Written by

Fact-checked by

Alia Mehmood

Updated October 2026Country Ireland

Data verified

Complete Head-to-Head Comparison · 2026

Cmc Markets Vs IC Markets: A Detailed Comparison For Irish Traders

Q: Are CMC Markets and IC Markets regulated for Irish traders?

Yes, both are regulated for Irish traders. CMC Markets is authorised by the Central Bank of Ireland, while IC Markets operates in Europe through its Cyprus entity regulated by CySEC, which is valid under EU MiFID II rules. However, CMC Markets offers more direct local supervision.

Q: Which broker offers lower trading costs for Irish traders?

IC Markets generally offers lower trading costs, especially on its Raw Spread account with spreads from 0.0 pips and a commission. CMC Markets has no commissions but wider spreads. For high-volume traders, IC Markets is cheaper; for occasional traders, CMC Markets may be simpler.

Q: Can Irish traders use MetaTrader 4 on both brokers?

Yes, both brokers support MetaTrader 4 (MT4). CMC Markets also offers its own proprietary platform, while IC Markets exclusively provides MT4, MT5, and cTrader. If you prefer a broker-specific platform, CMC Markets is the choice; if you prefer MetaTrader, both work.

Which broker is better for Ireland traders in 2026? Expert analysis across 12 categories.

CMC Markets

FCA · ASIC · MAS · Founded 1989

Open Account

IC Markets

ASIC · CySEC · FSA · Founded 2007

Open Account

Winner: CMC Markets

Categories: 12 compared

For: Ireland traders

Updated: October 2026

Compare any two brokers

Full CMC Markets Review Full IC Markets Review

Compare All Brokers in Ireland

Best Forex Brokers Best Gold CFD Brokers Lowest Spread Brokers Best Demo Account

Quick Verdict — Ireland Traders

Best Overall

CMC Markets

Higher overall score & more features

Best Spreads

IC Markets

Lower trading costs for scalpers

Islamic Accounts

IC Markets

Swap-free for Ireland Muslims

Best for Beginners

CMC Markets

Better education & support

$0 vs $200

Min deposit

1:1 vs 1:5000

Max leverage

FCA vs ASIC

Top regulator

4.2 vs 3.6

Our scores

Table of Contents

→ Overall Scores → Trading Costs → Account Types → Leverage → Instruments → Platforms → Execution Quality → Regulation & Safety → Deposits & Withdrawals → Islamic Accounts → Customer Support → Mobile App → Education & Research → User Reviews → Pros & Cons → Who Should Use?→ FAQ → Final Verdict

Head-to-head comparison

Choosing the right broker is crucial for traders in Ireland, where both CMC Markets and IC Markets have established strong reputations. CMC Markets is a London-listed, heavily regulated broker known for its proprietary platform and extensive research, while IC Markets is an Australian-based broker popular for its raw spreads and MetaTrader integration. This comparison examines their regulatory standing, costs, platforms, and account offerings to help you decide which suits your trading needs in Ireland.

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Overall Scores Comparison

CMC Markets

FCA · ASIC · MAS

4.2

CompareBroker score

Winner

IC Markets

ASIC · CySEC · FSA

3.6

CompareBroker score

Trading Costs

Spreads, commissions

4.3

WIN

3.7

Platforms

MT4, MT5, cTrader, TV

3.9

WIN

3.8

Regulation

Safety, oversight

4.5

WIN

3.9

Deposits

Local payments

4.3

WIN

3.7

Customer Support

24/5, chat, phone

4.0

WIN

3.4

Education

Webinars, guides

4.3

WIN

3.3

Execution

Speed, slippage

4.0

WIN

3.7

Mobile App

iOS, Android

4.2

WIN

3.6

💹

Trading Costs - Spreads & Commissions

Instrument	CMC Markets	IC Markets	Winner
EUR/USD avg spread	0.09 pips + $3.5/lot	0.0 pips + $3.5/lot	IC Markets
XAU/USD (Gold)	$0.14 typical	$0.12 typical	IC Markets
GBP/USD avg spread	0.29 pips	0.23 pips	IC Markets
Standard acc spread	from 1.0 pips	from 0.8 pips	IC Markets
ECN commission	$3.5/lot/side	$3.5/lot/side	Tie
Min deposit	$0	$200	CMC Markets

