AvaTrade
IC Markets
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Overview
AvaTrade was founded in 2006 and is headquartered in The British Virgin Islands, while IC Markets was established in 2007 and is based in Australia. AvaTrade holds licences including Central Bank of Ireland, while IC Markets is regulated by Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC) among others. AvaTrade serves 200,000+ clients worldwide; IC Markets has 60,000+. The minimum deposit is $250 at AvaTrade and $200 at IC Markets.
| Feature | AvaTrade | IC Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $250 | $200 |
| Regulation | Central Bank of Ireland, Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC), Financial Services Authority (FSA), Financial Stability Board (FSB), British Virgin Islands Financial Services Commission (BVI) | Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC), Financial Services Authority (FSA), Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) |
| Founded | 2006 | 2007 |
| Country | The British Virgin Islands | Australia |
| Clients | 200,000+ | 60,000+ |
Fees
Fees are a critical factor when choosing between AvaTrade 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 $250 at AvaTrade). Neither broker charges withdrawal fees. IC Markets charges deposit fees; AvaTrade does not. Overall, IC Markets scores higher on fees in our assessment.
| Feature | AvaTrade | IC Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $250 | $200 |
| Withdrawal Fees | No | No |
| Inactivity Fees | No | No |
| Deposit Fees | No | Yes |
| CFD Fees | No | Yes |
Platforms
AvaTrade 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 | AvaTrade | 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 | MT4, Mac, Mirror Trader, ZuluTrade, Web Trader, Tablet & Mobile apps | 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 AvaTrade and IC Markets compare. IC Markets runs regular live webinars; AvaTrade does not. Both provide video tutorials. IC Markets publishes daily market commentary; AvaTrade 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.
| Feature | AvaTrade | IC Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Forex Education | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Education | No | Yes |
| Weekly Webinars | No | Yes |
| Daily Commentary | No | Yes |
| Trading Central | No | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes |
Deposits & Withdrawals
Convenient deposit and withdrawal options reduce friction for traders, especially important when managing positions across time zones. AvaTrade accepts 4 of the tracked payment methods (bank transfer, credit/debit card, PayPal, Neteller), while IC Markets supports 5 (bank transfer, credit/debit card, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller). IC Markets uniquely supports Skrill among the two brokers. IC Markets scores higher on deposit and withdrawal flexibility.
| Feature | AvaTrade | IC Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Bank Transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Credit Card | Yes | Yes |
| PayPal | Yes | Yes |
| Skrill | No | Yes |
| Neteller | Yes | Yes |
Support
Responsive customer support matters most when you're locked out of your account or need urgent help with a trade. Both AvaTrade and IC Markets offer live chat support. Both provide phone support. Email support is available at both brokers. AvaTrade supports 6 languages and IC Markets supports 8, giving IC Markets broader global reach. Both brokers are comparable on support quality.
| Feature | AvaTrade | IC Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Live Chat | Yes | Yes |
| Phone Support | Yes | Yes |
| Email Support | Yes | Yes |
| Languages | English, Italian, German, French, Greek, and Hebrew | English, Japanese, Chinese, Polish, Afrikans, Danish, Dutch, German and more |