ICICI Direct
ifc markets
BrokerDataNet earns affiliate commission from brokers listed on this site. This does not affect our ratings or editorial independence.
Overview
ICICI Direct was founded in 1994 and is headquartered in India, while ifc markets was established in 2016 and is based in Cyprus. ICICI Direct holds licences including Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), while ifc markets is regulated by Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) among others. ICICI Direct serves 2,000,000+ clients worldwide; ifc markets has 60,000+. The minimum deposit is $0 at ICICI Direct and $250 at ifc markets.
| Feature | ICICI Direct | ifc markets |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $0 | $250 |
| Regulation | Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), Member of the Bombay Stock Exchange | Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC), Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA), Pepperstone Markets Limited is incorporated in The Bahamas (number 177174 B), Licensed by the Securities Commission of The Bahamas (SCB) number SIA-F259 |
| Founded | 1994 | 2016 |
| Country | India | Cyprus |
| Clients | 2,000,000+ | 60,000+ |
Fees
Fees are a critical factor when choosing between ICICI Direct and ifc markets, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. ICICI Direct has a lower barrier to entry with a minimum deposit of $0 (vs $250 at ifc markets). Neither broker charges withdrawal fees. Both brokers charge inactivity fees on dormant accounts, worth noting if you trade infrequently. Overall, ICICI Direct scores higher on fees in our assessment.
| Feature | ICICI Direct | ifc markets |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $0 | $250 |
| Withdrawal Fees | No | No |
| Inactivity Fees | Yes | Yes |
| Deposit Fees | No | No |
| CFD Fees | No | Yes |
Platforms
ICICI Direct offers MT4, MT5, cTrader, while ifc markets supports MT5, cTrader. Both brokers provide mobile trading apps for iOS and Android. ICICI Direct supports social and copy trading features, which ifc markets does not offer. ICICI Direct edges ahead on platform breadth and functionality in our scoring.
| Feature | ICICI Direct | ifc markets |
|---|---|---|
| MT4 | Yes | No |
| 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, Mac, ZuluTrade, Web Trader, cTrader, Tablet & Mobile apps |
Education & Research
Education and research tools help traders at every level make more informed decisions, and here's how ICICI Direct and ifc markets compare. ICICI Direct runs regular live webinars; ifc markets does not. Both provide video tutorials. ICICI Direct publishes daily market commentary; ifc markets does not. Both integrate third-party research tools. ICICI Direct maintains an archive of past webinars for on-demand viewing. ICICI Direct scores higher overall in education and research.
| Feature | ICICI Direct | ifc markets |
|---|---|---|
| Forex Education | No | Yes |
| CFD Education | Yes | No |
| Weekly Webinars | Yes | No |
| Daily Commentary | Yes | No |
| Trading Central | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | No | Yes |
Deposits & Withdrawals
Convenient deposit and withdrawal options reduce friction for traders, especially important when managing positions across time zones. ICICI Direct accepts 1 of the tracked payment methods (bank transfer), while ifc markets supports 5 (bank transfer, credit/debit card, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller). ifc markets uniquely supports credit/debit card and PayPal and Skrill and Neteller among the two brokers. ifc markets scores higher on deposit and withdrawal flexibility.
| Feature | ICICI Direct | ifc markets |
|---|---|---|
| Bank Transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Credit Card | No | 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 ICICI Direct and ifc markets offer live chat support. Both provide phone support. Email support is available at both brokers. ICICI Direct supports 13 languages and ifc markets supports 8, giving ICICI Direct broader global reach. Both brokers are comparable on support quality.
| Feature | ICICI Direct | ifc markets |
|---|---|---|
| Live Chat | Yes | Yes |
| Phone Support | Yes | Yes |
| Email Support | Yes | Yes |
| Languages | English, Deutsch, Nederlands, Espanol, Francais, Italiano, Polski, Srpski, Norsk, Svenska, Cesky, Romana, Turkce | English, Spanish, Polish, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, and Arabic |