Hargreaves Lansdown
IC Markets
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Overview
Hargreaves Lansdown was founded in 1981 and is headquartered in UK, while IC Markets was established in 2007 and is based in Australia. Hargreaves Lansdown holds licences including Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), while IC Markets is regulated by Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC) among others. Hargreaves Lansdown serves 10,000+ clients worldwide; IC Markets has 60,000+. Both brokers share the same minimum deposit of $200.
| Feature | Hargreaves Lansdown | IC Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $200 | $200 |
| Regulation | Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) | Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC), Financial Services Authority (FSA), Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) |
| Founded | 1981 | 2007 |
| Country | UK | Australia |
| Clients | 10,000+ | 60,000+ |
Fees
Fees are a critical factor when choosing between Hargreaves Lansdown and IC Markets, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. Both require a minimum deposit of $200. Neither broker charges withdrawal fees. IC Markets charges deposit fees; Hargreaves Lansdown does not. Overall, Hargreaves Lansdown scores higher on fees in our assessment.
| Feature | Hargreaves Lansdown | IC Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $200 | $200 |
| Withdrawal Fees | No | No |
| Inactivity Fees | No | No |
| Deposit Fees | No | Yes |
| CFD Fees | Yes | Yes |
Platforms
Hargreaves Lansdown 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 Hargreaves Lansdown does not offer. The two brokers are closely matched on platform offering.
| Feature | Hargreaves Lansdown | 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 | 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 Hargreaves Lansdown 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. IC Markets scores higher overall in education and research.
| Feature | Hargreaves Lansdown | IC Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Forex Education | No | Yes |
| CFD Education | Yes | Yes |
| Weekly Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Daily Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Central | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | Yes |
Deposits & Withdrawals
Convenient deposit and withdrawal options reduce friction for traders, especially important when managing positions across time zones. Hargreaves Lansdown 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 | Hargreaves Lansdown | 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 Hargreaves Lansdown and IC Markets offer live chat support. Both provide phone support. Email support is available at both brokers. Hargreaves Lansdown supports 2 languages and IC Markets supports 8, giving IC Markets broader global reach. Both brokers are comparable on support quality.
| Feature | Hargreaves Lansdown | 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 |