FBS vs IC Markets

FBS vs IC Markets Comparison Table 2024
FBS IC Markets
4.3
4.8

FBS is an award-winning forex and CFD broker based in Cyprus. The broker has a strong global reputation with authorization from the CySEC and ASIC, amongst others regulators. The brand has 17 million clients in over 190 countries, attracted by a diverse range of markets and the reputable MetaTrader platforms.

IC Markets is a globally recognized forex and CFD broker known for its excellent pricing, comprehensive range of trading instruments, and premium trading technology. Founded in 2007 and headquartered in Australia, the brokerage is regulated by the ASIC, CySEC and FSA, and has attracted more than 180,000 clients from over 200 countries.

Customer Reviews
4
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Comment by Reviewer
"FBS is a great choice for traders of all experience levels and budgets with various account types, plus MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 access. That said, the broker's Cent account and intensive forex course will be particularly beneficial for beginners." "IC Markets offers superior pricing, exceptionally fast execution and seamless deposits. The introduction of advanced charting platforms, notably TradingView, and the Raw Trader Plus account, ensures it remains a top choice for intermediate to advanced day traders."
Pros
  • There’s a great choice of account types for short-term traders including crypto, cent and ECN options, with decent forex spreads at 0.7 pips
  • FBS maintains its position as a trusted European broker with top-tier licenses, several awards and negative balance protection for clients
  • The MetaTrader terminals deliver a comprehensive day trading environment at FBS, including up to 21 timeframes and 6 pending orders
  • The commission-free payment methods and low minimum deposits make the broker ideal for beginners or those on a lower budget
  • The broker’s NDD technology ensures fast order execution within 0.4 seconds and no requotes
  • There’s a comprehensive learning section with tailored courses, webinars and trade ideas
  • IC Markets offers among the tightest spreads in the industry, with 0.0-pip spreads on major currency pairs, making it especially cost-effective for day traders.
  • As a tightly regulated and widely respected broker, IC Markets prioritizes client security and transparency, helping to ensure a reliable trading experience globally.
  • With ultra-fast execution speeds averaging 35 milliseconds and deep liquidity, IC Markets provides an optimal trading environment for scalpers, hedgers, and algorithmic traders.
  • IC Markets offers fast and dependable 24/5 support based on firsthand experience, particularly when it comes to accounts and funding issues.
  • You have access to over 2,250 CFDs across various markets, including forex, commodities, indices, stocks, bonds, and cryptocurrencies, allowing for diversified trading strategies.
Cons
  • There’s no copy trading solution which would offer an alternative way to trade and is offered at many top competitors like Skilling
  • Account availability, platform access and market coverage all vary by jurisdiction
  • There's a limited range of assets overall, including only 35+ currency pairs
  • While IC Markets offers a selection of metals and cryptos for trading via CFDs, the range is not as extensive as brokers like eToro, limiting opportunities for traders interested in these asset classes.
  • The breadth and depth of tutorials, webinars and educational resources still need work, trailing alternatives like CMC Markets and reducing its suitability for beginners.
  • There are fees for certain withdrawal methods, including a $20 wire charge, which can eat into profits, especially for frequent withdrawals.
  • Despite four industry-leading third-party platforms, there is no proprietary software or trading app built with new traders in mind.
  • Interest isn't paid on unused cash, an increasingly popular feature found at alternatives like Interactive Brokers.
Awards
  • Best Customer Service Broker WBO 2022
  • Most Reliable Forex Broker MENA 2020
  • Best Social Trading Application MENA 2020
  • Best Mobile Trading Platform Asia 2020
  • Best FX Broker Europe 2019
  • Most Transparent Forex Broker 2018
  • Best Forex Broker Asia 2018
  • Best Safety of Client Funds Asia 2015
  • Best MT4/MT5 Broker 2023 - DayTrading.com
  • Best Forex Broker 2022 - DayTrading.com
  • Best Overall Broker 2020 - DayTrading.com
  • Best Trading App 2020 - DayTrading.com
Instruments
CFDs, forex, indices, shares, commodities, cryptocurrencies CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, Bonds, Futures, Crypto
Demo Account
Yes Yes
Minimum Deposit
$5 $200
Trading Platforms
  • MT4
  • MT5
  • MT4
  • MT5
  • cTrader
  • TradingView
  • TradingCentral
  • DupliTrade
Payment Methods
Minimum Trade
0.01 Lots 0.01 Lots
Regulator
ASIC, CySEC, FSC, FSCA ASIC, CySEC, FSA
Margin Trading
Yes Yes
STP Account
Yes No
ECN Account
Yes Yes
DMA Account
No Yes
MAM Account
No Yes
PAMM Account
No Yes
LAMM Account
No No
Demat Account
No No
AI / Machine Learning
No No
Robo Advisor
No No
Negative Balance Protection
Yes Yes
Market Maker
No No
P2P Trading
No No
Spot Trading
Yes Yes
Mobile Apps
iOS & Android iOS & Android
App Review

The FBS Trader app allows clients to manage their finances and speculate on 44 forex pairs, among other assets. Instant deposits are available, as well as one-click trading. Users can also conduct technical analysis via interactive charting with multiple indicators. The app is free to download from the respective app stores.

