IC Markets vs IQ Broker (2026)
We compared IC Markets and IQ Broker on 5 scored categories and more than 40 data points: costs, regulation, platforms, markets, account opening and the countries each broker accepts. IC Markets wins, but IQ Broker is ahead in ease of use.
By Broksal Team, investing in forex and CFD markets since 2017. Updated . How we test
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Commissions do not affect our rankings. The order reflects the editorial opinion of our authors, and the facts we publish about regulation, fees and country availability come from the brokers' own documents and independent sources.
Our verdict
IC Markets wins, 4–1 on categories
IC Markets takes this comparison with an overall score of 4.6 against 4.1. It is ahead on regulation & safety, trading costs, platforms & tools and range of markets. IQ Broker wins on ease of use. 162 countries can open an account with both.
Winner in each category
Safety & regulation
IC Markets
IC Markets scores 4.5 vs 3.6 for safety.
Cheaper EUR/USD trade
IC Markets
IQ Broker publishes only a minimum spread (from 0.8 pips).
Platforms & tools
IC Markets
IC Markets scores 4.8 vs 4.6.
Range of markets
IC Markets
IC Markets scores 4.4 vs 4.0.
Ease of use
IQ Broker
IQ Broker scores 4.9 vs 4.3.
Lower minimum deposit
IC Markets
IC Markets: From $0 (varies by entity). IQ Broker: $10.
Available in more countries
IC Markets
IC Markets accepts 189 countries, IQ Broker 163.
Scorecard
Each category is scored out of 5; the overall score weights them by importance (methodology).
IC MarketsIQ BrokerFees and trading costs
Published fees, checked 6 October 2026. Sources: IC Markets – account overview; BrokerAnalysis – IQ Broker fees. A tick marks the better value.
| Feature | IC Markets | IQ Broker |
|---|---|---|
| Account compared | Raw Spread (MetaTrader) | Standard |
| EUR/USD spread | 0.1 pipsIC's published average✓ | from 0.8 pipsminimum only; average not published |
| Commission | $7 per lot round turn | None (in the spread) |
| Cost of 1 lot EUR/USDRound turn, spread + commission | $8.00✓ | — |
| Cost of 0.1 lot EUR/USD | $0.80✓ | — |
| Minimum deposit | From $0 (varies by entity)✓ | $10 |
| Withdrawal | Free for most methods; international bank wires around $20 | First withdrawal each month free; bank wires carry a fee |
| Inactivity fee | None✓ | €10/month after 90 days without logging in |
| Currency conversion | Not separately published | Not separately published |
IC Markets fees in brief
Raw Spread accounts charge a commission per lot on top of raw interbank spreads (on MetaTrader it is $3.50 per side per standard lot). The Standard account has no commission and wider spreads. Swaps apply overnight.
IQ Broker fees in brief
CFD costs are built into the spread, with overnight funding on leveraged positions. An inactivity fee is charged after a period without trading.
Safety and regulation
Who regulates each broker and how its company is run. The safety score carries 30% of the overall score.
| Feature | IC Markets | IQ Broker |
|---|---|---|
| FoundedLonger track record wins | 2007✓ | 2013 |
| Headquarters | Sydney, Australia | Limassol, Cyprus |
| Publicly listedListed companies publish audited results | Private | Private |
| Regulators | ASIC (Australia), CySEC, FSA (Seychelles)✓ | CySEC (licence 247/14) |
| Regulated entities | 3 | 2 |
| Offshore entity for some countriesOffshore clients get weaker protection | Yes | Yes |
| Retail CFD accounts losing moneyLowest figure the broker publishes; shown for transparency, not scored | 73.46% | Not published |
IC Markets: regulated entities
- International Capital Markets Pty LtdASIC (Australia)
- IC Markets (EU) LtdCySEC
- Raw Trading Ltd (IC Markets Global)FSA (Seychelles)
Australian residents trade with the ASIC regulated entity and EU residents with the CySEC regulated entity. Most other clients are served by Raw Trading Ltd in the Seychelles, which allows higher leverage and offers lighter protection.
