IC Markets (ICM) is a Forex and CFD broker that provides direct access to the ECN market with liquidity from over 50 companies and banking institutions. The company's clients are high-volume traders, scalpers, and those who enjoy trading with expert advisors.

Let's consider the advantageous conditions offered by the broker. This material is intended to assist traders in deciding whether to choose IC Markets as their intermediary for trading or to continue their search.

IC Markets Broker Overview

In 2007, a group of professional financiers aimed to bridge the gap between trading conditions offered to retail and institutional clients in Sydney, Australia by creating a new broker. This broker provides all clients access to high liquidity, tight spreads, and fast transaction execution.

IC Markets Review Summary

In our broker reviews, we meticulously apply our broker evaluation methodology, ensuring objectivity and reliability in our analysis. This helps our readers understand the broker's strengths and weaknesses, offerings and services, and how well it meets their needs and preferences.

We are committed to ensuring that our reviews are as detailed and informative as possible, so continue reading to learn more about the opportunities that IC Markets broker offers.

Legal Entity	Regulator	Review
Raw Trading Ltd Raw Trading Ltd	SFSA SFSA	Current review
International Capital Markets Pty Ltd International Capital Markets Pty Ltd	ASIC ASIC	IC Markets AU review
IC Markets (EU) Ltd IC Markets (EU) Ltd	CySEC CySEC	IC Markets EU review

IC Markets is regulated by several authoritative bodies, ensuring that it is a legitimate and safe broker for traders. It adheres to the strict standards of the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), along with oversight from CySEC in Cyprus and SFSA in the Seychelles. This multi-jurisdictional regulation confirms that IC Markets is a credible and secure platform for trading.

Client funds are held separately from the company’s operational funds in top-tier Australian banks, specifically Westpac and National Australia Bank (NAB), ensuring that IC Markets operates with integrity and safety. Only clients have the authority to manage these funds for their trading activities.

Moreover, IC Markets enhances the safety of its client's assets by securing insurance with Lloyds of London, one of the world's leading insurance companies, adding an extra layer of protection for traders’ accounts.

The account opening process at IC Markets is well-thought-out, transparent, and elaborately detailed, providing convenience and ease for clients at all registration stages. It consists of four clearly defined steps: entering personal information, selecting the type of account and currency, indicating trading experience, and completing the verification procedure.

The entire process is detailed and presented step-by-step, making it simple and understandable for beginners. Although the verification procedure does require some effort to provide income information and trading experience, as well as to upload document scans, these steps are crucial for ensuring security and compliance with regulations. The broker strives to facilitate this process by providing detailed instructions and examples of documents required for verification.

The speed of the process largely depends on the client, but thanks to a straightforward and intuitive interface, opening an account won’t take much time.

However, there is a drawback: compared to IC Markets' competitors, the high minimum deposit of 200 US dollars may deter many novice traders.

Open an Account with IC Markets

Trader's personal account access is available on any website page via the general toolbar at the top or through the link secure.icmarkets.com.

Within the account, you can deposit and withdraw funds and download the necessary trading platforms.

To open an account and register for a personal cabinet, you can fill out forms in 4 steps. In the first registration stage, you enter your first and last name, email address, phone number, and country of current residence.

In the second stage, you must select the type of account and fill out forms with your date of birth and residential or registration address.

The third stage involves choosing a trading platform, the type of trading account, and the account's base currency.

In the final registration stage, you must indicate your trading experience, set a secret question and answer, and review and confirm the account opening application.

Once registration is completed, access to your account is sent to the email you provided.

Now, you can open trading, demo accounts, deposit, and withdraw funds. Don’t forget to thoroughly verify your account before trading, as this may assist you in the event of a dispute in the future.

Verification

To verify your account, you must complete a questionnaire about your income.

Next, you must fill in details about your trading experience in Forex, CFDs, or derivatives.

The last step is to upload scans or photos of documents that verify your identity and place of residence.

