An overall comprehensive side-by-side comparison of Exness vs IC Markets. Exness is a globally-recognized forex and CFD broker regulated in several areas, offering 278 financial instruments to over 300,000 registered clients. But how does this broker level up against the popular and trusted true ECN forex and CFD broker, IC Markets?
- Exness vs IC Markets spreads and trading fees comparison
- Exness vs IC Markets account types and minimum deposit review
- Exness vs IC Markets regulation and safety features 2026
- Exness vs IC Markets forex and CFD trading platforms
- Exness vs IC Markets: Which broker is better for scalping
- Exness vs IC Markets trading conditions and execution speed
🏆10 Best Forex Brokers in South Africa
| Rank | Broker | Broker Review | Regulators | Minimum Deposit | Visit Broker |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🥇 |  | Read Review | ASIC, FSA, CBI, BVI, FSCA, FRSA, CySEC, ISA, JFSA | $100 | Visit Now |
| 🥈 |  | Read Review | FSCA, FCA, DFSA, FSA, CMA | $0 | Visit Now |
| 🥉 |  | Read Review | CySEC, IFSC, DFSA, FCA | $5 | Visit Now |
| 4 |  | Read Review | ASIC, CySEC, FSA, SCB | $200 | Visit Now |
| 5 |  | Read Review | FSA, FSCA | $250 | Visit Now |
| 6 |  | Read Review | FSA, FSC, FSCA, ASIC, CMA | $20 | Visit Now |
| 7 |  | Read Review | FSC, FSCA | $50 | Visit Now |
| 8 |  | Read Review | ASIC, CySEC, FSCA, FSA, FSC, CMA | $100 | Visit Now |
| 9 |  | Read Review | CySEC, MWALI, FSCA | $25 | Visit Now |
| 10 |  | Read Review | FSA, CySEC, FSCA, FSC | $10 | Visit Now |
Which Broker Is Better for South African Traders?
| 🔎 Category |  |  |
| 💰 Fees | Spreads: Variable; Standard from ~0.2–0.3 pips; Raw/Zero from 0.0 pips (with commission). Commission: Depends on account (zero on Standard; low per‑lot on Raw/Zero). Deposit/Withdrawal: Generally no broker fees; third‑party fees possible. | Spreads: from 0.0 pips Raw Spread / ~0.8–1.0 pips Standard Commission: Small per-lot on Raw/cTrader accounts (~$3.0–$3.5) Inactivity fee: No Deposit/Withdrawal fees: Typically none |
| 🏛️ Regulation | CBCS, CySEC, FCA, FSA, FSC, FSCA, CMA | Regulated by ASIC (Australia), CySEC (Cyprus), FSA (Seychelles) and other entities depending on entity/location |
| 🖥️ Platforms | MetaTrader 4 (MT4), MetaTrader 5 (MT5), Exness Trader App, WebTerminal (MT) on desktop/web/mobile. | Proprietary platform (web + mobile). Strong social and copy trading interface built into platform. |
| 📍 Typical Trader Profile | Suited for cost‑focused traders, scalpers, and high‑volume traders. Strong for experienced and active traders due to low spreads and raw pricing. Flexible leverage appeals to varied strategies. | Popular with forex/CFD traders seeking low spreads and multiple platform choices |
| 💰 Minimum Deposit | $10 | $200 |
| 🚀Open an Account | 👉Open Account | 👉Open Account |
Exness vs IC Markets Regulation Comparison
| 🔍 Features | | |
| ⭐ Trust Score | 97 | 86 |
| 📅 Year founded | 2008 | 2007 |
| 📊 Publicly Traded | No | No |
| 🇿🇦 Licensed in South Africa | Yes | No |
| 🥇 Tier-1 Regulation | 1 | 1 |
| 🥈 Tier-2 Regulation | 2 | 1 |
| 🥉 Tier-3 Regulation | 4 | 2 |
Exness vs IC Markets Assets Comparison
| 🔍 Features | | |
