Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of AvaTrade vs IFC Markets, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Between 51% and 89% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
AvaTrade and IFC Markets were both founded in 2006, and neither is publicly traded or operates as a bank. Where they differ most is in regulation and trust ratings: AvaTrade holds 4 Tier-1 licenses and 4 Tier-2 licenses, giving it a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 96 out of 99, which puts it in the highly trusted range. IFC Markets has 1 Tier-1 license and no Tier-2 licenses, with a Trust Score of 73 out of 99, which falls into the average-risk category.
For traders comparing online brokers, the regulatory setup gives AvaTrade a clear edge on safety and oversight. IFC Markets is still a regulated broker, but its lower number of top-tier licenses and weaker Trust Score may matter more to cautious investors who want a higher level of protection.
| Feature |
AvaTrade
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2006 | 2006 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 4 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 5 |
AvaTrade comes out slightly ahead on commissions and fees, with spreads that are close to the industry average at just under 1 pip, or 0.9 pips as of June 2024. That said, these prices are still a bit higher than what some rivals offer on their lowest-cost accounts. AvaTrade earns a 4.5-star rating and ranks #14 out of 36 brokers for Commissions and Fees, while its Professional account can be more competitive at 0.6 pips for eligible traders.
IFC Markets is a little less competitive overall on pricing, with an average EUR/USD spread of 1.44, compared with the industry average of 1.08. Its newer ECN account improves the picture for active traders, with effective spreads around 1.1 pips after commission is included. IFC Markets also helps offset costs by not charging inactivity fees and by offering active trader discounts.
In the Commissions and Fees category, IFC Markets is rated 4 stars and ranks #33 out of 36 brokers. For traders who care most about lower everyday trading costs, AvaTrade has the edge, while IFC Markets may appeal more to active users who can benefit from its ECN pricing and fee-friendly extras.
| Feature |
AvaTrade
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | $1 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.93 | 1.44 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.61 | 1.1 |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
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AvaTrade offers a wider range of investments than IFC Markets, with 1,260 tradeable symbols compared with 630. Both brokers support forex trading, including 53 currency pairs at AvaTrade and 49 at IFC Markets, and both let clients trade forex as CFDs or spot contracts. They also both offer copy trading and cryptocurrency CFDs, but neither allows customers to buy actual cryptocurrency or exchange-traded U.S. shares directly.
The main difference is that IFC Markets also offers exchange-traded securities on international exchanges, such as shares listed outside the U.S., while AvaTrade does not. Overall, AvaTrade scores higher for range of investments, earning 4 out of 5 stars and ranking 27th out of 36 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, compared with IFC Markets’ 3.5 stars and 32nd-place ranking.
| Feature |
AvaTrade
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1260 | 630 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 53 | 49 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | No |
| Cryptocurrency (CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Disclaimers | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). |
Dive deeper: Best Copy Trading Platforms.
AvaTrade and IFC Markets both give traders a wide set of platform choices, including free demo accounts, in-house platforms, Windows desktop downloads, web-based platforms, copy trading, and support for both MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5. Each broker also lets users trade directly from charts, which can be helpful for quick order placement and easier chart-based trading. Because both brokers offer many of the same core tools, the main difference here is not in availability, but in how each platform is rated and presented to users.
Where AvaTrade stands out is in third-party recognition for trading platforms and tools. AvaTrade earns 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #13 out of 36 brokers in this category, while IFC Markets is rated 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #30. For traders comparing online brokers, that means AvaTrade is generally viewed as the stronger pick overall for platform quality and trading tools, even though IFC Markets still covers the same basic needs well.
| Feature |
AvaTrade
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 80 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
AvaTrade and IFC Markets both offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, along with price alerts and watchlist syncing between the app and online account. Each app also lets traders draw trendlines on charts, making it easier to track market moves on the go. For everyday mobile trading needs, both brokers cover the basics well.