Documents for Identity Verification:

• Passport

• International passport

• Driver's license

Documents for Address Verification:

• Utility bill

• Telephone or internet bill

• Bank statement

These steps are designed to comply with regulatory requirements and ensure your account's and transactions' security.

IC Markets Minimum Deposit

When opening an account with IC Markets, a vital consideration is the minimum deposit. The broker has set a reasonably accessible requirement - the minimum amount to deposit is 200 US dollars. This makes IC Markets attractive to investors of different capital levels, including those just starting their journey in financial market trading.

IC Markets offers its clients a range of trading account options most suitable for experienced and professional traders. The broker provides ECN accounts, allowing clients to trade with direct market quotes and to copy trades of other successful traders. Access to VPS service is another significant advantage. However, it is essential to note that IC Markets does not offer cent accounts or accounts with fixed spreads. Details about each account type and its features are discussed further in our review.

IC Markets Trading Accounts

IC Markets offers three types of trading accounts to cater to traders with varying experience levels.

The Standard account is designed for beginners and traders who prefer discretionary or intuitive trading. Hence, the account does not involve any commissions.

For more experienced market participants who prefer to use expert advisors and engage in scalping, the Raw Spread account type is the optimal choice.

The Raw Spread cTrader account is specifically developed for trading on the cTrader platform and is suitable for scalpers and day traders. It charges a commission of 3 US dollars. Unlike the previous account types, the cTrader account does not include access to a VPS service.

All accounts offer one-click trading service and access to a VPS server.

VPS

IC Markets offers a robust Virtual Private Server (VPS) service to facilitate seamless user trading. The VPS service, which begins at $30 per month, is free to traders who meet specific monthly trading criteria. This includes a minimum volume of trading in Forex and Metals. The subscription is automatically cancelled if this minimum is not met for two consecutive months.

ForexVPS

• Activation Time: 5 Minutes.
• Features: 1-millisecond latency to IC Markets Global live server, multi-lingual customer support available 24/7, pre-installed IC Markets Global MetaTrader 4.
• Note: Only trading volume in Forex and Metals counts towards the sponsored VPS service qualification.

IC VPS Plans

Demo Account

The IC Markets demo account offers an excellent opportunity to practice trading in the Forex market without the risk of losing personal funds. To open a training account, complete the registration form with all data entered in Latin letters.

If you already have a demo account with this broker, you can open a second one by specifying a new email address in the application.

Islamic Account

IC Markets pays particular attention to the needs of Muslim traders by offering the option of opening an Islamic trading account. These accounts comply with Sharia principles as they exclude the accrual of swaps, making them especially suitable for Muslims who observe the prohibition of riba (the receipt or payment of interest). Islamic accounts are available on the MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, and cTrader platforms for both Raw Spread and Standard account types.

A vital feature of the Islamic account is the absence of swaps, meaning no interest is credited or debited for carrying positions overnight. Instead, a fixed daily charge is applied, the amount of which can vary depending on the current market conditions. This enables traders to keep their positions open for several days without violating Islamic financial principles.

Copy Trading

One of the significant advantages of the IC Markets broker is the ability to copy trades. For this purpose, the broker provides access to Forex copy trading platforms such as IC Social, Autotrade, and ZuluTrade. These platforms allow their users to copy the trades of successful traders, which significantly eases the trading process and reduces risks, especially for beginners.

More details about the functionality and features of these platforms can be found in the "Trading Platforms" section of our review. You will find information to help you choose the most suitable platform for copy trading according to your needs and preferences.

IC Markets has low commissions. Transaction fees on ECN accounts and spreads are acceptable to most traders, and the lack of fees for deposits/withdrawals and account inactivity is a significant advantage.

Trading Fees

Trading commissions are an integral part of working with a broker. IC Markets offers a transparent system that consists of transaction fees and spreads.

Commission per lot

The transaction fee is a fixed charge the broker levies on each trade conducted on the trading account.

IC Markets charges a commission on both Raw Spread cTrader and Raw Spread accounts. For each lot on the Raw Spread cTrader account, a fee of 3 dollars is assessed, and on the Raw Spread account, the fee is 3.5 dollars. These are average commissions in the market.

