This guide breaks down IC Markets’ Standard vs Raw Spread pricing, platform options (MT4/MT5/cTrader/TradingView), commissions, leverage limits by entity, margin call and stop out rules, market range, swap-free terms, and the full Forex account opening process.
Summary of ICMarkets' trading conditions - Account Types, Spread, Leverage and more Table of Contents
- The Core Account Types at IC Markets
- Spreads at IC Markets: What “From 0.0” and “From 0.8” Means
- Commissions: Raw Spread vs Standard
- Trading Platforms: MT4, MT5, cTrader, and TradingView
- Execution and Infrastructure: What IC Markets Says It Uses
- Leverage at IC Markets: Maximum Levels Depend on Entity
- Margin Call and Stop Out: The Numbers That Matter
- What These Rules Mean in Real Forex Trading
- Markets and Instruments: What You Can Trade
- Overnight Fees, Swaps, and Islamic Trading Conditions
- Minimum Deposit and Funding Basics
- Negative Balance Protection: EU Retail vs Global
- Putting It Together: A Practical Trading Conditions Snapshot
- How to Open an Account with IC Markets for Forex Trading
- Step One: Start the Live Account Application
- Step Two: Confirm Your Email and Continue the Application
- Step Three: Fill in the “Tell Us More” Section
- Step Four: Configure Your Trading Account
- Step Five: Accept Declarations and Submit the Application
- Step Six: Upload Your Verification Documents
- Step Seven: Wait for Approval and Receive Login Details
- Step Eight: Log Into the Secure Client Area and Create Additional Accounts if Needed
- Step Nine: Fund the Account and Prepare for Forex Trading
- Step Ten: Install and Log Into Your Trading Platform
- What You Need Ready Before You Start
- What Happens If You Want a Demo First
- A Simple Mental Checklist for IC Markets Account Opening
When traders compare Forex brokers, they usually focus on three things first: account types, spreads, and leverage. With IC Markets, those pillars are clear because the broker offers two main pricing models (spread-only and raw spread plus commission), multiple trading platforms, and margin rules that are defined by margin level thresholds. The practical details matter: how spreads behave during normal and fast markets, what commission is charged per unit traded, what leverage cap applies to your account entity, and what happens to positions when margin becomes too tight.
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The Core Account Types at IC Markets
IC Markets organizes its live trading offering around two main pricing approaches:
- Standard account: spread-only pricing (no separate commission on top).
- Raw Spread account: raw spreads plus a separate commission.
On the Global site, IC Markets also lists a cTrader Raw Spread structure (raw spread plus commission, with the commission expressed per USD 100k for cTrader/TradingView).
For traders, the decision is simple:
- If you want trading costs packaged into the spread, the Standard model is built for that.
- If you want the spread as close as possible to underlying pricing and you accept a separate commission, the Raw Spread model is designed for that.
IC Markets also offers an Islamic (swap-free) account structure for clients who qualify, with the same spreads and commissions as the underlying account type and a separate overnight holding fee structure.
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Spreads at IC Markets: What “From 0.0” and “From 0.8” Means
IC Markets states that spreads are variable on both Raw Spread and Standard accounts. This is important for Forex traders because a “variable” spread changes with liquidity, volatility, and trading session conditions.
Raw Spread account spreads
IC Markets states:
- Raw Spread account spreads can be as low as 0.0 pips.
On the Global Raw Spread account description, IC Markets also gives a reference point for EUR/USD averages on its MetaTrader servers.
Raw spread pricing is typically used by scalpers, algorithmic traders, and cost-focused Forex traders because it separates the spread from the commission, making the “spread component” easier to see and compare. IC Markets also positions the Raw Spread account for day traders, scalpers, and expert advisors.
Standard account spreads
IC Markets states:
- Standard account spreads start from 0.8 pips.
The Standard account is built around the idea that the spread includes the broker’s pricing component, with no separate commission for MetaTrader Standard accounts.
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Commissions: Raw Spread vs Standard
Commissions are the key difference between Raw Spread and Standard.