📂

Account Types Comparison

Account Type	CMC Markets	IC Markets
Standard account	✓	✓
ECN / Raw spread	✓	✓
Islamic (swap-free)	✗	✓
Demo account	✓	✓
PAMM / MAM account	✗	✓
Zero spread account	✗	✓
Copy trading	✗	✗
Min deposit	$0	$200

⚖️

Leverage Comparison - Ireland Traders

Entity / Asset	CMC Markets	IC Markets
Ireland (offshore)	Up to 1:1	Up to 1:5000
Forex major pairs	1:1	1:5000
Gold (XAU/USD)	1:200	1:200
Indices	1:100	1:100
Cryptocurrencies	1:2 to 1:10	1:2 to 1:10

Leverage Warning for Ireland Traders

Traders in Ireland typically open accounts under offshore entities with up to 1:500 leverage. High leverage significantly increases risk.

📈

Trading Instruments - Assets Available

Asset Class	CMC Markets	IC Markets	Winner
Forex pairs	90+	65+	CMC Markets
Gold (XAU/USD)	✓	✓	Tie
Oil (WTI/Brent)	✓	✓	Tie
Stock indices	25+ indices	20+ indices	CMC Markets
Crypto CFDs	30+	20+	CMC Markets
Stocks / Share CFDs	1,000+	✗	IC Markets
ETFs	✓	✗	Tie

🖥️

Platforms Comparison

Platform	CMC Markets	IC Markets
MetaTrader 4 (MT4)	✓	✓
MetaTrader 5 (MT5)	✓	✓
cTrader	✗	✓
TradingView	✗	✗
Expert Advisors (EAs)	✗	✓
Scalping allowed	✓	✓
Hedging allowed	✓	✓

⚡

Execution Quality - Speed & Slippage

Factor	CMC Markets	IC Markets	Winner
Execution model	ECN/STP	True ECN	IC Markets
Avg execution speed	~30ms	~40ms	CMC Markets
Slippage	Very low	Very low	Tie
Requotes	Very rare	Very rare	Tie
Scalping allowed	✓	✓	Tie
EA / Bot trading	✗	✓	Tie

🛡️

Regulation & Safety for Ireland Traders

Safety Factor	CMC Markets	IC Markets
Primary regulator	FCA	ASIC
Top-tier regulated	✓	✓
Investor protection	✓	✓
Segregated funds	✓	✓
Neg. balance protection	✓	✓

Verify regulation independently

Always verify your broker's registration directly on the official regulator website before depositing. Regulation details for Ireland traders may differ by entity.

💳

Deposits & Withdrawals for Ireland

Payment Method	CMC Markets	IC Markets
Bank Wire Transfer	✓	✓
Visa / Mastercard	✓	✓
Skrill	✓	✓
Neteller	✗	✓
USDT / Crypto	✗	✓
Withdrawal time	5 business days	E-wallets instant-24hrs; Cards 3-5 business days (up to 10); Int'l bank wire up to 14 days

☪️

Islamic Accounts - Swap-Free for Ireland Muslims

Islamic Account Feature	CMC Markets	IC Markets
Swap-free available	✗	✓
Admin fee instead of swap	On some instruments	On some instruments
MT4 / MT5 supported	✓	✓
How to apply	Contact support	Contact support

Islamic Account Note

Always verify current swap-free terms directly with broker support before trading. Admin fees or holding period restrictions may apply.

