IC Markets
Avatrade vs IC Markets
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If you trade occasionally and want simple pricing, extra tools and broad regulation, AvaTrade fits. If you trade often and want raw spreads, more markets and cTrader, IC Markets fits. Both are properly regulated, so you can choose on fit rather than safety.
Quick Answer
| Best for | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Trading often | IC Markets | Raw Spread accounts from 0.0 pips; AvaTrade has none |
| Taking a break | IC Markets | No inactivity fee listed; AvaTrade charges $50 every 3 months |
| Starting small | IC Markets (global) | No minimum deposit at IC’s global company; AvaTrade needs $100 |
| Choice of markets | IC Markets | 2,250 on MetaTrader (2,850+ in total) |
| Options and loss cover | AvaTrade | AvaOptions and AvaProtect |
| Regulatory reach | AvaTrade | Nine regulators against IC’s five |
Comparison Table
| AvaTrade | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2006 | Not stated (ASIC licence since 2009) |
| Regulators | Central Bank of Ireland, ASIC, CySEC, FSCA, Japan FSA, ADGM FSRA, BVI FSC, CMA Kenya, ISA | ASIC, CySEC, FSA Seychelles, SCB Bahamas, CMA Kenya |
| Minimum deposit | $100 | None at the global company; $200 at the Australian company |
| Commission-free EUR/USD | 0.8 pips on its table (30 Sep 2026) | Standard from 0.8 pips |
| Raw account | None | 0.0 pips (EUR/USD average 0.1) + $3.50 per side |
| Inactivity fee | $50 after every 3 months, plus $100 after 12 months | Not listed |
| Platforms | MT4, MT5, WebTrader, AvaTrade app, AvaOptions | MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView |
| Options trading | Yes, AvaOptions | No |
| Copy trading | AvaSocial, DupliTrade, ZuluTrade | IC Social, cTrader Copy, ZuluTrade, Signal Start |
| VPS hosting | Not listed as free | Free IC VPS from 15 lots a month |
| Max leverage | 400:1 forex (international); 30:1 EU/AU retail | 1:5000 forex (global); 1:30 Australia/EU |
| Deposit bonus | New Accounts Pack (not in many countries) | 100% then 50%, up to $25,000 |
Figures come from each broker’s official site, checked on 30 September 2026.
The Contradiction Worth Knowing
AvaTrade suits occasional traders who want simple pricing, options and copy trading, yet it charges $50 after every 3 months without trading and $100 after 12 months. If you fund an account, trade for a month and come back after six months, those fees will already have been deducted. IC Markets doesn’t list an inactivity fee, although it may charge a processing fee on withdrawals if deposits weren’t used for trading.
Trading Costs
On commission-free accounts the two are close: AvaTrade’s table showed EUR/USD at 0.8 pips, and IC’s Standard account starts from 0.8 pips. The difference is that IC Markets also offers Raw Spread accounts, with EUR/USD averaging 0.1 pip plus $3.50 per side ($7 round turn), and is testing lower-commission Raw Pro accounts (from $5,000) in early access. AvaTrade is a market maker with no raw account.
Which Broker Is Safer?
Both are properly regulated. AvaTrade’s companies are licensed by nine regulators, anchored by the Central Bank of Ireland and including ASIC and Japan’s FSA. IC Markets’ group holds ASIC and CySEC licences plus offshore licences in Seychelles, the Bahamas and Kenya; CySEC fined its EU company €250,000 in 2024, which the company has taken to judicial review. IC says its global company’s client money is insured up to US$1,000,000.
What matters most is which company your country places you with: protection under an EU or Australian company is far stronger than under an offshore one. Check this before you deposit.
Platforms and Markets
Both offer MT4 and MT5. IC Markets adds cTrader, TradingView and free VPS for active traders, with 2,250 instruments on MetaTrader. AvaTrade adds WebTrader, its app and AvaOptions for vanilla options, plus AvaProtect loss cover and futures through AvaFutures. Both support copy trading: AvaTrade through AvaSocial, DupliTrade and ZuluTrade, IC through IC Social, cTrader Copy, ZuluTrade and Signal Start.
Leverage
Offshore, AvaTrade offers 400:1 on forex and IC’s global company up to 1:5000, tiered by position size. Under their EU and Australian companies, both cap retail clients at 1:30 on major pairs. High leverage magnifies losses as fast as gains, so use far less than the maximum.
Final Verdict
Take AvaTrade if you want options, AvaProtect, broad regulation and simple spread-only pricing, and you will trade often enough to avoid its inactivity fees.
Take IC Markets if you trade often, want raw spreads, cTrader or TradingView, thousands more markets, or no minimum deposit at its global company. Both are properly regulated, so pick on how you trade.
FAQ
Which is cheaper, AvaTrade or IC Markets?
On commission-free accounts they are close (around 0.8 pips on EUR/USD). IC Markets is cheaper for active traders using its Raw Spread account, which AvaTrade doesn’t offer.
Which is safer?
Both are properly regulated. AvaTrade has more licences (nine); IC Markets holds ASIC and CySEC licences plus offshore ones. Check which company covers your country.
Does AvaTrade charge a fee if I stop trading?
Yes: $50 after every 3 months of non-use and $100 after 12 months. IC Markets doesn’t list an inactivity fee.
Can I get raw spreads at AvaTrade?
No. AvaTrade is a market maker with no raw account.
Which one lets me trade options?
AvaTrade, through AvaOptions.
Which is better for a complete beginner?
AvaTrade if you want simple pricing and extra tools and will trade regularly; IC Markets if you may pause for months, or want to start with a small deposit at its global company.
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