Below is the commission per lot for the EURUSD pair at different Forex brokers.

Spreads

Spreads represent the difference between the bid and ask quotes of a currency pair or another financial instrument. It is another way brokers earn from their services.

IC Markets offers very low spreads. The table below presents the average spreads for IC Markets for major currency pairs.

It's important to note that spreads can vary depending on current market conditions and liquidity.

Swap fees should also be considered for long-term trading. This is a charge or credit for carrying an open position to the next trading day. Swaps vary for different currency pairs and depend on the type of position—long or short.

The cost of swaps at IC Markets is also highly competitive, making the broker attractive to traders who prefer long-term trading strategies.

IC Markets provides many options for depositing and withdrawing funds, but it's important to consider possible fees from banks and payment systems and specific withdrawal method restrictions.

Account Funding Methods

The broker advises conducting deposits and withdrawals through the trader's cabinet to expedite the funds' crediting process.

Payment System	Currencies	Deposit Fee	Operation Limit
PayPal	USDEURGBP. . .show all	0%	—
Neteller	USDEURGBP. . .show all	0%	—
Skrill	USDEURGBP. . .show all	0%	—
Bpay	AUD	0%	—
FasaPay	USD	0%	—
Klarna	EURGBP	0%	—
Swift	USDEURGBP. . .show all	0%	—
SEPA	EUR	0%	—
Visa	USDEURGBP. . .show all	0%	—
Mastercard	USDEURGBP. . .show all	0%	—
UnionPay	CNY	0%	—
POLi	AUD	0%	—
Rapidpay	EURGBP	0%	—

Withdrawal Methods

Payment System	Currencies	Withdrawal Fee	Operation Limit
PayPal	USDEURGBP. . .show all	0%	—
Skrill	USDEURGBP. . .show all	0% limitscommission limits	—
Neteller	USDEURGBP. . .show all	0%	—
Swift	USDEURGBP. . .show all	0%+ 20 AUD limitscommission limits	—
Mastercard	USDEURGBP. . .show all	0% limitscommission limits	—
Visa	USDEURGBP. . .show all	0% limitscommission limits	—
UnionPay	CNY	0% limitscommission limits	—

Withdrawal requests are processed until 16:00 GMT in winter and 17:00 GMT in summer. If a request is submitted after this time, it will be processed the next business day.

For withdrawals via bank transfer, the fee is 20 Australian dollars.

You can only withdraw funds via bank transfer if you deposited funds through systems like Skrill, Fasapay, Poli, Bpay, Rapidpay, or Klarna.

If you withdraw funds to a bank card, use the same card used for the deposit.

Please note that to ensure the security of your funds, all withdrawal requests require additional confirmation. You can do this by clicking the "Confirm withdrawal" button in the email you receive after submitting the withdrawal request in the personal cabinet.

IC Markets offers various trading instruments, including currency pairs, Contracts for Difference (CFDs) on metals, energy resources, commodities, indices, stocks, bonds, and cryptocurrencies. This variety enables traders with different interests and strategies to find suitable instruments for their trading needs. It's also noteworthy that the maximum leverage is relatively high (on IC Markets Global), particularly for currency pairs and specific commodities.

What markets are available?

Leverage

IC Markets provides compelling and functional trading platforms suitable for various categories of traders.

The advantages of trading on IC Markets' terminals include:

1. Choice of platforms. The broker allows its clients to work on popular and functional platforms, such as MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, and cTrader. Users also have the option to synchronize their Raw Spread cTrader account with the TradingView online platform. This variety allows traders to choose the platform that best suits their needs and trading style.

2. Mobile Trading. With mobile versions available for iPhone, iPad, Android, Mac, and Windows, traders can monitor their trades and respond to market changes from anywhere.

3. Web Versions. For clients who prefer not to download the trading platform, IC Markets offers web versions of MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, and cTrader, which is convenient for those who like to work through a browser.

4. Automated and Social Trading. IC Markets provides automated and social trading tools like AutoTrade and ZuluTrade. This allows traders, especially beginners, to study the strategies of successful traders and copy their trades.

