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Head to head

IFC Markets vs STB Provider

IFC Markets is licensed by Labuan FSA in Labuan, Malaysia, 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 $15 at IFC Markets (the Classic Standard (fixed spread) account needs $1,000) and $10 at STB Provider. Both offer negative balance protection. Only STB Provider offers segregated client money.

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

IFC 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
IFC MarketsOffshore registration onlyRead the profile
STB ProviderRead the profile
Comparing
IFC MarketsClassic Standard (fixed spread) account · British Virgin Islands
STB Provider

Overview

Founded
2006
2021
Headquarters
Not yet checked
Gros Islet, Saint Lucia (office in Sofia, Bulgaria)
Official websites
  • ifcmarkets.com
  • ifcmarkets.co.in
  • ifcmarkets.ae
  • ifcmarkets.hk
  • stbbrokers.com
Facts last checked
20 October 2026
20 October 2026

Regulation and protection

Company you would contract with
IFCMARKETS. CORP.
No licence listed
Regulator
BVI FSC
British Virgin Islands
No licence listed
Regulation level
Offshore registration only
No licence listed
Licence number
SIBA/L/14/1073
Check the register
No licence listed
Clients this company serves
International clients (not residents of the US, Russia or the BVI)
No licence listed
All licences held
  • BVI FSC (British Virgin Islands)
  • Labuan FSA (Labuan, Malaysia)
None listed
Segregated client money
No
Yes
Negative balance protection
Yes
Yes
Compensation scheme
None
None

Costs

Your monthly cost
$180$18 per lot × 10 lots
No accounts listed
Cost per lot (EUR/USD)
$18
No accounts listed
Spread from
1.8 pips
No accounts listed
Typical EUR/USD spread
1.8 pips
No accounts listed
Commission per lot (round turn)
None
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
1:400 on Micro and Nano accounts; 1:200 on Standard accounts
Up to 1:400 (1:200 on Prime), reduced as position size grows
Retail leverage by asset class
  • All instruments, Standard accounts: Up to 1:200
  • All instruments, Micro and Nano accounts: Up to 1:400
  • 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
10%
30% (Standard, ECN, Prime); 60% (Zero)

Account

Minimum deposit (this account)
$1,000
No accounts listed
Base currencies
USD, EUR, JPY
No accounts listed
Execution
Instant execution, fixed spread, no commission (MT4 and NetTradeX)
No accounts listed

Platforms and features

Platforms
  • NetTradeX
  • MetaTrader 4
  • MetaTrader 5
  • Web terminal
  • Mobile apps
  • MetaTrader 5
Markets
650+ CFDs on forex, metals, indices, stocks, commodities, ETFs and cryptocurrencies, plus self-built synthetic instruments
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
  • Bank transfer
  • Bank card
  • Cryptocurrency
  • Open Banking
  • Local bank (Africa)
  • Mobile money
  • WebMoney
  • USDT (BEP20 and TRC20)
  • Top Change exchange
  • Farsi Change exchange
Withdrawal fee
Bank wire at your bank's fee; card, crypto and e-wallet withdrawals carry fees that vary by method (for example 3% for Open Banking)
$5 by USDT TRC20, $1 by USDT BEP20, minimum $2 via Top Change
Inactivity fee
Up to $10 a month after 12 months without trading, only while the balance is positive
Not yet checked

Support

Customer support
24/7 online support
24/7 support

Our notes

Strengths
  • Fixed 1.8-pip EUR/USD spread on Classic accounts, so costs are known in advance
  • Micro and Nano accounts from $15
  • Choice of NetTradeX, MT4 and MT5, with hedging or netting on MT5 and NetTradeX
  • 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
  • Licensed only in the BVI (offshore) and Labuan; no FCA, ASIC, CySEC or similar licence
  • Stop-out level of only 10%, so positions are closed late and losses can run far
  • Monthly inactivity fee of up to $10 after 12 months without trading
  • Standard accounts need a $1,000 first deposit
  • 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:

  • IFC Markets: Your capital is at risk. Leveraged products may not be suitable for everyone.
  • 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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