IC Markets vs InstaForex - Fees Review included
Which broker is better IC Markets or InstaForex? Our expert assessment conducted according to TU’s own methodology showed that IC Markets is one of the top brokers in the financial market with the TU Overall Score of 7.46 out of 10. InstaForex is one of the top brokers in the financial market with the TU Overall Score of 7.22 out of 10. Find out more about TU Overall Score.
| Feature | IC Markets | InstaForex |
|---|---|---|
Overall |
4.7 |
4.5 |
5 |
4.5 |
|
4.9 |
3.5 |
|
4.6 |
4.6 |
|
Investment Instruments |
4.9 |
4.8 |
Platforms and Charting Tools |
4.4 |
4.4 |
Deposit and Withdrawal |
4.6 |
5 |
Research |
4.3 |
4.6 |
Education |
4.4 |
4.8 |
Support |
4.6 |
4.7 |
Bonuses |
2.5 |
5 |
|
|
|
IC Markets vs InstaForex: Pros and Cons
IC Markets Trading Company was founded in 2007 in Sydney, Australia. The broker is licensed under the Australian Financial Services License (AFSL) and the Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC). The broker is also a member of the Australian Financial Complaint Authority (AFCA), the governing body that sets the industry standard for the resolution of disputes between consumers and financial service providers, and regularly undertakes audits.
InstaForex is an international company that has been providing services in the Forex currency market since 2007. Today, more than 7 million traders worldwide use the services of this broker. InstaForex offers its clients access to 300 trading instruments, such as PAMM Investment and ForexCopy system to copy trading of successful traders. The company’s activity is regulated by the British Virgin Islands Financial Services Commission (FSC) in accordance with the Securities and Investment Business Act. InstaForex has a reputation for responsible and professional trading practices. In 2016, the company received the UK Forex Best Social Broker Award, in 2018 was named the Best Forex Platform for Trading Cryptocurrency, and in 2019 Best Asian Broker and the Best Eastern European broker.
| IC Markets | InstaForex | |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Pros | World biggest Forex broker, over 180,000 clients and $1.11 trln monthly turnover in 2022 | Regulated Forex Broker |
| Advanced ECN trading | 2500+ trading assets | |
| Order execution speed 40 mc | Individual online training | |
| Free VPS | Advances news and analytitc platforms | |
| Trading servers in New York and London | Free VPS service | |
| Strong regulation | High exacution speed | |
| 2000+ trading assets, 60+ currency pairs | No deposit and withdrawal fees | |
| EURUSD Average spread 01 pip | Deposits in crypto | |
| $1000 No deposit bonus (Only for international entety) | ||
| Overall Cons | No forex bonuses | High spreads and trading fees |
| World biggest Forex broker, over 180,000 clients and $1.11 trln monthly turnover in 2022 | Low exacution speed |
IC Markets vs InstaForex: Safety and Regulation
| IC Markets | InstaForex | |
|---|---|---|
Max. Regulation Level |
Tier-1 |
Tier-1 |
Investor protection |
€20,000 |
No |
FCA UK Regulation |
No |
No |
FINRA (U.S) |
No |
No |
BaFin (Germany) |
No |
No |
ASIC (Australia) |
Yes |
No |
CFTC (U.S) |
No |
No |
MAS |
No |
No |
FSCA SA |
No |
No |
BVI FSC |
No |
Yes |
VFSC |
No |
No |
FSA (Seychelles) |
Yes |
No |
IC Markets vs InstaForex: Trading Conditions
| Trading Conditions | IC Markets | InstaForex |
|---|---|---|
Minimum Deposit |
$200 |
$1 |
Trading Platforms |
MT4, MT5, cTrader |
MT4, MT5, InstaForex MultiTerminal |
Max Leverage (Futures) |
1-500 |
1:1000, 1:30 (for EU clients) |
Supported Markets |
Forex, futures, CFDs on indices, commodities, metals, stocks and bonds |
Forex, CFDs on indices, commodities, crypto, metals, stocks |
Trading assets |
2000+ |
2500+ |
Trading Accounts |
cTrader, Raw Spread, Standard |
Insta.Standard, Insta.Eurica, Cent.Standard, Cent.Eurica for international entity, ECN, ECN PRO, ECN VIP - For EU entity. |
Base Account Currencies |
USD, AUD, GBP, CHF, JPY, NZD, SGD, CAD, HKD, BTC |
EUR, USD |
IC Markets vs InstaForex: Fees
| IC Markets | InstaForex | |
|---|---|---|
Standard acc. spread EUR/USD, min pips |
0,8 |
3 |
Standard acc. spread EUR/USD, max pips |
1,0 |
7 |
ECN Commission |
3,5 |
3 |
ECN Spread EUR/USD |
0,1 |
0,2 |
Deposit fee, % |
No |
No |
Withdrawal fee, % |
No |
0,5-2 |
Withdrawal fee, USD |
No |
20-100 |
Inactivity fee, $ |
No |
No |
A conversion fee may be applied as withdrawals and deposits are conducted in USD. Any other currency will have to be converted.
