Exness vs IC Markets Which Broker Is Best?

Some of the abbreviations on this page are expanded to the regulator's full name: a broker regulated by FCA is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority; by CIRO, the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization.

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Overall

Our comparison of IC Markets vs Exness found based on 10 criteria found 3 core differences:

1. Lowest Spreads And Fees: IC Markets

There are two types of trading accounts offered by both Exness and IC Markets

• Standard Account
• Raw Account (ECN Account)

Each broker has lower fees for one of the two accounts which we detail below.

Standard Account Spreads

IC Markets offers the lowest standard account spreads of any broker worldwide including Exness. This type of account has no commission making the spread the main proportion of the broker’s fee. Below are the current average spreads of both standard accounts that led to this finding that the IC Markets standard account spreads are lower than Exness.

It’s important to note, that both broker’s standard account spreads are very low. Exness is considered a low-cost broker but with IC Market having the lowest no-commission account spreads it’s the clear winner.

RAW Account Spreads

For the RAW account (a spread + commission account, also known as an ECN account), I would not pick a winner from the advertised averages alone, because they are the brokers’ own figures and are not like-for-like. On EUR/USD, Myfxbook’s session averages for Exness sit above the 0.0 pips Exness advertises. Comparing the average RAW account spreads by currency pair:

• EUR/USD (Exness 0.0 advertised, Myfxbook session averages of 0.19 and 0.26 pips over September 24 to 26, 2026, commission excluded, vs 0.01 IC Markets, no period stated)
• GBP/USD (Exnesss 0.20 vs 0.23 IC Markets)
• USD/CAD (Exness 0.30 vs 0.25 IC Markets)
• EUR/GBP (Exness 0.30 vs 0.27 IC Markets)

The fee component of a RAW account to take into consideration is the commission rate. This depends on the base currency a broker selects and below I have compared the most popular currency pairs traders open an account with.

What the commission table comparison highlights is that the only currency base both brokers offer is the USD and the rate is the same. This means that if a trader is planning to open a USD base currency account Exness is the cheaper broker with the same commission rate but lower spreads. The same isn’t true though if you’re looking to open an account with the other base currencies. In these cases, IC Markets is cheaper as the commission rates will be lower and traders will save on currency conversion costs. So in summary, the cheaper RAW account comes down to what base current a trader plans to use.

The calculator below helps highlight the ECN fees of a trade depending on the base currency and forex pair traded.

Our Lowest Spreads and Fees Verdict

IC Markets wins this category with their lowest spreads across multiple currency pairs.

IC Markets Review Visit IC Markets

*Your capital is at risk ‘72.52% of retail CFD accounts lose money’

2. Better Trading Platform: IC Markets

Both Exness and IC Markets offer a range of trading platforms to suit different trading styles and preferences. For more detailed information, you can refer to our comprehensive Trading Platform section.

We have created a software questionnaire if you are unsure what platform best suits your trading style. Based on six simple questions, we can recommend the best trading software for your trading needs.

1. MetaTrader 4 and 5

Both brokers offer MetaTrader 4 and 5, which are popular for their advanced charting features and expert advisors.

2. cTrader and TradingView

IC Markets offers cTrader, which is known for its intuitive interface and fast execution speed. Exness, on the other hand, does not offer cTrader but provides TradingView charts on its website.

3. Social And Copy Trading

Exness offers social and copy trading through its partnership with ZuluTrade, while IC Markets does not have a social trading platform.

4. VPS and Other Trading Tools

Both brokers offer free VPS services to their clients, along with a range of other trading tools, such as economic calendars and market analysis.

Our Better Trading Platform Verdict

In terms of trading platforms, IC Markets wins due to its cTrader, which is preferred by many traders for its superior execution speed and user-friendly interface.

IC Markets Review Visit IC Markets

*Your capital is at risk ‘72.52% of retail CFD accounts lose money’

3. Superior Accounts And Features: Exness

Exness offers a variety of account types, including Standard Cent, Standard, Pro, and Zero accounts. IC Markets, on the other hand, offers Standard, Raw Spread, and cTrader Raw accounts. Both brokers offer demo accounts for beginners to practice trading. For more detailed information, you can refer to our comprehensive Best Brokers for Micro Trading section.

Our Superior Accounts and Features Verdict

Exness wins in this category due to its wider range of account types, catering to different trading styles and preferences.

Exness Review Visit Exness

4. Best Trading Experience And Ease: IC Markets

When it comes to trading experience and ease of use, both Exness and IC Markets have their unique strengths. Exness offers a user-friendly interface with a variety of account types, catering to traders of all levels. On the other hand, IC Markets stands out for its advanced trading platforms, particularly cTrader, which is known for its fast execution speed and intuitive design.

• Exness offers social and copy trading through its partnership with ZuluTrade, adding an extra layer of convenience for traders.
• IC Markets offers MetaTrader 4 and 5, which are popular for their advanced charting features and expert advisors.
• According to our own testing, IC Markets is listed as the best MT5 broker, giving it an edge in terms of platform versatility.
• Exness provides TradingView charts on its website, offering traders an alternative way to analyse the markets.

Our Best Trading Experience and Ease Verdict

For the best overall trading experience and ease of use, IC Markets takes the lead with its superior trading platforms and fast execution speed.

IC Markets Review Visit IC Markets

*Your capital is at risk ‘72.52% of retail CFD accounts lose money’

5. Stronger Trust And Regulation: IC Markets

A broker with stronger trust and regulation are, simply, the most reputable and competitive in the industry of forex trading. These brokers ensure a secure and transparent trading environment for traders

IC Markets Trust Score

• 80Trust Score
• 65regulation
• 78reputation
• 96reviews

Exness Trust Score

• 44Trust Score
• 25regulation
• 48reputation
• 60reviews

Regulations

Exness is regulated by the Financial Services Authority (FSA) of Seychelles, while IC Markets is regulated by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) and the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC). Both brokers are also members of the Financial Commission, which provides additional security for their clients’ funds.