IQ Broker: regulated entities
- IQ Option Europe LtdCySEC (licence 247/14)
- IQ Broker international entityOffshore entity
EEA clients trade with IQ Option Europe Ltd under CySEC supervision, with ESMA leverage limits and negative balance protection. Outside the EEA, clients are served by an offshore entity, so protection is weaker.
Platforms and apps
What you trade on. Click a screenshot to enlarge it.
| Feature | IC Markets | IQ Broker |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader, TradingView | IQ Broker web platform, Desktop app, Mobile app |
| MetaTrader 4 | Yes✓ | No |
| MetaTrader 5 | Yes✓ | No |
| cTrader | Yes✓ | No |
| TradingView | Yes✓ | No |
| Own platform | No | Yes✓ |
| Demo account | Yes | Yes |
| Platform score | 4.8✓ | 4.6 |
| Ease of use score | 4.3 | 4.9✓ |
IC Markets in pictures
IC Markets offers MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader and TradingView. cTrader suits manual scalpers who want depth of market and fast order entry; MetaTrader suits expert advisors.
IQ Broker in pictures
IQ Broker's own platform is the main reason to choose it: clear charts, multi-chart layouts and quick order entry that a beginner can learn in minutes. It lacks MetaTrader, automated trading and in-depth research.
Markets you can trade
“Real asset” means you own the shares, ETFs or coins, or trade exchange-listed options and futures. “CFD” means you only trade the price.
| Feature | IC Markets | IQ Broker |
|---|---|---|
| Forex | CFD | CFD |
| Stock indices | CFD | CFD |
| Commodities | CFD | CFD |
| Stocks | CFD | CFD |
| ETFs | No | CFD✓ |
| Crypto | CFD | CFD |
| Options | No | No |
| Futures | CFD✓ | No |
| Bonds | CFD✓ | No |
| Asset classes | 7 of 9✓ | 6 of 9 |
| CFDs offered | Yes | Yes |
IC Markets lists: Forex, Indices, Commodities, Stock CFDs, Bond CFDs, Futures CFDs, Crypto CFDs.
IQ Broker lists: Forex CFDs, Stock CFDs, Crypto CFDs, Commodity CFDs, Index & ETF CFDs.
Opening an account, funding and support
How the first steps compare.
| Feature | IC Markets | IQ Broker |
|---|---|---|
| Opening an account | Online application with ID and address checks. The minimum deposit depends on the entity: an independent July 2026 review found $0 at the Seychelles entity, while other entities have asked for $200. | Quick sign-up with email. You must verify your identity before your first withdrawal. The minimum deposit is $10 and the demo account is reloadable. |
| Deposits & withdrawals | Cards, bank wire, e-wallets and, at the global entity, crypto. Most withdrawals are free; international bank wires cost around $20. | Cards, e-wallets and bank transfer depending on your region. Reports say the first withdrawal each month is free and bank wires carry a fee. |
| Customer support | IC advertises dedicated support seven days a week on its EU website. | In-app chat and email. |
Where each broker accepts clients
The best broker is one that will open an account for you. Counts are based on each broker's published country lists.
