Exness vs IC (Formerly IC Markets)

IC (Formerly IC Markets) is stronger for low-cost forex trading, advanced platform choice, and higher-tier regulation. Exness is more flexible for accounts, base currencies, and round-the-clock support.

Both brokers offer MT4, MT5, low-spread accounts, demo trading, crypto funding options, and no inactivity fee. They are geared more toward forex and CFDs than long-term investing in real shares or ETFs.

Exness has the better mobile experience and more research tools, while IC offers cTrader, TradingView, and broader CFD market coverage. New traders may find Exness easier to fund, but IC provides more learning material.

Regulation & Trust

IC offers stronger overall protection through ASIC authorization since 2009 and CySEC authorization since 2018. These are well-known regulators with strict rules on client money, leverage, and conduct, although IC is not publicly listed and does not publish the same level of financial detail as listed brokers.

We checked both brokers’ regulatory coverage and found Exness uses entities regulated by the FSCA in South Africa, CMA in Kenya, and offshore bodies in Seychelles, Curaçao, the British Virgin Islands, and Mauritius. Exness keeps client funds segregated and offers negative balance protection, but its FCA and CySEC permissions are for institutional and B2B activity rather than retail trading.

IC also has offshore entities, including one regulated in Seychelles, where leverage can reach 1:5000. This flexibility comes with lower protections, and we noted CySEC’s €200,000 fine in 2024 concerning IC Markets EU leverage and margin rules, plus FCA warnings about unauthorized activity and copycat domains.

IC changed its brand to IC in 2026 and moved parts of its web presence to IC.com, so traders should check the exact web address before logging in or sending money. Exness users should also avoid unsolicited Telegram and WhatsApp messages, as impersonation scams have been flagged.

Accounts & Banking

Exness gives traders more account and banking flexibility. We opened its account through Google sign-in, confirmed an email address and phone number, and uploaded identity and address documents; approval took less than one day.

Exness has Standard, Standard Cent, Pro, Raw Spread, and Zero accounts. The Standard and Standard Cent accounts can start from $10, while the Pro account needs $200; the Cent account is useful for tiny trades but only supports forex and metals and has just six base currencies.

We adjusted the Exness demo account from its default $10,000 virtual balance and changed leverage in the client dashboard up to 1:2000 without contacting support. The large account menu took longer to compare than IC’s simpler choice, especially when weighing spread-only accounts against commission accounts.

IC keeps the choice simple with Standard and Raw Spread accounts, plus a 30-day demo account. We created multiple IC live and demo accounts through the digital application; setup took minutes, though approval could take up to 24 hours depending on the time zone.

For payments, we sent Exness card deposits that appeared instantly, while Skrill and Neteller took about 30 minutes and Bitcoin or Tether transfers took up to an hour. Exness supports more than 40 base currencies, compared with IC’s 10, which can reduce currency conversion costs for more traders.

We also used IC card and e-wallet funding, which was near-instant, then requested withdrawals through the original payment route. Card and e-wallet withdrawals were processed the same day but arrived in three to five business days; an international bank withdrawal could cost $20.

IC upgraded its service for active clients with the Raw Trader Plus program in 2023, adding rebates, VPS access, and priority support for qualifying high-volume traders. Exness is the better fit for small starting deposits and broad currency support, while IC suits traders who want fewer account decisions.

Assets & Markets

These brokers are competitive, but IC wins on the sheer number of instruments, though they serve slightly different market needs. IC has the larger overall CFD range, while Exness offers more forex pairs.

We counted more than 100 currency pairs on Exness alongside CFDs on crypto, commodities, indices, and stocks. Its forex coverage is excellent, but it does not provide ETFs, options, bonds, or interest on unused cash.

IC lists more than 2,250 instruments: 75 forex pairs, 25 indices, over 2,100 stock CFDs, 28 commodities, four ETF CFDs, nine bond CFDs, and 13 cryptocurrencies. We set IC trade sizes from the 0.01-lot minimum upward, which helps traders manage position size carefully.

Neither broker is a full long-term investment platform because neither offers direct ownership of shares or ETFs. Exness expanded its stock CFD selection by adding high-profile equities such as SpaceX after its IPO, but IC still has much deeper stock-CFD and specialist bond coverage.