Raw Spread commission on MetaTrader
IC Markets lists the Raw Spread commission for MetaTrader as:
- $3.50 per lot per side (MetaTrader Raw Spread).
This means a round-turn trade (open + close) has two “sides” of commission.
Raw Spread commission on cTrader and TradingView
IC Markets lists the commission for cTrader and TradingView as:
- $3 per USD 100k (cTrader and TradingView).
This expresses commission in a slightly different format but serves the same purpose: raw spread pricing plus a separate commission charge.
Standard account commission
IC Markets lists the Standard commission as:
- $0 per lot per side for Standard (MetaTrader).
With Standard, the cost is primarily in the spread.
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Trading Platforms: MT4, MT5, cTrader, and TradingView
IC Markets supports the major platform ecosystem used by Forex traders:
- MetaTrader 4
- MetaTrader 5
- cTrader
- TradingView (supported for trading through IC Markets’ cTrader/TradingView offering as presented on its spreads/pricing pages)
From a trading-conditions perspective, platform choice affects:
- how orders are routed and displayed
- how commissions are calculated and shown
- which instruments are available on that platform configuration
- what automation tools and order types you use in daily trading
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Execution and Infrastructure: What IC Markets Says It Uses
IC Markets describes an ECN-style pricing approach where pricing is sourced from external liquidity providers and passed through without dealing desk intervention.
IC Markets also highlights infrastructure points that relate directly to execution speed and stability:
- servers housed in the Equinix NY4 data center (mentioned on EU Standard account pages and Global infrastructure pages)
- connections to over 50 banks and liquidity providers (EU Standard account page)
For Forex traders, those statements describe a setup designed to reduce latency between the platform and liquidity sources, which matters for scalping, high-frequency strategies, and slippage-sensitive execution.
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Leverage at IC Markets: Maximum Levels Depend on Entity
Maximum leverage is not a single number that applies to every IC Markets client. It depends on which IC Markets entity services the account and how the client is classified (retail vs professional under EU rules).
IC Markets (EU)
IC Markets (EU) states:
- Retail clients: leverage up to 1:30
- Professional clients: leverage up to 1:500
It also states retail clients face leverage limits such as 1:30 and 1:10 on certain products, while professional clients are exempt from those retail limits.
IC Markets Global
IC Markets Global states:
- leverage options range from 1:1 to 1:500
- leverage can be changed via the Client Area
This is the practical rule for traders: the maximum leverage you can apply to Forex positions depends on where your account is held and what leverage caps apply to that entity and product category.
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Margin Call and Stop Out: The Numbers That Matter
For leveraged Forex trading, leverage is only half the story. The other half is the broker’s margin protection rules, especially margin call level and stop out level.
IC Markets defines margin level using this relationship:
Margin Level = (Equity / Margin Requirement) × 100%
IC Markets (EU) margin call and stop out
IC Markets (EU) states:
- Margin Call Level: 100%
- Stop Out Level: 50%
This means:
- at 100% margin level, you receive a margin warning
- at 50% margin level, positions begin closing automatically to release margin
IC Markets Global stop out
IC Markets Global states:
- Stop out level is 50% on MT4/MT5 and cTrader, and the system starts closing positions if margin level falls to or below 50%.
IC Markets also provides a cTrader Smart Stop Out explanation that uses the same 50% trigger and describes that once a 100% margin level is reached, no more positions requiring extra margin can be opened.
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What These Rules Mean in Real Forex Trading
Here is the clean connection between leverage and stop out:
- Higher leverage reduces margin required per trade, so you can open larger exposure with less margin.
- If price moves against you, equity falls, while margin requirement stays tied to open positions.
- Margin level drops toward 100% (warning) and then 50% (automatic closures).
This is why the best “trading conditions summary” is not only spreads and leverage. It is spreads, leverage, and the margin rules that define what happens during drawdown.
