IC Markets Review 2026

Regulation

IC Markets operates through several regulated companies, so the legal entity covering an account depends on the trader's country of residence. International Capital Markets Pty Ltd is regulated in Australia by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission under AFSL 335692. IC Markets (EU) Ltd is regulated by the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission under license 362/18.

The Global operation is provided through Raw Trading Ltd, which is regulated by the Seychelles Financial Services Authority under Securities Dealer license SD018. IC Markets Ltd is also regulated by the Securities Commission of The Bahamas under license SIA-F214. These entities do not provide identical leverage limits or investor protection, so traders should check which company will hold their account during registration.

How You Are Protected

IC Markets keeps client money separate from its own operating capital through segregated client accounts. Under the Global entity, client funds are held in segregated accounts with top-tier banking institutions. This separation means client deposits are handled separately from money used for the broker's normal business operations.

Negative balance protection applies to eligible retail clients, but the exact protection depends on the regulatory entity and client classification. Professional and wholesale clients can receive different treatment. The European entity also participates in the Cyprus Investor Compensation Fund. Eligible clients can receive compensation of up to $23,000 per person if the regulated investment firm is unable to meet its financial obligations. This additional compensation scheme applies to eligible clients of IC Markets (EU) Ltd rather than to every IC Markets account worldwide.

Spreads

IC Markets uses floating spreads. Raw Spread accounts offer spreads from 0.0 pips, while Standard account spreads start from around 0.8 pips.

Listed average spreads include approximately 1.0 pips on the EUR/USD, 1.3 pips on GBP/USD, 1.6 pips on gold, and 0.6 points on the S&P 500 CFD.

Commissions

Standard accounts do not charge a separate trading commission because costs are included in the spread.

Raw Spread accounts on MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 charge $3.50 per standard lot per side, or $7 round turn. cTrader Raw Spread accounts charge $3 per lot per side, or $6 round turn.

US stock CFDs generally carry a commission of $0.02 per share. Other stock CFD commissions may be calculated as a percentage of the trade value.

Swap Fees

Positions held overnight may receive swap charges depending on the instrument and trade direction. Triple swaps apply on Wednesdays for Forex and metals and on Fridays for most other CFDs.

Swap-free accounts are available to eligible clients. Certain instruments may instead carry fixed daily holding or administrative fees.

Non-Trading Fees

IC Markets does not charge deposit, withdrawal, or inactivity fees.

Currency conversion costs may apply when transactions involve a currency different from the account's base currency. Transfers between accounts or wallets with different base currencies may carry conversion costs of approximately 1%–1.5% above the prevailing exchange rate. External banks and payment providers may also charge separate fees.

Deposit Methods

IC Markets provides a broad selection of account funding methods. Current Global options include credit and debit cards, PayPal, Neteller, Skrill, UnionPay, wire transfer, Bpay, POLI, Rapidpay, Klarna, local internet banking methods, broker-to-broker transfers, and cryptocurrency deposits. Cryptocurrency funding supports BTC, ETH, USDC, and USDT.

Many electronic methods are processed instantly. Credit and debit cards, PayPal, Neteller, Skrill, UnionPay, POLI, and cryptocurrency deposits are listed with instant processing, while wire transfers generally take 2 to 5 business days. IC Markets does not charge an internal deposit fee, although banks and payment providers can apply their own charges. Available methods and supported currencies vary by country and regulatory entity.

Deposit Fees and Processing Time

IC Markets does not charge any internal deposit fees, allowing traders to fund their accounts without additional broker charges. Deposit processing times depend on the selected payment method. Credit and debit card payments, cryptocurrency deposits, and most e-wallet transactions are processed instantly, while SEPA bank transfers usually take 1–2 business days to complete. External fees from banks or payment providers may still apply depending on the chosen funding method and location.

Withdrawal Methods

IC Markets supports withdrawals through bank transfers, credit and debit cards, and supported e-wallets such as Neteller, Skrill, and PayPal. The withdrawal method normally needs to follow the funding source used for the original deposit.

Card withdrawals normally take 3 to 5 business days after processing, although the receiving bank can take up to 10 business days in some cases. International bank wire transfers can take longer and may require up to 14 days. IC Markets does not normally charge an internal withdrawal fee, but intermediary banks, receiving banks, or payment providers can apply their own charges. Withdrawal availability also depends on the client's country, payment history, and regulatory entity.

Withdrawal Fees and Processing Time

IC Markets does not apply internal withdrawal fees, although third-party charges may be applied by banks or payment providers. Withdrawal processing times vary depending on the payment method used. Bank wire withdrawals generally take 2–5 business days, card withdrawals usually require around 3–5 business days, and cryptocurrency withdrawals can be completed in approximately two hours after processing. Traders should use the same payment method where possible to ensure smoother withdrawal processing.

Forex

Forex leverage can reach up to 1:1000 for eligible clients. Retail traders operating under stricter regulatory frameworks may face lower leverage limits.

Indices

Index CFDs can offer leverage of up to 1:200, depending on the account entity and applicable regulatory restrictions.

Commodities

Commodity CFDs include metals, energies, and soft commodities. Spot metals can offer leverage of up to 1:1000, while soft commodities may offer leverage of up to 1:100. Margin requirements for certain energy products can vary.

Bonds

Bond CFDs can be traded with leverage of up to 1:200 under eligible account conditions.

Stocks

Stock CFDs can offer leverage of up to 1:20. Limits may vary by stock, jurisdiction, and account conditions.

Cryptocurrencies

Cryptocurrency CFDs can offer leverage of up to 1:200. Available leverage may change according to position size, market conditions, and regulatory requirements.

