FBS vs IC Markets for Chile Traders: Which is Better in 2025?
Which broker is better for Chile traders in 2026? Expert analysis across 12 categories.
For experienced retail traders in Chile, choosing between FBS and IC Markets is a decision that hinges on cost, execution speed, and local payment convenience. Both brokers accept deposits in Chilean Pesos (CLP) via Bank Transfer and Credit Card, making them accessible to local traders. However, their overall suitability differs sharply. FBS, with a score of 3.7/5, is a middle-tier broker offering bonuses and a simpler trading environment. IC Markets, rated 4.8/5, is a top-tier ECN broker known for institutional-grade spreads and lightning-fast execution. In Chile's growing forex market—where traders often face volatility from commodity prices and USD/CLP fluctuations—the choice between these two can significantly impact profitability. This comparison focuses on what matters most to Chileans: trading costs, regulatory comfort under CMF oversight, and practical deposit/withdrawal methods like Bank Transfer and Credit Card. Whether you are scalping USD/CLP or trading global indices, understanding these differences is key to making an informed decision in 2025.
| Instrument | FBS | 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 | $1 | $200 | FBS |
| Inactivity fee | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
For Chile traders, trading costs are a critical factor, especially when trading high-volume pairs like USD/CLP or EUR/USD. IC Markets offers raw spreads from 0.0 pips on its True ECN account with a commission of $3.50 per lot per side. In contrast, FBS spreads start from 0.7 pips on its ECN Zero account with no commission, but the wider spread means higher costs for frequent traders. For a Chile trader executing 10 lots per day, IC Markets can save approximately $70 per day in spread costs compared to FBS. Additionally, IC Markets does not charge deposit fees, while FBS may apply conversion fees for CLP deposits. Swap rates are also competitive at IC Markets, making it the more cost-effective choice for experienced Chileans.
| Account Type | FBS | IC Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Standard account | ✓ | ✓ |
| ECN / Raw spread | ✓ | ✓ |
| Islamic (swap-free) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Demo account | ✓ | ✓ |
| PAMM / MAM account | ✗ | ✓ |
| Zero spread account | ✗ | ✓ |
| Copy trading | ✗ | ✗ |
| VPS trading | ✗ | ✓ |
| Min deposit | $1 | $200 |
| Neg. balance protection | ✓ | ✓ |
| Entity / Asset | FBS | IC Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Chile (offshore) | Up to 1:3000 | Up to 1:500 |
| Forex major pairs | 1:3000 | 1:500 |
| Gold (XAU/USD) | 1:200 | 1:200 |
| Indices | 1:100 | 1:100 |
| Cryptocurrencies | 1:2 to 1:10 | 1:2 to 1:10 |
| Margin call level | 80% | 80% |
| Stop out level | 50% | 50% |
| Asset Class | FBS | IC Markets | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex pairs | 90+ | 65+ | FBS |
| Gold (XAU/USD) | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Oil (WTI/Brent) | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Stock indices | 25+ indices | 20+ indices | FBS |
| Crypto CFDs | 30+ | 20+ | FBS |
| Stocks / Share CFDs | ✗ | ✗ | IC Markets |
| ETFs | ✗ | ✗ | Tie |
| Options | ✗ | ✗ | Tie |
| Futures | ✗ | ✗ | Tie |
| Platform | FBS | IC Markets |
|---|---|---|
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | ✓ | ✓ |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | ✓ | ✓ |
| cTrader | ✗ | ✓ |
| TradingView | ✗ | ✗ |
| Expert Advisors (EAs) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Scalping allowed | ✓ | ✓ |
| Hedging allowed | ✓ | ✓ |
| Fixed spreads | ✓ | ✗ |
| Variable spreads | ✓ | ✓ |
Both brokers offer the industry-standard MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 platforms, which are popular among Chile traders for their advanced charting tools and automated trading capabilities. IC Markets also provides cTrader, a platform favored by scalpers for its depth of market and fast order execution. FBS offers a web-based platform and mobile app, but lacks cTrader. For Chile traders using VPS or Expert Advisors (EAs), IC Markets’ server infrastructure in New York and London ensures lower latency. FBS’s platform is more beginner-friendly but less suited for high-frequency trading. Overall, IC Markets offers a more professional platform suite for experienced traders.
| Factor | FBS | IC Markets | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Execution model | ECN/STP | True ECN | IC Markets |
| Avg execution speed | ~30ms | ~40ms | FBS |
| Slippage | Very low | Very low | Tie |
| Requotes | Very rare | Very rare | Tie |
| Dealing desk | ✗ | ✗ | Tie |
| Scalping allowed | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| News trading | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| EA / Bot trading | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
Execution quality is a decisive factor for experienced Chile traders. IC Markets uses an ECN/STP model with execution speeds under 40 milliseconds and no requotes, ideal for scalping USD/CLP. FBS uses a market maker model with occasional slippage and requotes, especially during high volatility. IC Markets’ dedicated servers in Equinix NY4 and LD4 data centers ensure low latency for Chile traders using VPS. For day traders and scalpers, IC Markets’ execution is superior, while FBS is adequate for swing traders with less demanding needs.