IC Markets deliver mobile apps for their cTrader, MT4, MT5 and TradingView  platforms. They have been developed on Android and iOS separately, taking full advantage of the functionality available on each. With raw pricing, and spreads from 0.0, the apps deliver an excellent trading tool for all levels of trader. Yet what really stands out is how they’ve managed to maintain the lightning-fast execution speed IC Markets is known for, right within the apps. It’s a seamless trading experience that feels both professional and highly responsive.

Android App Rating
4.9
4.2
iOS App Rating
4.6
3.1
Auto Trading
Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader, cBots on cTrader, Myfxbook AutoTrade
Copy Trading
No Yes
Copy Trading Platform
Launched in February 2023, the IC Social app offers an intuitive way to learn, share, and mirror the positions of other traders with just a few clicks. Additionally, the app features risk management tools and supports dedicated trading groups. Alternatively, IC Markets grants access to Signal Start, along with well-known third-party copy trading platforms including ZuluTrade and cTrader Copy.
Social Trading
No Yes
Trade Signals
MT4 & MT5 Signal Start
VPS Hosting
Yes Yes
Tournaments
No No
Demo Competitions
Yes No
Ethical Investing
No No
Custodial Account
No No
Guaranteed Stop Loss
No No
Inactivity Fee
$0
Islamic Account
Yes Yes
Account Currencies
  • USD
  • EUR
  • USD
  • EUR
  • GBP
  • CAD
  • AUD
  • NZD
  • JPY
  • CHF
  • HKD
  • SGD
Stock Exchanges
Commodities
CFD Trading
You can go long or short on a decent suite of financial markets with leveraged CFDs. Users can choose between three reliable platforms with over 50 indicators and charting tools, plus fast market execution from 0.3 seconds. You gain access to over 2,250 CFDs, available for trading 24/5 across popular markets such as forex, commodities, indices, stocks, and bonds. Utilizing deep liquidity and advanced bridge technology, IC Markets ensures optimal conditions for scalpers, hedgers, and algo traders alike.
Leverage
1:30 (EU & Restricted Countries), 1:3000 (Global) 1:30 (ASIC & CySEC), 1:500 (FSA), 1:1000 (Global)
FTSE Spread
From 0.0 1.0
GBPUSD Spread
From 0.6 0.23
Oil Spread
From 0.0 0.03
Stocks Spread
Variable 0.02
Forex Trading
FBS offers a below-average range of 35+ majors, minors and exotics. That said, spreads are fairly competitive, averaging 0.7 pips for EUR/USD in the Standard account. There’s also an excellent range of forex market resources and tools on offer, including calculators and an intensive forex course. IC Markets maintains its commitment to providing exceptionally tight 0.0-pip forex spreads on major currency pairs such as EUR/USD. This makes it an excellent option if you are seeking superior execution, with an average of 35 milliseconds. Additionally, if you are a high-volume trader, you can benefit from rebates of up to $2.50 per forex lot.
Forex App

The FBS Trader app allows clients to manage their finances and speculate on 44 forex pairs, among other assets. Instant deposits are available, as well as one-click trading. Users can also conduct technical analysis via interactive charting with multiple indicators. The app is free to download from the respective app stores.

IC Markets deliver mobile apps for both their cTrader and MT5 platforms. Both have been developed on android and iOS separately, taking full advantage of the functionality available on each. With raw pricing, and spreads from 0.0, the apps deliver an excellent trading tool for all levels of trader. The speed of execution synonymous with IC Markets is retained across their apps.

GBPUSD Spread
From 0.6 0.23
EURUSD Spread
From 0.5 0.02
EURGBP Spread
From 2.1 0.27
Assets
36 75
Cryptocurrency
FBS offers trading on crypto/metal, crypto/crypto or crypto/fiat pairs, making the broker a great pick for traders looking to diversify their digital asset portfolios. Spreads are also decent, averaging around 20.0 for BTC/USD. IC Markets offers 20+ cryptocurrencies which are tradable via CFDs, including lesser-known tokens such as Avalanche, Kusama and Uniswap. Commission-free trading is available, and experienced crypto traders can access high leverage up to 1:200 in the MetaTrader platforms.
Spread
Floating BTC 42.036
Coins
  • ADA
  • ALG
  • AVA
  • BAT
  • BCH
  • BNB
  • BTC
  • DOG
  • DOT
  • DSH
  • EOS
  • ETC
  • ETH
  • FIL
  • IOT
  • LNK
  • LTC
  • MKR
  • MTC
  • NEO
  • OMG
  • SHB
  • SOL
  • TRX
  • UNI
  • VEC
  • XLM
  • XMR
  • XRPZEC
  • BTC
  • BCH
  • DOT
  • DSH
  • EMC
  • EOS
  • ETH
  • LNK
  • LTC
  • NMC
  • PPC
  • XLM
  • XRP
  • ADA
  • BNB
  • DOG
  • UNI
  • XTZ
Crypto Lending
No No
Crypto Mining
No No
Crypto Staking
No No
Auto Market Maker
No No
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