Where AvaTrade stands out is in charting and overall mobile app quality. Its app includes 73 technical studies, compared with 30 at IFC Markets, and AvaTrade is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars for mobile trading apps, versus 4 stars for IFC Markets. AvaTrade also ranks higher overall with ForexBrokers.com, placing #13 out of 36 brokers compared with IFC Markets at #35. One advantage for IFC Markets is that its app auto-saves chart drawings, while AvaTrade does not.
| Feature |
AvaTrade
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 73 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | No | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
AvaTrade and IFC Markets both give traders some useful research tools, but AvaTrade has the edge overall. AvaTrade offers daily market commentary, news from top names like Bloomberg and Reuters, Trading Central tools, a sentiment tool, and an economic calendar. It does not include Autochartist, TipRanks, or Acuity Trading. IFC Markets also provides a sentiment tool and an economic calendar, and it adds daily market commentary, but it does not offer top-tier forex news or Trading Central tools. Neither broker includes Autochartist, TipRanks, or Acuity Trading.
For research quality, AvaTrade is rated 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #29 out of 36 brokers in ForexBrokers.com’s Research category, while IFC Markets is rated 3.5 stars and ranks #31. In simple terms, both brokers cover the basics well, but AvaTrade offers a wider mix of market news and analysis tools, making it the stronger choice for traders who want more research support.
| Feature |
AvaTrade
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | No | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central | Yes | No |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
For beginners looking for trading education, AvaTrade has a clear edge over IFC Markets. AvaTrade offers forex and CFDs learning materials, monthly online webinars, and at least 10 beginner videos plus 10 advanced videos, giving new traders more ways to learn at their own pace. This stronger educational setup is reflected in its 4-star Education rating and its #2 ranking out of 36 brokers by ForexBrokers.com.
IFC Markets also provides forex and CFDs education, along with at least 10 beginner videos and 10 advanced videos, so it does give traders useful learning content. However, it does not offer monthly educational webinars, which may matter to beginners who prefer live guidance and regular Q&A sessions. Its Education score is 3.5 stars, and it ranks #25 out of 36 brokers, putting it behind AvaTrade for overall beginner learning support.
| Feature |
AvaTrade
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 63 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that AvaTrade is better than IFC Markets. AvaTrade finished with an overall rank of #15, while IFC Markets finished with an overall rank of #34.
AvaTrade is a trusted global brand best known for offering an extensive selection of trading platforms for forex and CFD traders, along with strong educational resources and copy trading support.
| Feature |
AvaTrade
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IFC Markets
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| Trust Score | 96 | 73 |
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In the AvaTrade vs IFC Markets comparison, both brokers do not offer buying actual (delivered) cryptocurrencies but do provide trading in cryptocurrency CFDs.
AvaTrade vs IFC Markets: neither broker offers ACH or SEPA transfers, both support bank wires for deposits and withdrawals, only AvaTrade provides PayPal and Skrill (IFC Markets does not), and Visa/Mastercard availability is not specified for either.
Please note:
We review each broker’s overall global offering – a “Yes” checkmark in our Compare Tool does not guarantee the availability of any specific features in your country of residence. To verify the availability of any features within your country of residence, please contact the broker directly.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | AvaTrade | IFC Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 96 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | AvaTrade Review |
| Broker Screenshots | AvaTrade | IFC Markets | |
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| Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Regulation | AvaTrade | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 96 | 73 | |
| Year Founded | 2006 | 2006 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | ||
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 4 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 1 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 5 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | AvaTrade | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | ||
| Japan (FSA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | No | ||
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | |||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | No | ||
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | No | ||
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | ||
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | AvaTrade | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or CMA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | ||
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | AvaTrade | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1260 | 630 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 53 | 49 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Disclaimers | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). |
| Cost | AvaTrade | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.93 | 1.44 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.61 | 1.1 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | No | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | AvaTrade | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | $1 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | AvaTrade | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | AvaTrade | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 80 | 30 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | AvaTrade | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 73 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | AvaTrade | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | No | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | AvaTrade | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | AvaTrade | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | AvaTrade Review |
| Overall | AvaTrade | IFC Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 96 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | AvaTrade Review |
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