| Safety Factor | FBS | IC Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Primary regulator | IFSC | ASIC |
| Reg number | #IFSC/60/230/TS/19 | #335692 |
| Verify registration | Verify ↗ | Verify ↗ |
| Top-tier regulated | ✗ | ✓ |
| Investor protection | ✓ | ✓ |
| Segregated funds | ✓ | ✓ |
| Neg. balance protection | ✓ | ✓ |
Regulation is a key concern for Chile traders, as the CMF (Comisión para el Mercado Financiero de Chile) does not directly oversee offshore forex brokers. FBS is regulated by the IFSC (Belize) and CySEC (Cyprus), offering limited investor protection. IC Markets is regulated by ASIC (Australia) and CySEC, with ASIC providing a stronger regulatory framework and negative balance protection. For Chileans, IC Markets’ ASIC license offers greater trust and transparency, as ASIC enforces strict capital adequacy and client fund segregation rules. While neither broker is CMF-regulated, IC Markets’ higher regulatory standards make it a safer choice for Chile traders seeking reliable broker conduct.
| Payment Method | FBS | IC Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Bank Wire Transfer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Visa / Mastercard | ✓ | ✓ |
| Skrill | ✓ | ✓ |
| Neteller | ✓ | ✓ |
| USDT / Crypto | ✓ | ✓ |
| Deposit fee | None | None |
| Withdrawal time | 15-20 minutes for most methods; up to 48 hours for bank transfer | E-wallets instant-24hrs; Cards 3-5 business days (up to 10); Int'l bank wire up to 14 days |
| Min withdrawal | $50 | $50 |
Chile traders can fund their accounts at both FBS and IC Markets using Bank Transfer (transferencia bancaria) and Credit Card (Visa/Mastercard). FBS also supports local CLP deposits via AstroPay and Perfect Money, with a minimum deposit of $10 USD. IC Markets requires a $200 USD minimum deposit but offers faster withdrawal processing—typically 1-2 business days for Credit Cards and Bank Transfers. FBS withdrawals may take 2-5 business days and sometimes incur fees. For Chile traders, IC Markets is more reliable for large withdrawals, while FBS is better for small starter deposits. Both brokers process CLP conversions automatically, but IC Markets offers more competitive exchange rates. Always verify your bank’s policy on international transfers to avoid delays.
| Islamic Account Feature | FBS | IC Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Swap-free available | ✓ | ✓ |
| Admin fee instead of swap | On some instruments | On some instruments |
| MT4 / MT5 supported | ✓ | ✓ |
| Gold swap-free | ✓ | ✓ |
| Crypto swap-free | ✓ | ✓ |
| How to apply | Contact support | Contact support |
For Muslim traders in Chile, both FBS and IC Markets offer Islamic (swap-free) accounts that comply with Sharia law by eliminating interest charges on overnight positions. FBS provides Islamic accounts automatically upon request for all account types, with no additional conditions. IC Markets also offers swap-free accounts, but only for clients residing in countries where Islamic banking is required, and may request proof of religion. Chile traders should contact support to confirm eligibility, as IC Markets’ policy can be stricter. Both brokers ensure that swap-free accounts maintain the same trading conditions, including spreads and commissions, making them viable for ethical trading in Chile.
| Support Feature | FBS | IC Markets | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Live chat | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Phone support | ✗ | ✓ | Tie |
| Email support | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| 24/7 support | ✗ | ✗ | Tie |
| 24/5 support | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Response time (chat) | <2 minutes | <3 minutes | FBS |
Customer support for Chile traders is available 24/7 at both brokers. FBS offers support in Spanish via live chat, email, and phone, with a local Chile phone number for quick assistance. IC Markets also provides 24/7 multilingual support, including Spanish, but does not have a dedicated Chile number. IC Markets’ support is faster and more knowledgeable for technical issues like platform troubleshooting, while FBS excels in account and payment queries. For Chile traders, FBS’s local language support is a slight advantage, but IC Markets’ overall service quality is higher.
| Mobile Feature | FBS | IC Markets | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| iOS App Store rating | 4.5★ | 4.3★ | FBS |
| Google Play rating | 4.3★ | 4.2★ | FBS |
| Biometric login | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Push notifications | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Full charting on mobile | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Mobile deposit/withdrawal | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| TradingView mobile | ✗ | ✗ | Tie |
| Dark mode | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Resource | FBS | IC Markets | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Video tutorials | 100+ videos | 50+ videos | FBS |
| Webinars (live) | Weekly | ✗ | FBS |
| Economic calendar | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Market analysis | Daily | Basic | FBS |
| Beginner resources | Excellent | Basic | FBS |
Choose FBS if you...
- Prefer a low minimum deposit ($10 USD) to start trading with CLP via Bank Transfer or Credit Card.
- Want access to bonuses and promotions that can boost your trading capital.
- Are a beginner or intermediate trader who values a simple platform without complex tools.
- Need Islamic account availability without strict eligibility checks.
Choose IC Markets if you...
- Are an experienced trader seeking the lowest possible spreads (from 0.0 pips) for high-volume strategies.
- Require fast execution (under 40ms) for scalping USD/CLP or other volatile pairs.
- Prefer a broker with stronger regulation (ASIC) for added security of funds.
- Need reliable and fast withdrawals via Bank Transfer or Credit Card in Chile.
For Chile’s experienced retail traders, IC Markets is the clear winner with a score of 4.8/5 compared to FBS’s 3.7/5. The decision comes down to cost and execution: IC Markets offers tighter spreads, faster trade execution, and a more professional platform suite (including cTrader). While FBS is more accessible with a lower minimum deposit and local CLP payment options like Bank Transfer and Credit Card, it falls short for serious traders who need institutional-grade conditions. Regulation also favors IC Markets through its ASIC oversight, providing Chileans with greater trust. Although neither broker is directly regulated by the CMF, IC Markets’ higher regulatory standards and superior trading environment make it the recommended choice for Chile traders in 2025. If you value low costs and high performance, IC Markets is the better fit.