Detailed side-by-side analysis of FXTM vs ICMarkets
| Feature | FXTM | ICMarkets |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | Mauritius. | Sydney, Australia. |
| Type of Broker | Online Broker | ECN |
| Founded | 2011 | 2007 Older |
| Regulated By | FCA, CySEC, FSCA, FSC | CySEC, FSA, ASIC |
| Offices | 5th Floor, NEX Tower, Rue du Savoir, Cybercity, 72201 Ebene, Republic of Mauritius. | Level 4, 50 Carrington Street, Sydney, NSW 2000, NSW 2000, Australia |
| Supported Languages | English, Arabic, Chinese, Spanish, French, Indonesian, Thai, Hindi, and more. | ENGLISH, 简体中文, ไทย, INDONESIA, 한국어, DEUTSCH, FRANÇAIS, PORTUGUES, ESPAÑOL, TIẾNG VIỆT, РУССКИЙ, ITALIANO, БЪЛГАРСКИ, HRVATSKI, 繁體中文, فارس |
Over 4 million traders use FXTM globally, while ICMarkets processes more than 3.6 million in daily trading volume. That contrast alone raises an important question: which broker actually offers stronger trading conditions and reliability?
FXTM focuses on accessibility and structured accounts for beginners, while ICMarkets built its reputation around institutional-grade liquidity and tight spreads.
Understanding the differences in regulation, trading infrastructure, and client protection helps reveal which broker stands out for safety.
FXTM, founded in 2011, operates under several recognized regulators, including FCA (UK), CySEC (Cyprus), and FSC Mauritius. It's offering traders access to MT4 and MT5 platforms and a minimum deposit starting around $10, depending on the region.
ICMarkets, established in 2007, is known for its ECN trading environment, providing spreads starting from 0.0 pips on Raw Spread accounts. The broker is regulated by CySEC (Europe) and FSA Seychelles and supports MT4, MT5, cTrader, and TradingView integration.
| Feature | FXTM | IC Markets | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2011 | 2007 | IC Markets |
| Regulation | FCA, CySEC, FSC | CySEC, FSA | FXTM |
| Minimum Deposit | From $50 to $200 | $200 | FXTM |
| Trading Platforms | MT4, MT5 | MT5, MT4, cTrader, TradingView | IC Markets |
| Maximum Leverage | Up to 1:500 | Up to 1:500 | FXTM |
| Spread | From 0.0 pips | From 0.0 pips | Tie |
| Feature | FXTM | ICMarkets |
|---|---|---|
| Account Currencies | 4 | (60+) |
| Minimum Deposit | $20 | $0 |
| Maximum Leverage | 1:1000 | 1:1000 |
| Minimum Contract Size | 0.01 lots | 0.01 lots |
| ECN/STP Accounts Offered | ||
| Demo Account Expiry | N/A | N/A |
| Islamic Accounts | ||
| Traders from USA |
FXTM offers 4+ account options with deposits starting from just $10, while IC Markets focuses on three professional ECN-style accounts with spreads from 0.0 pips. The choice depends on whether the priority is flexibility for beginners or institutional-style trading conditions.
IC Markets takes a different approach by focusing on three ECN accounts: Raw Spread (cTrader), Raw Spread (MT4/MT5), and Standard.
All accounts require about $200 minimum deposit, but traders gain access to institutional liquidity, spreads from 0.0 pips, and fast execution around 66 ms. Platforms include MT4, MT5, and cTrader, giving more flexibility for advanced traders.
| Feature | FXTM | IC Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Main Accounts | Advantage, Advantage Plus | Raw Spread, Standard |
| Beginner Option | Cent Account ($10) | No cent account |
| Spread Structure | From 0.0 pips (Advantage) | From 0.0 pips (Raw Spread) |
Our Pick for Trading Conditions: ICMarkets
While FXTM offers more beginner-friendly account options, ICMarkets stands out for professional trading conditions, including tighter spreads, deeper liquidity, and more platform choices.
For traders focused on scalping, algorithmic trading, or low-spread execution, ICMarkets usually delivers the stronger account environment.
| Feature | FXTM | ICMarkets |
|---|---|---|
| Typical Spread on Majors | 0.1 pips | 0.0 pips |
| Interest on Margin | ||
| Commission on STP or ECN/STP | $0 | $3.50 |
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes |
| GBP/USD | Yes | Yes |
| USD/JPY | No | Yes |
| Hedging | ||
| Scalping |
FXTM’s lineup includes Advantage, Advantage Plus, Micro, and Pro accounts. The Advantage account offers spreads from 0.0 pips with commissions starting around $2.50–$4 per lot, making it suitable for active traders.
Beginners often start with the Micro account, which has 1.5+ pip spreads and zero commission. Meanwhile, Pro accounts require about $25,000, targeting high-volume traders.
IC Markets focuses on Raw Spread and Standard accounts with institutional ECN pricing. Raw accounts offer spreads from 0.0 pips with $6–$7 round-turn commission per lot, while Standard accounts remove commissions but widen spreads to 0.6–0.8 pips
| Broker | Account Types | Spreads | Commission | Minimum Deposit | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FXTM | Advantage, Advantage Plus, Micro, Pro | 0.0–1.5+ pips | $2.50–$4 per lot | $200 | Beginners to advanced traders |
| IC Markets | Raw Spread (MT4/MT5/cTrader), Standard | 0.0–0.8 pips | $6–$7 round trip | $200 | Scalpers & active traders |
Our Safety Pick: From a structural perspective, IC Markets wins for transparency and consistency. Its ECN-style Raw Spread accounts with tight pricing and simple account options often appeal to traders who prioritize clear costs and institutional-grade execution.
| Feature | FXTM | ICMarkets |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms Offered | MT4, MT5 | MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView |
| One-Click-Execution | ||
| Mobile Alerts | ||
| Email Alerts | ||
| VPS Offered | ||
| MetaTrader Server Time (winter) | N/A | N/A |
ICMarkets offers professional traders access to MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, and cTrader, along with real-time market data for commodities, indices, forex, and cryptocurrencies.
