Fortrade
IC Markets
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Overview
Fortrade was founded in 1992 and is headquartered in UK, while IC Markets was established in 2007 and is based in Australia. Fortrade holds licences including Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) FRN: 609970, while IC Markets is regulated by Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC) among others. Fortrade serves 10,000+ clients worldwide; IC Markets has 60,000+. The minimum deposit is $1 at Fortrade and $200 at IC Markets.
| Feature | Fortrade | IC Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $1 | $200 |
| Regulation | Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) FRN: 609970, National Bank of the Republic of Belarus (NBRB) FRN: 193075810, Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) ABN: 33 614 683 831 | AFSL: 493520, Canadian Investor Protection Fund (CIPF) CRN: BC1148613, Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) with CIF license number 385/20 | Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC), Financial Services Authority (FSA), Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) |
| Founded | 1992 | 2007 |
| Country | UK | Australia |
| Clients | 10,000+ | 60,000+ |
Fees
Fees are a critical factor when choosing between Fortrade and IC Markets, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. Fortrade has a lower barrier to entry with a minimum deposit of $1 (vs $200 at IC Markets). Neither broker charges withdrawal fees. Fortrade charges deposit fees; IC Markets does not. Overall, Fortrade scores higher on fees in our assessment.
| Feature | Fortrade | IC Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $1 | $200 |
| Withdrawal Fees | No | No |
| Inactivity Fees | No | No |
| Deposit Fees | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Fees | Yes | Yes |
Platforms
Fortrade 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 Fortrade does not offer. The two brokers are closely matched on platform offering.
| Feature | Fortrade | 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, Binary, 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 Fortrade and IC Markets compare. IC Markets runs regular live webinars; Fortrade does not. IC Markets has a video library; Fortrade does not. IC Markets publishes daily market commentary; Fortrade does not. IC Markets integrates third-party research tools (Trading Central, Autochartist); Fortrade does not. IC Markets maintains an archive of past webinars for on-demand viewing. IC Markets scores higher overall in education and research.
| Feature | Fortrade | 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. Fortrade 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 | Fortrade | 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 Fortrade and IC Markets offer live chat support. Both provide phone support. Email support is available at both brokers. Fortrade supports 1 language and IC Markets supports 8, giving IC Markets broader global reach. Both brokers are comparable on support quality.
| Feature | Fortrade | IC Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Live Chat | Yes | Yes |
| Phone Support | Yes | Yes |
| Email Support | Yes | Yes |
| Languages | English | English, Japanese, Chinese, Polish, Afrikans, Danish, Dutch, German and more |