Reviews

Exness and IC Markets both enjoy excellent ratings on Trustpilot, each scoring around 4.8 out of 5, which reflects strong customer satisfaction across the board. While both brokers are clearly well-regarded, IC Markets has a larger number of reviews, suggesting broader global engagement.

Our Stronger Trust and Regulation Verdict

In terms of trust and regulation, IC Markets has a slight edge over Exness.

Trust and regulation are critical factors when choosing a forex broker. Both Exness and IC Markets are regulated by top-tier authorities. That gives traders a high level of trust and security. For more details on their regulatory status, check out the CIRO Regulated Brokers section.

IC Markets Review Visit IC Markets

*Your capital is at risk ‘72.52% of retail CFD accounts lose money’

6. Most Popular Broker: Exness

Exness gets searched on Google more than IC Markets. On average, Exness sees around 1,000,000 branded searches each month, while IC Markets gets about 246,000, that’s 75% fewer.

Similarweb shows a similar story when it comes to February 2024 website visits with Exness receiving 56,480,000 visits vs. 2,425,000 for IC Markets.

Our Most Popular Broker Verdict

Exness is the more popular broker worldwide based on the number of Google branded searches and visits to the website.

Exness Review Visit Exness

7. CFD Product Range And Financial Markets: IC Markets

When it comes to the range of products and CFD markets, both Exness and IC Markets offer a decent variety, but with some key differences. Exness provides a range of 96 Forex CFDs, 98 Shares CFDs, and 34 Cryptos CFDs. IC Markets, on the other hand, offers a more extensive range of trading instruments, including 61 Forex CFDs, over 2100 Shares CFDs, and 18 Cryptos CFDs.

According to our own testing, IC Markets is listed as the best MT5 broker and also offers the lowest spreads alongside Eightcap. This gives IC Markets an edge in terms of both product range and trading costs.

Our Top Product Range and CFD Markets Verdict

IC Markets offers a more comprehensive range of CFDs and Markets. This makes it the better choice for traders looking for variety and depth in their trading options.

IC Markets Review Visit IC Markets

*Your capital is at risk ‘72.52% of retail CFD accounts lose money’

8. Superior Educational Resources: IC Markets

Exness offers a comprehensive educational section on its website, featuring webinars, articles, and video tutorials. IC Markets, on the other hand, provides a rich educational portal that includes trading guides, webinars, and a glossary.

• Exness offers a range of webinars that cover various trading topics and strategies.
• IC Markets provides a series of trading guides that are beneficial for both beginners and experienced traders.
• Exness features a dedicated section for video tutorials, making it easier for traders to grasp complex concepts.
• IC Markets offers a glossary that helps traders understand trading jargon and terminologies.
• According to our own testing, Exness scored lower in educational resources compared to IC Markets.
• IC Markets also offers a demo account that allows traders to practice without risking real money.

Our Superior Educational Resources Verdict

Based on our own testing, IC Markets offers superior educational resources. This makes it the better choice for traders looking to expand their knowledge and skills.

IC Markets Review Visit IC Markets

*Your capital is at risk ‘72.52% of retail CFD accounts lose money’

9. Better Customer Service: Exness

Both Exness and IC Markets offer excellent customer service, available 24/5. They provide multiple channels of communication, including live chat, email, and phone support. However, Exness offers support in more languages compared to IC Markets.

Our Superior Customer Service Verdict

While both brokers offer excellent customer service, Exness wins this category due to its multilingual support.

Exness Review Visit Exness

10. Better Funding Options: Exness

Exness provides a wide range of payment options, including credit/debit cards, e-wallets like Skrill and Neteller, and even cryptocurrencies. IC Markets also offers multiple funding options but focuses more on traditional methods like bank transfers and credit/debit cards.

IC Markets tends to have a higher minimum deposit requirement compared to Exness, which could be a deciding factor for some traders. However, it’s worth noting that Exness does not charge any deposit or withdrawal fees, which can be a significant advantage for frequent traders.

Our Better Funding Options Verdict

Exness offers a broader range of funding options and does not charge any fees for deposits or withdrawals. This makes it the better choice for traders looking for flexibility in funding their accounts.

Exness Review Visit Exness

11. Lower Minimum Deposit: IC Markets

Exness and IC Markets both offer accounts with a minimum deposit of $0, which is a significant advantage for traders who don’t want to commit a large sum upfront.

However, it’s essential to note that the $0 minimum deposit is generally for standard accounts. For specialized accounts like RAW or Pro, the minimum deposit requirements can vary. Below is a table that outlines the minimum deposit amounts for different account types for both brokers.

Our Lower Minimum Deposit Verdict

Exness and IC Markets offer a $0 minimum deposit for their standard accounts. However, IC Markets takes the lead as it also offers a $0 minimum deposit for its Raw account.

IC Markets Review Visit IC Markets

*Your capital is at risk ‘72.52% of retail CFD accounts lose money’

Is Exness or IC Markets The Best Broker?

IC Markets is the winner because it excels in a majority of key areas, including trading platforms, trust and regulation, and educational resources. The table below summarises the key information leading to this verdict.

Exness: Best For Beginner Traders

For beginner traders, Exness is the better choice due to its lower spreads and fees and superior customer service.

IC Markets: Best For Experienced Traders

For experienced traders, IC Markets stands out for its solid trading platform and extensive range of CFDs and markets.

This review is scored against every other broker on forex broker review.

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