Which ICMarkets' trading server I should choose? Which one is better? Table of Contents
- What a Trading Server Means in Forex Trading
- The Only Server That Works Is the One Assigned to Your Account
- Start With the Most Common Mistake
- What You Can Actually Choose
- Where IC Markets Servers Are Hosted
- A Clear Decision Rule for Forex Traders
- How to Identify the Correct Server for Your IC Markets Account
- Server Choice by Platform
- A Simple Matching Guide for Common Forex Use Cases
- What Not to Do When Choosing an IC Markets Server
- IC Markets Account Types and Trading Conditions for Forex Traders
- The Big Split: IC Markets Global vs IC Markets EU
- The Core Account Pricing Models
- Platform Access and How It Ties to Account Types
- Spreads: What “From” and “Average” Mean for Forex Costs
- Commission: How Much You Pay and How It’s Charged
- Execution and Liquidity: What IC Markets States About Order Handling
- Trading Servers and Latency: Where the Platforms Are Hosted
- Trading Restrictions: Scalping, Hedging, and Order Placement Rules
- Margin Rules: Margin Call and Stop Out Levels
- Leverage: What You Actually Get on Each Entity
- Base Currencies and Account Setup Options
- Deposits and Account Funding Conditions
- Which Account Type Fits Which Forex Trading Style?
When you connect to IC Markets on MetaTrader 4 (MT4), MetaTrader 5 (MT5), or cTrader, the “server” is not a cosmetic setting. It is the specific trading infrastructure your account is registered on, and it controls whether your login works, how your platform routes orders, and where your trading session is hosted.
Here is the rule that matters most:
You must select the exact server your trading account was created on. If you pick a different server, your login will fail even if your password is correct.
After that, the only meaningful “choice” is which platform and account you open, because IC Markets’ platform servers are hosted in specific data centres. On IC Markets Global, MetaTrader servers are hosted in Equinix NY4 (New York), while cTrader servers are hosted in Equinix LD5 (London). On IC Markets EU, MT4 and cTrader servers are hosted in NY4 and LD5, while MT5 servers are hosted in NY4.
Invest in Forex with ICMarkets
What a Trading Server Means in Forex Trading
A trading server is the broker’s backend environment that your platform connects to. It handles:
- authentication (your account number, password, and permissions)
- live pricing feeds
- order routing and execution confirmation
- account state (balance, equity, margin, positions, history)
For a Forex trader, the “server” affects three things that show up in real use:
- Whether you can log in
- Where your session is hosted (important for latency)
- Which account pool you are in (demo vs live, and sometimes different live clusters)
The Only Server That Works Is the One Assigned to Your Account
IC Markets runs multiple server instances for the same platform. On MT5, for example, you may see several live servers in the server list. That does not mean you can freely pick any server you like.
Your trading account is linked to a specific server name. Your account number is only valid on that server. The “correct” server is therefore not a preference—it is a requirement.
This is why IC Markets’ WebTrader pages show multiple server options in the dropdown, such as:
- ICMarkets-MT5, ICMarkets-MT5-2, ICMarkets-MT5-4, ICMarkets-Demo
- ICMarketsSC-MT5, ICMarketsSC-MT5-2, ICMarketsSC-MT5-4, ICMarketsSC-Demo
- ICMarketsEU-MT5-5, ICMarketsEU-Demo
Those entries are not interchangeable. They exist because IC Markets operates multiple environments, and your account belongs to one of them.
Open an account with ICMarkets
Start With the Most Common Mistake
Many traders search “best IC Markets server” and then try to pick the server that sounds fastest.
That approach breaks Forex logins.
The best server is always the server your account was set up on. The platform has to match your account’s server mapping first. Speed only becomes relevant when you are deciding between platforms (MetaTrader vs cTrader) or when you are deciding where to run your trading terminal (local device vs VPS).
What You Can Actually Choose
You can make choices in three areas:
Invest in Forex with ICMarkets
Platform choice
IC Markets supports MT4, MT5, and cTrader. Each platform has its own server environment.
Entity choice
IC Markets operates through different entities (such as EU and Global). Server naming and available environments differ across entities, and the platform servers may be hosted in different locations.
Open an account with ICMarkets
Where you run your platform
If you run MT4/MT5/cTrader on a device far from the broker’s data centre, latency increases. If you run it on a VPS close to the broker’s data centre, latency decreases. IC Markets promotes VPS use to reduce latency to its live servers.
