Alison Heyerdahl
Edited by
Author
Alison Heyerdahl
Edited by
Alison Heyerdahl
Head of Content

Alison Heyerdahl is the Head of Content at FxScouts, a Chartered Market Technician (CMT), and an experienced trader, as well as a financial writer with extensive expertise in Forex trading, broker analysis, and market research. She has reviewed 100+ brokers, publishes weekly YouTube trading videos, and co-hosts the “Let’s Talk Forex” podcast.

 

Learn more about Alison Heyerdahl
Author
Author
Chris Cammack
Partner Manager and Financial Writer

Chris Cammack is the Partner Manager and a financial writer at FxScouts. Chris builds and maintains our relationships with our partners to provide our users with the best Forex trading experience.

Learn more about Chris Cammack

Fondex vs. IC Markets

In the fast-paced world of forex trading, choosing the right broker is crucial. IC Markets and Fondex are two popular options, each with unique strengths and weaknesses. This comparison will dive into the key features of both platforms,helping you decide which one best suits your trading style and goals.

Select Brokers to Compare

Regulation

Regulation
Bundesanstalt für FinanzdienstleistungsaufsichtCyprus Securities and Exchange CommissionFinansinspektionenThe Seychelles Financial Services Authority
Capital Markets AuthorityCyprus Securities and Exchange CommissionSecurities Commission of the BahamasThe Seychelles Financial Services Authority
Trading Desk Type
ECN/DMA
ECN/DMA
Trading Instruments
Cryptocurrencies, Energies, Stock CFDs, ETFs, Forex, Indices, Metals
Bonds, Commodities, Cryptocurrencies, Stock CFDs, Forex, Futures, Indices

Conditions

Forex Pairs
80
64
Crypto Pairs
11
18
Pros
  • Well regulated
  • Low minimum deposit
  • Copy trading accounts
  • Innovative trading tools
  • Well regulated
  • Tight spreads
  • Wide range of assets
  • Great platform choice
Cons
  • Limited demo account
  • Limited account options
  • Well regulated
  • Tight spreads
  • Wide range of assets
  • Great platform choice
% Lose with this broker
83.57%
70.81%
Leverage
500:1
1000:1
Spread
0.50 pips
0.10 pips
Hedging
Yes
Yes
Scalping
Yes
Yes
Account Types
Fondex cTrader
RAW - cTrader, RAW - MetaTrader, Standard - MetaTrader
Islamic Acct
Yes
Yes
Trading Platforms
cTrader
MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView
Funding Methods
Bank Transfer, Giropay, Maestro, Mastercard, Neteller, Paypal, paytrust88, Skrill, Sofort Banking, Visa
Bank Transfer, Mastercard, Neteller, Paypal, Skrill, Visa
Trading Commissions
None
7 USD / lot - Raw Spread Account
Min. Deposit
USD 1
USD 200
Trading Cost
USD 7.80
USD 8
Visit site
TRading Journal TRading Journal
Fondex
IC Markets
Trust Rating
4
4.5
Trading Conditions
5
4
Trading Platforms
4
5
Deposit & Withdrawal
4.5
4
Assets Available
4.5
4.5
Education & Research
3.5
5
Customer Service
4
4.5
Beginner Friendly
2
3
Analysis Research
5
5
Overall Rating
4.24
/ 5
4.46
/ 5
Save this Comparison

How Do IC Markets and Fondex Compare?

The radar chart above illustrates the comparison between IC Markets and Fondex across several key metrics, with the highest possible score being 100 in each category.

Helping You Choose the Right Broker

At FxScouts, our mission is to assist traders in finding the broker that best suits their needs. Comparing brokers side-by-side is an effective method to achieve this goal. We evaluated IC Markets and Fondex, using our standard criteria: trust and regulation, trading platforms, costs and trading conditions, and educational and market analysis resources.

Trust and Regulation

Trust and regulation are crucial when selecting a Forex broker. A broker’s credibility is largely built on its regulatory status. We spend considerable time verifying the safety of each broker by examining their regulatory licenses.  We also consider numerous factors when deciding which tier a regulator belongs to. Regulators that we rank as the world’s top regulators, gets a tier 1 rank, while regulators who only scores a tier 5-rank, provide virtually no regulatory oversight. The more top-tier authorities regulating a broker, the higher its trust rating. Read more about regulation and our tier system here.

