Detailed side-by-side analysis of FXOpen vs ICMarkets
| Feature | FXOpen | ICMarkets |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | Charlestown, Nevis, Caribbean. | Sydney, Australia. |
| Type of Broker | ECN, CFD, Forex | ECN |
| Founded | 2005 Older | 2007 |
| Regulated By | CySEC, FCA (UK) | CySEC, FSA, ASIC |
| Offices | Lighthouse Trust Nevis Ltd. of Suite 1, AL. EVELYN LTD, Main Street, Charlestown, Nevis. | Level 4, 50 Carrington Street, Sydney, NSW 2000, NSW 2000, Australia |
| Supported Languages | English, Arabic, Russian, Chinese, Spanish, more | ENGLISH, 简体中文, ไทย, INDONESIA, 한국어, DEUTSCH, FRANÇAIS, PORTUGUES, ESPAÑOL, TIẾNG VIỆT, РУССКИЙ, ITALIANO, БЪЛГАРСКИ, HRVATSKI, 繁體中文, فارس |
FXOpen is ideal for beginners and small budget traders, with micro, STP, ECN, and crypto accounts starting from just $1. IC Markets also offers a much larger range of tradable assets, 2,200+ instruments, and its customer support is available 24/7 with faster response times.
| Feature | FXOpen | IC Markets | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regulation & Safety | FCA, CySEC | ASIC, CySEC, FSA, CMA | IC Markets |
| Account Types | Micro, Basic ECN, Classic ECN, Advanced ECN, Elite ECN | Standard, Raw Spread, Islamic Account, Demo Account | FXOpen |
| Minimum Deposit | From $1 | From $200 | FXOpen |
| Trading Costs (Spreads) | 0 pips | 0 pips | Tie |
| Commissions | $1.5 | $3.5 | FXOpen |
| Platforms | MT4, MT5, TickTrader, TradingView | MT4, MT5, cTrader | IC Markets |
| Tradable Assets | 100+ CFDs; 50+ forex pairs | 2,200+ CFDs; 60+ forex pairs | IC Markets |
| Customer Support | 24/5 | 24/7 | IC Markets |
Winner: IC Markets dominates in regulation, trading costs, platforms, tradable assets, payment options, and support, making it the top choice for serious or professional traders.
| Feature | FXOpen | ICMarkets |
|---|---|---|
| Account Currencies | 8 | (60+) |
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | $0 |
| Maximum Leverage | 1:500 | 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 |
FXOpen offers flexibility and low entry, offering accounts like Micro, STP, ECN, and Crypto, with a minimum deposit starting from as low as $1. It even allows micro lot trading and niche options like crypto accounts, which gives new and small budget traders more room to start and test strategies.
IC Markets focuses on performance and professional trading conditions, with three main options: Standard, Raw Spread (MT4/MT5), and Raw Spread (cTrader). These accounts offer tight spreads from 0.0 pips, but require a higher minimum deposit of around $200.
| Feature | FXOpen | IC Markets | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Account Types | Micro, Basic ECN, Classic ECN, Advanced ECN, Elite ECN, STP/Micro Accounts, Crypto | Standard, Raw Spread, Islamic Account, Demo Account | FXOpen |
| Minimum Deposit | From $1 | From $200 | FXOpen |
| Spread Type | From 0.0 pips (ECN) | From 0.0 pips (Raw) | Tie |
Winner: FXOpen wins with its wide range of options and extremely low minimum deposit, making it ideal for beginners and flexible trading. IC Markets is a strong choice, but its accounts are more focused on experienced traders who want tight spreads and a professional trading environment.
| Feature | FXOpen | ICMarkets |
|---|---|---|
| Typical Spread on Majors | 0.0 pips | 0.0 pips |
| Interest on Margin | ||
| Commission on STP or ECN/STP | $3.50 | $3.50 |
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes |
| GBP/USD | Yes | Yes |
| USD/JPY | Yes | Yes |
| Hedging | ||
| Scalping |
FXOpen provides spreads starting from 0.0 pips on ECN accounts, with an average EUR/USD spread of around 1.2 pips and a commission of about $3.5 per lot.