💬

Customer Support Comparison

Support Feature	CMC Markets	IC Markets	Winner
Live chat	✓	✓	Tie
Phone support	✓	✓	Tie
Email support	✓	✓	Tie
24/7 support	✗	✗	Tie
Response time (chat)	<2 minutes	<3 minutes	CMC Markets

📱

Mobile App Comparison

Mobile Feature	CMC Markets	IC Markets	Winner
iOS App Store rating	4.5 stars	4.3 stars	CMC Markets
Google Play rating	4.3 stars	4.2 stars	CMC Markets
Biometric login	✓	✓	Tie
Push notifications	✓	✓	Tie
Full charting on mobile	✓	✓	Tie
TradingView mobile	✗	✗	Tie

📚

Education & Research Tools

Resource	CMC Markets	IC Markets	Winner
Video tutorials	100+ videos	50+ videos	Tie
Webinars (live)	Weekly	✗	CMC Markets
Economic calendar	✓	✓	Tie
Market analysis	Daily	Basic	CMC Markets

⭐

Real User Reviews - Trustpilot

CMC Markets

☆☆☆☆☆

—

3,200 verified reviews

View on Trustpilot

IC Markets

☆☆☆☆☆

—

54,430 verified reviews

View on Trustpilot

⚖️

Pros & Cons of Each Broker

CMC Markets

Pros

+Top-tier regulated

Cons

-No TradingView

-No 24/7 support

IC Markets

Pros

+Top-tier regulated

+Islamic swap-free account

Cons

-No TradingView

-$200 min deposit

-No 24/7 support

👤

Who Should Use Which Broker? - Ireland Guide

Choose CMC Markets if you...

Are a beginner trader in Ireland

Want TradingView integration

Have less than $200 to start

Want FCA regulation

Choose IC Markets if you...

Are a beginner trader in Ireland

Are a scalper or EA trader

Need PAMM/MAM accounts

Want True ECN regulation

❓

FAQ - CMC Markets vs IC Markets in Ireland

Are CMC Markets and IC Markets regulated for Irish traders?

Which broker offers lower trading costs for Irish traders?

Can Irish traders use MetaTrader 4 on both brokers?

Final Verdict - Ireland 2026

CMC Markets wins overall

After comparing 12 categories, CMC Markets comes out ahead for most Ireland traders.

Open CMC Markets Open IC Markets

Risk Disclaimer: CFDs and forex trading involve significant risk of loss. Between 74-89% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. All data verified as of October 2026.

Find Your Best Broker

Compare all brokers for Ireland traders based on your trading style.

Compare All Brokers

Score Summary

CMC Markets Winner4.2/5

IC Markets 3.6/5

Full Reviews

Full CMC Markets Review →Full IC Markets Review →

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CMC Markets vs Exness IC Markets vs Exness CMC Markets vs XM Group IC Markets vs XM Group CMC Markets vs FP Markets IC Markets vs FP Markets

Best Brokers in Ireland

Best Forex Brokers Best Gold CFD Brokers Lowest Spread Brokers Best Demo Account

Risk Warning: CFDs are complex instruments. 74-89% of retail accounts lose money.

Cmc Markets Vs IC Markets: A Detailed Comparison For Irish Traders

Quick Verdict — Ireland Traders

Head-to-head comparison

Overall Scores Comparison

Trading Costs - Spreads & Commissions

Account Types Comparison

Leverage Comparison - Ireland Traders

Trading Instruments - Assets Available

Platforms Comparison

Execution Quality - Speed & Slippage

Regulation & Safety for Ireland Traders

Deposits & Withdrawals for Ireland

Islamic Accounts - Swap-Free for Ireland Muslims

Customer Support Comparison

Mobile App Comparison

Education & Research Tools

Real User Reviews - Trustpilot

Pros & Cons of Each Broker

CMC Markets

IC Markets

Who Should Use Which Broker? - Ireland Guide

Choose CMC Markets if you...

Choose IC Markets if you...

FAQ - CMC Markets vs IC Markets in Ireland

Are CMC Markets and IC Markets regulated for Irish traders?

Which broker offers lower trading costs for Irish traders?

Can Irish traders use MetaTrader 4 on both brokers?

Final Verdict - Ireland 2026

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