In our comparison:

  • IC Markets holds one Tier 1 and no Tier 2 licences.
  • Fondex holds three Tier 1 and no Tier 2 licences.

Based on these findings, IC Markets earned a higher trust rating than Fondex.

Is IC Markets financially regulated?

Yes IC Markets was founded in 2007 and is regulated by CMA, CySEC, SCB and FSA-Seychelles.

 

Is Fondex financially regulated?

Yes Fondex was founded in 2017 and is regulated by BaFin, CySEC, Fi and FSA-Seychelles.

 

Trading Costs Comparison

When comparing brokers, trading costs are a significant factor. We consider the minimum deposit required to open an account and ongoing costs, including spreads and commissions. We measure the cost to trade one lot of EUR/USD using the broker’s account with the lowest minimum deposit, including both the spread and any commission charged.

We found that Fondex has overall lower trading costs than IC Markets.

Top Overall Brokers by Broker Score

Trading Platforms Offered

Trading Platforms Offered Traders prefer brokers that offer a variety of trading platforms. We rate brokers higher if they support multiple platforms like MetaTrader4, MetaTrader5, cTrader, and proprietary platforms.

  • IC Markets supports MT4, MT5, cTrader and TradingView
  • Fondex supports cTrader

Copy Trading Availability

Copy trading is beneficial for beginner traders or those unable to trade full-time. In this case both Fondex and IC Markets offer copy trading.

Range of Trading Instruments

A broader range of CFD instruments provides more trading opportunities. Fondex offers a greater variety of instruments compared to IC Markets:

  • Fondex: 80 Forex pairs.
  • IC Markets: 64 Forex pairs.

Cryptocurrency Trading

For those interested in trading cryptocurrencies, IC Markets offers 18 cryptocurrencies, while Fondex offers 11 cryptocurrencies. Therefore, IC Markets is the better choice for cryptocurrency trading.

Deposit and Withdrawal Processes

Traders prefer brokers with quick and cost-effective deposit and withdrawal processes. We favor brokers that process withdrawals within 24 hours using multiple methods without charging fees.We found that IC Markets charges a withdrawal fee and Fondex does not. Overall, Fondex has better deposit and withdrawal processes than IC Markets. 

Educational Support?

We often find that brokers offer very little in the way of educational materials, forcing traders to use other third-party sites or self-educate elsewhere. Beginner traders need well-structured, well-presented materials in multiple formats to get a good start at trading. More experienced traders also benefit from webinars led by experts in the field and advanced trading strategy sections with new trading ideas. 

IC Markets has better educational support than Fondex. Both Fondex and IC Markets offer educational support for more experienced traders.

Market Analysis Materials

Access to frequent and high-quality market research and analysis is crucial.

We found that IC Markets offers better research analysis than Fondex and that both Fondex and IC Markets offer frequent webinars.

Overall Verdict

  • IC Markets:

    Founded in 2007 in Australia, IC Markets is a globally respected broker known for its transparent pricing, low trading costs, and institutional-grade trading conditions. It is regulated by several leading financial authorities, including ASIC, CySEC, SCB, the FSA of Seychelles, and the CMA of Kenya.

    IC Markets is best known for its exceptionally low-cost trading environment. On its Raw Spread Account, average spreads are just 0.10 pips on the EUR/USD, paired with a round-turn commission of only 6 USD per lot. It is one of the few brokers to support all four major trading platforms—MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader, and TradingView—making it an excellent choice for traders with diverse strategies and technical preferences.

    IC Markets clients also benefit from a broad suite of professional trading tools, including VPS hosting, Trading Central analytics, advanced charting, and popular copy trading platforms such as Myfxbook AutoTrade and ZuluTrade. New traders will appreciate IC Markets’ 24/7 customer support and straightforward account setup. While the broker’s educational resources are stronger than most, its market analysis content remains relatively limited.

  • Fondex:

    Established in 2011, Fondex provides an optimal trading environment for traders looking for a wide range of tradeable assets and low trading costs on the cTrader platform. 