IC Markets is a better option for its low spreads and consistent pricing, with raw spreads starting from 0.0 pips. Also, it has an average EUR/USD spread of around 0.1–0.6 pips, and a similar $3.5 per lot commission on Raw accounts.
| Feature | FXOpen | IC Markets | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Spread | From 0.0 pips | From 0.0 pips | Tie |
| Average EUR/USD Spread | 0.1 – 0.22 pips | 0.0 – 0.1 pips | IC Markets |
| Commission (per lot) | ~$3.5 | ~$3.5 | Tie |
Winner: ICMarkets delivers lower average spreads with the same commission level, resulting in a cheaper overall trading experience. FXOpen remains a solid option, but ICMarkets is the better choice for traders who want tighter pricing and more cost efficiency.
| Feature | FXOpen | ICMarkets |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms Offered | TrickTrader, TradingView, MT4, MT5 | MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView |
| One-Click-Execution | ||
| Mobile Alerts | ||
| Email Alerts | ||
| VPS Offered | ||
| MetaTrader Server Time (winter) | N/A | N/A |
FXOpen supports MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, and its proprietary TickTrader platform. It is packed with features like Level 2 pricing and advanced order types.
IC Markets provides access to MT4, MT5, and cTrader, all available on the web, desktop, and mobile, with features such as advanced charting, one-click trading, automated strategies, and ultra-fast execution.
The addition of cTrader brings more modern charting, copy trading, and algorithmic tools, which many professional traders prefer.
| Feature | FXOpen | IC Markets | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Platforms Available | MT4, MT5, TickTrader, TradingView | MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView | Tie |
| Proprietary Platform | TickTrader | Not available | FXOpen |
| Automated Trading | Algorithmic Trading (EAs), API Trading, Copy Trading, PAMM Service | EAs, cTrader Automate | FXOpen |
| Execution Speed | Fast | Ultra fast | IC Markets |
| Mobile & Web | Available | Available | Tie |
ICMarkets offers more platforms and better tools. With MT4, MT5, and cTrader, traders get more flexibility and advanced features like strong charting and automation.
FXOpen’s TickTrader is good, but IC Markets delivers a smoother and more complete trading experience for all types of traders.
| Feature | FXOpen | ICMarkets |
|---|---|---|
| Number of Pairs | 50+ | 61+ |
| CFD's | ||
| Metals | ||
| Oil | ||
| Indices | ||
| Stocks | ||
| Futures | ||
| Binary Options |
FXOpen covers all major asset classes, including forex, indices, commodities, shares, ETFs, and cryptocurrencies, with around 45+ forex pairs and 100+ total CFDs. It also offers a strong selection of crypto CFDs and niche instruments like ETFs.
IC Markets gives access to 2,200+ tradable instruments, including 60+ forex pairs, 2,100+ stock CFDs, 20+ cryptocurrencies, commodities, indices, bonds, and futures. It is making it much more suitable for traders who want wider market exposure.
| Feature | FXOpen | IC Markets | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Instruments | 600–700+ CFDs | 2,000–2,250+ CFDs | IC Markets |
| Forex Pairs | 50+ | 61+ | FXOpen |
| Stock CFDs | Limited | 2,100+ | IC Markets |
| Cryptocurrencies | 40+ CFDs | 20+ CFDs | FXOpen |
| Asset Classes | Forex, Indices, Commodities, Crypto | Forex, Indices, Commodities, Stocks, Crypto, Bonds, CFDs, Futures CFDs | IC Markets |
Winner: IC Markets offers a much wider selection of markets, including forex, stocks, commodities, indices, and more, giving traders plenty of options to trade and diversify.
FXOpen provides options like online banking, e-wallets (FasaPay, Volet), and some regional methods, but fees can vary widely.
IC Markets supports a wider range of global payment methods, including bank transfer, Visa, Mastercard, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller, and more, with zero deposit fees and mostly free withdrawals.
