B

Ascot Securities

6.5/10

IC Markets

8/10
6/10RegulationWinner9/10
8/10WinnerFees6/10
9/10PlatformsTied9/10
4/10Education & ResearchWinner10/10
4/10Deposits & WithdrawalsWinner10/10
10/10SupportTied10/10

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Overview

Ascot Securities was founded in 1996 and is headquartered in Estonia, while IC Markets was established in 2007 and is based in Australia. Ascot Securities holds licences including Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC), while IC Markets is regulated by Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC) among others. Ascot Securities serves 10,000+ clients worldwide; IC Markets has 60,000+. The minimum deposit is $25 at Ascot Securities and $200 at IC Markets.

IC Markets wins this category
FeatureAscot SecuritiesIC Markets
Min. Deposit$25$200
RegulationCyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC)Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC), Financial Services Authority (FSA), Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC)
Founded19962007
CountryEstoniaAustralia
Clients10,000+60,000+

Fees

Fees are a critical factor when choosing between Ascot Securities 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 $25 at Ascot Securities). Ascot Securities charges withdrawal fees while IC Markets does not, a notable advantage for frequent withdrawers. Ascot Securities applies inactivity fees on dormant accounts; IC Markets does not. Ascot Securities charges deposit fees; IC Markets does not. Overall, Ascot Securities scores higher on fees in our assessment.

Ascot Securities wins this category
FeatureAscot SecuritiesIC Markets
Min. Deposit$25$200
Withdrawal FeesYesNo
Inactivity FeesYesNo
Deposit FeesYesYes
CFD FeesYesYes

Platforms

Ascot Securities 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.

Tied
FeatureAscot SecuritiesIC Markets
MT4YesYes
MT5YesYes
cTraderYesYes
Windows AppYesYes
iOS AppYesYes
Android AppYesYes
Trading PlatformsDesktop,Android,iPhone/iPad,MacMT4, 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 Ascot Securities and IC Markets compare. IC Markets runs regular live webinars; Ascot Securities does not. Both provide video tutorials. IC Markets publishes daily market commentary; Ascot Securities does not. Both integrate third-party research tools. IC Markets maintains an archive of past webinars for on-demand viewing. IC Markets scores higher overall in education and research.

IC Markets wins this category
FeatureAscot SecuritiesIC Markets
Forex EducationYesYes
CFD EducationNoYes
Weekly WebinarsNoYes
Daily CommentaryNoYes
Trading CentralNoYes
AutochartistYesYes

Deposits & Withdrawals

Convenient deposit and withdrawal options reduce friction for traders, especially important when managing positions across time zones. Ascot Securities 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.

IC Markets wins this category
FeatureAscot SecuritiesIC Markets
Bank TransferYesYes
Credit CardYesYes
PayPalNoYes
SkrillNoYes
NetellerNoYes

Support

Responsive customer support matters most when you're locked out of your account or need urgent help with a trade. Both Ascot Securities and IC Markets offer live chat support. Both provide phone support. Email support is available at both brokers. Ascot Securities supports 2 languages and IC Markets supports 8, giving IC Markets broader global reach. Both brokers are comparable on support quality.

Tied
FeatureAscot SecuritiesIC Markets
Live ChatYesYes
Phone SupportYesYes
Email SupportYesYes
LanguagesEnglish, and ChineseEnglish, Japanese, Chinese, Polish, Afrikans, Danish, Dutch, German and more