IC MARKETS
FULL REVIEW 2026

Overview

IC Markets is one of the world's largest true ECN brokers, consistently offering some of the tightest spreads in the forex industry. Founded in 2007 and headquartered in Sydney, Australia, IC Markets is regulated by ASIC — one of the most respected financial regulators globally.

For VIP signal traders who execute manually, IC Markets offers a significant cost advantage. Raw spreads on EURUSD regularly hit 0.0 pips during the London and New York sessions, meaning your entry and exit prices are virtually identical to the signal levels we provide.

IC Markets processes an average of over 500,000 trades per day with an average execution speed of 40 milliseconds — among the fastest in the retail broker space.

Key Information

Leverage is shown as the retail cap set by the named regulator. A different group entity may offer more offshore, and a wholesale client may legitimately be offered more again.

Spreads & Trading Costs

IC Markets offers two main account types with different cost structures:

Raw Spread Account — Spreads from 0.0 pips + $3.50 commission per lot per side ($7 round trip). This is the better value for most signal traders. Average EURUSD spread during active sessions: 0.1 pips. Average XAUUSD spread: 0.5-1.0 pips. Total cost per standard lot on EURUSD: approximately $7.10 (commission + spread).

Standard Account — Spreads from 0.8 pips, no commission. Simpler pricing but typically more expensive overall. Average EURUSD spread: 0.8-1.0 pips. Total cost per standard lot: approximately $8-10 (spread only).

For signal trading, the Raw Spread account is almost always the better choice — the total cost is lower despite the commission, and you get more precise entries.

Platforms & Execution

Platforms: IC Markets supports MT4, MT5, cTrader, and has recently added TradingView integration. All platforms connect to the same ECN liquidity pool. For our signals, MT5 is recommended as it offers faster execution and more timeframes than MT4.

Execution: Average execution speed is 40ms with no dealing desk intervention. Orders are filled directly against the ECN liquidity pool. No requotes. Slippage is minimal and symmetrical (positive slippage occurs as often as negative).

Withdrawals: Processing takes 1-3 business days depending on the method. Bank wire takes longest, e-wallets are typically fastest. No withdrawal fees from IC Markets. PayPal and cryptocurrency withdrawals are also supported — a nice convenience feature not available at all brokers.

Support: 24/7 live chat and email. Phone support available during AEST business hours. Response times are generally good but can be slower during peak hours compared to XM.

Account Types & Fees

Raw Spread Account — Spreads from 0.0 pips with $3.50 per lot commission per side ($7 round trip). Best option for VIP signal traders — lowest total cost. Average EURUSD spread: 0.1 pips during London/NY sessions.

Standard Account — Spreads from 0.8 pips, zero commission. Simpler cost structure but slightly higher total cost per trade.

cTrader Account — Spreads from 0.0 pips with $3 per lot commission per side. Slightly cheaper than Raw Spread but requires cTrader platform.

Deposits, Withdrawals & Support

Deposits: No fees. Supports credit/debit card, bank wire, Skrill, Neteller, PayPal, and crypto (USDT, BTC). Card and e-wallet deposits are instant.

Withdrawals: Processed within 1-3 business days. No withdrawal fees from IC Markets. E-wallet withdrawals typically same day.

Customer Support: 24/7 live chat, email, and phone. Response times under 5 minutes during market hours. ASIC regulation provides strong client fund protection with segregated accounts.

All 10 Brokers Compared

Every broker we review, side by side. Spread and commission are shown separately because a headline “0.0 pips” means nothing on its own — the commission beside it is what you actually pay. Figures are the raw or ECN account where one exists, checked August 2026.

Broker	Platforms	Min dep	EUR/USD spread	Commission	Max leverage	Regulator	US	EU
IC Markets Australia · est 2007 · ● HERE	MT4MT5cTTV	$200	0.0 pips	$7 RT	1:30 retail ASIC · 1:500 offshore	ASIC	No	Yes
Pepperstone Australia · est 2010	MT4MT5cTTV	$0 ▲	0.0 pips	$7 RT ($6 cT)	1:30 retail ASIC · 1:500 offshore	FCA · ASIC · CySEC	No	Yes
FP Markets Australia · est 2005	MT4MT5cTTV	$100	0.0 pips	$6 RT ▲	1:30 retail ASIC · 1:500 offshore	ASIC · CySEC	No	Yes
Eightcap Australia · est 2009	MT4MT5cTTV	$100	0.0 pips	$7 RT	1:30 retail ASIC · 1:500 offshore	ASIC	No	Check
TMGM Australia · est 2013	MT4MT5cTTV	$100	0.0 pips	$7 RT	1:30 retail ASIC · 1:500 offshore	ASIC	No	Check
Vantage Australia · est 2009	MT4MT5cTTV	$50	0.0 pips	$6 RT ▲	1:30 retail ASIC · 1:500 offshore	ASIC	No	Yes
XM Cyprus · est 2009	MT4MT5cTTV	$5	0.6 pips	None	1:30 retail CySEC · 1:1000 offshore	CySEC · ASIC	No	Yes
IG United Kingdom · est 1974	MT4MT5cTTV	~$0	0.6–0.9 pips	None	1:30 retail FCA	FCA + 7 more ▲	FX only	Yes
Interactive Brokers United States · est 1978	MT4MT5cTTV	$0	institutional	per notional	1:50 retail US	SEC · FINRA + 4 ▲	No	Yes
eToro Israel / UK · est 2007	MT4MT5cTTV	~$50	1.0+ pips	None	1:30 retail CySEC	FCA · CySEC · ASIC	No CFDs	Yes

LEVERAGE NOTE: ASIC caps retail CFD leverage at 30:1 on major FX pairs, 20:1 on minor pairs, gold and major indices, and 10:1 on other commodities (Product Intervention Order, in force since 29 March 2021). CySEC and the FCA apply the same 30:1 major-pair cap. Higher figures shown here are offered by these brokers’ offshore entities, which sit outside those regimes and outside the investor-protection schemes that come with them. Check which entity is opening your account before you rely on any leverage figure.

Platforms: a lit chip means the platform is offered. ▲ marks the best figure in that column — on cost, lower is better, and spread and commission must be read together. Maximum leverage is the tier-1 regulated figure — offshore entities of the same brand often advertise more, with weaker protection. “Check” means availability depends on your country of residence and the entity that onboards you, so confirm before funding. Costs move with market conditions; the figure on your own account is the only real one.