Is IC Markets An ECN Broker?
IC Markets operates like an Electronic Communication Network (ECN) broker. Its ‘Raw Spread’, ‘Raw Spread cTrader’, and newer ‘Raw Spread Pro’ and ‘Raw Spread Pro+’ accounts are ECN-style options.
IC Markets has said themselves: “We consider ourselves to be a forex provider offering the ECN pricing model as we source our pricing from external unrelated liquidity providers, these prices are passed onto you with no dealing desk intervention. In order to provide you with better price certainty and to ensure fast execution speed we do not offset each and every position with our liquidity providers.”
ECN-Style Account Options
Here’s a comparison of the ECN trading accounts available at IC Markets in 2025:
| Account | Platform(s) | Spread model | Commission (typical) | Day Trader Considerations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raw Spread | MT4 / MT5 | Raw spreads from 0.0 | $3.5 per lot per side (~$7 round turn) | Established ECN-style default for MetaTrader day traders and EAs |
| cTrader Raw Spread | cTrader / TradingView | Raw spreads from 0.0 | $3 per $100,000 per side | Great for fast manual trading and depth-of-market style execution |
| Raw Pro | MetaTrader (MT4/MT5) | Raw spreads from 0.0 | $3.0 per lot per side | Lower commission than classic Raw Spread; strong option for frequent scalpers (early access) |
| Raw Pro+ | MetaTrader (MT4/MT5) | Raw spreads from 0.0 | $2.0 per lot per side | Lowest MetaTrader commission; best for high-volume intraday traders if available (early access) |
Account options may vary based on your region.
Should I Use An IC Markets ECN Account?
If you’re a day trader, an ECN account is the one you’ll probably be looking for because it’s designed around tight spreads with transparent commissions and fast execution – all of which can impact the profitability of short-term trading strategies.
You’ll probably want to avoid the IC Markets’ ‘Starter’ or ‘Standard’ accounts, as these opt for an all-inclusive spread with no commission. This is effectively a markup-on-spread model rather than raw/ECN pricing.
Execution and latency are key parts of the appeal with IC Markets’ ECN trading solutions: MetaTrader infrastructure is tied to Equinix NY4, while cTrader is hosted in Equinix LD5 (London). Both are aimed at low-latency strategies like scalping and automation.
However, ECN accounts can still be risky. This is because raw pricing and fast execution don’t reduce the dangers of trading leveraged CFDs and forex, while tight spreads can encourage overtrading and come with higher commissions.