IFC Markets Review 2024


2.9 / 5
IFC Markets is #108 in our CFD broker rankings.

I recommend this firm to users looking for new speculative opportunities and strategies not available at most brokers, including a blockchain-based proprietary platform and a bespoke synthetic instrument development tool. That said, it's a shame that the firm is not regulated by a more reputable authority.

- Daytrading Review Team

IFC Markets is an STP broker that was founded in 2006 and has since gained 200,000 clients and several awards. This broker has some of the most interesting and wide-ranging additional tools, elevating its clients' trading experience via portfolio quoting, personal composite instruments and extensive analytics.

$1, ¥100
MT4, MT5
Forex, CFDs, indices, shares, commodities, cryptocurrencies, ETFs, bonds
30% welcome bonus + 30% activity bonus
Wire Transfer, Perfect Money, Visa, Mastercard, Credit Card, Skrill, Neteller, WebMoney, Bitcoin Payments, JCB Card, Bitwallet

Forex Trading

I like that there’s a decent range of 50+ major, minor and exotic forex pairs available at IFC Markets, with just a $1 minimum deposit. That said, spreads are fixed from 1.8 pips, which isn’t the lowest I’ve seen.

Stock Trading

For equity-focused investors, I think the small range of 100+ US, European and UK shares will not be sufficient to build a diversified stock portfolio. The selection of 12 global indices and 4 ETFs is also much smaller than most of the top brands I’ve reviewed.

CFD Trading

IFC Markets clients can access CFDs across commodities, cryptos, indices and ETFs. I’m pleased to see that assets are all available on MT4, MT5 and NetTradeX with decent leverage rates of up to 1:400.

Crypto Trading

IFC Markets also boasts a good selection of 15 cryptocurrency CFD pairs and I’m particularly impressed to see Bitcoin futures on offer. The free demo account is an excellent place to start if you want to practice your crypto trading strategies.

Copy Trading

Follow and profit from top traders using IFC Market's copy solution.

Awards

  • Best Broker South East Asia 2020 - International Business Magazine 

✓ Pros

  • Users can choose from the powerful MT4, MT5 or the firm's proprietary NetTradeX platform for all assets
  • I appreciate that the broker offers beginner-friendly Micro accounts with a minimum deposit of just $1
  • The brokerage supports a unique system that allows clients to develop their own synthetic instruments
  • IFC Markets clients can trade more than 600 instruments with fixed or floating spreads from 0.4 pips
  • Clients have a wide range of payment methods and base currencies to choose from

✗ Cons

  • IFC Markets is regulated by the British Virgin Islands Financial Services Commission, a weak financial regulator
  • I'm disappointed that several payment methods incur steep deposit and withdrawal fees of up to 20%
  • GBP base currency isn't supported, so UK clients will have to pay hefty currency conversion fees

The IFCM Group (IFC Markets) is a global broker specialising in a range of instruments including forex, CFDs, commodities, indices, ETFs, and crypto futures. Our review covers how to sign up for a live account, the different deposit methods, free MT4 and MT5 platform downloads, and more.

IFC Markets Headlines

The IFC Markets Group was established in 2006, consisting of regulated subsidiaries operating via separate web domains. The broker offers 600+ trading instruments in 18 languages across 80 countries from India and Singapore to Iran, Canada, Armenia and Asia. The company follows an STP model with pricing quotes direct from liquidity providers.

Platforms & Tools

4 / 5

IFC Markets offers several trading platforms: the globally recognised MT4 and MT5, along with the bespoke NetTradeX. All trading platforms are free to download.

NetTradeX

NetTrade X Platform
NetTradeX Platform

MetaTrader 4

MetaTrader 5

The MT5 download offers notable additions beyond MT4:

IFC Markets MT5
IFC Markets MT5

Assets & Markets

3.5 / 5

600+ instruments are available at IFC Markets:

Fees & Costs

3 / 5

IFC Markets does not charge a trading commission on currency pairs, however, a commission is charged for opening and closing positions on stock CFDs.

The broker provides fixed spreads for all instruments apart from stock CFDs. The minimum spread offered by IFC Markets is 1.8 pips across all account types and this includes major currency pairs such as EURGBP and EURUSD. USDCAD and NZDUSD offer higher fixed spreads of 3 pips. Fixed spreads for other asset classes vary, commodities such as Gold are offered at 80 pips while the Dow Jones is offered at 120 pips. Floating spreads can be found on NetTradeX and MetaTrader 5.