Processing is also fast, with many methods offering instant deposits and same-day or 24-hour withdrawals.
| Feature | FXOpen | IC Markets | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Payment Methods | Credit/Debit Cards (Visa, Mastercard), E-Wallets (Skrill, Neteller, Volet, FasaPay, Epay), Cryptocurrencies, Bank Transfers | Credit/Debit Cards (Visa, Mastercard), E-Wallets (Skrill, Neteller), Bank Transfers, Other Methods (PayPal, POLi, RapidPay, Klarna, FasaPay, Bpay, Visa Direct) | IC Markets |
| Deposit Fees | Free | Free | Tie |
| Withdrawal Fees | Free | Free | Tie |
| Processing Time (Deposit) | Instant to a few hours (depends on method) | Instant for cards & e-wallets | Tie |
| Processing Time (Withdrawal) | 1 business day | Same day–24h (e-wallets), up to 3 days for broker-to-broker | IC Markets |
| Supported Currencies | USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, CAD, CHF, JPY, RUB, CNY, VND, THB, IDR | AUD, EUR, GBP, SGD, NZD, JPY, CHF, HKD, CAD | IC Markets |
Winner: IC Markets offers more options, lower fees, and faster processing. FXOpen is usable, but its variable fee structure and higher costs make it less attractive.
FXOpen is regulated in the UK by the FCA and in Europe by CySEC, offering segregated accounts and compensation. IC Markets holds multiple Tier‑1 licenses, including ASIC (Australia) and CySEC (EU), and is regulated in the Seychelles and Kenya.
| Feature | FXOpen | IC Markets | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tier-1 Regulation | FCA, CySEC | ASIC, CySEC, CMA | IC Markets |
| Offshore Entity | Yes (lower oversight) | Yes (multiple) | IC Markets |
| Client Fund Protection | Yes (segregated) | Yes (segregated) | Tie |
| Compensation Scheme | £85,000 | €20,000 | IC Markets |
| Regulatory Coverage | Moderate | Broad | IC Markets |
Winner: ICMarkets stands out with a broader global regulatory footprint and consistent protection measures. FXOpen remains safe under its FCA and CySEC licences, but its offshore arm makes overall safety less uniform.
FXOpen support is available 24/5 through live chat, email, and phone, and its help center has guides and FAQs that cover most account and trading questions. Live chat responses are usually quick during market hours, while email replies can take longer.
IC Markets steps up with 24/7 support on live chat, phone, and email, and traders often report faster and more consistent response times, especially outside regular business hours.
| Feature | FXOpen | IC Markets | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Support Availability | 24/5 | 24/7 | IC Markets |
| Live Chat | Yes | Yes | Tie |
| Email Support | Yes | Yes | Tie |
| Phone Support | Yes | Yes (more regions) | IC Markets |
| Help Center | Good | Extensive | IC Markets |
| Language Options | 14 Languages | 23 Languages | IC Markets |
Winner: ICMarkets' round-the-clock availability, faster responses, and wider global and language coverage.
FXOpen still offers helpful support, but IC Markets makes it easier and quicker for traders to get solutions when they need them.
FXOpen is best for beginners and small-budget traders with low deposits, micro-lots, and crypto options.
IC Markets is better for experienced or high-volume traders who need tight spreads, fast execution, advanced platforms, and more tradable instruments.
FXOpen is easy and flexible, IC Markets is fast and professional.
| Choose FXOpen if | IC Markets |
|---|---|
| Beginners who are new to trading | Experienced traders looking for professional tools |
| Traders with small budgets or low deposits (from $1) | Scalpers and high volume traders need tight spreads |
| Those who want micro lot accounts for low risk trading | Traders who prefer advanced platforms like MT4, MT5, and cTrader |
| Crypto focused traders or those exploring multiple markets | Those seeking a wide range of tradable instruments (forex, stocks, commodities) |
| Traders who want a flexible and easy account setup | Traders who need fast execution and 24/7 customer support |
Both brokers are reliable and competitive. The difference lies in trading priorities. For maximum efficiency and tighter pricing, ICMarkets takes the edge. For adaptability and easier access, FXOpen remains a solid alternative.
IC Markets is better for low costs and fast execution. It offers tighter spreads and deeper liquidity, making it ideal for scalping and active trading. FXOpen is better for flexibility and smaller accounts.
Both brokers are regulated and considered safe. However, IC Markets has broader global regulatory coverage, giving it a slight edge in trust and security.
FXOpen is often better for beginners. It offers more flexible account options and lower entry barriers. IC Markets may suit beginners who want professional-grade conditions from the start.
IC Markets generally offers better spreads. Its raw spread accounts often show tighter pricing compared to FXOpen, especially during high liquidity sessions.