    An unusual broker, Fondex only offers support for the cTrader platform, which may be an instant turn-off for many traders, especially those who have a long history with Metatrader, but it offers some of the best trading conditions in the industry. Fondex's single live commission-free account has no minimum deposit requirements and spreads that average at 0.28 pips on the EUR/USD, a lower trading cost than most other brokers. cTrader is a powerful and feature-rich alternative to MetaTrader’s platforms, with a built-in copy trading function and advanced automation tools. 

    Trading is offered on multiple assets, including 80 FX pairs, over 900 equities, and a wide range of indices, metals, energies, and ETFs. Fondex's educational and market analysis materials are comprehensive and in-depth, but unstructured, making it difficult to find what you are looking for.

Overall Ratings

  • IC Markets: 4.46
  • Fondex: 4.24

For more detailed reviews, please read our comprehensive assessments of IC Markets and Fondex.

AvaTrade
Pepperstone
ASIC, FSCA
Regulators
FCA, ASIC
400:1
Leverage
500:1
MT4, MT5
Platforms
MT4, MT5
0.9 pips
Min. Spread
0 pips
USD 100
Min. Deposit
USD 0
XTB
XM
CySEC, FCA
Regulators
CySEC, ASIC
500:1
Leverage
1000:1
xStation5
Platforms
MT4, MT5
0.8 pips
Min. Spread
0.6 pips
USD 0
Min. Deposit
USD 5
HFM
Pepperstone
FCA, FSCA
Regulators
FCA, ASIC
2000:1
Leverage
500:1
MT4, MT5
Platforms
MT4, MT5
0.0 pips
Min. Spread
0 pips
USD 0
Min. Deposit
USD 0
XM
FxPro
CySEC, ASIC
Regulators
FCA, CySEC
1000:1
Leverage
500:1
MT4, MT5
Platforms
MT4, MT5
0.6 pips
Min. Spread
0.4 pips
USD 5
Min. Deposit
USD 100
Unbiased Expertise

Independent, in-depth reviews and comparisons of all well-regulated Forex brokers, empowering you to make informed choices.

Educational Resources

Comprehensive guides for all levels, from the basics of Forex to advanced strategies tailored for your experience.

Transparent Information

A focus on facts, accuracy, and up-to-date data to give you the insights you need to succeed in your Forex journey.

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Best Forex Brokers in 2026

To identify the best forex brokers, we compiled a comprehensive list of all well-regulated brokers. We then ranked them based on their overall score, considering key factors such as regulation, trading conditions, platform quality, and customer support.

