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AvaTrade vs IC Markets 2026

A detailed head-to-head comparison of AvaTrade and IC Markets across regulation, trading costs, platforms, and more.

AvaTrade logo - BrokerAudit
AvaTrade

Est. 2006 · Dublin, Ireland

CBIASICFSCA
79.8/100
Good
IC Markets logo - BrokerAudit
IC Markets

Est. 2007 · Sydney, Australia

ASICCySECCMA
84.2/100
Excellent

Score Breakdown

RegulationCostsPlatformsAccountsDepositSupportEducation
AvaTradeIC Markets

Category-by-Category Winner

Category
AvaTrade
IC Markets
Regulation & Trust
85
82
Trading Costs
68
95
Platforms & Tools
78
92
Account Conditions
78
80
Deposit & Withdrawal
82
85
Customer Support
82
82
Education & Research
90
62
Overall Score
79.8
84.2

Detailed Comparison

Overview

Year Founded
2006
2007
Headquarters
Dublin, Ireland
Sydney, Australia
Publicly Listed
Top Regulators
CBI, ASIC, FSCA
ASIC, CySEC, CMA
Total Instruments
1,250
2,250

Trading Costs

EUR/USD Spread
0.90 pips
0.10 pips
GBP/USD Spread
1.50 pips
0.40 pips
USD/JPY Spread
1.10 pips
0.30 pips
Min. Deposit
$100
$200
Commission/Lot
None
$6.00
Inactivity Fee
$50 after 3 months, $100 admin fee after 12 months
None

Platforms & Features

MetaTrader 4
MetaTrader 5
cTrader
TradingView
Copy Trading
API Trading
VPS Hosting
Demo Account
Islamic Account

Instruments

Forex Pairs
55
61
CFD Stocks
600
2,100
Indices
33
25
Commodities
17
24
Crypto CFDs
20
21

AvaTrade vs IC Markets: Our Analysis

Overall Verdict

With an overall score of 84.2/100 vs 79.8/100, IC Markets slightly edges out AvaTrade by 4.4 points. Both brokers are closely matched, so your choice should come down to specific features that matter most to you.

Trading Costs

On the EUR/USD pair, AvaTrade offers an average spread of 0.90 pips commission-free, while IC Markets comes in at 0.10 pips with a $6.00 commission. IC Markets offers tighter pricing on EUR/USD. Minimum deposit is $100 at AvaTrade and $200 at IC Markets.

Regulation & Safety

AvaTrade holds 6 regulatory licenses with a highest tier of Tier 1 (CBI, ASIC, FSCA), while IC Markets has 5 licenses at Tier 1 (ASIC, CySEC, CMA). AvaTrade has more regulatory licenses overall.

Platform Comparison

AvaTrade offers MT4, MT5, AvaTradeGO, WebTrader, AvaOptions — uniquely offering AvaTradeGO, WebTrader, AvaOptions which IC Markets does not have. IC Markets supports MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView, with exclusive access to cTrader, TradingView. IC Markets provides a wider platform selection.

Who Should Choose Which?

AvaTrade suits beginners seeking education, traders who prioritize safety, while IC Markets is better for cost-conscious traders, traders who want advanced tools, traders wanting a wide instrument range. Both brokers offer demo accounts, so you can test each before committing real funds.

Frequently Asked Questions

Based on our testing, IC Markets scores higher overall at 84.2/100 compared to AvaTrade's 79.8/100. However, "better" depends on your priorities — AvaTrade may be superior in specific categories like regulation.

IC Markets offers tighter spreads with an average EUR/USD spread of 0.10 pips, compared to 0.90 pips at AvaTrade. Check our detailed comparison table above for GBP/USD and USD/JPY spreads as well.

AvaTrade scores higher for regulation and trust at 85/100, holding licenses from CBI, ASIC, FSCA. IC Markets scores 82/100 with ASIC, CySEC, CMA.

For beginners, AvaTrade is the stronger choice with an education and research score of 90/100. It offers structured trading courses, webinars, and a free demo account. IC Markets scores 62/100 for education.

Yes, there is no restriction on having accounts with both AvaTrade and IC Markets simultaneously. Many experienced traders maintain accounts with multiple brokers to take advantage of each broker's strengths — for example, using one for its lower spreads on majors and another for its wider instrument range or better platform features.

NC

Reviewed by

Neil C

Neil C is a financial markets analyst and forex trading specialist with over 10 years of experience evaluating broker platforms, trading conditions, and regulatory frameworks. He has personally tested accounts with dozens of brokers and brings a data-driven methodology to every review.

Last updated: April 2026

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