5. Control and Transparency. Systems like AutoTrade offer traders complete control over their accounts, commission transparency, and access to signal provider statistics.

6. Specific Services for Large Market Participants. IC Markets offers FIX API for institutional clients, indicating the broker's flexibility and versatility.

MetaTrader 4 and 5

The broker allows clients with Standard and Raw Spread accounts to work on the most popular and functional MetaTrader platform (MT4 and MT5) with a wide range of instruments and a user-friendly interface. The company's website provides downloadable desktop versions of the terminal and software for iPhone, iPad, Android, Mac, and Windows. If clients prefer not to download the trading platform, web versions of MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 are available on the IC Markets website.

cTrader

The cTrader terminal is a product developed by Spotware Systems Ltd, created explicitly for trading in the Forex market and based on the ECN environment.

In addition to the desktop platform cAlgo and mobile versions for Android or iOS, traders can use cTrader Web, which doesn’t require software installation on a computer and allows for trading directly through a web browser.

TradingView

TradingView is a financial market analysis and trading platform popular among traders due to its powerful data visualization tools and broad functionality. Users can create and use detailed charts, follow market trends, and communicate with other traders via a built-in social network. TradingView is available both as a web version and as an app for mobile devices and tablets. This platform is ideal for those who are looking for in-depth analysis and want to take advantage of advanced trading strategies.

IC Social

IC Social is an innovative social trading application developed in collaboration with Pelican Trading, designed to enhance your trading experience.

IC Social integrates all the essential functions on a single platform. By connecting your IC Markets MT4 account, you can trade within a community.

The application is available on mobile devices for both Android and iOS platforms.

Copy Trading

A key feature of IC Social is the copy trading function. It allows users to analyze, learn, share, and replicate the strategies of other traders within the IC Social network.

The application also provides excellent risk management tools for copy trading and the ability to exchange instant messages, enabling discussions and sharing ideas with other traders.

Trading Signals

Furthermore, there is an option to trade based on signals. Traders can choose whether to provide trading signals, such as entry price, date, and time of entry.

Social Trading

You can access professional traders and trading communities through IC Social, allowing you to monitor and analyze their activity.

One of the unique features is the ability to engage in reverse trading, which allows you to challenge friends to a trading duel or to pit your trades against theirs in real time.

Within the app, you can follow the activity of others or create your trading group. You can receive real-time updates, interact with other users' profiles, and view monthly earnings, profitability, traded markets, and more.

How to Start Using IC Social

To start using IC Social, you must create an IC Markets account and upload the necessary documents, such as identification and proof of residence. Once approved, you can connect your MT4 trading account to IC Social and begin trading. Choose your preferred trader from a vast collection and start your copy trading experience.

Copy Trading Platforms

If you prefer not to engage in active trading, you can still earn on Forex through investing. IC Markets offers several tools: Signal Start for copy trading and ZuluTrade for social trading.

Signal Start

Signal Start is an integrated copy trading service offered by IC Markets that stands out for its simplicity and effectiveness.

Critical aspects of the platform include:

• User Interface. Signal Start has an intuitive interface that makes it easy for users to find successful traders and quickly set up trade copying.

• Customer Support. 24/7 support via chat and email is a significant advantage, especially for new users who may need assistance with initial questions or technical issues.

• Technological Component. Using proprietary advanced technologies ensures that the copy trading process is fast and seamless, critical for maintaining synchronization with the chosen signals.

• Mobile Optimization. The ability to access the service from any device meets the needs of modern traders who are often on the move.

• Analytics. Using Myfxbook analytics for standard account analysis adds transparency and allows users to monitor the effectiveness of their investments.

• Connection and Compatibility. Constant connection to the account and the ability to copy signals on various platforms, such as MT4 and MT5, provide flexibility and versatility.

ZuluTrade

ZuluTrade is a social trading platform with over 100,000 traders who share their trading signals free of charge.

