFC Markets finished with an overall rank of #44.
XM Group is a MetaTrader-only broker that offers a strong selection of high-quality educational content and market research.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 88 | 73 |
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Neither XM Group nor IFC Markets offers the ability to buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrency, but both brokers provide opportunities to trade cryptocurrency derivatives.
When comparing online brokers, XM Group and IFC Markets both offer Visa or Mastercard and bank wires for managing account funds, but only XM Group provides Skrill as a deposit and withdrawal option, with neither broker supporting ACH, SEPA transfers, or PayPal.
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 | XM Group | IFC Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 88 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | XM Group Review |
| Broker Screenshots | XM Group | IFC Markets | |
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| Regulation | XM Group | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 88 | 73 | |
| Year Founded | 2009 | 2006 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 0 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | XM Group | 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) | XM Group | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | XM Group | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1394 | 630 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 55 | 49 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | 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 | XM Group | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.6 | 1.44 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.8 | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | XM Group | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $5 | $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 | XM Group | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | No | 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 | XM Group | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 15 | 15 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | XM Group | 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 | 30 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | XM Group | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | XM Group | 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) | No | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | XM Group | 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 | XM Group Review |
| Overall | XM Group | IFC Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 88 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | XM Group Review |
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