Swipe to scroll

Overall Rating
Our overall rating evaluates brokers on platform quality, fees, service, regulation, and instruments. Higher scores reflect better performance and reliability.
Official Site
Click to visit the broker’s official website for more information and to open an account.
Min. Deposit
The minimum amount of money required to open an account with this broker.
Min. Spread
Trading Cost
Licenced by
Displays the financial regulators licensing the broker, shown by national flags, ensuring compliance with financial standards for safer trading.
Accepts Traders from %s
Compare
Select two brokers using the checkboxes to compare their features, fees, platforms, and more side by side.
Visit Broker
80% of retail CFD accounts lose money
USD 0
0 pips
USD 7
FCA Regulated Forex BrokersASIC Regulated BrokersCySEC Regulated BrokersDFSA Regulated Forex Brokers
Bundesanstalt für FinanzdienstleistungsaufsichtSecurities Commission of the BahamasCapital Markets Authority
Visit Broker
N/A of retail CFD accounts lose money
USD 3
0.10 pips
USD 7
Financial Services Conduct AuthorityThe Seychelles Financial Services AuthorityCapital Markets AuthorityBritish Virgin Islands Financial Services Commission
Financial Services CommissionJordan Securities CommissionJordan Securities Commission
Visit Broker
72.90% of retail CFD accounts lose money
USD 0
0 pips
USD 10
FCA Regulated Forex BrokersFinancial Services Conduct AuthorityFinancial Services CommissionThe Seychelles Financial Services Authority
Capital Markets Authority
Visit Broker
75.18% of retail CFD accounts lose money
USD 5
0.60 pips
USD 6
CySEC Regulated BrokersASIC Regulated BrokersDFSA Regulated Forex BrokersInternational Financial Services Commission
Visit Broker
76% of retail CFD accounts lose money
USD 100
0.90 pips
USD 9
ASIC Regulated BrokersFinancial Services Conduct AuthorityCySEC Regulated BrokersFinancial Services Agency
Central Bank of IrelandFinancial Regulatory Services AuthorityIsrael Securities Authority
Visit Broker
74% of retail CFD accounts lose money
USD 100
1 pips
USD 10
CySEC Regulated BrokersFinancial Services Conduct AuthorityFinancial Services Authority – St. Vincent & the Grenadines
Visit Broker
75% of retail CFD accounts lose money
USD 100
0.40 pips
USD 14
FCA Regulated Forex BrokersCySEC Regulated BrokersFinancial Services Conduct AuthorityDFSA Regulated Forex Brokers
Securities Commission of the Bahamas
Visit Broker
N/A of retail CFD accounts lose money
USD 100
0 pips
USD 6
ASIC Regulated BrokersFinancial Services Conduct AuthorityThe Seychelles Financial Services AuthorityFinancial Services Commission
Capital Markets Authority
Visit Broker
70.81% of retail CFD accounts lose money
USD 200
0.10 pips
USD 8
CySEC Regulated BrokersThe Seychelles Financial Services AuthoritySecurities Commission of the BahamasCapital Markets Authority
Visit Broker
78% of retail CFD accounts lose money
USD 0
0.80 pips
USD 7
CySEC Regulated BrokersFCA Regulated Forex BrokersInternational Financial Services CommissionKomisja Nadzoru Finansowego
Pepperstone
4.7
Read Review

Our broker ratings are derived from rigorous testing by industry experts and experienced traders. We thoroughly evaluate regulatory compliance, security, transparency, trading performance, and customer service. We never accept payment for higher scores, ensuring our ratings remain unbiased, factual, and trustworthy—so you can confidently choose a reliable broker for your financial safety and trading success.

For detailed information about our testing methodology click here.

Min. Deposit
The minimum amount of money required to open an account with this broker.
USD 0
Min. Spread
0 pips
Trading Cost
USD 7
Licenced by
regulatorregulatorregulatorregulator
regulatorregulatorregulator
Accepts Traders from %s
Exness
4.3
Read Review

Our broker ratings are derived from rigorous testing by industry experts and experienced traders. We thoroughly evaluate regulatory compliance, security, transparency, trading performance, and customer service. We never accept payment for higher scores, ensuring our ratings remain unbiased, factual, and trustworthy—so you can confidently choose a reliable broker for your financial safety and trading success.

For detailed information about our testing methodology click here.

Min. Deposit
The minimum amount of money required to open an account with this broker.
USD 3
Min. Spread
0.1 pips
Trading Cost
USD 7
Licenced by
regulatorregulatorregulatorregulator
regulatorregulatorregulator
Accepts Traders from %s
HFM
4.4
Read Review

Our broker ratings are derived from rigorous testing by industry experts and experienced traders. We thoroughly evaluate regulatory compliance, security, transparency, trading performance, and customer service. We never accept payment for higher scores, ensuring our ratings remain unbiased, factual, and trustworthy—so you can confidently choose a reliable broker for your financial safety and trading success.

For detailed information about our testing methodology click here.

Min. Deposit
The minimum amount of money required to open an account with this broker.
USD 0
Min. Spread
0.0 pips
Trading Cost
USD 10
Licenced by
regulatorregulatorregulatorregulator
regulator
Accepts Traders from %s
XM
4.5
Read Review

Our broker ratings are derived from rigorous testing by industry experts and experienced traders. We thoroughly evaluate regulatory compliance, security, transparency, trading performance, and customer service. We never accept payment for higher scores, ensuring our ratings remain unbiased, factual, and trustworthy—so you can confidently choose a reliable broker for your financial safety and trading success.

For detailed information about our testing methodology click here.

