IC Markets versus Eightcap

Traders at Eightcap get the out-of-the-box MT4/MT5, upgraded by services from the Amazing Trader via its plugin. Eightcap also grants traders Capitalise AI, the innovative tool providing a code-free environment to automate trading strategies and connects accounts to the active TradingView community. Given its market-leading cryptocurrency selection, it added the cryptocurrency solution Cryptocrusher.

Headquarters
AustraliaAustralia
Regulators
ASIC, CySEC, FCA, SCBASIC, CySEC, FSA
Tier 1 Regulator(s)?
Owned by Public Company?
Year Established
20092010
Execution Type(s)
ECN/STP, Market MakerECN/STP
Minimum Deposit
$100$200
Negative Balance Protection
N/A
Trading Platform(s)
MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, Trading ViewMetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader
Average Trading Cost EUR/USD
1.0 pips0.0 pips ($0.00)
Average Trading Cost GBP/USD
1.2 pips0.0 pips ($0.00)
Average Trading Cost WTI Crude Oil
$0.03 $0.03
Average Trading Cost Gold
$0.12 $0.05
Minimum Commission for Forex
$7.00 per Round Lot N/A
Islamic Account
Signals
US Persons Accepted?
Managed Accounts
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Features and Platforms

MT4
MT5
MT4/MT5 Add-Ons
N/A
cTrader
Proprietary Platform
Automated Trading
Social/Copy Trading
N/A
DOM?
Guaranteed Stop Loss
Scalping
Hedging
One-Click Trading
OCO Orders
Interest on Margin
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Noteworthy:

Eightcap offers account managers the MAM module, and both brokers have deep liquidity and fast order execution, making them ideal brokers for demanding institutional-grade requirements. Eightcap and IC Markets are both market-leading multi-asset brokers.

Available Markets

Currency Pairs
Cryptocurrencies
Commodities
Crude Oil
Gold
Metals
Equity Indices
Stocks
N/A
Stocks (non-CFDs)
Bonds
ETFs
Options
N/A
Futures
Synthetics
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The asset selections at both brokers are well balanced, where Eightcap lists 1,000+ trading instruments versus 2,000+ at IC Markets. The former became a leading cryptocurrency broker with 250 CFDs, while the latter expanded to 1,800+ equity CFDs. IC Markets takes the lead in available markets with better cross-asset diversification and wider sector coverage.

Typical Spreads and Fees

Average Trading Cost EUR/USD
1.0 pips0.0 pips ($0.00)
Average Trading Cost GBP/USD
1.2 pips0.0 pips ($0.00)
Average Trading Cost WTI Crude Oil
$0.03 $0.03
Average Trading Cost Gold
$0.12 $0.05
Average Trading Cost Bitcoin
$12 $12.47
Minimum Commission for Forex
$7.00 per Round Lot N/A
Withdrawal Fee
N/A
Inactivity Fee
No N/A
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Both brokers offer traders raw spreads from 0.0 pips in their competitive commission-based accounts, but Eightcap charges $7.00 per round lot versus $6.00 at IC Markets. The former has commission-free equity trading, and the latter charges $0.04 per round lot for US-listed stocks.

Security and Trust

Country of the Regulator
Australia, The Bahamas, Cyprus, United KingdomAustralia, The Bahamas, Cyprus, Seychelles
Name of the Regulator
ASIC, CySEC, FCA, SCBASIC, CySEC, FSA
Regulatory License Number
391441, 40377, 246/14, 921296335692, SD018, SIA-F214, 362/18
Regulatory Tier
N/A1, 4, 4, 1
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From a security and trust perspective, both brokers rank equally. Both have an excellent history and infrastructure. Regulators in Australia and the Bahamas oversee operations at Eightcap and IC Markets. The former also has licenses from the FCA and the CySEC, while the latter has additional oversight in Seychelles and Cyprus. Negative balance protection and segregation of client deposits from corporate funds exist at Eightcap and IC Markets.

IC Markets vs Eightcap – Verdict

Eightcap

ProsCons
Innovative trading tools focused on algorithmic tradingBelow-average Forex selection
Balanced asset selection and leading cryptocurrency broker
Competitive commission-based cost structure and deep liquidity
Quality educational content and research for beginner traders

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

Eightcap and IC Markets offer a similar trading environment, streamlined for algorithmic trading solutions, where the latter shines. IC Markets takes the lead in asset selection and is marginally ahead with its pricing environment. Eightcap takes the lead as the better broker overall due to its recent addition of high-quality trading tools and solutions, which offer beginner traders assistance with algorithmic trading.

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