IC Markets vs InstaForex: Trading Assets
| Asset Name | IC Markets | InstaForex |
|---|---|---|
Overall |
2000+ trading assets |
2500+ |
Forex |
Yes |
Yes |
Stocks |
Yes (CFD) |
Yes (CFD) |
Metals |
Yes (CFD) |
Yes (CFD) |
Cryptocurrencies |
Yes (CFD) |
Yes (CFD) |
Energy |
Yes (CFD) |
Yes (CFD) |
Indices |
Yes (CFD) |
Yes (CFD) |
ETFs |
Yes (CFD) |
Yes (CFD) |
Bonds |
Yes (CFD) |
No |
Mutual funds |
No |
No |
Stock options |
No |
No |
Futures Trading |
Yes (CFD) |
No |
Binary Options |
No |
No |
IC Markets or InstaForex: Investment Programs
| Asset Name | IC Markets | InstaForex |
|---|---|---|
Copy Trading |
Yes |
Yes |
MAM/PAMM |
Yes |
Yes |
Managed Accounts |
No |
No |
Other |
No |
No |
Trading Platforms: InstaForex or IC Markets
| IC Markets | InstaForex | |
|---|---|---|
MT4 |
Yes |
Yes |
MT5 |
Yes |
Yes |
cTrader |
Yes |
No |
Appropriate platform |
IC Markets terminal |
InstaForex |
Others |
No |
No |
|
|
|
IC Markets vs InstaForex: Deposit and Withdrawal Methods
| IC Markets | InstaForex | |
|---|---|---|
Bank Wire |
Yes |
Yes |
Bank Card |
Yes |
Yes |
Neteller |
Yes |
Yes |
BTC |
No |
No |
Wise |
No |
No |
Payoneer |
No |
No |
USDT |
No |
No |
IC Markets vs InstaForex: Research
| Research Type | IC Markets | InstaForex |
|---|---|---|
News Feed |
Yes |
Yes |
Fundamental Data |
Yes |
Yes |
Chart Analysis |
Yes |
Yes |
Trading Ideas |
Yes |
Yes |
E-Mail Reports |
Yes |
Yes |
IC Markets vs InstaForex: Education
| Education Type | IC Markets | InstaForex |
|---|---|---|
Demo-account/Paper Trading |
Yes |
Yes |
Webinars |
Yes |
Yes |
Articles |
Yes |
Yes |
Videos |
Yes |
Yes |
Cent account |
No |
Yes |
InstaForex vs IC Markets: Support
| Support Features | IC Markets | InstaForex |
|---|---|---|
Working Days |
24/5 |
24/5 |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Phone |
Yes |
Yes |
Online chat |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
No |
Messendgers |
IC Markets vs InstaForex: Forex Bonuses and Promo
| Promo | IC Markets | InstaForex |
|---|---|---|
Forex Bonus |
Not offered |
$1000 no deposit bonus |
Affiliate Program |
% of trading commissions |
Yes |
Other Promos |
||
|
|
|
Top 5 Reviews on InstaForex
-
Comment
InstaForex offers over 2,500 trading instruments, including InstaSpot and InstaFutures—for those looking for unconventional assets. Over years of working with them, I haven’t encountered any critical outages, but it’s important to note that some products, like OYS accounts, are only available with a minimum investment of $1,000. Support is available within the terminal and responds quickly, though it can be quiet during nighttime hours.
-
Comment
For the first time, I came across a non-standard instrument called InstaFutures with a broker. So far, I’ve tested it on a demo account using MT5. I chose the Insta.Standard account — the spread is floating, around 1.2 pips. The minimum trade size is 0.01 lots. The partnership program is straightforward — commissions are paid out regularly, with transparent terms, especially for CPL and CPA. However, withdrawals via crypto wallets aren’t always fast.
