Quick Take
IC Markets is best known for its commission-based "raw spread" pricing, which is aimed at active traders who care about tight spreads and fast fills. This page does not publish made-up spread averages or execution statistics. Those numbers change by time of day, instrument, account type and region, so any fixed figure would go stale quickly. Instead, it explains how this account model works, what to check, and how to run your own test before committing real money.
Confirm current account types, commissions, platforms and regional availability on the official IC Markets website. Offerings can differ depending on which entity serves your country.
How a Raw Spread Account Works
A raw spread account separates the two parts of your trading cost:
- The spread: the difference between the bid and ask price, passed through from the broker's liquidity sources with little or no markup.
- The commission: a separate fee charged per lot traded, usually on both opening and closing.
A standard account typically folds costs into a wider spread with no separate commission. Neither model is automatically cheaper. A scalper trading many lots may do better with raw pricing, while a swing trader placing a few trades a month may see little difference. The only reliable comparison is total round-trip cost: spread plus commission, converted to the same unit (pips or account currency). For a deeper breakdown, see Forex Broker Fees Explained: Spreads, Commissions, Swaps and Withdrawal Costs.
Step 1: Check Regulation Before Anything Else
Brokers often operate through several legal entities, and the protections you get depend on which one holds your account. Before depositing:
- Note the exact entity name shown in the account-opening terms for your country.
- Look that entity up on the regulator's own public register, not through a link on the broker's site alone.
- Check what client-fund protections apply to that entity, such as segregated funds or compensation schemes, and whether they cover you.
Our guide on how to verify a forex broker's regulation walks through this process. Skipping it is the most common and most avoidable mistake.
Step 2: Test Execution Yourself
Execution quality is hard to judge from marketing pages. A practical test costs little:
- Start on demo, but treat it as a rough guide only. Demo fills are often cleaner than live fills.
- Move to a small live balance you can afford to lose entirely, trading the minimum size.
- Log every trade: requested price, filled price, spread at entry, commission and time of day.
- Test different conditions: quiet sessions, the London/New York overlap, and (carefully) around major news releases.
- Test withdrawals early: request a small withdrawal and note how long it takes and what it costs.
What to Measure
| Item | What to record | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Typical and widest during your trading hours | Spreads widen at rollover and during news |
| Commission | Per-lot charge, as shown on your statement | Adds to the true round-trip cost |
| Slippage | Difference between requested and filled price | Can go in either direction; look at the pattern |
| Fill speed | Time from click to confirmation | Matters most for short-term strategies |
| Swaps | Overnight financing on your pairs | Significant for positions held for days or weeks |
| Withdrawals | Time, fees, method restrictions | Reveals real-world friction |
Compare at least 20 to 30 trades before drawing conclusions. A handful of fills tells you very little.
Recommended for youBest Forex Brokers Reviewed: Regulation, Spreads, Fees and Platforms ComparedPlatforms and Tools
IC Markets is generally associated with the MetaTrader platforms and cTrader, but confirm the current platform list for your region on the official site. Your choice of platform affects order types, charting, automation and how you read execution data. If you are undecided, MT4 vs MT5 vs cTrader vs TradingView covers the differences.
If you are considering copy trading, read Best Forex Copy Trading Platforms Compared: Fees, Risks and Providers first. Copying someone else's trades does not remove risk, and past results do not predict future ones.
Honest Tradeoffs
Where Raw Spread Accounts Can Fit Well
- Active traders who place frequent, short-term trades and want transparent cost separation.
- Traders running automated strategies where small cost differences compound.
- Anyone who prefers seeing commission as its own line item.
Where They May Not
- Beginners trading infrequently, who may not benefit from the commission structure and may be better served by simplicity.
- Traders in regions served by an entity with fewer protections or different terms than the one you assumed.
- Anyone expecting low costs to produce profits. Lower costs help, but they do not create an edge.
Also remember that "ECN-style" or "raw" pricing labels are not standardized. If you want to understand what these terms do and do not guarantee, read the difference between an ECN broker and a market maker.
How to Compare It With Alternatives
Do not choose on spread alone. Compare regulation, total cost, platforms, withdrawal terms and support quality. Useful next reads:
- Pepperstone Review: Platforms, Pricing and Is It Safe?
- Exness Review: Regulation, Spreads, Account Types and Withdrawals
- Best Forex Brokers Reviewed: Regulation, Spreads, Fees and Platforms Compared
- Which forex broker has the tightest spreads?
- Forex Broker and Trading Platform Reviews
If Something Goes Wrong
Keep screenshots, trade tickets and support chat records. Raise the issue with the broker's complaints process first, then escalate to the regulator or any dispute scheme covering your entity if needed. Our guide on common broker complaints and how to file one explains the steps.
Risk Reminder
Leveraged forex and CFD trading carries a high risk of loss, and many retail accounts lose money. Never trade money you cannot afford to lose, and use stop-losses and position sizing that fit your situation. This page is general information, not financial advice. If you are unsure whether leveraged products suit your circumstances, consider speaking with a qualified, independent financial professional.
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