IC Markets vs IG Markets 2026
The tightest spreads in Australia against the deepest market range. We opened real funded accounts at both, placed 500+ live trades and recorded spreads daily for 30 days. Here’s what the data actually shows — not what their marketing says.
| Feature | IC Markets 8 wins | IG Markets 8 wins |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Score | 4.6 / 5 — tie | 4.6 / 5 — tie |
| EUR/USD avg spread (recorded) | 0.08 pips ✓ | 0.86 pips |
| AUD/USD avg spread (recorded) | 0.10 pips ✓ | ~0.9 pips |
| GBP/USD avg spread (recorded) | 0.22 pips ✓ | ~1.5 pips |
| All-in cost (1 lot RT EUR/USD) | ~A$7.60 ✓ | ~A$15 |
| Execution speed (recorded) | 34ms avg ✓ | 55ms avg |
| MetaTrader 5 / cTrader | ✓ Both ✓ | ✗ Neither |
| Free VPS hosting | ✓ ✓ | ✗ |
| Commission model | Raw + A$3.00/side ✓ | None (in spread) |
| Min. Deposit | A$200 | A$0 (bank transfer) ✓ |
| Tradable instruments | 2,250+ | 18,000+ ✓ |
| $0-commission US/UK shares | ✗ | ✓ ✓ |
| ProRealTime / L2 Dealer DMA | ✗ | ✓ ✓ |
| TradingView Integration | ✗ | ✓ ✓ |
| Research & education | Good | ✓ IG Academy, deep ✓ |
| Weekend index trading | ✗ | ✓ ✓ |
| Regulatory licences | 3 | 6 tier-1 ✓ |
| Established | 2007 | 1974 |
IC Markets is an ECN broker with raw spreads plus commission; IG builds costs into a wider spread with no separate forex commission. Our 30-day recording captured quotes at three fixed windows daily. IC Markets Raw averaged 0.08 pips on EUR/USD — the tightest we recorded across all brokers — versus IG’s 0.86 pips.
On a 1-lot EUR/USD round trip, IC’s all-in cost is roughly A$7.60 versus about A$15 at IG. For active forex traders, that’s the difference that defines the match. IG’s pricing isn’t built for scalpers — it earns its keep on indices and shares.
| Cost Item | IC Markets Raw | IG Standard CFD |
|---|---|---|
| EUR/USD avg spread (30-day recorded) | 0.08 pips ✓ | 0.86 pips |
| AUD/USD avg spread (30-day recorded) | 0.10 pips ✓ | ~0.9 pips |
| GBP/USD avg spread (30-day recorded) | 0.22 pips ✓ | ~1.5 pips |
| Forex commission | A$3.50/side MT4 · A$3.00 cTrader | None (in spread) |
| All-in cost (1 lot RT EUR/USD) | ~A$7.60 ✓ | ~A$15 |
| AUS 200 spread (recorded) | ~1.0 pt | 0.58 pts ✓ |
| US / UK share commission | N/A (no real shares) | A$0 ✓ |
| Free VPS | ✓ (20+ lots/mo) ✓ | ✗ |
| Inactivity fee | None | After long dormancy |
IC Markets’ 0.08-pip EUR/USD and A$3.00/side cTrader commission make it one of the cheapest places in the world to trade major forex. Add free VPS for algo traders running 20+ lots a month, and IC is purpose-built for cost-sensitive, high-frequency forex.
IG matches IC’s overall score by winning elsewhere: the tightest AUS 200 index spread we measured (0.58 pts), zero-commission US and UK shares, and the broadest market range in the country. If indices and shares are central to your trading, IG’s cost profile suits you. Verify current spreads and fees directly with each broker before opening an account.
| Platform / Feature | IC Markets | IG Markets |
|---|---|---|
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | ✓ | ✓ |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | ✓ ✓ | ✗ |
| cTrader | ✓ ✓ | ✗ |
| TradingView (live execution) | ✗ | ✓ ✓ |
| Proprietary / ProRealTime | ✗ | ✓ IG + ProRealTime ✓ |
| L2 Dealer / DMA | ✗ | ✓ ✓ |
| Free VPS hosting | ✓ ✓ | ✗ |
| Tradable instruments | 2,250+ | 18,000+ ✓ |
| Real share investing | ✗ | ✓ ($0 US/UK) ✓ |
| iOS / Android app | ✓ | ✓ |
IC offers MT4, MT5 and cTrader plus free VPS — the classic ECN line-up for forex traders and algos. It has no TradingView execution, no DMA share platform and a narrower instrument range, because it’s focused on doing low-cost forex and CFD execution extremely well.
