Alfa Financials
IC Markets
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Overview
Alfa Financials was founded in 1987 and is headquartered in UAE, while IC Markets was established in 2007 and is based in Australia. Alfa Financials holds licences including Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), while IC Markets is regulated by Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC) among others. Alfa Financials serves 10,000+ clients worldwide; IC Markets has 60,000+. The minimum deposit is $500 at Alfa Financials and $200 at IC Markets.
| Feature | Alfa Financials | 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 | 1987 | 2007 |
| Country | UAE | Australia |
| Clients | 10,000+ | 60,000+ |
Fees
Fees are a critical factor when choosing between Alfa Financials 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 Alfa Financials). Neither broker charges withdrawal fees. Alfa Financials applies inactivity fees on dormant accounts; IC Markets does not. IC Markets charges deposit fees; Alfa Financials does not. Overall, IC Markets scores higher on fees in our assessment.
| Feature | Alfa Financials | IC Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $500 | $200 |
| Withdrawal Fees | No | No |
| Inactivity Fees | Yes | No |
| Deposit Fees | No | Yes |
| CFD Fees | Yes | Yes |
Platforms
Alfa Financials offers MT4, MT5, cTrader, while IC Markets supports MT4, MT5, cTrader. Both brokers provide mobile trading apps for iOS and Android. IC Markets supports social and copy trading features, which Alfa Financials does not offer. The two brokers are closely matched on platform offering.
| Feature | Alfa Financials | 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 (MT4),Trader Desktop,Android,Mac,IPad,Alfa Trader | 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 Alfa Financials and IC Markets compare. Both brokers run regular live webinars. Both provide video tutorials, including advanced content. Daily market commentary is available from both brokers. Both integrate third-party research tools including Trading Central. Archived webinars are available at both brokers for self-paced learning. The two brokers are evenly matched on educational content.
| Feature | Alfa Financials | IC Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Forex Education | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Education | Yes | Yes |
| Weekly Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Daily Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Central | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes |
Deposits & Withdrawals
Convenient deposit and withdrawal options reduce friction for traders, especially important when managing positions across time zones. Alfa Financials 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 | Alfa Financials | 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 Alfa Financials and IC Markets offer live chat support. Both provide phone support. Email support is available at both brokers. Alfa Financials supports 2 languages and IC Markets supports 8, giving IC Markets broader global reach. Both brokers are comparable on support quality.
| Feature | Alfa Financials | 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 |