IC Markets vs AvaTrade: Honest 2026 Comparison
Affiliate disclosure: this article contains partner links. KenMacro may earn a commission when you open an account through these links, at no additional cost to you. The desk only partners with brokers that pass our regulatory and execution-quality screen.
IC Markets and AvaTrade both target the raw-spread retail vs CBI Ireland multi-platform archetype but with different trade-offs. IC Markets carries ASIC, CySEC, FSA Seychelles oversight, founded 2007, with tight raw spreads and ctrader native. AvaTrade runs CBI, ASIC, FSA Japan, FSCA, ADGM, BVI, IIROC, ISA, founded 2006, with eight-regulator stack including cbi ireland, plus avaoptions for vanilla fx options. For the raw-spread retail vs CBI Ireland multi-platform archetype, IC Markets is the cleaner fit.
By Ken Chigbo, Founder, KenMacro, 18-plus years in markets, London trading floor and institutional FX. The framework runs daily inside the MACRO MASTERY desk.
Quick verdict
- For ASIC plus CySEC vs eight-regulator stack, IC Markets. IC Markets runs ASIC, CySEC, FSA Seychelles, AvaTrade runs CBI, ASIC, FSA Japan, FSCA, ADGM, BVI, IIROC, ISA.
- For raw plus commission vs spread-only. IC Markets EUR/USD 0.0 to 0.1 pips raw (raw spread), commission $7 round-turn (raw spread). AvaTrade EUR/USD 0.9 pips typical (spread-only, no commission on standard), commission spread-only on standard account, no per-trade commission.
- For cTrader vs AvaOptions. IC Markets runs mt4, mt5, ctrader. AvaTrade runs metatrader 4, metatrader 5, avatradego (proprietary), avaoptions, webtrader, duplitrade, zulutrade.
- For minimum deposit. IC Markets: $200. AvaTrade: $100.
- For Trustpilot 2026. IC Markets: 4.8 / 5. AvaTrade: 4.4 / 5.
- For the partner-stack alternative. Vantage Markets is the partner alternative the desk routes to. FCA UK plus ASIC Tier-1 stack with raw-spread economics, plus Lloyd’s of London insurance and the bundled MACRO MASTERY desk overlay.
Open Vantage Markets, the partner alternative →
Capital at risk. CFD and margin trading carry significant risk of loss. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
At a glance
| Variable | IC Markets | AvaTrade |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2007 | 2006 |
| Regulation | ASIC, CySEC, FSA Seychelles | CBI, ASIC, FSA Japan, FSCA, ADGM, BVI, IIROC, ISA |
| Min deposit / fee | $200 | $100 |
| EUR/USD spread | 0.0 to 0.1 pips raw (Raw Spread) | 0.9 pips typical (spread-only, no commission on Standard) |
| Commission | $7 round-turn (Raw Spread) | Spread-only on Standard account, no per-trade commission |
| Max leverage | 1:30 ASIC retail, up to 1:500 FSA offshore | 1:30 retail (CBI, ASIC), up to 1:400 BVI offshore |
| Platforms | MT4, MT5, cTrader | MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, AvaTradeGO (proprietary), AvaOptions, WebTrader, DupliTrade, ZuluTrade |
| Payment / payouts | Bank wire, cards, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller. Free on most methods. | Bank wire, debit and credit cards, Skrill, Neteller, WebMoney. Inactivity fee of 50 USD after three months of dormancy plus 100 USD administration fee after twelve months. |
| Trustpilot 2026 | 4.8 / 5 | 4.4 / 5 |
| Key strength | Tight raw spreads and cTrader native | Eight-regulator stack including CBI Ireland, plus AvaOptions for vanilla FX options |
Regulation and trust
IC Markets carries ASIC Australia licence 335692, CySEC Cyprus licence 362/18, and FSA Seychelles licence SD018. One of the largest retail forex brokers globally by reported trading volume. AvaTrade runs AvaTrade EU Ltd is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland under MiFID. AvaTrade Australia Pty Ltd holds ASIC AFSL 406684. AvaTrade Japan KK is regulated by the FSA Japan and JFSA. AvaTrade South Africa is FSCA-regulated FSP 45984. AvaTrade Middle East is regulated by the ADGM Financial Services Regulatory Authority. The BVI entity holds BVI FSC SIBA/L/13/1049. Ava Trade Markets Ltd is regulated by IIROC in Canada. Ava Capital Markets Israel Ltd is regulated by the ISA. Operating since 2006 with no documented insolvency events. Regulator depth is one of the cleanest filters when picking a broker, the deeper the audited stack the better the recourse if anything goes wrong. Neither broker is in the partner stack the desk runs daily. Vantage Markets is the partner alternative the desk routes to: FCA UK plus ASIC Tier-1 stack with raw-spread economics, plus Lloyd’s of London insurance and the bundled MACRO MASTERY desk overlay.