-
Comment
I’ve been using the option to invest through the OYS portfolio under CySEC. The minimum is from $2000, with allocations across crypto, stocks, and indices. So far, everything is transparent, and the fees are clear. Trading is available via WebTrader, MT4, and MT5, which is convenient. No issues with withdrawals or verification. However, the dealing delay in copy trading—up to 15 seconds—is something to keep in mind.
-
Comment
Instaforex offers two main registration options — under FSC or CySEC. This choice affects both leverage (up to 1:1000 vs. 1:30) and spreads. There’s also a wide range of account types, from demo and standard to ECN and VIP. Support responds quickly, especially with straightforward inquiries. However, this broker may not suit those looking for fixed-income investments — there are no passive investment tools available.
-
Comment
I prefer to deal with InstaForex. Their web trader platforms are awesome, and I can trade in browsers with many advanced functions, which has brought me $750 in profit so far. I am satisfied with InstaForexso far. I am happy to make profitable orders, so I will continue trading with InstaForex.
Top 5 Reviews on IC Markets
-
Comment
I decided to use the services of IC Markets not long ago. Now I think that not all negative reviews are justified. This is a good broker and I have already withdrawn profits several times, everything went without problems. IC Markets’ rates differ from those of other brokers. But you can adapt to this problem.
-
Comment
I initially paid $3000 to start with and an account manager demonstrated a growth of $500 in quick time. A specialist then came in and tried to get me to invest $25000 to which I bluntly denied and they tried with $20K, then $10K and even $5K to all of which I refused! They have now kept me hanging and I asked for a refund to which they are asking for more money from me and I don't know what more to do! Also as of yesterday, the site itself is DOWN!! I cannot log in anymore and the email contact i had from there, when i sent the email to check it came back saying that domain does not exist anymore!! I am at loss of words and my hard earned money unfortunately i was able to recover my money back with the help of Olivia teams get in touch with them oliviatrader 44 at gmail com WhatApp +1 (423) 248 - 2140
-
Comment
I was looking for a reliable broker and noticed the long existence and good reputation of ICMarkets. Moreover, my friend, who has been trading for a long time, recommended contacting them. After several years, I have become a more experienced trader and I am satisfied with the work of the broker.
-
Comment
I have been trading with IC Markets for some time now and I can draw some conclusions. The platform works stably, which indicates a serious approach to its work. Spreads are quite optimal, although for cryptocurrencies they are higher than average as compared to those of its competitors. Slippages occur, there is nothing you can do about it. But there are no problems with requotes at all. In general, I think it’s possible to rate IC Markets “good”.
-
Comment
There are many advantages to IC Markets broker. First, of course, is the presence of a license from a reputable regulator. Accounts can be opened for citizens of many countries. Second, the platform works very well. Order execution speed is high, and you can actively trade manually or with the help of an advisor. I am quite satisfied with IC Markets as a broker.
FAQs
What should I start Forex trading with?
It is desirable for novice traders to explore trading using a demo account to learn the market and how to work on the trading platform without the risk of suffering losses. At the same time, it is advisable to review the educational materials of the broker, learn trading basics. Then you can deposit the minimum required amount to perform a small number of transactions. If you manage to close several months in a row in the black, without substantial drawdowns on the account, then you can try increasing your deposit. Also trying to copy trades automatically is a good option for a start.
What amount should I start trading with?
The minimum deposit of $10 may be enough to trade on the cent account. However, for trading on Standard/ECT accounts, experts recommend starting with at least $200-500. With this amount, you can use not a very big leverage. Remember, getting carried away with the margin is the main cause of losses among beginners.
What should I take into consideration when choosing a broker?
Experts recommend looking at the broker’s reliability first and foremost. The other important features include basic trading conditions, commissions and fees, customer reviews. If brokers are approximately the same in terms of basic criteria, you need to choose based on your experience and tasks. One broker may be good for professionals and another – for novice traders.
Is it possible to be scammed by a broker with a license from a reputable regulator?
In theory, yes. But in practice, it takes so much time and money to comply with the requirements of reputable regulators that it is not worth it for scammers to bother obtaining a legitimate license.
Team that worked on the article
Mikhail Vnuchkov joined Traders Union as an author in 2020. He began his professional career as a journalist-observer at a small online financial publication, where he covered global economic events and discussed their impact on the segment of financial investment, including investor income. With five years of experience in finance, Mikhail joined Traders Union team, where he is in charge of forming the pool of latest news for traders, who trade stocks, cryptocurrencies, Forex instruments and fixed income.