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Markets and Instruments: What You Can Trade
IC Markets lists a broad CFD market range, including:
- Forex CFDs
- Commodities CFDs
- Indices CFDs
- Bonds CFDs
- Cryptocurrency CFDs
- Stocks CFDs
- Futures CFDs
On the Global range-of-markets summary, IC Markets lists approximate product counts by category:
- Forex CFDs: 61 products
- Commodities CFDs: 24 products
- Stocks CFDs: 2100+ products
- Index CFDs: 25 products
- Bond CFDs: 9 products
- Cryptocurrency CFDs: 21 products
- Futures CFDs: 4 products
These figures matter for Forex traders because many active Forex strategies also trade gold, indices, and crypto CFDs for volatility or correlation reasons.
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Overnight Fees, Swaps, and Islamic Trading Conditions
Standard accounts and Raw Spread accounts
Like most leveraged Forex CFD accounts, positions held overnight can incur swap/financing charges depending on the instrument and direction. IC Markets publishes swap-related material and cost examples in its cost and charges documentation.
Islamic (swap-free) accounts
IC Markets states swap-free accounts do not pay or earn swap/interest, and instead apply a holding fee for positions held overnight, with rates and holding periods subject to change based on market conditions.
IC Markets also states swap-free accounts are offered to clients who cannot use swaps due to religious beliefs, and it reserves the right to request justification or proof when a request is lodged.
That is a trading-condition point: the Islamic account is not just a toggle. It has eligibility rules and a specific overnight fee structure.
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Minimum Deposit and Funding Basics
Minimum deposit conditions differ by entity and are stated differently across IC Markets group sites.
- One IC Markets help-centre page states clients can open an account with as little as USD $200 or currency equivalent.
- IC Markets Global help-centre states trading accounts can be opened without any minimum deposit requirement.
This is an operational reality in the IC Markets ecosystem: the funding rule depends on the specific entity and site version used for the account.
IC Markets Global also states it supports multiple base currencies and multiple deposit options.
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Negative Balance Protection: EU Retail vs Global
Risk protection differs sharply by entity.
- IC Markets (EU) states it offers Negative Balance Protection to all retail clients, and that retail clients cannot lose more than they deposit; it also states NBP does not apply to professional clients.
- IC Markets Global states that in adverse events that create negative equity, you bear the negative consequences of those events.
For Forex traders, this affects risk planning. The same strategy run under different entities can have different downside treatment in extreme gaps.
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Putting It Together: A Practical Trading Conditions Snapshot
If you want a single mental model for IC Markets trading conditions, use this:
Account pricing
- Standard: variable spreads starting from 0.8 pips, no commission on MetaTrader.
- Raw Spread: spreads as low as 0.0 pips plus commission ($3.50 per lot per side on MetaTrader; $3 per USD 100k on cTrader/TradingView).
Leverage
- EU retail: up to 1:30; EU professional: up to 1:500.
- Global: 1:1 to 1:500 depending on settings and product rules.
Margin protection
- Margin call: 100% (EU stated).
- Stop out: 50% margin level (EU and Global stated).
Markets
Forex pairs, indices, commodities, stocks, bonds, crypto CFDs, futures CFDs, with category counts listed on the Global markets overview.
Infrastructure and execution framing
Equinix NY4 data center is referenced on IC Markets pages, along with links to many liquidity sources and a no-dealing-desk execution framing.
IC Markets trading conditions are built around a clear cost split:
- Standard: spread-only
- Raw Spread: tighter spread plus commission
From there, the most important “more” is not a marketing feature. It is the margin framework:
- leverage caps differ by entity and classification
- stop out is tied to margin level at 50%
- margin call is tied to 100% under EU conditions
- negative balance treatment differs by entity
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How to Open an Account with IC Markets for Forex Trading
Opening a Forex trading account with IC Markets is a fully online process built around three things: an application form, identity verification, and a trading account setup inside the Secure Client Area. Once your profile is approved, you receive the login details you need to access your trading platform and start placing trades.
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Step One: Start the Live Account Application
To open a live account, you begin with IC Markets’ live account application. The registration flow collects basic personal details first, then asks additional information that is required for compliance checks and account configuration. IC Markets describes the process as completing the account application form and receiving login details after approval.
