| Feature | Exness | IC Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Established | 2008 | 2007 |
| Regulation | FSA (Seychelles), CySEC (Cyprus), FCA (UK), FSCA (South Africa) | ASIC (Australia), CySEC (Cyprus), FSA (Seychelles) |
| Account Types | Standard, Standard Cent, Pro, Raw Spread, Zero | Standard, Raw Spread, cTrader Raw Spread |
| Minimum Deposit | $1 (varies by payment method and account type) | $200 (Standard and Raw Spread accounts) |
| Spreads | From 0.3 pips (Standard accounts), 0.0 pips (Zero accounts) | From 0.1 pips (Raw Spread account), 0.6 pips (Standard account) |
| Leverage | Up to 1:2000 (varies based on account and jurisdiction) | Up to 1:500 (ASIC) |
| Trading Platforms | MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, Exness Trader | MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader |
| Commission | No commission (Standard accounts), from $3.50 per lot (Raw and Zero accounts) | $3.00 per lot (Raw Spread account) |
| Assets | Forex, Metals, Cryptocurrencies, Indices, Energies, Stocks | Forex, Indices, Commodities, Bonds, Cryptocurrencies |
| Execution Type | Market execution | ECN (Raw Spread), Market execution (Standard) |
| Scalping | Allowed | Allowed |
| Hedging | Allowed | Allowed |
| Islamic Accounts | Available | Available |
| Negative Balance Protection | Yes | Yes |
| Deposit & Withdrawal Methods | Bank Transfer, Credit/Debit Card, Skrill, Neteller, Crypto wallets | Bank Transfer, Credit/Debit Card, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller |
| Deposit/Withdrawal Fees | No fees (varies for some methods) | No fees on deposits, withdrawal fees vary |
| Customer Support | 24/7 multilingual support, live chat, email, phone | 24/5 support, live chat, email, phone |
| Educational Resources | Webinars, trading articles, news, guides | Webinars, trading articles, video tutorials, guides |
| Research Tools | Economic calendar, news, sentiment analysis, VPS hosting | Economic calendar, news, sentiment analysis, VPS hosting |
| Copy Trading | Available via Exness Social Trading | Not directly, but third-party options supported |
| Promotions | No significant promotions due to regulatory restrictions | No significant promotions due to regulatory restrictions |
| User Interface | User-friendly, highly responsive mobile app | User-friendly, slightly more complex for cTrader users |
| Best For | Beginners due to flexible accounts and low deposits, high-leverage traders | Advanced traders needing low spreads, ECN and cTrader users |
| Mobile Trading Platform | Exness Trader (dedicated app for mobile trading) | MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader mobile apps |
| Automated Trading (EAs) | Fully supports Expert Advisors on MT4 and MT5 | Fully supports Expert Advisors on MT4, MT5, and cTrader |
| Account Currency Options | USD, EUR, GBP, multiple local currencies, crypto options | USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, SGD, HKD, JPY, NZD |
| Market Coverage | Extensive with over 100+ forex pairs, wide range of cryptos | Extensive with 60+ forex pairs, broader commodities focus |
| Micro-lot Trading | Available across Standard Cent accounts | Available across all account types |
| Order Types | Market, Limit, Stop, Trailing Stops, One-Click Trading | Market, Limit, Stop, Trailing Stops, Depth of Market |
| Risk Management Tools | Take Profit, Stop Loss, Trailing Stop, Negative Balance Protection | Take Profit, Stop Loss, Trailing Stop, Negative Balance Protection |
| Platform Languages | Available in over 20 languages | Available in 18+ languages |
| Advanced Charting Tools | In-depth chart analysis with multiple indicators, timeframes | Advanced charting, with full cTrader Depth of Market feature |
| Social Trading/Copy Trading Platform | Exness Social Trading app for copy trading | Not directly available, third-party platforms compatible |
| Execution Speed | Fast execution under 0.1 seconds | Generally very fast, ideal for scalping and day trading |
| Spread on Major Pairs | EUR/USD: ~0.3 pips (Standard), ~0.0 pips (Zero account) | EUR/USD: ~0.1 pips (Raw Spread) |
| Cryptocurrency Range | 20+ crypto pairs including BTC, ETH, LTC, XRP | Around 10 crypto pairs including BTC, ETH, BCH, XRP |
| Stock CFD Availability | Wide selection with major US, UK, and EU stocks | Limited to major indices, not individual stocks |
| VPS Hosting | Free for accounts meeting minimum balance requirements | Free for accounts meeting minimum balance requirements |
| Swap-Free Limits | Unlimited for Islamic accounts | Limited days for swap-free trading on Islamic accounts |
| Chart Customization | High level of customization on both desktop and mobile | High level of customization, especially on cTrader |
