IC Markets vs ThinkMarkets

vs
IC Markets vs ThinkMarkets Comparison Table 2024
IC Markets ThinkMarkets
4.8
2.8
United States Flag Traders from US not accepted
United States Flag Traders from US not accepted

IC Markets is a globally recognized forex and CFD broker known for its excellent pricing, comprehensive range of trading instruments, and premium trading technology. Founded in 2007 and headquartered in Australia, the brokerage is regulated by the ASIC, CySEC and FSA, and has attracted more than 180,000 clients from over 200 countries.

Founded in 2010, ThinkMarkets is a reputable CFD and forex broker with regulation from several top-tier bodies including the FCA and ASIC. The broker provides services to over 450,000 accounts from 11 global offices. Traders can use a bespoke platform, MT4 or MT5 to access a wide variety of assets including 3500+ stocks and ETFs, 46 forex pairs and over 20 cryptocurrencies.

71.89% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.
Customer Reviews
4
5
Comment by Reviewer
"IC Markets offers superior pricing, exceptionally fast execution and seamless deposits. The introduction of advanced charting platforms, notably TradingView, and the Raw Trader Plus account, ensures it remains a top choice for intermediate to advanced day traders." "With its diverse asset list, competitive fees and superb charting software, ThinkMarkets maintains its position as a top choice for most CFD traders. That said, experienced traders will particularly appreciate the range of advanced tools, including forex signals and VPS solutions."
Pros
  • IC Markets offers among the tightest spreads in the industry, with 0.0-pip spreads on major currency pairs, making it especially cost-effective for day traders.
  • As a tightly regulated and widely respected broker, IC Markets prioritizes client security and transparency, helping to ensure a reliable trading experience globally.
  • IC Markets offers fast and dependable 24/5 support based on firsthand experience, particularly when it comes to accounts and funding issues.
  • You have access to over 2,250 CFDs across various markets, including forex, commodities, indices, stocks, bonds, and cryptocurrencies, allowing for diversified trading strategies.
  • Low fees with competitive spreads on the commission-free account and very tight spreads and a low $3.5 commission on ThinkZero
  • Unique Traders' Gym simulation tool for testing out strategies on real historical data, with multiple timeframes and custom features
  • In-depth educational resources for beginner, intermediate and advanced level traders, plus live webinars
  • Three stable and award-winning platforms plus seamless integration with the broker's Signal Centre
  • Top-tier regulation from the FCA, ASIC and CySEC plus offshore branches with high leverage
  • Free VPS hosting available for MT4 and MT5, ideal for traders using Expert Advisors (EAs)
  • Advanced charting package from TradingView in ThinkTrader Web - ideal for day traders
  • Reliable 24/7 multilingual support via telephone, email or live chat
  • Quick and easy to open a ThinkMarkets account
Cons
  • While IC Markets offers a selection of metals and cryptos for trading via CFDs, the range is not as extensive as brokers like eToro, limiting opportunities for traders interested in these asset classes.
  • The breadth and depth of tutorials, webinars and educational resources still need work, trailing alternatives like CMC Markets and reducing its suitability for beginners.
  • There are fees for certain withdrawal methods, including a $20 wire charge, which can eat into profits, especially for frequent withdrawals.
  • Despite four industry-leading third-party platforms, there is no proprietary software or trading app built with new traders in mind.
  • Interest isn't paid on unused cash, an increasingly popular feature found at alternatives like Interactive Brokers.
  • $500 minimum deposit for ThinkZero account
  • Not many payment methods available for UK traders
  • Limited bonus offers, refer-a-friend schemes or trading competitions
Awards
  • Best MT4/MT5 Broker 2023 - DayTrading.com
  • Best Forex Broker 2022 - DayTrading.com
  • Best Overall Broker 2020 - DayTrading.com
  • Best Trading App 2020 - DayTrading.com
  • Best CFD Provider 2021 - City of London Wealth Management Awards (COLWMA)
  • Best Value Broker in Asia at the 2020 - Global Forex Awards
  • Best Forex Trading Experience 2017 - UK Forex Awards
  • Best Forex Trading Innovation 2017 - UK Forex Awards
  • Best Customer Service 2013 - UK Forex Awards
Instruments
CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, Bonds, Futures, Crypto CFDs, Forex, Stocks, ETFs, Futures, Commodities, Crypto, Spread Betting (UK Only)
Demo Account
Yes Yes
Minimum Deposit
$200 $0
Trading Platforms
  • MT4
  • MT5
  • cTrader
  • TradingView
  • TradingCentral
  • DupliTrade
  • ThinkTrader
  • MT4
  • MT5
  • TradingView
  • AutoChartist
  • TradingCentral
Payment Methods
Minimum Trade
0.01 Lots 0.01 Lots
Regulator
ASIC, CySEC, FSA, CMA FCA, ASIC, CySEC, FSCA, JFSA, FSA, DFSA, FMA
Margin Trading
Yes Yes
STP Account
No Yes
ECN Account
Yes No
DMA Account
Yes No
MAM Account
Yes No
PAMM Account
Yes Yes
LAMM Account
No No
Demat Account
No No
AI / Machine Learning
No No
Robo Advisor
No No
Negative Balance Protection
Yes Yes
Market Maker
No No
P2P Trading
No No
Spot Trading
Yes No
Mobile Apps
iOS & Android iOS & Android
App Review

IC Markets deliver mobile apps for their cTrader, MT4, MT5 and TradingView  platforms. They have been developed on Android and iOS separately, taking full advantage of the functionality available on each. With raw pricing, and spreads from 0.0, the apps deliver an excellent trading tool for all levels of trader. Yet what really stands out is how they’ve managed to maintain the lightning-fast execution speed IC Markets is known for, right within the apps. It’s a seamless trading experience that feels both professional and highly responsive.

