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Head to head

IC Markets vs STB Provider

IC Markets is licensed by ASIC in Australia, CySEC in the European Union and SCB in The Bahamas, and also has an offshore registration. STB Provider has no licence we could confirm on a regulator's register. 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 $10 at STB Provider. Only STB Provider offers negative balance protection. Both offer segregated client money.

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

IC Markets profileSTB Provider 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
STB ProviderRead the profile
Comparing
IC MarketsRaw Spread (MetaTrader) account · Australia
STB Provider

Overview

Founded
Not yet checked
2021
Headquarters
Sydney, Australia
Gros Islet, Saint Lucia (office in Sofia, Bulgaria)
Official websites
  • icmarkets.com
  • icmarkets.sc
  • icmarkets.eu
  • icmarkets.com.au
  • icmarkets.bs
  • ic.com
  • stbbrokers.com
Facts last checked
20 October 2026
20 October 2026

Regulation and protection

Company you would contract with
International Capital Markets Pty Ltd
No licence listed
Regulator
ASIC
Australia
No licence listed
Regulation level
Strictly regulated
No licence listed
Licence number
AFSL 335692
Check the register
No licence listed
Clients this company serves
Australian residents
No licence listed
All licences held
  • ASIC (Australia)
  • CySEC (European Union)
  • SCB (The Bahamas)
  • FSA Seychelles (Seychelles)
None listed
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 1:400 (1:200 on Prime), reduced as position size grows
Retail leverage by asset class
  • Major currency pairs (EU and Australian retail): 1:30
  • All account types (Seychelles company): Up to 1:5000
  • FX majors and gold (Standard, ECN, Prime): Full account leverage up to $799.99K notional, then 33%, 10% and 5%
  • FX minors, metals, indices and commodities: 50% of account leverage up to $199.99K notional, then lower
  • Crypto: 1:75 for small positions, down to 1:3.75
  • Stocks: 1:20 for small positions, down to 1:1
Margin call level
Not yet checked
Not yet checked
Stop-out level
50%
30% (Standard, ECN, Prime); 60% (Zero)

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 5
Markets
Forex, commodities, indices, metals, bonds, share CFDs and crypto CFDs (2,250 instruments on MetaTrader)
350+ CFD and spot instruments, including forex, metals, indices, energies, crypto and stocks
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
  • USDT (BEP20 and TRC20)
  • Top Change exchange
  • Farsi Change exchange
Withdrawal fee
Not yet checked
$5 by USDT TRC20, $1 by USDT BEP20, minimum $2 via Top Change
Inactivity fee
Not yet checked
Not yet checked

Support

Customer support
24 hours a day, Monday to Sunday
24/7 support

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
  • Four account types from $10, with commissions published per asset class
  • Says client funds are segregated and that every account has negative balance protection
  • Publishes its dynamic leverage tiers and stop-out levels
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
  • The "Licence No. 2023-00478" on its site is the company number on its Saint Lucia certificate of incorporation (International Business Companies Act), not a financial licence
  • It also shows a US FinCEN money services business registration; that is an anti-money-laundering registration, not a licence to offer forex or CFDs, and STB does not serve US residents
  • No licence from any regulator that we could confirm
  • Funding only by USDT and two exchange services; no cards or bank transfer

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.
  • STB Provider: CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 75% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs, FX, or any of our other products work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

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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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