Min. Deposit
The minimum amount of money required to open an account with this broker.
USD 5
Min. Spread
0.6 pips
Trading Cost
USD 6
Licenced by
regulatorregulatorregulatorregulator
Accepts Traders from %s
AvaTrade
4.6
Read Review

Our broker ratings are derived from rigorous testing by industry experts and experienced traders. We thoroughly evaluate regulatory compliance, security, transparency, trading performance, and customer service. We never accept payment for higher scores, ensuring our ratings remain unbiased, factual, and trustworthy—so you can confidently choose a reliable broker for your financial safety and trading success.

For detailed information about our testing methodology click here.

Min. Deposit
The minimum amount of money required to open an account with this broker.
USD 100
Min. Spread
0.9 pips
Trading Cost
USD 9
Licenced by
regulatorregulatorregulatorregulator
regulatorregulatorregulator
Accepts Traders from %s
markets.com
4.1
Read Review

Our broker ratings are derived from rigorous testing by industry experts and experienced traders. We thoroughly evaluate regulatory compliance, security, transparency, trading performance, and customer service. We never accept payment for higher scores, ensuring our ratings remain unbiased, factual, and trustworthy—so you can confidently choose a reliable broker for your financial safety and trading success.

For detailed information about our testing methodology click here.

Min. Deposit
The minimum amount of money required to open an account with this broker.
USD 100
Min. Spread
1 pips
Trading Cost
USD 10
Licenced by
regulatorregulatorregulator
Accepts Traders from %s
FxPro
4.4
Read Review

Our broker ratings are derived from rigorous testing by industry experts and experienced traders. We thoroughly evaluate regulatory compliance, security, transparency, trading performance, and customer service. We never accept payment for higher scores, ensuring our ratings remain unbiased, factual, and trustworthy—so you can confidently choose a reliable broker for your financial safety and trading success.

For detailed information about our testing methodology click here.

Min. Deposit
The minimum amount of money required to open an account with this broker.
USD 100
Min. Spread
0.4 pips
Trading Cost
USD 14
Licenced by
regulatorregulatorregulatorregulator
regulator
Accepts Traders from %s
FP Markets
4.6
Read Review

Our broker ratings are derived from rigorous testing by industry experts and experienced traders. We thoroughly evaluate regulatory compliance, security, transparency, trading performance, and customer service. We never accept payment for higher scores, ensuring our ratings remain unbiased, factual, and trustworthy—so you can confidently choose a reliable broker for your financial safety and trading success.

For detailed information about our testing methodology click here.

Min. Deposit
The minimum amount of money required to open an account with this broker.
USD 100
Min. Spread
0.0 pips
Trading Cost
USD 6
Licenced by
regulatorregulatorregulatorregulator
regulator
Accepts Traders from %s
IC Markets
4.5
Read Review

Our broker ratings are derived from rigorous testing by industry experts and experienced traders. We thoroughly evaluate regulatory compliance, security, transparency, trading performance, and customer service. We never accept payment for higher scores, ensuring our ratings remain unbiased, factual, and trustworthy—so you can confidently choose a reliable broker for your financial safety and trading success.

For detailed information about our testing methodology click here.

Min. Deposit
The minimum amount of money required to open an account with this broker.
USD 200
Min. Spread
0.1 pips
Trading Cost
USD 8
Licenced by
regulatorregulatorregulatorregulator
Accepts Traders from %s
XTB
4.5
Read Review

Our broker ratings are derived from rigorous testing by industry experts and experienced traders. We thoroughly evaluate regulatory compliance, security, transparency, trading performance, and customer service. We never accept payment for higher scores, ensuring our ratings remain unbiased, factual, and trustworthy—so you can confidently choose a reliable broker for your financial safety and trading success.

For detailed information about our testing methodology click here.

Min. Deposit
The minimum amount of money required to open an account with this broker.
USD 0
Min. Spread
0.8 pips
Trading Cost
USD 7
Licenced by
regulatorregulatorregulatorregulator
Accepts Traders from %s
Listen Now!

Let's Talk Forex with Alison & Chris


Alison and Chris cover a range of topics, including how to choose a Forex broker, safety and regulation, how to reduce your risk, trading psychology, trading platforms, and trading strategies, among others.

The FxScouts podcast helps beginner Forex traders get the best start to their trading careers.