Where IC Markets Servers Are Hosted
Server location matters most for Forex scalping, news trading, high-frequency strategies, and any setup where you care about execution speed and slippage.
Invest in Forex with ICMarkets
IC Markets Global: MetaTrader in NY4, cTrader in LD5
IC Markets Global states that MT4 and MT5 servers are hosted in Equinix NY4 (New York) for low-latency execution. It also states cTrader servers are located in Equinix LD5 (London) and positions that setup as ideal for traders based in and around Europe.
IC Markets EU: MT4 and cTrader in NY4 and LD5, MT5 in NY4
IC Markets EU states MT4 and cTrader servers are located in NY4 and LD5 (New York and London). It also states MT5 servers are located in NY4 for optimal execution speed.
Open an account with ICMarkets
A Clear Decision Rule for Forex Traders
Use this order of priority:
Priority one: Match the server assigned to your account
If you already have a live or demo account, the correct server is the one attached to that account.
This is the only choice that determines whether your login works.
Invest in Forex with ICMarkets
Priority two: If you are still choosing a platform, choose based on geography and strategy
Because IC Markets hosts platform infrastructure in specific data centres, your platform choice becomes your “server location choice.”
Use these practical rules:
- If you trade from Europe and care about latency, cTrader on IC Markets Global is aligned with LD5 (London) infrastructure.
- If you trade from the Americas and care about latency, MT4/MT5 on IC Markets Global is aligned with NY4 (New York) infrastructure.
- If you must use MetaTrader EAs, choose MT4 or MT5 and accept that your MetaTrader trading server is hosted in NY4 on IC Markets Global and MT5 is hosted in NY4 on IC Markets EU.
Priority three: If you run automation or scalping, run your platform close to the data centre
IC Markets promotes VPS solutions designed to achieve very low latency to its live servers. For Forex traders using EAs, running the terminal near the trading server is a direct way to reduce delays between your platform and the broker.
Open an account with ICMarkets
How to Identify the Correct Server for Your IC Markets Account
The server you should pick is the one linked to your account credentials.
In practice, server names follow patterns that make them easy to recognize:
Common server name patterns
- Demo servers typically include “Demo” in the server name (for example, “ICMarkets-Demo”, “ICMarketsSC-Demo”, “ICMarketsEU-Demo”).
- MT5 live clusters often include “MT5” and sometimes a suffix like “-2” or “-4” indicating a separate live cluster.
- Entity naming may appear in the server name, such as “EU” or “SC,” which helps you avoid mixing EU vs Global server lists.
Invest in Forex with ICMarkets
What the suffix means for Forex traders
When you see multiple MT5 live servers (for example MT5, MT5-2, MT5-4), treat them as parallel server environments used to distribute accounts and platform load.
Your account number belongs to one of them, and you must use that one.
Server Choice by Platform
Open an account with ICMarkets
MetaTrader 4 server selection
On MT4, you choose a server at login. The practical rule is simple:
- Pick the server tied to your MT4 account
- If you are opening a new account and you care about execution infrastructure, understand that IC Markets Global places MT4 servers in Equinix NY4.
For Forex traders, this matters most if you are comparing MT4 vs cTrader and you are located closer to London than New York.
MetaTrader 5 server selection
MT5 behaves similarly to MT4 at login, but traders commonly see more server variants (for example MT5-2, MT5-4). These are not “speed grades.” They are different clusters.
IC Markets states its MT5 servers are hosted in Equinix NY4 on both Global and EU pages, which means the platform hosting is centered in New York for MT5 execution.
If you are a Forex trader in Europe using MT5, the strongest execution optimization usually comes from where you run the terminal (such as a VPS near the data centre), not from switching between MT5 clusters.
Invest in Forex with ICMarkets
cTrader server selection
cTrader also requires the correct server environment, but the selection is often presented as part of the login flow where you enter credentials and the server name.
IC Markets Global states its cTrader servers are located in Equinix LD5 (London) and describes that setup as ideal for traders in and around Europe. IC Markets EU states MT4 and cTrader servers are located in NY4 and LD5, meaning cTrader infrastructure is available across those data centres under the EU entity.
If your Forex strategy is latency-sensitive and you trade from Europe, cTrader is the platform choice that aligns directly with London-based hosting on IC Markets Global.
