Abshire Smith
IC Markets
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Overview
Abshire Smith was founded in 1997 and is headquartered in United kingdom, while IC Markets was established in 2007 and is based in Australia. Abshire Smith holds licences including Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), while IC Markets is regulated by Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC) among others. Abshire Smith serves 10,000+ clients worldwide; IC Markets has 60,000+. The minimum deposit is $500 at Abshire Smith and $200 at IC Markets.
| Feature | Abshire Smith | IC Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $500 | $200 |
| Regulation | Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) | Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC), Financial Services Authority (FSA), Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) |
| Founded | 1997 | 2007 |
| Country | United kingdom | Australia |
| Clients | 10,000+ | 60,000+ |
Fees
Fees are a critical factor when choosing between Abshire Smith and IC Markets, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. IC Markets has a lower barrier to entry with a minimum deposit of $200 (vs $500 at Abshire Smith). Neither broker charges withdrawal fees. Abshire Smith charges deposit fees; IC Markets does not. Overall, IC Markets scores higher on fees in our assessment.
| Feature | Abshire Smith | IC Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $500 | $200 |
| Withdrawal Fees | No | No |
| Inactivity Fees | No | No |
| Deposit Fees | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Fees | No | Yes |
Platforms
Abshire Smith offers MT4, MT5, cTrader, while IC Markets supports MT4, MT5, cTrader. Both brokers provide mobile trading apps for iOS and Android. Both brokers support copy or social trading, catering to less hands-on investors. The two brokers are closely matched on platform offering.
| Feature | Abshire Smith | IC Markets |
|---|---|---|
| MT4 | Yes | Yes |
| MT5 | Yes | Yes |
| cTrader | Yes | Yes |
| Windows App | Yes | Yes |
| iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | MetaTrader 4, cTrader Platform | MT4, MT5, Mirror Trader, ZuluTrade, Web Trader, cTrader, Mac |
Education & Research
Education and research tools help traders at every level make more informed decisions, and here's how Abshire Smith and IC Markets compare. IC Markets runs regular live webinars; Abshire Smith does not. IC Markets has a video library; Abshire Smith does not. IC Markets publishes daily market commentary; Abshire Smith does not. IC Markets integrates third-party research tools (Trading Central, Autochartist); Abshire Smith does not. IC Markets maintains an archive of past webinars for on-demand viewing. IC Markets scores higher overall in education and research.
| Feature | Abshire Smith | IC Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Forex Education | No | Yes |
| CFD Education | No | Yes |
| Weekly Webinars | No | Yes |
| Daily Commentary | No | Yes |
| Trading Central | No | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | Yes |
Deposits & Withdrawals
Convenient deposit and withdrawal options reduce friction for traders, especially important when managing positions across time zones. Abshire Smith accepts 2 of the tracked payment methods (bank transfer, credit/debit card), while IC Markets supports 5 (bank transfer, credit/debit card, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller). IC Markets uniquely supports PayPal and Skrill and Neteller among the two brokers. IC Markets scores higher on deposit and withdrawal flexibility.
| Feature | Abshire Smith | IC Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Bank Transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Credit Card | Yes | Yes |
| PayPal | No | Yes |
| Skrill | No | Yes |
| Neteller | No | Yes |
Support
Responsive customer support matters most when you're locked out of your account or need urgent help with a trade. Both Abshire Smith and IC Markets offer live chat support. Both provide phone support. Email support is available at both brokers. Abshire Smith supports 2 languages and IC Markets supports 8, giving IC Markets broader global reach. Both brokers are comparable on support quality.
| Feature | Abshire Smith | IC Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Live Chat | Yes | Yes |
| Phone Support | Yes | Yes |
| Email Support | Yes | Yes |
| Languages | English, and Chinese | English, Japanese, Chinese, Polish, Afrikans, Danish, Dutch, German and more |