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CMC Markets vs IC Markets 2026
A detailed head-to-head comparison of CMC Markets and IC Markets across regulation, trading costs, platforms, and more.
Score Breakdown
Category-by-Category Winner
Detailed Comparison
Overview
Trading Costs
Platforms & Features
Instruments
CMC Markets vs IC Markets: Our Analysis
Overall Verdict
With an overall score of 84.2/100 vs 83.5/100, IC Markets is nearly identical to CMC Markets by 0.7 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, CMC Markets offers an average spread of 0.70 pips with a $5.00 round-turn commission, 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 $0 at CMC Markets and $200 at IC Markets.
Regulation & Safety
CMC Markets holds 5 regulatory licenses with a highest tier of Tier 1 (FCA, ASIC, BaFin), while IC Markets has 5 licenses at Tier 1 (ASIC, CySEC, CMA). Both brokers are equally regulated.
Platform Comparison
CMC Markets offers MT4, Next Generation — uniquely offering Next Generation which IC Markets does not have. IC Markets supports MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView, with exclusive access to MT5, cTrader, TradingView. IC Markets provides a wider platform selection.
Who Should Choose Which?
CMC Markets suits beginners seeking education, traders who prioritize safety, traders wanting a wide instrument range, while IC Markets is better for cost-conscious traders, traders who want advanced tools. If copy trading matters, IC Markets has the edge. 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 CMC Markets's 83.5/100. However, "better" depends on your priorities — CMC Markets 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 0.70 pips at CMC Markets. Check our detailed comparison table above for GBP/USD and USD/JPY spreads as well.
CMC Markets scores higher for regulation and trust at 92/100, holding licenses from FCA, ASIC, BaFin. IC Markets scores 82/100 with ASIC, CySEC, CMA.
For beginners, CMC Markets is the stronger choice with an education and research score of 80/100. 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 CMC Markets 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.
Reviewed by
Neil CNeil 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