IC Markets

IC Markets covers every mainstream platform an active trader is likely to want. You get MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 — the industry standards with expert advisors (EAs), custom indicators and deep third-party support — plus cTrader, which many discretionary and scalping traders prefer for its depth-of-market and clean order entry, and TradingView integration for charting and trading from one place.

As of our last test, this combination was a genuine strength: few brokers offer all four together with execution this quick. That flexibility is why IC Markets is so common in algorithmic and scalping circles. The trade-off is choice overload — beginners should pick one platform and learn it well rather than juggling all four.

IC Markets runs a tiered account structure. The Standard account trades commission-free with the cost built into a slightly wider spread, while the Raw Spread account (on MT4/MT5 or cTrader) charges a transparent per-lot commission in exchange for near-zero raw spreads. Active and higher-volume traders usually come out ahead on the Raw Spread account; occasional traders may prefer the simplicity of Standard.

The broker pulls from deep liquidity across multiple providers, which helps keep spreads tight and execution fast even in busy conditions — the main reason scalpers and EA users gravitate here. Still, pricing is variable and depends on market conditions, the instrument and your account tier, so we will not quote a fixed pip figure. Check current spreads and the live commission schedule before funding, and remember swap/overnight financing applies on positions held past the daily rollover.

IC Markets operates through multiple entities, and the regulator — plus the protections that come with it — depends on which one you sign up with. Depending on region, IC Markets entities are associated with authorities such as ASIC in Australia and CySEC in Cyprus, among others, alongside an offshore entity. A tier-one regulator typically brings stronger client-money segregation and conduct rules than an offshore one.

In practice, confirm the exact entity and regulator on your own account before depositing, and understand what investor protection (if any) applies to you. IC Markets is not available to US retail clients for CFD trading. As with any leveraged broker, verify regulation for your specific account rather than assuming it from the brand name.

IC Markets is best suited to the active forex and CFD trader — especially scalpers and algorithmic traders — who want raw spreads, deep liquidity, fast execution and the choice of MT4, MT5, cTrader or TradingView. The multi-asset CFD range lets you trade several markets from one account, which suits short-term and automated strategies.

It is a poor fit for buy-and-hold investors who want to own real shares, since everything here is a leveraged derivative, and it is unavailable to US retail clients. Keep the core risk front of mind: CFDs are complex instruments and most retail accounts lose money trading them due to leverage. Only trade with capital you can afford to lose, and size positions conservatively.