FXCM vs IC Markets — Which Is Better for You?

Quick Verdict

Choose FXCM for Trading Station platform and DailyFX research; choose IC Markets for ultra-low spreads and true ECN execution.

Broker	Pros	Cons
FXCM See Review →	Advanced Trading Station platform with custom indicators MT4 and TradingView integration available Comprehensive forex education and daily market analysis Algorithmic trading support with APIs DailyFX research portal with expert insights NinjaTrader integration for advanced traders	Not available to US clients (only forex for non-US) Wider spreads on Standard account Inactivity fee (£10/€10/$10 per month after 12 months) Limited stock and commodity selection Commission structure can be complex
IC Markets See Review →	True ECN/STP execution with no dealing desk Ultra-low spreads from 0.0 pips on major pairs High-speed execution (average 40ms) MetaTrader 4, MT5, and cTrader platforms Deep liquidity from tier-1 banks Excellent scalping and algorithmic trading environment	Not suitable for stock or ETF investors Limited educational content compared to full-service brokers Minimum deposit of $200 Primarily focused on forex and CFDs only Less comprehensive research tools