Advantages of ZuluTrade:

• Zulu Rank: A sophisticated algorithm that ranks signal providers, helping users identify the top performers and make informed decisions.
• Zulu Guard: A tool designed to protect your account by monitoring and safeguarding against volatile trading strategies or erratic traders.
• Simulation: Offers the ability to simulate the trading strategy of a signal provider, allowing users to test and evaluate the potential outcomes without risking real capital.

IC Markets provides its clients with a comprehensive suite of analytical tools and materials to assist them in successful trading in financial markets.

Within the broker's cabinet, various tools and services are presented for market forecasts and reviews, identifying technical analysis patterns, and analyzing social activity related to the trading assets.

Trading Central

Trading Central offers a convenient dashboard for market overview, providing insights and analysis that can be integral to a trader's research and decision-making process. When clicking on one of the instruments, the trader will have access to a report and forecast based on the technical analysis of the instrument.

Featured Ideas

This service predicts market reversal points based on candlestick patterns and indicators.

Market Buzz

This service allows traders to monitor social activity for trading instruments, which can be used to infer their volatility.

Autochartist

Autochartist is a top-rated service among traders for pattern recognition and analysis of an instrument's volatility.

Market Analysis

IC Markets regularly posts market analysis and trading ideas in their blog (in English).

News and Forex Calendar

IC Markets' website also features a calendar with important economic events and a section with the latest Forex news.

IC Markets offers various educational resources, from interactive video tutorials to webinars and podcasts. This demonstrates IC Markets' commitment to their clients by striving to provide all the necessary resources for successful trading.

The educational system at IC Markets is tailored for both beginners and professional traders.

• 10 interactive video lessons introduce the specifics of trading on Forex.
• Articles on technical and fundamental analysis acquaint you with different types of charts and techniques for working with analytical tools.
• Several video materials on how to work with trading terminals.
• Web TV offers trading tips and market news in the format of short video clips.
• Webinars and podcasts (IC your trade) for more advanced traders are available in English and feature professional investors and traders.

IC Markets provides a variety of communication channels, ensuring that the support service is accessible to clients. Numerous company customer reviews highlight the support team's fast response and high professionalism.

You can contact support for general inquiries by international phone +248 467 19 76 (international charges may apply) or locally:

You can also ask questions via email:

• Customer relations: rm@icmarkets.com
• Support: support@icmarkets.com
• Accounts: accounts@icmarkets.com
• Marketing: marketing@icmarkets.com

And, of course, you can connect with support on the website via live chat, which operates 24/7.

IC Markets Pros and Cons

Advantages of IC Markets

1. Regulation. IC Markets is regulated by two serious financial regulators, ASIC and CySEC, which guarantee the protection of client funds and fairness in trading conditions.

2. A wide range of trading instruments. IC Markets clients can trade various assets, including currency pairs, stocks, indices, commodities, and cryptocurrencies.

3. Low spreads. IC Markets offers some of the lowest spreads on the market, making trading more accessible and cost-effective.

4. MetaTrader, cTrader, and TradingView platforms are widely recognized for their advanced trading features and analysis tools.

5. Educational materials. The broker offers high-quality training materials suitable for beginners and experienced traders.

6. Efficient customer support service. IC Markets clients note the high level of customer support service, which responds quickly and professionally to problems and questions.

Disadvantages of IC Markets

1. High minimum deposit. The entry threshold for opening a trading account with IC Markets is relatively high and may be inconvenient for novice traders or those who do not want to invest large sums at once.

2. A limited number of withdrawal options. The options for withdrawing funds from IC Markets are limited, which may cause inconvenience, especially for clients who prefer specific payment systems.

Conclusion

IC Markets is a reliable and versatile broker that offers a wide range of services and tools for trading in the financial markets. The company provides impressive trading instruments, high-quality trading platforms, advanced analytical tools, and valuable education for traders of all levels.

IC Markets is likely most suitable for experienced traders who value deep liquidity, tight spreads, and advanced trading tools. Beginner traders can also benefit from the educational materials offered by the company, but they should be prepared for some additional expenses and a higher minimum deposit requirement.