A Simple Matching Guide for Common Forex Use Cases
Open an account with ICMarkets
You are logging in for the first time on MT4 or MT5
Choose the server name that matches your account’s assigned environment. If your account is a demo, pick the Demo server. If it is live, pick the live server listed for your account.
You have multiple IC Markets accounts
Many traders maintain a demo and one or more live accounts, sometimes on different platforms. In that case:
- Your MT4 account has its own server assignment
- Your MT5 account has its own server assignment
- Your cTrader account has its own server assignment
Do not try to log in to an MT5 account on an MT4 server, and do not try to log in to an EU server with a Global account number.
Invest in Forex with ICMarkets
You are choosing between MT4 and MT5
From a server perspective, the key difference is not the brand name, but how you intend to trade.
- If you rely on older MT4 tooling or specific MT4 EAs, MT4 is the platform that fits that workflow. Its server infrastructure on IC Markets Global is hosted in NY4.
- If you want MT5 functionality, MT5 servers are hosted in NY4 according to IC Markets pages.
If your goal is execution speed and your location is closer to London than New York, the platform choice (cTrader vs MetaTrader) is the real server decision.
You are a scalper or use automated Forex strategies
Low latency matters more. The cleanest server-aligned approach is:
- MetaTrader trading: accept NY4 hosting and run your terminal close to NY4 using a VPS
- cTrader trading (Global): align with LD5 hosting and run close to London using a VPS
IC Markets promotes VPS solutions for low-latency access to its live trading servers.
Open an account with ICMarkets
What Not to Do When Choosing an IC Markets Server
Do not select servers by guessing
Server names can look similar across entities and environments (Global vs EU, demo vs live). Guessing causes login failures and wastes time.
Invest in Forex with ICMarkets
Do not mix entity servers
If your account is under the EU entity, use the EU server list. If your account is under the Global entity, use the Global server list. The server names reflect this separation.
Do not treat server clusters as “better” or “worse”
A server suffix like “-2” or “-4” does not mean better pricing or tighter spreads. It is an infrastructure separation. Your Forex trading conditions are defined by your account type, platform, and the broker’s pricing feed—not by whether your MT5 server name ends in “-2.”
- Pick the server your account was created on. That is the only server that will authenticate your login.
- If you are still choosing your platform and you care about latency:
- IC Markets Global MetaTrader servers are hosted in Equinix NY4 (New York).
- IC Markets Global cTrader servers are hosted in Equinix LD5 (London), positioned as ideal for traders based in and around Europe.
- IC Markets EU MT4 and cTrader servers are hosted in NY4 and LD5, and MT5 servers are hosted in NY4.
- If your Forex trading style is sensitive to execution delays, run your platform close to the trading server using a VPS designed for low latency.
Open an account with ICMarkets
IC Markets Account Types and Trading Conditions
Choosing an IC Markets account is mainly about how you want your Forex trading costs to be charged and which platform you want to use. IC Markets structures pricing around two core models on MetaTrader—Standard (spread-only) and Raw Spread (raw pricing plus commission)—and also offers cTrader/TradingView access with raw-style pricing and its own commission schedule.
What matters in real trading is not the name of the account type, but how it changes four things:
- the spread you see on major currency pairs
- whether you pay a commission per trade
- your margin rules (margin call and stop out)
- the execution environment (servers and trading restrictions)
The Big Split: IC Markets Global vs IC Markets EU
IC Markets operates through different entities. Your entity changes key trading conditions like leverage and minimum deposit rules.
Invest in Forex with ICMarkets
IC Markets Global in simple terms
IC Markets Global offers flexible leverage options from 1:1 to 1:500, and leverage can be changed from the Client Area.
For account funding, IC Markets Global states you can open an account without a minimum deposit requirement, and it also publishes a commonly used starting deposit of USD 200 (or currency equivalent) for full market access, with no deposit fees for most payment methods.
IC Markets EU in simple terms
IC Markets (EU) Ltd accounts go up to 1:30 leverage on MetaTrader platforms, and the EU minimum deposit is EUR 200 (or currency equivalent).
This distinction is important because many traders compare accounts without realizing they are mixing Global conditions with EU conditions.
Open an account with ICMarkets
The Core Account Pricing Models
Standard account: spread-only pricing
On the Standard account, the trading cost is built into the spread. There is no commission on the Standard account, and the broker applies a spread markup compared with the raw interbank pricing feed.
From a practical Forex perspective, the Standard account is simple: you look at the spread, you place the trade, and you do not calculate commission per lot on top.