Trading Platforms

IC Markets provides access to some of the most widely used trading platforms in the Forex industry, including MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader, TradingView, and WebTrader. These platforms are available across desktop computers, web browsers, Android devices, and iOS devices, giving traders flexibility when managing their accounts. The broker does not offer a proprietary trading platform and instead focuses on established third-party platforms known for advanced charting, automated trading support, and professional trading tools. MetaTrader platforms are popular among Expert Advisor users, while cTrader and TradingView provide additional options for traders who prefer advanced chart analysis and modern interfaces.

Trading Tools

Available trading features include Expert Advisors, scripts, cBots, depth of market, advanced order types, VWAP tools, copy trading, and low-latency execution infrastructure.

API trading is supported through options including FIX API and cTrader Open API. Copy and social trading solutions include IC Social, cTrader Copy, MetaTrader Signals, ZuluTrade, Myfxbook AutoTrade, and Signal Start.

VPS hosting is also available for traders running automated strategies, with sponsored VPS access available to qualifying active traders.

Account Types

IC Markets offers several account types designed for different trading styles and experience levels. The main options include the Standard Account, Raw Spread Account, and cTrader Raw Spread Account, with each providing different pricing structures. The Standard Account uses commission-free pricing, while Raw Spread accounts are designed for traders who prefer spreads from 0.0 pips with a separate commission. The broker also provides Islamic accounts for eligible clients who require swap-free trading conditions. All account types provide access to popular trading platforms, including MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader, and TradingView, depending on the selected account.

How to Open an Account

1. Register for a live IC Markets account and provide your personal and contact details.
2. Select your preferred account type and trading platform.
3. Complete the required KYC and AML verification process.
4. Provide a valid government-issued photo ID, such as a passport, national ID card, or driver's license.
5. Submit recent proof of residence, such as a utility bill, bank statement, or tax statement, typically issued within the previous 3–6 months.
6. Once your account is verified, make the required initial deposit of $200.
7. Log in to your selected trading platform and start trading.

Channels Variety and Availability

IC Markets provides customer support 24/7 through live chat, email, and phone. Support is available in multiple languages, including English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Thai, Vietnamese, Russian, and several others, making assistance accessible to an international client base.

Response Time

Live chat is the fastest support option, with listed response times of around 2–3 minutes. Email responses take approximately 10 minutes, while phone support generally takes around 10–15 minutes.

Quality

IC Markets offers a solid level of customer support with round-the-clock availability, several contact methods, and broad language coverage. Live chat is the most convenient option for traders who need relatively quick assistance.

Market Research

IC Markets offers a solid range of market research tools designed to help traders follow market movements and prepare their trading decisions. The broker provides IC Insights, which includes market analysis and trading updates covering major financial markets. Traders can also access Trading Central tools, an economic calendar, Forex calculators, market forecasts, and regular articles through the IC Markets trading blog. These resources cover important market events, technical analysis ideas, and fundamental factors that can influence currency pairs and other CFD instruments.

Educational Resources

IC Markets provides educational materials suitable for both beginner and experienced traders who want to improve their market knowledge. The broker offers webinars, tutorial videos, Web TV content, podcasts, a Help Center, and a detailed trading glossary. The educational section covers practical topics such as platform usage, trading tools, and account features, as well as broader subjects including Forex strategies, technical analysis, and risk management. These resources help traders understand the trading process and become more familiar with professional trading conditions.

Welcome Bonus

IC Markets may offer welcome bonuses to eligible clients in selected regions. Available promotions can include a bonus of up to 100% of the first deposit, although eligibility and availability depend on the client's jurisdiction and the active promotional campaign.

Deposit Bonus

Eligible promotions may include a 100% first-deposit bonus and a 50% reload bonus, with total bonus credit of up to $25,000. Bonus funds are generally provided as trading credit and cannot be withdrawn directly, while profits generated through trading may be withdrawn subject to the applicable terms and conditions.

No-Deposit Bonus

IC Markets does not list a standard no-deposit bonus. Promotional offers can change and may only be available to clients registered under eligible entities and jurisdictions.

Affiliate Program

IC Markets offers affiliate and partnership programs with CPA and revenue-share commission models. CPA payouts can reach up to $600 per qualified client, while partners receive access to tracking links, analytics, marketing materials, and an integrated dashboard. Introducing Broker and Regional Partner programs are also available.

IC Markets remains a strong choice for active Forex traders, scalpers, algorithmic traders, and high-volume clients who put spreads and execution quality near the top of their checklist. Raw Spread pricing starts from 0.0 pips, and the MetaTrader Raw Spread account charges $3.50 per lot per side, or $7.00 per lot round turn. The cTrader Raw Spread account charges $3.00 per $100,000 traded per side. Traders who prefer a simpler cost structure can use the Standard account, which has no separate Forex trading commission and spreads starting from 0.8 pips.

The platform selection is another major advantage. MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 suit Forex traders using Expert Advisors and automated systems, while cTrader offers strong order management and C# based automation. TradingView adds advanced browser-based charting, and WebTrader makes it possible to access an account without installing desktop software. Copy trading, API access, VPS hosting, scalping, hedging, and automated strategies are also supported under applicable account conditions.

Trading conditions are not identical across the IC Markets group. The Global MetaTrader standard and raw spread accounts currently offer leverage up to 1:5000, while cTrader and TradingView accounts offer up to 1:1000. Australian retail accounts are limited to lower leverage such as 1:30, and the Bahamas entity offers up to 1:200. Investor compensation, negative balance protection, swap-free access, payment methods, and other account features also depend on the regulatory entity. For that reason, the account type and legal entity should be checked together before opening and funding a live account.