IC Markets has tighter raw spreads on its commission account (Raw / cTrader). XM has stronger education, the current country-specific bonus and broader regional payment coverage. For pure cost on majors, IC Markets edges ahead; for new-trader onboarding and bonuses, XM wins.
Direct answer
Both are top-50 retail brokers with multi-jurisdictional regulation and serious institutional flow. The decision usually reduces to two axes: trading-cost model and onboarding offer.
Side-by-side
| Feature | XM | IC Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2009 | 2007 |
| Regulation | CySEC, ASIC, FSC, DFSA | ASIC, CySEC, FSA Seychelles |
| Min deposit | $5 | $200 (varies) |
| EURUSD spread | ~0.6 pips (Ultra Low, no commission) | ~0.1 pips + $7 round-turn (Raw) |
| Total cost / lot | ~$6 | ~$8 on Raw, ~$10 on Standard |
| Current XM bonus | Country-specific | No |
| Platforms | MT4, MT5, web, mobile | MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView |
| Education | Heavy investment, multilingual | Lighter, focused |
How to choose
- Pick XM if: you want to start with a no deposit bonus, value education and Turkish-language support, are happy with no-commission spread-based pricing.
- Pick IC Markets if: you trade high volume on majors, want raw spreads with explicit commission, prefer cTrader or TradingView execution.
Check the current XM bonus in your country
Country-specific deposit bonus ? Members Area verification required ? Bonus credit is not cash
FAQ
XM vs IC Markets — which is better?
IC Markets has tighter raw spreads on its commission account (Raw / cTrader). XM has stronger education, the current country-specific bonus and broader regional payment coverage. For pure cost on majors, IC Markets edges ahead; for new-trader onboarding and bonuses, XM wins.
Can I have both?
Yes. Many traders run an XM Global account for the bonus and a separate IC Markets account for cost-sensitive volume.
Is one safer than the other?
Both are well-regulated multi-entity brokers. Account-level safety depends on which entity holds your specific account.
Related XM guides
- XM vs Exness — which is better?
- XM vs FBS — which is better?
- XM vs Tickmill — which is better?
- Are XM’s spreads the lowest in the industry?
- XM Spreads Compared