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Head to head

IC Markets vs Markets4you

IC Markets is licensed by ASIC in Australia, CySEC in the European Union and SCB in The Bahamas, and also has an offshore registration. Markets4you holds only an offshore registration (British Virgin Islands). The licence that applies to you depends on where you live, so check which company you would contract with before comparing anything else.

Minimum deposits start at $0 at IC Markets and $0 at Markets4you. Only Markets4you offers negative balance protection. Both offer segregated client money.

Facts last checked: IC Markets on 20 October 2026, Markets4you on 20 October 2026.

IC Markets profileMarkets4you profile
Broker 1
Broker 2
Broker 3

Monthly cost uses the account chosen in each slot: cost per lot × your lots. Swap and other fees are extra. The lowest monthly cost is highlighted only as a fact about cost, not as a recommendation.

Broker
IC MarketsStrictly regulatedRead the profile
Markets4youOffshore registration onlyRead the profile
Comparing
IC MarketsRaw Spread (MetaTrader) account · Australia
Markets4youBritish Virgin Islands

Overview

Founded
Not yet checked
2007
Headquarters
Sydney, Australia
Road Town, British Virgin Islands
Official websites
  • icmarkets.com
  • icmarkets.sc
  • icmarkets.eu
  • icmarkets.com.au
  • icmarkets.bs
  • ic.com
  • markets4you.com
Facts last checked
20 October 2026
20 October 2026

Regulation and protection

Company you would contract with
International Capital Markets Pty Ltd
E-Global Trade & Finance Group, Inc.
Regulator
ASIC
Australia
BVI FSC
British Virgin Islands
Regulation level
Strictly regulated
Offshore registration only
Licence number
AFSL 335692
Check the register
SIBA/L/12/1027
Check the register
Clients this company serves
Australian residents
International clients (not residents of the US, Japan, Canada, Russia, Iran, North Korea, Myanmar, Australia or the EEA)
All licences held
  • ASIC (Australia)
  • CySEC (European Union)
  • SCB (The Bahamas)
  • FSA Seychelles (Seychelles)
  • BVI FSC (British Virgin Islands)
Segregated client money
Yes
Yes
Negative balance protection
No
Yes
Compensation scheme
ICF up to €20,000 (IC Markets EU only); none for the Seychelles or Bahamas companies
None

Costs

Your monthly cost
$80$8 per lot × 10 lots
No accounts listed
Cost per lot (EUR/USD)
$8
No accounts listed
Spread from
0.0 pips
No accounts listed
Typical EUR/USD spread
0.1 pips
No accounts listed
Commission per lot (round turn)
$7
No accounts listed
Typical GBP/USD spread
Not yet checked
Not yet checked
Typical USD/JPY spread
Not yet checked
Not yet checked
Typical XAU/USD spread
Not yet checked
Not yet checked
Swap-free account
Yes
Yes

Leverage and margin

Maximum retail leverage
1:30 (EU, Australia); up to 1:5000 at the Seychelles company
Up to 1:4000
Retail leverage by asset class
  • Major currency pairs (EU and Australian retail): 1:30
  • All account types (Seychelles company): Up to 1:5000
Not yet checked
Margin call level
Not yet checked
100% on Classic accounts; 50% on Cent accounts
Stop-out level
50%
20% on Classic accounts; 10% on Cent accounts

Account

Minimum deposit (this account)
$0
No accounts listed
Base currencies
AUD, USD, EUR, GBP, SGD, JPY, CHF, NZD, CAD, HKD
No accounts listed
Execution
Raw spread plus $3.50 per lot per side
No accounts listed