IC Markets, the regulator footprint runs ASIC Australia licence 335692, CySEC Cyprus licence 362/18, and FSA Seychelles licence SD018. One of the largest retail forex brokers globally by reported trading volume.
AvaTrade, by contrast, operates under AvaTrade EU Ltd is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland under MiFID. AvaTrade Australia Pty Ltd holds ASIC AFSL 406684. AvaTrade Japan KK is regulated by the FSA Japan and JFSA. AvaTrade South Africa is FSCA-regulated FSP 45984. AvaTrade Middle East is regulated by the ADGM Financial Services Regulatory Authority. The BVI entity holds BVI FSC SIBA/L/13/1049. Ava Trade Markets Ltd is regulated by IIROC in Canada. Ava Capital Markets Israel Ltd is regulated by the ISA. Operating since 2006 with no documented insolvency events.
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Spreads and commission
On the headline raw account tier, IC Markets posts 0.0 to 0.1 pips raw (raw spread) on EUR/USD with $7 round-turn (raw spread). AvaTrade posts 0.9 pips typical (spread-only, no commission on standard) with spread-only on standard account, no per-trade commission. All-in cost is the relevant comparison rather than the headline raw spread on its own, the commission rate per round-turn lot can flip the verdict for high-frequency traders. On the raw-spread retail vs CBI Ireland multi-platform archetype, IC Markets edges the cost stack.
On the headline raw account tier, IC Markets posts 0.0 to 0.1 pips raw (raw spread) on EUR/USD with $7 round-turn (raw spread). AvaTrade posts 0.9 pips typical (spread-only, no commission on standard) with spread-only on standard account, no per-trade commission. Both numbers are sourced from the brokers’ published spread sheets and cross-referenced against live execution windows during NFP and FOMC.
Platforms
IC Markets’s platform stack runs mt4, mt5, ctrader. AvaTrade covers metatrader 4, metatrader 5, avatradego (proprietary), avaoptions, webtrader, duplitrade, zulutrade. Platform fit is rarely the differentiator on its own, the question is which stack lines up with the trader’s existing chartwork and automation. For traders running MetaTrader expert advisors or TradingView native chartwork, both brokers cover the standard set, the differentiator lives in any proprietary platform extension on each side.
IC Markets’s platform stack covers mt4, mt5, ctrader, while AvaTrade runs metatrader 4, metatrader 5, avatradego (proprietary), avaoptions, webtrader, duplitrade, zulutrade. Platform fit is rarely the differentiator on its own, the differentiator is how the platform set lines up with the trader’s existing chartwork and automation set.
Payments and withdrawals
IC Markets: Bank wire, cards, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller. Free on most methods. AvaTrade: Bank wire, debit and credit cards, Skrill, Neteller, WebMoney. Inactivity fee of 50 USD after three months of dormancy plus 100 USD administration fee after twelve months. Withdrawal infrastructure is a quiet but high-impact layer. The cleanest brokers process broker-side withdrawals same-day on most methods with zero broker-side fees, intermediary-bank delays are the variable element on bank-wire withdrawals.
IC Markets: Bank wire, cards, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller. Free on most methods.
AvaTrade: Bank wire, debit and credit cards, Skrill, Neteller, WebMoney. Inactivity fee of 50 USD after three months of dormancy plus 100 USD administration fee after twelve months.
ASIC and FSCA regulation. Cent-account option for small balances. Leverage up to 1:1000 on the offshore entity for the high-leverage archetype.
Who should pick IC Markets
Pick IC Markets if you are
Pick IC Markets if you fit the raw-spread retail vs CBI Ireland multi-platform archetype that prioritises tight raw spreads and ctrader native. The headline differentiator is ASIC, CySEC, FSA Seychelles regulator coverage with 0.0 to 0.1 pips raw (raw spread) on EUR/USD. IC Markets is not in the partner stack the desk runs, see the pivot CTA below.