Leverage

Leverage varies by account. The broker offers relatively high leverage up to 1:400 on beginner/micro accounts and 1:200 on standard accounts. These rates are high and while they may increase position sizes, they can also amplify losses.

Mobile Trading

All trading platforms offered by the broker support mobile app and tablet variations, compatible with iOS and Android. NetTradeX is also compatible with Windows Phone. The applications allow for complete account management and price analysis from devices in many supporting languages.

IFC Markets NetTrade X app
IFC Markets NetTradeX app

Deposits & Withdrawals

Deposits

IFC Markets allows deposits in several base currencies: USD/EUR/JPY. Any fees are directly associated with the payment method rather than a commission for the broker.

Minimum deposit requirements vary by account type. The lowest deposit is $1 or equivalent for the beginner/micro account, perfect for less experienced or new traders.

Withdrawals

Withdrawal processing times vary by payment method and some are subject to a charge. There is no limit to the number of withdrawals that can be requested. See the broker’s website for further details in your jurisdiction.

Demo Account

IFC Markets offers free demo accounts for users to login and test their strategies on the MT4, MT5 and NetTradeX platforms. Practice accounts are bankrolled with virtual funds. Clients need to register with the broker to access a demo account.

IFC Markets Bonuses

At the time of writing, IFC Markets offers promotions for existing clients including prize draws, commission referral rewards, and monthly bonuses dependant on trading volume. New traders can pick up a 30% deposit bonus following a $250 payment, a further 30% activity bonus, and are also entered into a draw to win a Tesla.

Regulation & Trust

1 / 5

IFC Markets is regulated by the British Virgin Island Financial Services Commission (BVI FSC). The reputation of this regulatory board is questionable due to the limited thresholds for companies to register. With that said, the brokerage does assure that client funds are held in segregated accounts.

IFCM Cyprus Limited also complies with MiFID and is authorised by the Labuan Financial Services Authority.

Additional Features

The broker’s website offers extensive educational support covering general topics and investing specifics. Individuals can access online resources including YouTube content, a trading glossary, market PDF guidance, as well as margin and profit calculators.

IFC Markets Commodities Calendar
IFC Markets Commodities Calendar

An innovative feature exclusive to the IFCM Group is the Portfolio Quoting Method (PQM), allowing traders to create and trade new financial instruments from different asset classes on the NetTradeX terminal. Benefits include:

Trading Accounts

The broker offers several trading account options across the three trading platforms. Base currencies are the same across accounts (USD, EUR, and JPY), though accounts with the NetTradeX terminal also support UBTC payments.

Standard Accounts

Beginner/Micro Accounts

IFC Markets offers Islamic trading accounts with no swap charges.

To open a real account with IFC Markets, traders need to follow the online registration instructions including providing proof of residence and identity documentation.

Trading Hours

IFC Markets follows standard opening times, 24 hours Monday through to Friday. With that said, opening times vary by market. A helpful trading chart by instrument is offered on the broker’s website split by CET time zone and UK local trading hours.

Customer Support

4 / 5

IFC Markets offers a range of contact options in 12 countries and 18 languages:

See the broker’s website for specific contact details by country.

Security

All registered profiles created with the brokerage must comply with an additional authorisation process including bank card verification via colour scans. The MT4 and MT5 platforms assure high-tech encryptions, secure logins, and industry-standard data privacy.

IFC Markets Verdict

The broker provides opportunities for traders of all abilities across various asset classes. The market maker also offers multiple trading platforms and a range of incentives and bonuses for new traders, as well as a decent suite of additional tools. That said, the offshore licensing is a notable drawback.

Top 3 Alternatives to IFC Markets

Compare IFC Markets with the top 3 similar brokers that accept traders from your location.