In practical terms, you should expect the form to request:
- Your full legal name
- Email address and phone number
- Date of birth
- Country of residence
- Residential address
You will also be asked to set up your login access for the Secure Client Area, because that portal is where you upload documents, create trading accounts, and manage deposits and withdrawals after approval.
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Step Two: Confirm Your Email and Continue the Application
After the first registration step, IC Markets sends an email verification link so you can confirm your email address and continue. On the EU FAQ flow, IC Markets outlines this sequence clearly: create a profile, verify your email, complete the application, submit documents, then receive live login details by email after approval.
Email verification matters because it ties your profile to a working address where IC Markets sends:
- Approval updates
- Document feedback (if something is missing or unclear)
- Trading account login credentials after approval
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Step Three: Fill in the “Tell Us More” Section
After basic identity details, the application asks further background information that is common for regulated Forex and CFD accounts. This section is used to meet compliance requirements and to support the client classification and suitability/appropriateness checks that apply in certain jurisdictions.
Depending on the entity that services your account, you may be asked for:
- Employment status and occupation
- Source of funds or general financial background
- Tax residency information and identification numbers where required
- Trading experience and product knowledge
IC Markets (EU) also runs an appropriateness assessment process as part of onboarding, which is reflected in third-party walkthroughs and the EU-focused materials describing how firms collect knowledge/experience information for categorization.
If you are opening under an EU entity, you may face an appropriateness test outcome that can be re-attempted later if you fail, as described in the IC Markets EU FAQ.
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Step Four: Configure Your Trading Account
A key part of opening an IC Markets account is choosing how you want the account to operate day to day. The application includes a trading account configuration step.
Choose your platform
IC Markets supports the major platform options commonly used for Forex trading:
- MetaTrader 4
- MetaTrader 5
- cTrader
- TradingView connectivity is also referenced in IC Markets platform and pricing pages through its cTrader/TradingView commission structure presentation
Your platform choice affects how you place orders, manage charts, use automated strategies, and view commissions and spreads in the interface.
Choose your pricing model
IC Markets structures accounts around spread-only pricing or raw spread plus commission pricing, depending on what you select:
- Standard model: spread-only pricing
- Raw Spread model: raw spread plus commission
- cTrader Raw Spread model: raw spread plus commission with cTrader-style pricing display
This choice changes how your trading cost is displayed. With raw pricing, the spread can be very tight and the commission is charged separately. With a standard model, the cost is mainly in the spread.
Choose base currency
You will select the base currency of the trading account (the currency your balance is held in). Base currency selection affects how deposits appear and how conversion may apply if you fund from a different currency.
Choose leverage
Leverage selection is part of trading account configuration, but the maximum available leverage depends on the entity servicing your account and your client classification. IC Markets Global states leverage can be changed through the Client Area, and it presents leverage as a selectable setting for the trading account.
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Step Five: Accept Declarations and Submit the Application
Before submission, the flow includes review and declaration steps. This is where you confirm:
- The information you entered is correct
- You understand product risk disclosures
- You accept account terms and related legal conditions
IC Markets provides access to legal documents and account terms through its EU legal documents page, and the application process includes acknowledging these conditions.
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Step Six: Upload Your Verification Documents
After submitting the application (or as part of the last step, depending on the flow), IC Markets requires identity verification. You upload documents through the Secure Client Area. IC Markets EU FAQ states documents can be uploaded directly via the Secure Client Area, and the Global help center describes document acceptance rules and rejection reasons.
Proof of identity
IC Markets’ AML policy pages list acceptable photo identification examples such as:
- Passport
- National ID card
- Driver’s license (accepted in some IC Markets entity documentation)
Your ID must be clear and legible, show your full name and date of birth, and match the name used in your application.
Proof of address
IC Markets’ AML policy pages also describe proof of residence (proof of address) options such as:
- Utility bill
- Bank statement or credit card statement
- Government-issued documents like tax documents
IC Markets Global states proof of residence documents must be current and not older than 180 days in its help center content and AML policy pages.