Android App Rating
4.2
4
iOS App Rating
3.1
4.8
Auto Trading
Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader, cBots on cTrader, Myfxbook AutoTrade Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader
Copy Trading
Yes Yes
Copy Trading Platform
Launched in February 2023, the IC Social app offers an intuitive way to learn, share, and mirror the positions of other traders with just a few clicks. Additionally, the app features risk management tools and supports dedicated trading groups. Alternatively, IC Markets grants access to Signal Start, along with well-known third-party copy trading platforms including ZuluTrade and cTrader Copy. The Signal Centre is FCA-regulated and offers insights into forex, stocks, indices, commodities, and cryptocurrencies. Users can receive up to 40 signals before the trading day starts.
Social Trading
Yes Yes
Trade Signals
Signal Start Signal Centre
VPS Hosting
Yes Yes
Tournaments
No No
Demo Competitions
No No
Ethical Investing
No No
Custodial Account
No No
Guaranteed Stop Loss
No No
Inactivity Fee
$0 $0
Islamic Account
Yes Yes
Account Currencies
  • USD
  • EUR
  • GBP
  • CAD
  • AUD
  • NZD
  • JPY
  • CHF
  • HKD
  • SGD
  • USD
  • EUR
  • GBP
  • AUD
  • JPY
  • CHF
Stock Exchanges
Commodities
CFD Trading
You gain access to over 2,250 CFDs, available for trading 24/5 across popular markets such as forex, commodities, indices, stocks, and bonds. Utilizing deep liquidity and advanced bridge technology, IC Markets ensures optimal conditions for scalpers, hedgers, and algo traders alike. ThinkMarkets continues to offer an excellent range of around 3500 CFD instruments covering forex, indices, stocks and commodities. Leverage is available up to 1:30 in the EU and UK, while global clients can access up to 1:500.
Leverage
1:30 (ASIC & CySEC), 1:500 (FSA), 1:1000 (Global) 1:500
FTSE Spread
1.0 0.7
GBPUSD Spread
0.23 0.4
Oil Spread
0.03 0.03
Stocks Spread
0.02 From 0.4
Forex Trading
IC Markets maintains its commitment to providing exceptionally tight 0.0-pip forex spreads on major currency pairs such as EUR/USD. This makes it an excellent option if you are seeking superior execution, with an average of 35 milliseconds. Additionally, if you are a high-volume trader, you can benefit from rebates of up to $2.50 per forex lot. ThinkMarkets offers 46 currency pairs, which is around the industry average. Forex traders can benefit from tight 0.0-pip spreads for EUR/USD during peak market hours. Additionally, the ThinkTrader proprietary platform offers an impressive 125+ technical indicators - ideal for complex forex strategies.
Forex App

IC Markets deliver mobile apps for both their cTrader and MT5 platforms. Both have been developed on android and iOS separately, taking full advantage of the functionality available on each. With raw pricing, and spreads from 0.0, the apps deliver an excellent trading tool for all levels of trader. The speed of execution synonymous with IC Markets is retained across their apps.

GBPUSD Spread
0.23 0.3
EURUSD Spread
0.02 0.0
EURGBP Spread
0.27 0.0
Assets
75 45+
Cryptocurrency
IC Markets offers 20+ cryptocurrencies which are tradable via CFDs, including lesser-known tokens such as Avalanche, Kusama and Uniswap. Commission-free trading is available, and experienced crypto traders can access high leverage up to 1:200 in the MetaTrader platforms. With 20+ cryptocurrencies available to trade via CFDs, traders can securely speculate on crypto markets with up to 1:10 leverage. ThinkMarkets does not directly trade crypto assets, meaning you will not own the tokens, and crypto trading is not available in some jurisdictions.
Spread
BTC 42.036 BTC 25, ETH 6 (Variable)
Coins
  • BTC
  • BCH
  • DOT
  • DSH
  • EMC
  • EOS
  • ETH
  • LNK
  • LTC
  • NMC
  • PPC
  • XLM
  • XRP
  • ADA
  • BNB
  • DOG
  • UNI
  • XTZ
  • BCH
  • LTC
  • XMR
  • DOGE
  • XLM
  • BTC
  • ETH
  • XRP
Crypto Lending
No No
Crypto Mining
No No
Crypto Staking
No No
Auto Market Maker
No No
71.89% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.