Platforms and features

Platforms
  • MetaTrader 4
  • MetaTrader 5
  • cTrader
  • TradingView
  • Web platform
  • MetaTrader 4
  • MetaTrader 5
  • Markets4you mobile app
Markets
Forex, commodities, indices, metals, bonds, share CFDs and crypto CFDs (2,250 instruments on MetaTrader)
Forex, metals, indices, commodities, shares and cryptocurrency CFDs
Demo account
Yes
Yes
Copy trading
Not yet checked
Yes
Expert advisors (automated trading)
Yes
Yes
News trading allowed
Not yet checked
Not yet checked
Guaranteed stops
Not yet checked
Not yet checked

Deposits and withdrawals

Deposit methods
  • Credit card
  • Debit card
  • PayPal
  • Neteller
  • Skrill
  • Bank transfer
  • Cryptocurrency
  • UnionPay
  • Broker to broker transfer
  • E-wallets
  • Local payment methods
Withdrawal fee
Not yet checked
Markets4you says it charges no transfer fee on most methods (marked with an asterisk on its site)
Inactivity fee
Not yet checked
Not yet checked

Support

Customer support
24 hours a day, Monday to Sunday
24/7 by live chat, messengers and phone

Our notes

Strengths
  • Australian and EU companies licensed by strict regulators (ASIC and CySEC)
  • Published average EUR/USD spread of 0.1 pips on the Raw Spread account, with commission set out per currency
  • Client money held in segregated accounts, according to each IC company
  • Wide platform choice, including cTrader and TradingView
  • No minimum deposit on any account, and cent accounts for very small trade sizes
  • Negative balance protection, and client money held separately from company money
  • Copy trading (Share4you) and PAMM accounts on top of MT4 and MT5
Watch out for
  • International clients join Raw Trading Ltd, regulated only in Seychelles (offshore), where leverage goes up to 1:5000
  • The Seychelles company's risk warning says losses may exceed the amount you deposit
  • The Standard account's typical spread is not published (it quotes "from 0.8 pips")
  • Brand changing from IC Markets to IC, with several regional domains; check you are on one listed here
  • Only an offshore licence (BVI FSC); no FCA, ASIC, CySEC or similar licence
  • Says Trade4you International holds Mauritius FSC licence GB21026460; we could not confirm it on the FSC Mauritius register on 2026-10-20, because the register blocked our access
  • Leverage up to 1:4000 and stop-outs at 20% (10% on cent accounts) can wipe out an account fast
  • Spreads are published only as "from" figures

Risk warnings

The buttons to a broker’s website above the table are partner links: we may earn a commission if you open an account through them. That never changes the facts shown here. Trading leveraged products such as forex and CFDs carries a high risk of losing money rapidly, and most retail accounts lose money. Each broker’s own warning:

  • IC Markets: Risk Warning: Trading in securities involves significant risk. Prices may fluctuate and securities can become entirely valueless. You may incur losses that exceed your potential profits, and in some cases, losses may exceed the amount you have deposited. Securities, futures, options, and contracts for differences are complex financial instruments and are not suitable for all investors. Engaging in such transactions requires a sound understanding of the associated risks. Please read and ensure you fully understand our Risk Disclosure.
  • Markets4you: Trading complex financial instruments on the Over-the-Counter (OTC) market carries a high level of risk and may not be suitable for all investors. There is a possibility of losing all your invested capital. Increasing your leverage magnifies both potential gains and losses. Past performance is not indicative of future results. The Company does not issue advice, recommendations or opinion in relation to acquiring, holding or disposing of OTC derivatives. All services are provided on an execution only basis. We strongly recommend that you seek independent financial advice to ensure that these products fit your investment objectives and financial situation. Only trade with funds you can afford to lose without affecting your standard of living.

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Other head-to-head pages

Cost per lot is the typical EUR/USD spread in busy hours × $10, plus any round-turn commission, for one standard lot. “Not yet checked” means we have not confirmed that fact yet. This page compares facts; it does not rank the brokers or recommend either. Confirm costs and licences on each broker’s site and the regulator’s public register before opening an account: see how we review brokers and check a broker yourself.

Nothing on this page is financial advice. Read the full disclaimer.

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