Common reasons documents are rejected
IC Markets Global explains that documents are rejected when they do not meet requirements, and that the accounts department provides instructions when a document is classified as not acceptable.
In practice, the most frequent issues are:
- Blurry images or cropped edges
- Name or address does not match the application
- Document is too old for proof of address rules
- Missing pages for multi-page statements
- Poor lighting or glare on IDs
Uploading clean, complete images reduces delays.
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Step Seven: Wait for Approval and Receive Login Details
Once the application and documents are reviewed and approved, IC Markets sends your login details by email. IC Markets Global states that after approval you will be emailed your trading account and Secure Client Area login details. IC Markets EU outlines the same: after documents are approved you receive live trading login details by email.
IC Markets Global also states verification can be fast, sometimes within minutes, though it can take longer in certain cases depending on review needs.
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Step Eight: Log Into the Secure Client Area and Create Additional Accounts if Needed
After approval, the Secure Client Area becomes your control panel. It is where you can:
- Open additional trading accounts (for different platforms or base currencies)
- Adjust leverage settings where permitted
- Access funding tools and withdrawal requests
- Download platform installers or access web/mobile links
IC Markets Global states you can open multiple trading accounts via the Client Area.
This is useful if you want, for example:
- One account for manual Forex trades
- One account for automated strategies
- Separate accounts to isolate risk or strategies
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Step Nine: Fund the Account and Prepare for Forex Trading
Once your trading account exists, you can fund it. IC Markets’ own statements about minimum funding differ depending on the IC Markets site/entity context:
- IC Markets Global help center states you can open a trading account without any minimum deposit requirement.
- IC Markets also states that a minimum deposit of USD 200 (or currency equivalent) gives access to all markets on its “start trading” material.
Funding itself is managed through the Client Area. IC Markets Global states it offers multiple funding options and multiple base currencies on its funding page.
Once funded, your trading account balance appears inside your trading platform (MT4, MT5, or cTrader) and in the Client Area account overview.
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Step Ten: Install and Log Into Your Trading Platform
After approval, you use the credentials provided to log in to your platform.
MetaTrader setup basics
For MT4/MT5, the standard workflow is:
- Install the platform on desktop or mobile
- Select the correct broker server (provided in your account details)
- Enter the trading login and password
cTrader setup basics
For cTrader, you typically:
- Install cTrader or use the web version
- Log in using the cTrader credentials linked to your IC Markets account
- Confirm the account appears in the terminal before trading
Once logged in, you can open charts, watchlists, and place Forex orders.
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What You Need Ready Before You Start
To make the process smooth, have these ready:
- A working email address you can access immediately
- A clear photo or scan of your identity document
- A proof of address document that meets recency rules (IC Markets Global references 180 days for proof of residence in its materials)
- Your personal details exactly matching your documents
- A plan for platform choice (MT4, MT5, or cTrader) and pricing model (Standard or Raw Spread)
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What Happens If You Want a Demo First
IC Markets supports demo accounts, and IC Markets Global states you can use a demo account while your live application is pending, including a demo option linked to TradingView connectivity guidance.
A demo account is useful to:
- Learn the platform layout
- Practice order placement
- Test spreads and execution behavior in a risk-free environment
- Confirm you understand margin, leverage, and stop out mechanics
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A Simple Mental Checklist for IC Markets Account Opening
If you want the simplest way to think about opening an IC Markets Forex account, it’s this:
- Register and verify email
- Complete the full application
- Choose platform, account type, base currency, and leverage
- Upload proof of identity and proof of address through the Secure Client Area
- Receive approval and login details
- Fund the account and log into the platform
IC Markets’ own help and FAQ materials describe this same structure: apply, verify, upload documents, receive login details, then fund and trade.
The account opening process at IC Markets is designed to be fully online and document-driven. Your speed depends mainly on whether your documents meet the formatting and recency rules and whether your application details match your ID and proof of address exactly.
Once approved, you manage everything through the Secure Client Area: trading accounts, leverage changes where permitted, and funding actions. From there, your focus shifts from onboarding to trading execution: platform setup, Forex risk control, and using leverage responsibly.
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.
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