Fees & Costs

IC is the lower-cost choice for frequent forex trading, mainly because its Raw Spread account combines very tight pricing with a clear commission model. Both brokers charge no inactivity fee and offer accounts with spreads from 0.0 pips, but funding costs can differ by method.

We recorded IC’s average EUR/USD Raw Spread pricing at about 0.1 pips, with a $3.50 commission per standard lot per side. For a 1-lot EUR/USD trade, a 0.1-pip spread costs about $1 and the round-trip commission costs $7, giving an estimated total of $8.

Exness Raw Spread pricing begins at 0.0 pips with a $3.50 commission per lot per side. Using a zero-pip example, a 1-lot EUR/USD round trip costs about $7 in commission, although the live spread moves and can raise the total cost.

That example shows why account type matters more than a headline spread. We compared the fee screens before placing trades and found Exness’s Standard, Pro, Raw Spread, and Zero pricing can be hard for a new trader to compare, while IC’s Standard versus Raw Spread choice is easier to understand.

Exness cut spreads across key accounts in 2024, making its Raw Spread and Zero accounts more competitive. It also waives most deposit and withdrawal costs, though some e-wallet and crypto processors can charge a fee; IC deposits are free, but bank-wire withdrawals can add $20.

Exness also offers swap-free options, which can matter for traders avoiding overnight financing. One small drawback we found was that inactive Exness demo accounts can be deleted even though live accounts have no inactivity charge.

Platforms & Tools

These platforms are very close in quality, but IC offers the wider tool set for advanced trading. Exness is easier for traders who want a clean web terminal with simple account controls.

We used Exness Terminal, MT4, and MT5. The Exness Terminal’s TradingView-powered charts, watchlist, and order ticket were easy to use, but we could not find advanced chart types such as Renko charts.

MT5 at Exness added Depth of Market, more order choices, an economic calendar, and more markets than MT4. We also checked the VPS rules: free Exness VPS needs either a $2,000 balance or a $500 balance plus $1.5 million monthly trading volume.

IC supports MT4, MT5, cTrader, and TradingView across web and mobile. We used cTrader’s order tools and found its layout more modern than MetaTrader, while its Autochartist, Trading Central, and copy-trading links made trade ideas easier to review and act on.

TradingView access at IC gives active chart users a familiar interface and community features, while MT4 and MT5 support automated strategies and back-testing. The main trade-off is that IC has no in-house platform, whereas Exness Terminal combines trading and account management in one simpler workspace.

Research

Exness provides the more complete research package, especially for traders who want practical calculators alongside market signals. IC has useful analysis, but its strongest tools sit across different platforms and pages.

We used the Exness trading calculator to work out pip value, margin, spread, and commission under different account types and leverage settings. Its live currency converter, FXStreet news, Trading Central signals, and economic calendar provide a solid daily research set.

The Exness calendar was less smooth to use because its filtering options were limited, and Trading Central insights were not built directly into Exness Terminal. It also lacks detailed in-house analyst reports, so traders who want deeper fundamental analysis may need outside sources.

We filtered IC’s Market Buzz feed by symbol and asset name, which made it useful for tracking a specific currency pair or index. IC also provides daily market articles, YouTube analysis, Autochartist, and Trading Central tools, including sentiment and technical setups.

IC’s research is useful for trade ideas but does not go as deep as a dedicated research desk. Its third-party tools work especially well through cTrader, while Exness gives a clearer set of day-to-day calculations and market resources in one place.

Education

IC is better for learning the basics because it provides tutorials, webinars, a forex glossary, and material on risk management and market analysis. Exness offers a helpful demo and clear support articles, but it does not yet provide a structured learning path.

We read through Exness Help Center articles and found clear explanations of platform features and trading terms. However, there were no built-in courses, videos, webinars, or guided lessons to take a beginner from basic terms to a complete trading plan.

IC’s learning content covers more ground, but we had to search its blog to find it. The education area is not prominent in the client dashboard, and it would be stronger with courses, quizzes, and progress tracking.

Both brokers could make learning easier by placing more education inside their trading platforms. IC has the better starting library, while Exness is better used with external education resources alongside its demo account.

Customer Support

Support is closely balanced, with each broker offering fast live chat and useful email help. Exness is available 24/7 in 15 languages, while IC provides live chat, email, and a global phone line during 24/5 market hours.