IC Markets EU also states that Standard spreads start from 0.8 pips.
Invest in Forex with ICMarkets
Raw Spread account: raw pricing plus commission
The Raw Spread account is built around showing raw pricing sourced from liquidity providers, and then charging a commission to trade. IC Markets Global describes an average EUR/USD spread of 0.1 pips on Raw Spread, with a commission of $3.50 per lot per side on MetaTrader.
IC Markets EU describes the same headline pricing for its Raw Trading account: average EUR/USD 0.1 pips, commission $3.50 per lot per side.
Also, IC Markets states Raw Spread can be as low as 0.0 pips.
The key takeaway for Forex traders is that Raw Spread generally gives you tighter spreads, while your total cost becomes “spread + commission.”
Platform Access and How It Ties to Account Types
IC Markets’ account structure is closely tied to the platform you trade on.
Open an account with ICMarkets
MetaTrader accounts: Standard and Raw Spread
IC Markets Global describes two MetaTrader account types: Standard and Raw Spread.
The Global spreads and pricing pages also present Raw Spread and Standard as MetaTrader pricing choices.
If you trade on MT4 or MT5, you are typically choosing between:
- Standard (no commission, wider spread)
- Raw Spread (tight spread, commission)
cTrader and TradingView access: raw-style pricing with its own commission
IC Markets Global also lists a cTrader/TradingView setup with commission charged per USD 100k, shown as $3 per USD 100k.
So, for cTrader/TradingView, you still get a raw-style model, but the commission is expressed differently than MetaTrader’s “per lot per side” format.
Invest in Forex with ICMarkets
Spreads: What “From” and “Average” Mean for Forex Costs
Spreads at IC Markets are described as variable on both Raw Spread and Standard accounts.
That means your spread changes with liquidity and market conditions, which is normal in Forex CFD trading.
To interpret the numbers correctly:
- “From 0.0 pips” means the tightest possible spread that can appear under ideal liquidity conditions.
- “Average 0.1 pips on EUR/USD” is a summary statistic intended to describe typical pricing on that pair, which is more useful for estimating ongoing costs.
- “Standard spreads starting from 0.8 pips” is a starting point for the Standard model, where the spread includes the broker’s markup and no commission.
If you are comparing account types for Forex trading, the only meaningful comparison is the total cost:
- Standard: spread cost only
- Raw Spread: spread cost + commission cost
Open an account with ICMarkets
Commission: How Much You Pay and How It’s Charged
Raw Spread commission on MetaTrader
IC Markets Global lists a commission of $3.50 per lot per side for Raw Spread on MetaTrader.
The help centre also expresses this as $7 per standard lot round turn (open + close).
These are the same commission described in two formats.
Invest in Forex with ICMarkets
cTrader and TradingView commission format
IC Markets Global lists cTrader/TradingView commission as $3 per USD 100k.
This is a different way of expressing the same idea: your Forex cost is raw spread plus a trading fee tied to the size of your position.
Execution and Liquidity: What IC Markets States About Order Handling
IC Markets describes its pricing and execution environment using “raw pricing” language and states there is no dealing desk, no price manipulation, and no requotes in its Raw Spread environment.
For Forex traders, the practical meaning is:
- the broker streams prices from liquidity providers
- your orders are executed at market prices available at the time of execution
- spreads and fills can change during fast conditions because prices move
IC Markets Global also states its Raw Spread account aggregates pricing from up to 25 institutional grade sources.
IC Markets EU states its Raw Trading account uses liquidity from over 50 sources.
In everyday Forex trading, this is mainly relevant when you trade during volatile sessions or place large orders where market depth matters.
Open an account with ICMarkets
Trading Servers and Latency: Where the Platforms Are Hosted
Server location does not change your account type, but it can affect execution speed because it changes latency between your platform and the broker’s infrastructure.
IC Markets Global states:
- MetaTrader 4 and cTrader trade servers are located in Equinix NY4 (New York) and Equinix LD5 (London).
- MT4 and MT5 servers are located in Equinix NY4.
IC Markets EU states:
- MetaTrader 4 and 5 Raw Trading servers are located in Equinix NY4.
If you scalp Forex or run automated strategies, latency becomes more important than for a swing trader, because your entry and exit prices are more sensitive to small timing differences.
Invest in Forex with ICMarkets
Trading Restrictions: Scalping, Hedging, and Order Placement Rules
IC Markets Global explicitly allows hedging and scalping.
