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IC Markets versus ActivTrades

ActivTrades offers clients its cutting-edge proprietary trading platform, ActivTrader. It also upgrades MT4/MT5 with seven plugins, creating a competitive environment. Beginner traders can schedule one-on-one training sessions and supplement their education via interactive webinars and videos. Its superb technology infrastructure makes ActivTrades an ideal choice for demanding, algorithmic traders.

Traders at IC Markets, the leader among algorithmic traders based on daily trading volume, get the 20-plugin Advanced Trading Tools MT4 upgrade, creating one of the most competitive MT4 environments industry-wide. MT5 and cTrader are also available, fully supporting algorithmic and copy trading. IC Markets also features third-party services by Myfxbook AutoTrade and ZuluTrade.

We have conducted an in-depth review of ActivTrades and IC Markets to determine which presents the better overall choice and which traders will benefit the most at either broker.

Headquarters
United KingdomAustralia
Regulators
CNMV, CONSOB, FCA, FSC Mauritius, SCBASIC, CySEC, FSA
Tier 1 Regulator(s)?
Owned by Public Company?
Year Established
20012010
Execution Type(s)
Market MakerECN/STP
Minimum Deposit
$0$200
Negative Balance Protection
N/A
Trading Platform(s)
Other, MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, Proprietary platform, Trading View+MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader
Average Trading Cost EUR/USD
$10.000.0 pips ($0.00)
Average Trading Cost GBP/USD
$14.000.0 pips ($0.00)
Average Trading Cost WTI Crude Oil
$0.06$0.03
Average Trading Cost Gold
$42.00$0.05
Retail Loss Rate
83.00%N/A
Minimum Raw Spreads
Not applicableN/A
Minimum Standard Spreads
0.5 pipsN/A
Minimum Commission for Forex
Commission-freeN/A
Islamic Account
Signals
US Persons Accepted?
Managed Accounts
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Features and Platforms

MT4
MT5
cTrader
Proprietary Platform
Automated Trading
DOM?
Guaranteed Stop Loss
Scalping
Hedging
One-Click Trading
OCO Orders
Interest on Margin
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Noteworthy:

ActivTrades offers API trading for advanced algorithmic trading solutions and maintains a dedicated institutional division. IC Markets supports demanding algorithmic traders via three third-party VPS hostings.

Available Markets

Currency Pairs
N/A
Cryptocurrencies
N/A
Commodities
Crude Oil
Gold
Metals
Equity Indices
Stocks (non-CFDs)
N/A
Bonds
N/A
ETFs
Options
N/A
Futures
Synthetics
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Both brokers maintain a balanced asset selection, where ActivTrades lists 1,000+ assets versus 2,000+ at IC Markets, where the depth of the equity selection remains the primary difference. Forex traders get a selection of 48 currency pairs and nine cryptocurrency CFDs at ActivTrades, trailing the 61 and 23 at IC Markets, which presents more overall quantity.

Typical Spreads and Fees

Average Trading Cost EUR/USD
$10.000.0 pips ($0.00)
Average Trading Cost GBP/USD
$14.000.0 pips ($0.00)
Average Trading Cost WTI Crude Oil
$0.06$0.03
Average Trading Cost Gold
$42.00$0.05
Average Trading Cost Bitcoin
$101.00$12.47
Minimum Raw Spreads
Not applicableN/A
Minimum Standard Spreads
0.5 pipsN/A
Minimum Commission for Forex
Commission-freeN/A
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Minimum Forex trading costs at ActivTrades are lower than IC Markets, but average fees are higher, even with the volume-based rebate program at ActivTrades. Unleveraged equity trading at ActivTrades is commission-free. Otherwise, industry-average costs apply, where IC Markets maintains an edge.

Security and Trust

Country of the Regulator
Brazil, The Bahamas, Italy, Mauritius, Portugal, United KingdomAustralia, The Bahamas, Cyprus, Seychelles
Name of the Regulator
CNMV, CONSOB, FCA, FSC Mauritius, SCBASIC, CySEC, FSA
Regulatory License Number
434413, 199667 B, 43.050.917/0001-03, 433, 198, GB24203277335692, SD018, SIA-F214, 362/18
Regulatory Tier
4, 1, 1, 1, 4, 21, 4, 4, 1
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ActivTrades and IC Markets both offer negative balance protection, segregate client deposits from corporate funds, comply with numerous regulators and maintain spotless track records. ActivTrades additionally offers all clients $1,000,000 in third-party liability insurance protection. From a trust and security perspective, both rank equally, while ActivTrades maintains better overall protection than IC Markets.

IC Markets vs ActivTrades – Verdict

ActivTrades

ProsCons
Upgraded MT4/MT5 trading platforms and a cutting-edge proprietary alternativeNo choice of account types
Excellent order execution due to superior technology infrastructure
Outstanding educational resources for beginners
Interest payments on free margin and volume-based cash rebate program

IC Markets

ProsCons
Excellent choice of trading platforms consisting of MT4/MT5, and cTrader Minimum deposit slightly higher but within a reasonable range
Market-leading MT4 upgrade package, MAM/PAMM accounts, and VPS hosting
Social trading support via Myfxbook, MetaTrader Signals, and ZuluTrade
Leverage of up to 1:500, deep liquidity, and superb trade execution

An excellent trading infrastructure, superior order execution, and a balanced asset selection exist at ActivTrades and IC Markets. Both upgrade their MT4/MT5 platforms. While IC Markets remains the market leader for algorithmic traders with low trading costs, ActivTrades remains a better overall choice for beginners due to its excellent educational resources, including one-on-one sessions.

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FAQs

Is IC Markets a good broker?

IC Markets established itself as an industry-leading broker offering one of the most competitive MT4 environments. It also maintains competitive commission-based costs, excellent order execution, deep liquidity, high leverage, and quality education and research for beginners.

Is IC Markets allowed in the US?

IC Markets does not accept US-based traders, has no physical presence, and is not under US regulation. Therefore, IC Markets and its industry-leading trading infrastructure is not allowed in the US.

Is ActivTrades an ECN?

ActivTrades is not an ECN broker but deploys the market maker model, meaning it profits directly from client losses where it acts as the counterparty.

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