We contacted Exness live chat about withdrawal fees and received a useful answer within minutes. For a more technical VPS question, we used email and got a detailed reply within a few hours, though Exness does not provide phone support or dedicated account managers.

We also used IC live chat for smaller account questions, which were handled quickly. For technical issues, chat agents sometimes lacked enough detail, so we followed up by email and received a more helpful answer within a few hours.

IC’s phone line is useful for traders who prefer speaking to a person, but there is no call-back option. Exness is the better choice for weekend or overnight help, while IC has the advantage for users who want a phone channel.

Is Exness or IC (Formerly IC Markets) Better For Beginners?

Exness is the better starting point for beginners because a live account can begin from $10, the Standard Cent account supports very small trade sizes, and the platform is easier to navigate. Its adjustable $10,000 demo, more than 40 base currencies, and 24/7 multilingual chat also lower practical barriers.

IC has better educational material, including tutorials and webinars, but its resources are harder to find and its demo lasts 30 days. Beginners who value guided learning may still prefer IC, while those who want a low deposit and simple funding experience should lean toward Exness.

Is Exness or IC (Formerly IC Markets) Better For Experienced Traders?

IC is better for experienced traders because it supports MT4, MT5, cTrader, and TradingView, along with algorithmic trading, copy trading, and advanced charting workflows. Raw Trader Plus adds rebates, VPS access, and priority support for eligible high-volume users.

Exness remains capable for advanced forex traders through Raw Spread and Zero accounts, MT4/MT5 automation, flexible leverage, and qualifying free VPS hosting. However, IC gives experienced users more platform choice and a stronger environment for cTrader-based tools and strategy testing.

Is Exness or IC (Formerly IC Markets) Better For Short-term Traders?

IC is the stronger choice for short-term traders due to its tight Raw Spread pricing, average EUR/USD spread around 0.1 pips, $3.50-per-side lot commission, and fast execution focus. It also supports scalping, automated trading, cTrader, and TradingView.

Exness is also competitive for short-term forex strategies, with Raw Spread pricing from 0.0 pips, low commissions, leverage up to 1:2000, and fast funding. IC has the edge for traders who need broader platform choice and a larger CFD market list.

Is Exness or IC (Formerly IC Markets) Better For Long-Term Traders?

Neither broker is ideal for long-term investing because they focus on CFDs rather than direct share ownership, and neither pays interest on unused cash. Both avoid inactivity fees, which helps investors who trade less often.

IC has more stock CFDs, four ETF CFDs, and nine bond CFDs, so it gives longer-horizon CFD traders more markets to follow. Exness has fewer stock choices and no ETFs or bonds, but its broad base-currency selection may reduce conversion costs for some users.

Is Exness or IC (Formerly IC Markets) Better For Trading On Mobile?

Exness is better for mobile trading thanks to its more polished app experience, straightforward account controls, and easy access to its TradingView-powered terminal. Its mobile offering also fits well with instant card funding and 24/7 support.

IC works well on mobile through MT4, MT5, cTrader, and TradingView, which is excellent for traders already committed to those apps. Still, switching between third-party apps can feel less seamless than using Exness’s more unified mobile setup.

Why Pick Exness Over IC (Formerly IC Markets)?

Pick Exness for a $10 entry point, a Standard Cent account, over 40 base currencies, flexible leverage controls, and 24/7 multilingual help. It is also a strong option for traders who want a simple proprietary terminal, Trading Central research, and a higher-quality mobile experience.

Exness can be especially practical for traders who fund frequently, use e-wallets or crypto, or want many account types. Its key limits are lighter retail regulatory coverage, fewer CFDs than IC, and weak formal education.

Why Pick IC (Formerly IC Markets) Over Exness?

Pick IC for stronger ASIC and CySEC oversight, low Raw Spread pricing, cTrader, TradingView, and a broader catalogue of more than 2,250 CFD instruments. It is particularly well suited to active forex traders, scalpers, and users of automated strategies.

IC also provides tutorials, webinars, phone support, Autochartist, and Trading Central integrations. The main downsides are slower withdrawal arrival times, a possible $20 bank-wire fee, only 10 base currencies, and no direct shares or ETFs.