Broker to Trading

IC Markets is a broker using technology to provide rapid order processing without dealing desk intervention, for traders who use strategies such as automated trading using online trading robots and scalping. Trading 212 offers a user friendly web trader and apps and a range of markets including 10,000+ real Stocks to own.

IC Markets locates its trading servers in Equinix data centers, using proximity to the servers of liquidity providers and optical fiber cables and other technology to route orders efficiently which can take latency or delay in processing to a matter of milliseconds. IC Markets offers MetaTrader 4 (MT4), MT4's successor MetaTrader 5 (MT5) and cTrader, which are all platforms supporting both non-automated trading and automated trading with robots. IC Markets also provides ZuluTrade and Myfxbook, which provide copy trading.

Trading 212 offers a web trading platform (and apps), providing considerably more markets to trade than IC Markets. However, this said, IC Markets has a relatively large number of CFD markets. Both brokers provide Stocks CFDs to trade (and do not charge commissions for trading these markets).

On its Raw Spread account, IC Markets charges commissions, offering what can be quite low spreads for the more liquid Forex pairs (from 0 pips), to which it adds the commission charge. However Trading 212 additionally offers real Stock and ETFs (not CFDs) to but to own and to sell on its Invest account and does not charge commissions for these markets either.

IC Markets is regulated by the ASIC in Australia, the CySEC in Cyprus and the FSA in the Seychelles.

Trading 212 is regulated by the FCA in the United Kingdom, the CySEC in Cyprus and the FSC in Bulgaria.

Quick comparison

IC Markets is a broker offers MT4, MT5 and cTrader, providing CFD trading. Trading 212 offers both CFD trading and on its Invest account real Stocks and ETFs to own, all available on its web trader and apps.

Minimum deposit and key account features

The minimum deposit for IC Markets is $200. The minimum deposit for Trading 212 to trade CFDs is $/€/£10 (the minimum deposit for the Invest account is $/€/£1).

IC Markets offers four account types. These are Standard, True ECN, Islamic (Swap Free) and the cTrader ECN account. IC Markets provides Forex News, Video Tutorials and and Economic Calendar on its website. IC Markets uses Equinix NY4 and London LD5 Data Centres to deliver low latency trading conditions and has micro lot trading. IC Markets provides ZuluTrade and Myfxbook for social and copy trading.
IC Markets's Standard account does not charge a commission, but the True ECN account charges a commission. The cTrader ECN also charges commissions. IC Markets says that the True ECN and cTrader accounts are more suited to EAs and scalpers, but all trading styles are welcome on each account type.
Trading 212 has a CFD and an Invest account. Trading 212 provides Videos, News, Analysis and an Economic Calendar on its trading platform and its website.

Markets

IC Markets offers Forex, Indices, Energy, Stocks, Cryptocurrencies, Metals, Soft Commodities, ETFs and Bonds, with 2500+ available.
Trading 212 offers CFD trading in Forex, Indices, Energy, Stocks, Cryptocurrencies, Metals, Soft Commodities and ETFs, with 2,500+ available. Trading 212 on the Invest account offers real Stocks and ETFs, with 10,000+ available.

IC Markets has 60+ Forex Pairs. Trading 212 has 180+ Forex Pairs.

Cryptocurrency CFDs

• IC Markets provides Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Ripple, DASH, EOS, Bitcoin Cash, Dogecoin, Tezos, Uniswap, Cardano, Binance Coin, Polkadot, Stellar, Chainlink, Emercoin, Namecoin and Peercoin.
• Trading 212 offers Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Ripple, DASH, EOS, NEO and Monero.

Leverage

Maximum leverage for IC Markets (ASIC or CySEC regulated) is . Maximum leverage for IC Markets (FSA regulated) is 500:1. Maximum leverage for Trading 212 (FCA, CySEC or FSC regulated) is .

Commissions

IC Markets charges a commission of $3.50 per lot per side for the MT4 and MT5 Raw Spread accounts while the cTrader Raw Spread account charges a commission of $3 per 100,000 USD traded per side.
Trading 212 does not charge commissions.

Online trading platforms

IC Markets offers MT4, MT5, cTrader and apps. Trading 212 provides a web trader and apps.

Why IC Markets or Trading 212 ?

Traders who want to trade on a user friendly platform with 10,000+ real Stocks and ETFs to trade, as well as CFDs, may do so at Trading 212. Traders who want to apply automated trading strategies with a broker geared for this kind of trading, may do so at IC Markets on MT4, MT5 and cTrader. Traders who want to social and copy trade can do this at IC Markets. Traders who want to trade from a very low minimum deposit, can do this at Trading 212 which offers fractional Stocks from $1.

Comparison summary

• Both brokers offer CFD trading
• Trading 212 additionally provides 10,000+ real Stocks and ETFs to own
• IC Markets is a no dealing desk intervention broker
• IC Markets offers high speed order proccessing
• Ic Markets allows automated trading with EAs (MT4, MT5) and cBots (cTrader)
• IC Markets has social and copy trading platforms
• Trading 212 has a user friendly platform
• Trading 212 does not charge commission for real Stocks (other fees may apply)
• Trading 212's minimum deppsit is $1