Who should pick AvaTrade
Pick AvaTrade if you are
Pick AvaTrade if you fit the raw-spread retail vs CBI Ireland multi-platform archetype that prioritises eight-regulator stack including cbi ireland, plus avaoptions for vanilla fx options. The headline differentiator is CBI, ASIC, FSA Japan, FSCA, ADGM, BVI, IIROC, ISA regulator coverage with 0.9 pips typical (spread-only, no commission on standard) on EUR/USD. AvaTrade is not in the partner stack the desk runs, see the pivot CTA below.
The desk’s verdict
Desk verdict
IC Markets and AvaTrade are both credible options inside the raw-spread retail vs CBI Ireland multi-platform archetype. AvaTrade wins on the eight-regulator stack including CBI Ireland and FSA Japan, AvaOptions for vanilla FX options, and the long operating history (since 2006). IC Markets wins on the institutional-volume execution depth, cTrader native, and the tighter raw-spread cost stack on the Raw Spread account. Neither broker is in the partner stack. The desk’s preferred alternative is Vantage Markets: FCA UK plus ASIC Tier-1 stack with raw-spread economics, plus Lloyd’s of London insurance and the bundled MACRO MASTERY desk overlay.
Open Vantage Markets, the partner alternative →
Capital at risk. CFD and margin trading carry significant risk of loss. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
ASIC regulated. Strong mid-tier broker with competitive raw-spread accounts and full MT4 and MT5 support.
The MACRO MASTERY angle
Broker selection is one piece of the framework. Macro positioning is what compounds across cycles, irrespective of the execution venue. The MACRO MASTERY desk runs daily macro pulses, NFP and FOMC and CPI live coverage, BTC whale-flow signals, weekly performance scorecard, and the live MT5 signal bridge.
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Same stack a hedge-fund analyst runs every morning. Free Discord onboarding.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better, IC Markets or AvaTrade?
For the raw-spread retail vs CBI Ireland multi-platform archetype: IC Markets, on tight raw spreads and ctrader native. Both are credible options inside their respective regulator stacks.
Is IC Markets safer than AvaTrade?
IC Markets runs ASIC, CySEC, FSA Seychelles. AvaTrade runs CBI, ASIC, FSA Japan, FSCA, ADGM, BVI, IIROC, ISA. Both segregate client funds per regulator rules. The deeper the audited stack the cleaner the recourse if anything goes wrong, ASIC plus CySEC vs eight-regulator stack is the differentiator on this pair.
Are IC Markets spreads tighter than AvaTrade?
IC Markets posts 0.0 to 0.1 pips raw (raw spread) with $7 round-turn (raw spread). AvaTrade posts 0.9 pips typical (spread-only, no commission on standard) with spread-only on standard account, no per-trade commission. All-in cost is the operationally relevant comparison rather than the headline raw spread on its own.
Which has lower minimum deposit, IC Markets or AvaTrade?
IC Markets: $200. AvaTrade: $100. The lower minimum is the cleaner door-opener for early-stage traders, but capital should match the trader’s risk-management plan rather than the broker’s floor.
Which has the bundled MACRO MASTERY desk overlay?
Neither broker is in the partner stack the desk runs. Vantage Markets is the partner alternative the desk routes to: FCA UK plus ASIC Tier-1 stack with raw-spread economics, plus Lloyd’s of London insurance and the bundled MACRO MASTERY desk overlay.
Can I run both IC Markets and AvaTrade accounts?
Yes. Many traders run more than one broker account in parallel, eg one for ECN raw execution and one for spread-only proprietary platforms. Both brokers segregate client funds per their respective regulator rules, so capital is protected on each entity’s terms even if one entity fails.
Related reading
- Best forex brokers 2026, the institutional verdict
- How to choose a forex broker, the desk’s framework
- Vantage vs Blueberry vs Star Trader, three-way verdict
Educational analysis only. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Manage risk against your own portfolio. CFD and margin trading carry significant risk of loss. Verify current IC Markets and AvaTrade terms against each official documentation before opening an account.
Sources cross-referenced for this IC Markets vs AvaTrade comparison: https://www.icmarkets.com/global/en/about-us/regulation, https://connectonline.asic.gov.au/RegistrySearch/, https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/icmarkets.com, https://www.avatrade.com/about-avatrade/regulation, https://registers.centralbank.ie/, https://connectonline.asic.gov.au/RegistrySearch/, https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/avatrade.com, Trustpilot aggregations 2026.
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