| 📊 Forex | Yes | Yes |
| 📊 Number of Forex pairs | 120 | 61 |
| 📊 CFDs | Yes | Yes |
| 📊 Bonds | No | Yes |
| 📊 Commodities | Yes | Yes |
| 📊 ETFs | No | No |
| 📊 Treasuries | No | No |
| 📊 Indices | Yes | Yes |
| 📊 Options | No | No |
| 📊 Futures | No | Yes |
| 📊 Precious Metals | Yes | Yes |
| 📊 Energies | Yes | Yes |
| 📊 Individual Shares | Yes | Yes |
| 📊 US Stock Trading | No | No |
| 📊 International Stock Trading | Yes | No |
| 📊 Cryptocurrency CFDs | Yes | Yes |
| 📊 Physical Crypto | No | No |
| 📊 Total Tradable Instruments | 278 | 3583 |
Exness vs IC Markets Fees Comparison
| 🔍 Features | 🏛️ Exness | 🏛️ IC Markets |
| 💰 Average Spread for EUR/USD | 0.0 pips | 0.6 pips |
| 💰 Commissions Charged | ✔️ Yes | ✔️ Yes |
| 💰 ECN Execution | ✔️ Yes | ✔️ Yes |
| 💰 Market Maker Execution | ❌ No | ❌ No |
| 💰 Inactivity Fee | ❌ No | ❌ No |
| 💰 Currency Conversion Fees | ❌ No | ✔️ Yes |
| 💰 Deposit Fee | ❌ No | ❌ No |
| 💰 Withdrawal Fee | ❌ No | ❌ No |
Exness vs IC Markets Account Types Comparison
| 🔍 Features | | |
| 📒 Standard Account | Yes | Yes |
| 📒 Cent Account | Yes | No |
| 📒 Commission-Free Account | Yes | Yes |
| 📒 ECN Account | Yes | Yes |
| 📒 Demo Account | Yes | Yes |
| ☪️ Islamic/Swap-Free Account | Yes | Yes |
| 📒 Managed Accounts | No | Yes, MAM |
| 📒 Share Dealing Account | No | No |
Exness vs IC Markets Trading Conditions Comparison
| 🔍 Features | | |
| 📊 Hedging | Yes | Yes |
| 📊 Scalping | Yes | Yes |
| 📊 Dynamic Leverage | Yes | Yes |
| 📊 Beginner Trading | Yes | Yes |
| 📊 Professional Trading | Yes | Yes |
| 📊 Copy/Social Trading | Yes | Yes |
Exness vs IC Markets Deposit Options Comparison
| 🔍 Features | | |
| 💳 Bank wire | Yes | Yes |
| 💳 MasterCard | Yes | Yes |
| 💳 PayPal | Yes | Yes |
| 💳 Skrill | Yes | Yes |
| 💳 Neteller | Yes | Yes |
| 💳 Minimum Deposit | $10 | $200 |
Exness vs IC Markets Trading Platforms Comparison
| 🔍 Features | | |
| 💻 Desktop Platform | Yes | Yes |
| 📱 Mobile App | Yes | Yes |
| 💻 Social Trading | Yes | Yes |
| 💻 MetaTrader 4 | Yes | Yes |
| 💻 MetaTrader 5 | Yes | Yes |
| 💻 cTrader | No | Yes |
| 💻 DupliTrade | No | No |
| 💻 ZuluTrade | No | No |
| 💻 Proprietary Platform | Yes, App | No |
Exness vs IC Markets Analytical Tools Comparison
| 🔍 Features | | |
| 📅 Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| 📈 Social Sentiment | Yes | Yes |
| 📈 Trading Central | No | Yes |
| 📈 AutoChartist | No | Yes |
| 📈 Forex News Sources | No | Yes |
| 📈 Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| 📈 Virtual Private Server (VPS) | No | Yes |
| 📈 Trading View | Yes | Yes |
| 📈 Blog | Yes | Yes |
Exness vs IC Markets Educational Resources Comparison
| 🔍 Features | | |
| 🎓 Offers education | Yes | Yes |
| ℹ️ Webinars | No | Yes |
| ℹ️ Beginner training videos | Yes | No |
| ℹ️ Advanced training videos | Yes | No |
| ℹ️ Tutorials | Yes | Yes |
| ℹ️ eBooks | No | No |
| ℹ️ Glossary | No | Yes |
Exness vs IC Markets Forex Majors Offered Compared
| 🔍 Features | | |
| 💱 GBP/USD | Yes | Yes |
| 💱 USD/JPY | Yes | Yes |
| 💱 EUR/USD | Yes | Yes |
| 💱 USD/CHF | Yes | Yes |
| 💱 USD/CAD | Yes | Yes |
| 💱 NZD/USD | Yes | Yes |
| 💱 AUD/USD | Yes | Yes |
Overview of Exness
Who Is Exness?
