IFC Markets vs. CMC Markets – Which Broker is the Best for Your Trading Needs?

IFC Markets and CMC Markets are leading Forex brokers, but which one should you trust with your portfolio?

I have conducted an in-depth review of IFC Markets vs. CMC Markets to determine which is the better overall choice and which traders will benefit most from either broker.

• Features and Platforms
• Available Markets
• Typical Spreads and Fees
• Security and Trust
• Plus500 vs Forex.com - Verdict

Headquarters	N/A	United Kingdom
Regulators	BVI, FSA, FSCA	FCA
Tier 1 Regulator(s)?
Owned by Public Company?
Year Established	2006	1989
Execution Type(s)	ECN/STP	Market Maker
Minimum Deposit	$15	N/A
Negative Balance Protection		N/A
Trading Platform(s)	MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, Proprietary platform, NetTradeX	MetaTrader 4, Proprietary platform, Web-based
Average Trading Cost EUR/USD	$4.00	0.6 pips ($6.00)
Average Trading Cost GBP/USD	$10.00	0.9 pips ($9.00)
Average Trading Cost WTI Crude Oil	$0.04	$0.03
Average Trading Cost Gold	$25.00	$0.34
Retail Loss Rate	Undisclosed	N/A
Minimum Raw Spreads	Not applicable	N/A
Minimum Standard Spreads	0.4 pips	N/A
Minimum Commission for Forex	Commission-free	N/A
Islamic Account
Signals
US Persons Accepted?
Managed Accounts
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Main advantages of IFC Markets:

• MT4/MT5 and a proprietary trading platform with the patented Portfolio Quoting Method
• Fast order execution with average execution times under 20 milliseconds
• Quality beginner education and competent research
• A high-paying partnership program that pays up to $15 per lot in commissions

Main advantages of CMC Markets:

• A cutting-edge proprietary, web-based trading platform featuring an automated pattern recognition scanner, a price projection box, module linking, and detailed trade analytics
• MT4/MT5 trading platforms, ideal for algorithmic traders, with free premium indicators and EAs
• An excellent proprietary mobile app and TradingView for social traders

Features and Platforms

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

Currency Pairs
Cryptocurrencies
Commodities
Crude Oil
Gold
Metals
Equity Indices
Stocks (non-CFDs)
Bonds
ETFs
Options		N/A
Futures
Synthetics
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The asset selection at IFC Markets and CMC Markets offers excellent cross-asset diversification. The latter offers a broader range of trading instruments and leads with its extensive equity selection.

IFC Markets offers a Patented Portfolio Quoting Method, allowing traders to create synthetic assets, which CMC Markets cannot match.

Typical Spreads and Fees

Average Trading Cost EUR/USD	$4.00	0.6 pips ($6.00)
Average Trading Cost GBP/USD	$10.00	0.9 pips ($9.00)
Average Trading Cost WTI Crude Oil	$0.04	$0.03
Average Trading Cost Gold	$25.00	$0.34
Average Trading Cost Bitcoin	$200.00	$75.00
Minimum Raw Spreads	Not applicable	N/A
Minimum Standard Spreads	0.4 pips	N/A
Minimum Commission for Forex	Commission-free	N/A
Deposit Fee		N/A
Withdrawal Fee		N/A
	Visit Website	Visit Website

IFC Markets and CMC Markets offer traders competitive, commission-free, and commission-based trading accounts. Which broker is cheaper?

Both brokers offer nearly identical fees, and the final edge depends on the assets and trading volume traded, as these factors affect rebates.

Account Types

IFC Markets and CMC Markets offer identical account structures, including unlimited demo accounts for as long as traders keep using them.

Are there any other noteworthy differences in the account structure between IFC Markets vs. CMC Markets?

Here is what stands out the most:

• IFC Markets requires a $1,000 deposit for standard accounts
• IFC Markets offers managed accounts via MAM/PAMM
• CMC Markets offers higher average volume-based rebates

Minimum Deposit

How easy is it to deposit at IFC Markets vs. CMC Markets?

Both brokers offer a swift deposit process. IFC Markets supports more payment processors, including cryptocurrencies, while CMC Markets accepts more deposit currencies. CMC Markets has no minimum deposit, whereas IFC Markets’ $15 minimum applies only to nano accounts, while standard accounts require a $1,000 deposit.

Minimum Withdrawal

Which withdrawal process is better: IFC Markets or CMC Markets?

IFC Markets and CMC Markets use a nearly identical withdrawal infrastructure. CMC has no internal fees or minimum withdrawal amounts, but third-party processing fees may apply at both brokers. Still, traders should avoid microtransactions to avoid accumulating costs.

Security and Trust

Country of the Regulator	British Virgin Islands, South Africa, Labuan	United Arab Emirates, Australia, Canada, Germany, New Zealand, Singapore, United Kingdom
Name of the Regulator	BVI, FSA, FSCA	FCA
Regulatory License Number	MB/20/0049, SIBA/L/14/1073,2021/682339/07	173730, 170627,154814, 238054, 41187, 101320, F002740, Undisclosed but confirmed
Regulatory Tier	4,2,2	1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 2, 2
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Which broker is more secure and trustworthy?

IFC Markets and CMC Markets segregate client deposits from corporate funds, and all traders receive negative-balance protection. FC Markets also offers professional indemnity insurance from Lloyd’s of London, while CMC Markets is a publicly listed company in the UK and a FTSE 250 constituent. Overall, IFC Markets and CMC Markets rank equally in trust and security.

IFC Markets versus CMC Markets - Verdict

IFC Markets

CMC Markets

Which Forex broker is better?

IFC Markets and CMC Markets are high-quality Forex brokers, and I recommend that traders test them in the IFC Markets demo account and the CMC Markets demo account.

My Verdict:

CMC Markets is an excellent choice for advanced traders. Still, I rank IFC Markets as the better choice for many traders due to lower costs and synthetic assets.

FAQs

Does IFC Markets or CMC Markets have lower costs?

IFC Markets has lower commission-free costs, but CMC Markets has better average volume-based rebates.

Is CMC Markets good for beginners?

CMC Markets is a good choice for beginners due to its competent education and research, trading platform upgrades, and cutting-edge mobile app.

How much commission does IFC Markets take?

IFC Markets levies a $5.00 commission per 1.0 round lot with generous rebates, while equity commissions are 0.10% for most equities.

Which is better, IFC Markets or CMC Markets?

CMC Markets is a superb choice for advanced traders, while IFC Markets shines with its synthetic asset portfolio and low trading fees.

By DailyForex.com Team

The DFX Team at DailyForex is a group of veteran financial analysts, traders, and brokerage industry experts dedicated to producing in-depth broker reviews and cutting-edge market insights, plus analysis of market trends. Holding over 16 years of experience in global financial markets, and 4 B.A. level academic qualifications in relevant degrees, we conduct thorough, unbiased evaluations of brokers to enable traders make informed decisions, using the most advanced methodology in the industry. Also, the DFX team is involved in generating technical analysis, signals, and trading strategies, with a consistent commitment to accuracy and transparency. Whether you’re a beginner or a professional trader, the DFX Team works to ensure you have the tools and insights you need to succeed as a trader in the retail CFD industry.