IG offers its own platform, ProRealTime, the L2 Dealer DMA platform, MT4, TradingView and API access across 18,000+ markets, plus real US and UK share investing. It lacks MT5 and cTrader, but for multi-asset traders and share investors who want depth and direct-market access, IG’s suite is far broader.
Both brokers are ASIC-regulated — the baseline we insist on for any broker listed on KolaTrading. Both keep client funds segregated and provide negative balance protection for Australian retail clients. The ASIC protection is identical at both.
| Regulator / Safeguard | IC Markets | IG Markets |
|---|---|---|
| ASIC (Australia) | ✓ AFSL 335692 | ✓ AFSL 220440 |
| CySEC (Cyprus/EU) | ✓ | ✗ |
| FCA (United Kingdom) | ✗ | ✓ |
| BaFin (Germany) | ✗ | ✓ |
| FINMA (Switzerland) | ✗ | ✓ |
| MAS (Singapore) / CFTC | ✗ | ✓ |
| Total tier-1 licences | 3 | 6 ✓ |
| Publicly listed | ✗ | FTSE 100 ✓ |
| Segregated client funds | ✓ | ✓ |
| Founded | 2007 | 1974 ✓ |
For an Australian retail trader, both deliver identical ASIC protections — verify both AFSLs on the ASIC Connect register at any time. IG has the broader regulatory footprint (six tier-1 licences), a FTSE 100 listing and a 50-year history; IC Markets is ASIC, CySEC and FSA-regulated and one of the largest ECN brokers by volume. Both are safe; IG simply has more pedigree on paper.
| Method / Detail | IC Markets | IG Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | A$200 | A$0 (bank transfer) ✓ |
| AUD bank transfer | ✓ | ✓ |
| BPAY | ✓ | ✓ |
| Credit/debit card | ✓ | ✓ (A$450 min) |
| PayPal | ✓ | ✓ |
| Deposit fee | None | None |
| Withdrawal fee (AUD bank) | None | None |
| Withdrawal processing (our test) | 1 business day | 1–2 business days |
| AUD base account | ✓ | ✓ |
We processed real AUD bank withdrawals at both brokers in March 2026 — IC funds arrived in one business day, IG in one to two, neither with a fee. Both support AUD accounts and BPAY. The practical edge goes to IG for its A$0 minimum versus IC’s A$200, making IG easier to start small.
It’s a genuine tie — both score 4.6, for opposite reasons. IC Markets is better for active forex and CFD trading: 0.08-pip EUR/USD, the fastest execution we recorded, cTrader, MT5 and free VPS. IG Markets is better for multi-asset traders and share investors: 18,000+ markets, zero-commission US and UK shares, DMA and deep research. Choose IC for forex cost, IG for breadth. Both are ASIC-regulated and exceptionally safe.
IC Markets, for forex, by a wide margin. A 1-lot EUR/USD round trip costs around A$7.60 at IC versus about A$15 at IG, because IC’s raw spread plus A$3.00/side cTrader commission is far cheaper than IG’s wider spread-only pricing. IG is more competitive on indices (its AUS 200 spread was the tightest we measured) and on shares (zero commission on US and UK shares), but for forex IC wins clearly.
No. IG offers MetaTrader 4 but neither MT5 nor cTrader. IC Markets offers MT4, MT5 and cTrader plus free VPS. If you rely on MT5 or cTrader — or want VPS hosting for algos — IC Markets is the only option of the two. IG counters with its own platform, ProRealTime and the L2 Dealer DMA platform.
IG, yes — and since January 2026 US and UK shares are commission-free with no custody fee, alongside its 18,000+ CFD markets. IC Markets focuses on forex and CFDs and does not offer real share investing. For share investors, IG is the clear choice.
IC Markets requires A$200. IG requires A$0 via bank transfer or BPAY, and A$450 via card or PayPal. For traders starting small by bank transfer, IG’s A$0 minimum is more accessible; IC’s A$200 is still modest for an ECN broker.
Yes. IC Markets (AFSL 335692) and IG Markets (AFSL 220440) are both ASIC-regulated with valid AFSLs you can verify on the ASIC Connect register. Both keep client funds segregated and provide negative balance protection. IG has the broader footprint — six tier-1 licences, a FTSE 100 listing and a history dating to 1974 — while IC Markets is one of the largest ECN brokers by trading volume.