It also states there are no restrictions on trading on its MetaTrader platforms, that scalping is allowed, and that there is no minimum order distance and a freeze level of 0—meaning stop-loss orders can be placed close to market price.
IC Markets publishes the same “no restrictions” positioning for cTrader, with the same practical meaning: orders can be placed close to the current price and there is no minimum distance rule.
For Forex traders who use tight stop-loss placement, this matters because some brokers enforce minimum stop distances on certain instruments.
Open an account with ICMarkets
Margin Rules: Margin Call and Stop Out Levels
Margin rules are a core part of trading conditions because they determine when the broker warns you and when positions can start closing.
IC Markets Global states:
- Margin call level is 100%
- Stop out level is 50%
IC Markets EU states:
- Margin call level is 100%
- Stop out level is 50%
In practical Forex terms:
- At 100%, your equity is equal to your used margin, and you are at the warning threshold.
- At 50%, the platform can start closing positions to release margin.
If you trade with high leverage or maintain multiple positions across correlated currency pairs, these levels shape how aggressively you must manage your exposure.
Invest in Forex with ICMarkets
Leverage: What You Actually Get on Each Entity
IC Markets Global leverage
IC Markets Global offers leverage options from 1:1 to 1:500, adjustable via the Client Area.
Open an account with ICMarkets
IC Markets EU leverage
IC Markets EU states leverage up to 1:30 on MetaTrader 4 and 5 platforms for retail clients.
For Forex traders, leverage is not a benefit by itself. It is a way to reduce required margin per position, which can also increase drawdowns faster if you do not control lot size.
Base Currencies and Account Setup Options
IC Markets lists ten supported base currencies: USD, AUD, EUR, GBP, SGD, NZD, JPY, CHF, HKD, CAD.
This is useful for Forex traders because it can reduce unnecessary conversion between your deposit currency and your trading account currency, depending on how you fund your account.
Invest in Forex with ICMarkets
Deposits and Account Funding Conditions
IC Markets Global states it offers over 15 funding options in ten base currencies and that you can deposit instantly and for free using a range of methods.
IC Markets EU states a minimum deposit of EUR 200 (or equivalent).
Funding details do not change spreads or commission, but they affect how fast you can add margin during volatile Forex moves.
Which Account Type Fits Which Forex Trading Style?
Open an account with ICMarkets
Standard account: built for simple cost tracking
If you want to keep cost tracking simple, Standard is the straightforward option: no commission and spreads that include the markup.
This model is often preferred by:
- new Forex traders who want simple cost visibility
- discretionary traders who place fewer trades and prefer all-in pricing
Raw Spread account: designed for tighter spreads and active trading
Raw Spread is built for traders who care about tight pricing and are comfortable with commission-based costs. IC Markets positions Raw Spread for day traders, scalpers, and automated strategies.
This model is often preferred by:
- scalpers and short-term traders
- traders running EAs on MT4/MT5
- traders who compare total trading cost precisely per lot
Invest in Forex with ICMarkets
cTrader/TradingView raw pricing: raw model with a different platform workflow
If you prefer cTrader execution tools or TradingView charting workflow, IC Markets Global provides cTrader/TradingView access with commission per USD 100k and raw-style spreads.
This suits Forex traders who want:
- cTrader interface and order features
- TradingView integration with broker-connected execution
- raw pricing with a commission model expressed in notional terms
When you compare IC Markets accounts, focus on these fixed parameters:
- Standard (MetaTrader)
- commission is $0, spread includes markup
- Raw Spread (MetaTrader)
- spreads can be as low as 0.0, average 0.1 on EUR/USD, commission $3.50 per lot per side
- cTrader/TradingView (Global)
- commission $3 per USD 100k, raw-style pricing model
- Margin call and stop out
- 100% margin call and 50% stop out on both Global and EU
- Leverage
- Global up to 1:500, EU up to 1:30
- Trading restrictions
- scalping and hedging allowed; no minimum order distance; freeze level 0 on Global MetaTrader and cTrader
- Server environment
- Global uses Equinix NY4 and LD5, and Global MT4/MT5 servers are in NY4
Posted by FXBonus
Please check IC Markets official website or contact the customer support with regard to the latest information and more accurate details.
Please click "Introduction of IC Markets", if you want to know the details and the company information of IC Markets.
Deriv 
AdroFX 
FXGlory 
XM 
FXPRIMUS 
