Exness vs IC Markets (2026): Which Is Better?
Licences, spreads, leverage, minimum deposit and features compared side by side. Our pick: Exness (9.4/10).
| E | IM | |
|---|---|---|
| Our score | 9.4/10 | 9.2/10 |
| Founded | 2008 | 2007 |
| Minimum deposit | $10 | $200 |
| Max leverage | Up to 1:Unlimited (conditions apply) | Up to 1:1000 |
| Spreads | From 0.0 pips (Raw/Zero) · from ~1.0 pips (Standard) | From 0.0 pips + $7 round-turn (Raw) · from 0.8 pips (Standard) |
| Platforms | MT4, MT5, Exness Terminal, Exness Trade app | MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView |
| Copy trading | Yes – Exness Social Trading | Yes – IC Social, ZuluTrade, Myfxbook |
| Licences | FCA, CySEC, FSCA, CMA, FSA, FSC, FSC, CBCS, FSC Belize | ASIC, CySEC, SCB, FSA |
| Available in | ~232 countries | ~229 countries |
| Best for | Beginners, small accounts, gold (XAUUSD) traders | Scalpers, EA / robot traders, cTrader users |
| Visit Site | Visit Site |
Why choose Exness
- $10 minimum deposit on Standard accounts
- Instant automatic withdrawals on most methods
- 9 licences incl. FCA and CySEC
- Huge range of local payment methods
Why choose IC Markets
- Raw spreads from 0.0 pips with deep liquidity
- MT4, MT5, cTrader and TradingView
- Tier-1 regulation from ASIC and CySEC
- Built for EA and scalping strategies
Verdict
Exness is one of the largest retail forex brokers in the world by trading volume. Traders choose it for its very low minimum deposit, tight spreads on gold and major pairs, flexible leverage and fast automated withdrawals, all backed by nine licences including the UK FCA and CySEC.
IC Markets is an Australian-founded true-ECN broker known for raw spreads from 0.0 pips, lightning-fast execution and the widest platform choice in the industry — MT4, MT5, cTrader and TradingView. It is a favourite of scalpers and automated (EA) traders worldwide.
Exness edges ahead in our rating, but many traders open both accounts and use each for what it does best.