| Volatility Protection | Offers gap protection on specific accounts | Offers price improvement options in volatile conditions |
| Additional Trading Tools | Currency converter, Tick history data, Trader’s Calculator | Depth of Market, one-click trading, cTrader Smart Stop Out |
| News Feed Integration | Integrated news from Dow Jones News | Integrated news from global sources |
| API for Developers | Trading API for third-party integration | FIX API available, especially suited for high-frequency traders |
| Account Verification Speed | Typically instant verification on basic accounts | Takes longer due to strict regulations (especially for ASIC-regulated accounts) |
| Specialized Trading Features | Instant withdrawals (for certain methods), quick deposits | Tight spreads, low latency with server proximity to major exchanges |
| User-Defined Leverage | Offers flexible, user-defined leverage up to 1:2000 | Allows leverage adjustment, up to 1:500 |
| Execution Transparency | High transparency with detailed trade reports | High transparency, ECN model ensures order matching with no requotes |
| Latency Optimization | Data centers in strategic global locations for low latency | Servers located in Equinix data centers (NY4, LD5, HK3) for low latency |
| Weekend Cryptocurrency Trading | Available, 24/7 crypto trading | Available, 24/7 crypto trading |
| Rebate Programs | No direct rebates, low trading fees instead | Rebates for high-volume traders |
| Account Maintenance Fees | None, no inactivity fees | None, no inactivity fees |
| Charting Interface Design | Simplified, intuitive interface in Exness Trader app | Advanced interface in cTrader, MetaTrader available |
| Market Depth Access | Basic level (order book access on specific accounts) | Full depth of market visibility in cTrader |
| Order Execution Guarantee | High fulfillment rates with minimal slippage | Order fulfillment with slippage control, especially on ECN accounts |
| Risk Disclosure | Extensive risk warnings and management options | Transparent with in-depth risk disclosure on high-leverage accounts |
| Trader Sentiment Tools | Available, shows client positioning | Available, provided by third-party analytics tools |
| Back-Testing Environment | Available for EAs on MetaTrader | Available for EAs, particularly robust on cTrader |
| One-Click Trading | Enabled across platforms | Enabled across platforms |
| Notifications & Alerts | Push notifications on market events, order changes | Price alerts, push notifications available on cTrader and MT platforms |
| Asset Filtering | Customizable watchlists, favorites | Customizable watchlists, with cTrader and MT |
| Daily and Weekly Market Analysis | Provided through the Exness Blog | Provided through IC Markets Blog and third-party analytics |
| Platform Upgrades | Regular updates on Exness Trader and MT | Frequent updates, especially on cTrader and MT5 |
| Customizable Indicators | Yes, with thousands of available third-party add-ons | Yes, with additional proprietary indicators on cTrader |
| Multi-Account Manager (MAM) | Available for professionals managing multiple accounts | MAM and PAMM accounts available for asset managers |
| Social Trading Tracking | Social Trading app shows detailed follower performance | Tracking available via third-party integration only |
| Client Segregated Accounts | Funds held in segregated accounts with top banks | Funds held in segregated accounts, regulated by ASIC and CySEC |
| Affiliate Programs | Comprehensive affiliate program with high commission rates | Affiliate program for individual and institutional clients |
| New Account Opening Process | Fast, with simple online verification | Detailed, especially for ASIC accounts |
| Regional Restrictions | Available in most countries, limited in US and a few others | Available globally, but restricted in the US and Canada |
| News Sentiment Analysis | Dow Jones news feed with sentiment indicators | Reuters and other sources for advanced sentiment tracking |
| Learning Platform | Academy section with beginner-friendly tutorials, guides | Educational materials, but no dedicated academy portal |
| Customer Satisfaction Rating | Generally high due to support quality and platform stability | High, especially among experienced traders using cTrader |
| Order Modification Flexibility | Easily modifiable with instant changes on MT4/MT5 | Full control on order modifications, especially on cTrader |
| Bonus and Incentive Policies | Generally does not offer bonuses due to regulatory restrictions | No bonuses, focuses on low spreads and commissions instead |
Exness offers flexible accounts, user-defined leverage, and a user-friendly app, while IC Markets provides low-latency ECN trading with advanced cTrader options, ideal for experienced traders seeking market depth and low spreads.