FXTM, meanwhile, focuses on accessibility with MT4 mobile and desktop platforms, giving beginners over 30 technical indicators, 24 analytical objects, and nine timeframes right at their fingertips.
| Feature | IC Markets | FXTM | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Platforms | MT4, MT5, cTrader | MT4 (Desktop & Mobile) | IC Markets |
| Technical Indicators | 60+ | 30+ | IC Markets |
| Analytical Tools | Advanced charting & trading tools | 24 objects | IC Markets |
| Mobile Trading | Fully supported | Fully supported | Tie |
| Market Coverage | Forex, Indices, Commodities, Crypto | Forex, Commodities, Indices | IC Markets |
Our Safety Pick: ICMarkets
ICMarkets provides broader platform options and integrates institutional-grade liquidity and faster execution. This makes it ideal for scalpers and algorithmic traders seeking reliability.
FXTM is excellent for beginners looking for easy-to-use mobile trading with clear analytics, but ICMarkets edges ahead for professional trading tools and advanced platform flexibility.
| Feature | FXTM | ICMarkets |
|---|---|---|
| Number of Pairs | 8 | 61+ |
| CFD's | ||
| Metals | ||
| Oil | ||
| Indices | ||
| Stocks | ||
| Futures | ||
| Binary Options |
FXTM gives you access to over 1,000 instruments, including 47+ currency pairs, 500+ share CFDs, 19+ indices, and spot metals.
IC Markets goes even further, offering 2,250+ instruments, with 61+ Forex pairs, 2,100+ global stocks, 28+ commodities, 25+ indices, cryptocurrencies, and government bonds.
| Asset Class | FXTM | IC Markets | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Pairs | 47+ | 61+ | IC Markets |
| Stock CFDs / Shares | 500+ | 2,100+ | IC Markets |
| Indices | 19+ | 25+ | IC Markets |
| Commodities | Spot metals & select CFDs | 28+ commodities & spot energies | IC Markets |
| Cryptocurrencies | Selected CFDs | Major cryptos 7 days/week | IC Markets |
| Bonds | — | 9+ government bonds | IC Markets |
Safety Pick: For traders who prioritize diversification and liquidity, IC Markets is the clear winner. Its deep liquidity, tight spreads, and instruments make it ideal for both scalpers and long-term traders.
FXTM offers bank transfers, cards, and e‑wallets like Skrill and Neteller, and local online banking in many countries. IC Markets provides cards, bank transfers, and e‑wallets such as PayPal, Skrill, and Neteller.
| Feature | FXTM | IC Markets | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deposit Options | Bank transfer, credit/debit cards, Skrill, Neteller, local banking options | Bank transfer, credit/debit cards, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller, UnionPay, POLi, BPay | IC Markets |
| Withdrawal Options | Same as deposit methods | Same method used for deposit; wide e-wallet & local options | IC Markets |
| E-wallet Support | Yes | Yes | IC Markets |
| Instant Funding Available | Yes | Yes | IC Markets |
| Local Payment Methods | Yes | Yes | Tie |
Winner: IC Markets offers more payment options, including PayPal and regional methods, and processes deposits very quickly.
IC Markets operates through several regulated entities. IC Markets (EU) Ltd is authorized by the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC – license 362/18), while Raw Trading Ltd is regulated by the Financial Services Authority (FSA), Seychelles (SD018).
Another entity, IC Markets (KE) Limited, operates under the Capital Markets Authority (CMA) in Kenya. Client funds remain segregated in top-tier banking institutions.
FXTM (ForexTime) maintains a broader regulatory structure. The broker holds licenses from CySEC (185/12), FCA in the UK, FSCA in South Africa (FSP 44322), FSC Mauritius (C113012295), and CMA Kenya.
Client protection includes segregated accounts, negative balance protection, MiFID II compliance in Europe, and Investor Compensation Fund coverage for eligible clients.
| Broker | Key Regulators | Safety Measures |
|---|---|---|
| IC Markets | CySEC, FSA Seychelles, CMA Kenya | Segregated funds, audited compliance |
| FXTM | FCA, CySEC, FSCA, FSC Mauritius, CMA Kenya | Segregated funds, negative balance protection, investor compensation |
Our Safety Pick: FXTM
The broader regulatory coverage, including oversight from the FCA and CySEC, gives FXTM a slightly stronger regulatory framework for global traders.
Paying 0.10 pips on EUR/USD vs higher spreads can make or break your trading profits. IC Markets excels for professional traders, while FXTM suits beginners and low-budget traders.
| Who Should Choose IC Markets | Who Should Choose FXTM |
|---|---|
| Traders seeking raw spreads starting 0.0–0.1 pips | Beginner traders with smaller budgets |
| Scalpers and algorithmic traders | Users wanting low minimum deposits |
| Those needing fast execution and deep liquidity | Traders who prefer copy trading via FXTM Invest |
| Users wanting advanced platforms: MT4/MT5, cTrader, TradingView | International traders needing multilingual support |
Choose IC Markets if you want tight pricing and pro‑level tools. Choose FXTM if you’re budget‑conscious or new to forex trading.
IC Markets is generally better for professional traders, scalpers, and those who value tight spreads and fast execution. FXTM is better for beginners and low-budget traders.
FXTM is better for beginners because it has lower minimum deposits, simple accounts, and built-in copy trading.
IC Markets is ideal due to tight spreads, fast execution, and deep liquidity, making it perfect for scalpers and high-frequency traders.