Exness is a global online forex and CFD (Contracts for Difference) broker founded in 2008 and headquartered in Limassol, Cyprus, with additional offices worldwide.
It provides retail and institutional traders with access to a wide range of financial markets, including forex currency pairs, indices, commodities, cryptocurrencies, metals, energies, stocks, and ETFs via CFDs.
Regulation & Safety
- Regulated by top-tier authorities, including FCA (UK), CySEC (Cyprus), FSCA (South Africa), and FSA (Seychelles), depending on entity.
- Segregated client funds are held at reputable banks.
- Offers negative balance protection in many jurisdictions.
- Long operational track record and transparent regulatory disclosures.
Tradable Markets & Instruments
- Forex: 120+ currency pairs.
- CFDs: Indices, metals, commodities, energies.
- Cryptocurrencies: Multiple crypto CFDs available.
- Stocks & ETFs: CFD access on global shares.
- No direct asset ownership (CFDs only).
Platforms & Tools
- MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5) for desktop, web, and mobile.
- WebTerminal for MT platforms without download.
- Advanced charting, Expert Advisors (EAs), and technical indicators.
- Multi-account view and integrated risk analysis tools.
Costs, Spreads & Fees
- Spreads: Ultra-low and competitive; variable based on account type.
- Commissions: Zero on standard accounts; ECN/Raw accounts have transparent commissions.
- Deposit/Withdrawal fees: No direct fees from Exness; third-party bank/wallet fees may apply.
- Currency conversion fees: Applied if trading outside the account currency.
- Swap/overnight fees: Standard for positions held overnight.
Pros and Cons
| ✅ Pros | ❌ Cons |
| Very low spreads and flexible pricing. | Inactivity and administrative fees can be relatively high. |
| High leverage options in some regions. | Fees can vary by payment method and currency. |
| Fast execution and multiple account types. | Advanced features may be overwhelming for absolute beginners. |
Overview of IC Markets
What Is IC Markets?
IC Markets is an online forex and CFD (Contracts for Difference) broker that provides trading access to a wide range of financial markets.
Founded in 2007 and headquartered in Australia, it is regulated by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), as well as other regulators like CySEC (Cyprus) and FSA (Seychelles), depending on the entity.
Regulation & Safety
- Regulated by multiple reputable authorities, including ASIC (Australia), CySEC (Cyprus), and FSA (Seychelles), providing a structured oversight framework.
- Client funds are held in segregated accounts separate from company funds.
- Offers Negative Balance Protection in applicable jurisdictions.
- Robust KYC (Know Your Customer) and AML (Anti‑Money Laundering) policies are in place to help protect against fraud.
- Implements SSL encryption and optional two‑factor authentication for account security.
Tradable Markets & Instruments
- Forex: Over 60+ currency pairs available for trading.
- CFDs on a wide range of assets, including indices, commodities, stocks, bonds, ETFs, and cryptocurrencies.
- Thousands of instruments, depending on the entity and account type (e.g., ~2,250+ CFDs).
Supports broad market access suitable for diversified trading strategies.
Platforms & Tools
- Supports major third‑party platforms: MetaTrader 4 (MT4), MetaTrader 5 (MT5), and cTrader.
- Desktop, web, and mobile versions of trading platforms are available.
