FBS vs IC Markets
Wondering whether to pick FBS or IC Markets? This broker comparison between FBS and IC Markets examines regulation and trust, spreads and overall costs, platform availability, market range, research and tools, deposit and withdrawal methods and other key features in a clear head-to-head overview.
Who is FBS?
FBS is a global online broker serving millions of clients worldwide, specialising in forex and CFDs. Founded in 2009, it has built a large international client base by offering access to various financial markets, competitive spreads, and educational resources designed to make trading more accessible. The official website of FBS is www.fbs.com.
The minimum deposit to begin trading with FBS is $5.
Who is IC Markets?
IC Markets, founded in 2007 in Sydney, Australia, is a global forex and CFD broker regulated across multiple jurisdictions. The broker is particularly known for its raw spread pricing, extensive market coverage, ultra-fast execution, and an institutional-grade trading environment. The official website is www.icmarkets.com.
The minimum deposit required to open an account with IC Markets is $200.
FBS vs IC Markets Side-by-Side Comparison
FBS, founded in 2009, operates under an A-Book model and is regulated by the CySEC (Cyprus), FSC (Belize), ASIC (Autralia) and FSCA (South Africa). This broker maintains local offices in two locations, including Limassol and Belize City. The trading platforms available to use at FBS include MT4, MT5 and FBS App.
The minimum deposit to open an account with FBS is $5 with accounts available in USD. Clients can fund their accounts using 200+ payment methods (global and local) including credit & debit cards, bank wires, e-wallets and cryptocurrencies. Unfortunately, FBS does not offer copy trading.
In comparison, IC Markets, established in 2007, follows an A-Book approach and holds licenses from the ASIC (Australia), CySEC (Cyprus), FSA (Seychelles), CMA (Kenya) and SCB (Bahamas). The broker maintains local offices in Limassol, Sydney, Mahe, Nairobi and Nassau. Traders can choose from several trading platforms, which include MT4, MT5, cTrader and TradingView.
To open an account with IC Markets, a minimum deposit of $200 is required and the base account currencies include USD, AUD, EUR, GBP, SGD, NZD, JPY, CHF, HKD and CAD. Further, IC Markets supports funding through credit and debit cards, bank wire transfers and e-wallets (Skrill, Neteller, PayPal). Positively, the firm supports copy trading through cTrader Copy, ZuluTrade and Signal Start.
FBS vs IC Markets Market Instruments
FBS offers 590+ CFD instruments across various global markets, including CFDs on forex, stocks, indices and commodities. This roster consists of 100+ forex pairs, 469 stocks, 11 indices, and 11 commodities.
By contrast, IC Markets provides access to 2,250+ instruments, providing a wider market reach. Particularly, the broker offers CFDs on forex, stocks, indices, commodities, etfs, bonds, futures and cryptocurrencies. The product range covers 61 forex pairs, 2,100+ stocks, 25 indices, 28+ commodities, and 13 crypto pairs.
FBS vs IC Markets Account Types
FBS vs IC Markets Spreads Comparison
The figures below represent the minimum and average spreads on the standard accounts of FBS and IC Markets. Actual spreads can change with account type, liquidity, and volatility, so always verify the latest quotes on each broker’s website.
Minimum spreads: For EUR/USD, the minimum spread starts from 0.8 pips at FBS and 0.8 pips at IC Markets. For GBP/USD, the spreads begin at 0.84 pips with FBS versus 0.8 pips at IC Markets. On USD/CAD, FBS quotes a minimum spread of 1.095 pips while IC Markets posts 0.8 pips, and for CAD/JPY the figures are 1.7 pips at FBS against 1.0 pips at IC Markets.
For commodities, XAU/USD features a minimum spread of $0.2 at FBS compared with $0.1 at IC Markets, and WTI crude is $0.01 at FBS versus $0.01 at IC Markets. IC Markets also provides a Bitcoin minimum spread of $1.85.
Average spreads: The average spread for EUR/USD is around 1.2 pips at FBS compared with 0.82 pips at IC Markets, and GBP/USD averages about 1.5 pips at FBS versus 1.03 pips at IC Markets. On XAU/USD, FBS shows an average of $0.29, while IC Markets does not provide data about the average spreads for XAU/USD.
FBS vs IC Markets Minimum Spreads Comparison
FBS vs IC Markets Average Spreads Comparison
Costs on Raw/Zero Spread Account
IC Markets offers a raw/zero spread account, whereas FBS does not offer raw/zero spread accounts. With IC Markets, minimum spreads start from 0.0 pips plus a commission of $3.5 per side per lot on this account type.
On such accounts, ultra-low pricing is primarily offset by commissions, and live spreads move with liquidity and volatility. As such, always check the broker’s website for the latest costs.
Other Features
FBS vs IC Markets: Wrapping Up the Comparison
FBS and IC Markets are established global brokers, founded in 2009 and 2007, respectively. FBS is regulated by the CySEC (Cyprus), FSC (Belize), ASIC (Autralia) and FSCA (South Africa), while IC Markets operates under the regulation of the ASIC (Australia), CySEC (Cyprus), FSA (Seychelles), CMA (Kenya) and SCB (Bahamas).
FBS keeps the minimum deposit low at $5 and provides access to various trading platforms, including MT4, MT5 and FBS App. The broker offers 590+ instruments across various asset classes. A Standard account is available, and traders can practice with a demo account and opt for an Islamic (swap-free) setup. However, FBS does not provide a Raw/Zero Spread account. Traders can also opt for the Cent account on FBS. On pricing, minimum EUR/USD spreads start from 0.8 pips, while the average EUR/USD spread is around 1.2 pips.
IC Markets requires a minimum deposit of $200 and offers a broader platform lineup with choices including MT4, MT5, cTrader and TradingView. The company features a wide range of 2,250+ trading instruments. A Standard account is available, and the broker also offers a Raw Spread account. Traders can open a demo account and choose an Islamic (swap-free) option. Further, copy trading is available at IC Markets. Spreads are competitive, with a minimum of EUR/USD spreads from 0.8 pips and an average around 0.82 pips.
Overall, FBS works well for traders who prefer one clear account setup, a small starting deposit, and round-the-clock global support, while IC Markets is better for those prioritising a wider instrument selection, copy trading, and a raw spread account option.
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