| Feature | IC Markets | IQ Broker |
|---|---|---|
| EU & EEA | 30 of 30✓ | 25 of 30 |
| United Kingdom | 1 of 1✓ | 0 of 1 |
| Gulf & Middle East | 14 of 14✓ | 13 of 14 |
| Rest of Europe | 15 of 15✓ | 9 of 15 |
| Africa | 49 of 49✓ | 42 of 49 |
| Asia | 35 of 39✓ | 30 of 39 |
| Americas | 32 of 35✓ | 31 of 35 |
| Oceania | 13 of 14 | 13 of 14 |
| All countries | 189 of 197✓ | 163 of 197 |
Only IC Markets (27)
🇦🇫 Afghanistan, 🇦🇱 Albania, 🇦🇺 Australia, 🇧🇾 Belarus, 🇧🇪 Belgium, 🇰🇲 Comoros, 🇨🇿 Czech Republic, 🇨🇩 DR Congo, 🇪🇷 Eritrea, 🇪🇹 Ethiopia, 🇭🇹 Haiti, 🇯🇵 Japan, 🇱🇻 Latvia, 🇱🇾 Libya, 🇲🇱 Mali, 🇲🇲 Myanmar, 🇵🇸 Palestine, 🇵🇹 Portugal and 9 more
Only IQ Broker (1)
Both available in 162 countries. Find your country's ranking
Pros and cons
IC Markets
Pros
- Raw Spread accounts with low commissions
- Four platforms, including cTrader and TradingView
- ASIC and CySEC regulated entities
- Popular with automated and high-volume traders
- Rebranded to IC in 2026; same regulated entities
Cons
- Not available in the US, Canada, Israel or New Zealand
- Minimum deposit depends on the entity you are assigned
- Thin education and research compared with XTB or IBKR
IQ Broker
Pros
- $10 minimum deposit and a reloadable demo account
- Very easy proprietary platform on web, desktop and mobile
- CySEC regulated entity for EEA clients
Cons
- No MetaTrader, limited research tools
- Not available in the US, UK, Canada, Australia and several EU countries
- Clients outside the EEA are served by a lightly regulated entity
Which one should you choose?
Choose IC Markets if…
- Best for: Cost-sensitive and algorithmic traders
- regulation & safety, trading costs, platforms & tools and range of markets matter most to you
- Raw Spread accounts with low commissions
- Four platforms, including cTrader and TradingView
Skip IC Markets if…
- you are a beginner who wants courses and a simple app
- you live in the US, Canada, Israel or New Zealand
- you want to buy and hold real shares rather than trade CFDs
Choose IQ Broker if…
- Best for: Beginners who want a very simple app and a small first deposit
- ease of use matters most to you
- $10 minimum deposit and a reloadable demo account
- Very easy proprietary platform on web, desktop and mobile
Skip IQ Broker if…
- you live in the UK, US, Canada, Australia or another excluded country
- you live outside the EEA and would be served by the offshore entity, which has regulator alerts in Malaysia, Singapore and India
- you want MetaTrader or detailed research
IC Markets vs IQ Broker: questions
Is IC Markets better than IQ Broker?
IC Markets wins our comparison with an overall score of 4.6 out of 5 against 4.1 for IQ Broker, and it comes out ahead in 4 of 5 categories (regulation & safety, trading costs, platforms & tools and range of markets). IQ Broker is still the better choice if ease of use matters most to you.
Which is cheaper, IC Markets or IQ Broker?
IQ Broker does not publish an average EUR/USD spread, so the costs cannot be compared on the same trade. Compare the fee summaries above instead.
Is IC Markets or IQ Broker safer?
IC Markets scores 4.5 and IQ Broker 3.6 for regulation and safety. IC Markets is regulated by ASIC (Australia), CySEC and FSA (Seychelles); IQ Broker by CySEC (licence 247/14). Neither is publicly listed.
Which has the lower minimum deposit?
IC Markets: From $0 (varies by entity). IQ Broker: $10.
Can I open accounts with both IC Markets and IQ Broker?
Residents of 162 countries can open an account with both. 27 countries are served only by IC Markets and 1 only by IQ Broker. Your country's ranking shows which brokers accept you.
Do IC Markets and IQ Broker offer MetaTrader?
IC Markets: yes (MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader, TradingView). IQ Broker: no (IQ Broker web platform, Desktop app, Mobile app).
More comparisons
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Most retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. Consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. Each broker publishes its own current loss percentage on its website.