Pros
- Raw spread averaging 0.01 pip on EUR/USD — among the lowest globally
- Sub-40ms execution via Equinix NY4 and LD5 servers
- $1.76 trillion monthly volume ensures deep liquidity
- Fully allows HFT, scalping, EAs and aggressive strategies
- Three platforms: MT4, MT5 and cTrader (with Depth of Market)
- No deposit, withdrawal or inactivity fees
Cons
- $200 minimum deposit — barrier for small starters
- International clients under Seychelles entity (no compensation fund)
- No proprietary mobile app (only MT/cTrader)
- Weak educational material — not enough for beginners
- Limited multilingual support outside business hours
01Resumen ejecutivo
IC Markets was founded in 2007 in Sydney and grew to become the world reference for algorithmic traders and scalpers. The positioning is direct: pricing and execution broker, meaning they compete on price and speed — not on "user experience" or education. They process $1.76 trillion in monthly volume and maintain raw spreads around 0.01 pip on EUR/USD with infrastructure colocated in Equinix NY4 and LD5 data centers. For professional traders, this is exactly what matters. For complete beginners, Exness offers a smoother learning curve.
02Regulación and security
Three licenses: ASIC (Australia, AFSL 335692, active since 2007), CySEC (Cyprus, 362/18) and FSA (Seychelles, SD018). ASIC and CySEC are considered Tier-1 and impose strict client protection, fund segregation and minimum capital requirements. For most international clients, however, the account ends up under Raw Trading Ltd (Seychelles), which has no statutory compensation scheme — they compensate with a Lloyd's of London policy, but it's a real trade-off worth knowing.
03Platforms — and why cTrader matters
IC Markets offers MT4, MT5 and cTrader. The first two are standard. The differentiator is cTrader — a platform optimized for scalping, with native Depth of Market (you see the order book in real time) and asynchronous execution logic. For discretionary traders who operate with nuance, cTrader is superior. For MQL5 EAs, MT5 remains the obvious choice.
New in 2026: direct TradingView integration. You can send orders to IC Markets directly from TradingView charts — something that was missing and that Exness still doesn't have.
04Account types
Raw Spread: spreads from 0.0 pip with $7 per lot commission (round-turn). The account that makes sense for 90% of active traders. Standard: embedded spread (~0.8 pip on EUR/USD), no commission. Simpler to track, but higher total cost for volume traders. cTrader Raw: lower commission ($6 round-turn). $200 minimum across all.
05The real reason for the reputation: execution
This is the competitive advantage. Servers are in Equinix NY4 (New York) and LD5 (London) — the same data centers used by banks and hedge funds. 60% of order flow is algorithmic, meaning the infrastructure is constantly stress-tested by systems that penalize any delay. Forensic logs from Feb/2026 show that even during gold (XAU/USD) volatility spikes, execution maintained pace without freezes or requotes.
For scalping strategies or short-timeframe EAs, this is what separates profit from breakeven. A bot that was breaking even with slippage on a bad broker turns profitable on IC Markets purely from the execution improvement.
06IC Markets vs. Exness
| Criteria | IC Markets | Exness |
|---|---|---|
| Execution / latency | Sub-40ms · Equinix NY4/LD5 | ~25ms · proprietary servers |
| Spread EUR/USD raw | 0.01 pip + $7/lot | 0.0 pip + $7/lot |
| Withdrawal | 1-2 business days | Seconds · automated |
| Depósito mín. | $200 | $10 (Cent: $0) |
| Platforms | MT4 + MT5 + cTrader + TradingView | MT4 + MT5 |
| Pure HFT | Yes · world reference | Yes |
Bottom line: IC Markets wins on execution and infrastructure for professional traders. Exness wins on withdrawals, accessibility and account versatility. Many traders open both and use them for different purposes.
07Is IC Markets for you?
Makes sense if…
- You trade scalping or HFT
- You run EAs on M1/M5 timeframes
- You have at least $500 to start comfortably
- You want cTrader and Depth of Market
- Low latency is a priority for your strategy
Think twice if…
- You're starting from scratch (Exness or XM are more didactic)
- You have less than $200 available
- Fast withdrawals are your absolute priority
- You need substantial educational material to learn
- You want a polished proprietary mobile app
08Preguntas frecuentes
Is IC Markets reliable?
Yes, by foreign Forex broker standards. 19 years of operation, ASIC and CySEC Tier-1 licenses, processes institutional volume. Like all Forex brokers, it's not locally regulated — operates under foreign regulators. Most international clients trade under the Seychelles entity.
Can I run Expert Advisors (EA) on IC Markets?
Yes, with no restrictions whatsoever. Supports MT4, MT5 and cTrader with full permission for EAs, scalping, hedging and HFT. It's actually one of the most used brokers worldwide by algorithmic traders for exactly this reason.
What's the difference between Raw Spread and Standard?
Raw Spread has spreads from 0.0 pip with $7 per lot commission (round-trip) — best for volume and scalping. Standard has embedded spread (~0.8 pip), no commission — simpler, but higher total cost for active traders.
How long do withdrawals take?
Typically 1-2 business days. Not IC Markets' strong point — Exness is much faster in this regard. Retiros are fee-free on most methods.
IC Markets or Exness?
Depends. If you prioritize pure execution and run intense HFT/scalping, IC Markets. If you prioritize fast withdrawals, accessibility (Cent account) and 24/7 support, Exness. Many traders keep accounts at both for different purposes.
Ready to test?
Free demo account with cTrader included. Test the execution before depositing.
Open IC Markets account →