  1. IG – Founded in 1974, IG is part of IG Group Holdings Plc, a publicly traded (LSE: IGG) brokerage. The brand-US offers spread betting, CFD and forex trading across an almost unrivalled selection of 17,000+ markets, with a range of user-friendly platforms and investing apps. For 50 years, IG has maintained its position as an industry leader, excelling in all key areas for traders.
    Go to IG
  2. Interactive Brokers – Interactive Brokers (IBKR) is a premier brokerage for experienced traders, providing access to 150 markets in 33 countries, along with a suite of comprehensive investment services. With over 40 years of experience, this Nasdaq-listed firm adheres to stringent regulations by the SEC, FCA, CIRO, and SFC, amongst others, and is one of the most trusted brokers for trading around the globe.
    Go to Interactive Brokers
  3. World Forex – World Forex is an offshore broker registered in St Vincent and the Grenadines, offering commission-free trading with a $1 minimum deposit and 1:1000 leverage. Digital contracts are also available, offering beginners a straightforward way to speculate on popular financial markets.
    Go to World Forex

IFC Markets Comparison Table

Compare IFC Markets With Similar Brokers
IFC Markets IG Interactive Brokers World Forex
Rating 2.9 4.4 4.3 4
Markets Forex, CFDs, indices, shares, commodities, cryptocurrencies, ETFs, bonds CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, ETFs, Futures, Options, Crypto, Spread Betting Stocks, Options, Futures, Forex, Funds, Bonds, ETFs, Mutual Funds, CFDs, Cryptocurrencies Forex, CFD Stocks, Metals, Energies, Cryptos, Digital Contracts
Demo Account Yes Yes Yes Yes
Minimum Deposit $1, ¥100 $0 $0 $1
Minimum Trade 0.01 Lots 0.01 Lots $100 0.01 Lots
Regulators BVI FSC, SC, Labuan Financial Services Authority FCA, ASIC, NFA, CFTC, DFSA, BaFin, MAS, FSCA FCA, SEC, FINRA, CBI, CIRO, SFC, MAS, MNB SVGFSA
Bonus 30% welcome bonus + 30% activity bonus 100% Deposit Bonus
Education No Yes Yes No
Platforms MT4, MT5 Web, ProRealTime, L2 Dealer, MT4, AutoChartist, TradingCentral Trader Workstation (TWS), IBKR Desktop, GlobalTrader, Mobile, Client Portal, AlgoTrader, OmniTrader, eSignal, TradingCentral MT4, MT5
Leverage 1:400 1:30 (Retail), 1:250 (Pro) 1:50 1:1000
Payment Methods 11 6 6 10
Visit Visit Visit Visit
Review IG
Review
Interactive Brokers
Review
World Forex
Review

Compare Trading Instruments

Compare the markets and instruments offered by IFC Markets and its competitors. Please note, some markets may only be available via CFDs or other derivatives.

Compare IFC Markets Trading Instruments
IFC Markets IG Interactive Brokers World Forex
CFD Yes Yes Yes Yes
Forex Yes Yes Yes Yes
Stocks Yes Yes Yes Yes
Commodities Yes Yes Yes Yes
Oil No Yes No Yes
Gold Yes Yes Yes Yes
Copper Yes Yes No No
Silver Yes Yes No Yes
Corn Yes No No No
Crypto Yes Yes Yes Yes
Futures No Yes Yes No
Options No Yes Yes No
ETFs No Yes Yes No
Bonds No Yes Yes No
Warrants No Yes Yes No
Spreadbetting No Yes No No
Volatility Index Yes Yes No No

IFC Markets vs Other Brokers

Compare IFC Markets with any other broker by selecting the other broker below.

 

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IFC Markets is an STP broker that was founded in 2006 and has since gained 200,000 clients and several awards. This broker has some of the most interesting and wide-ranging additional tools, elevating its clients' trading experience via portfolio quoting, personal composite instruments and extensive analytics.

FAQ

Is IFC Markets legit?

IFC Markets is a legitimate broker operating in the financial industry since 2006. The company is licensed by the BVI FSC and the Labuan Financial Services Authority.

What are the minimum deposit requirements to start trading with IFC Markets?

IFC Markets minimum deposit requirements depend on the trading account. For beginner/micro accounts, the minimum payment is $1 or equivalent, while standard accounts require $1,000.

Does IFC Markets offer a demo account?

Yes, IFC Markets offer demo accounts across the MT4, MT5, and NetTradeX platforms. Practice accounts come with a virtual bankroll and traders can open a real-money account when they’re ready.

What trading platforms does IFCM use?

As well as the proprietary NetTradeX solution, IFC Market offers MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5. Each platform can be downloaded for free from the broker’s website.

Is IFC Markets regulated?

Yes, subsidiaries under the IFC Markets Group are regulated by relevant international agencies. IFC Markets Corp is regulated by BVI FSC and IFCM is registered in Cyprus and complies with MiFID. The broker is also regulated by the Labuan Financial Services Authority.