- Platforms include advanced charting, technical indicators, automation support (EAs), and Depth‑of‑Market tools, especially in cTrader.
- Integrations with social/copy trading services (e.g., ZuluTrade, IC Social).
No proprietary platform; relies entirely on well‑known industry platforms.
Costs, Spreads & Fees
- Spreads: Variable spreads start as low as 0.0 pips on Raw Spread accounts (e.g., EUR/USD) under normal market conditions.
- Commissions: Raw Spread accounts charge a commission (e.g., ~$3–$3.50 per lot per side).
- Standard Account: No commission but slightly wider spreads.
- Deposit & Withdrawal Fees: Typically, no fees from IC Markets for deposits or withdrawals; third‑party/bank fees may apply.
- Inactivity Fees: Generally, no inactivity fees across most entities.
- Swap/Overnight Fees: Overnight financing costs (swap) are applied; swap‑free Islamic accounts are available.
Cost structure is widely regarded as competitive and transparent for active traders
Pros and Cons
| ✅ Pros | ❌ Cons |
| Ultra-low spreads from 0.0 pips | Limited educational materials |
| Fast DMA execution | Spreads, fees or deposit requirements |
| Strong regulation (ASIC, CySEC) | May not accept some regions |
| Extremely tight spreads and fast execution speeds, ideal for active traders. | Islamic account may include alternative overnight handling fees on some instruments. |
Conclusion
Exness and IC Markets are both highly regarded forex and CFD brokers, but they cater to slightly different types of traders and priorities.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which broker offers lower spreads, Exness or IC Markets?
Exness provides highly competitive spreads, especially on Standard and Raw accounts. IC Markets offers ultra-tight spreads on RAW accounts, ideal for scalping and high-frequency trading. Choice depends on trading style and cost priorities.
What are the minimum deposits for Exness and IC Markets?
Exness allows very low minimum deposits, sometimes as low as $10. IC Markets typically requires a minimum deposit of $200 for standard accounts, making Exness more accessible to beginners and traders with small capital.
Are Exness and IC Markets regulated?
Yes, both brokers are regulated by multiple authorities. Exness is regulated by FCA, CySEC, FSCA, and others, while IC Markets is regulated by ASIC, CySEC, and the FSCA for South African clients, ensuring client fund protection and oversight.
Which platforms do Exness and IC Markets support on PC?
Exness supports MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 on desktop, web, and mobile. IC Markets supports MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, and cTrader for PC, providing advanced charting, automated trading, and custom indicators.
Can I use automated trading on Exness and IC Markets?
Yes, both brokers support automated trading. Exness allows Expert Advisors on MT4/MT5, while IC Markets also supports EAs and cTrader cBots, suitable for algorithmic strategies and scalping on PC platforms.
Which broker is better for scalping and high-frequency trading?
IC Markets is better for scalping and HFT due to its ECN pricing, deep liquidity, and ultra-fast execution. Exness is also competitive but may have slightly slower execution on some accounts compared to IC Markets RAW accounts.
Do Exness and IC Markets accept South African clients?
Yes, both accept South African traders and offer FSCA-regulated entities. Local deposit options, such as bank transfer, e-wallets, and PayPal (where supported), are available for convenient funding and withdrawals.
What trading instruments do Exness and IC Markets offer?
Exness offers forex, indices, commodities, metals, stocks, ETFs, and cryptocurrencies via CFDs. IC Markets offers a similar range with a slightly larger selection of forex pairs and CFDs, making it suitable for diverse trading strategies.
Which broker offers better educational support?
Exness provides basic guides and tutorials suitable for beginners. IC Markets also offers webinars, market analysis, and educational materials but is more execution-focused. Traders seeking education may prefer Exness; advanced traders may prefer IC Markets.
Are there fees for deposits and withdrawals on Exness and IC Markets?
Exness generally charges no deposit or withdrawal fees; third-party fees may apply. IC Markets offers mostly free deposits and withdrawals, though certain methods may incur small fees. Both brokers have transparent pricing policies.
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