IC Markets vs Exness: A Comprehensive Comparison for Bangladesh Traders (2026)
Which broker is better for Bangladesh traders in 2026? Expert analysis across 12 categories.
For traders in Bangladesh, choosing between IC Markets and Exness is a critical decision that can impact your trading success. Both brokers are globally recognized with identical Trustpilot scores of 4.8/5, but they serve different trading styles. IC Markets is known for its ultra-low spreads and institutional-grade execution, making it a favorite among scalpers and algorithmic traders in Dhaka and Chittagong. Exness, on the other hand, offers flexible leverage up to unlimited and instant withdrawals, which appeals to retail traders who value liquidity and ease of access. In Bangladesh, where the local financial regulator (Bangladesh Bank) does not directly oversee forex brokers, traders rely on international regulation and local payment methods like Bank Transfer, Skrill, Neteller, and USDT. This comparison will help you decide which broker aligns better with your trading goals, capital size, and local banking preferences.
| Instrument | IC Markets | Exness | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUR/USD avg spread | 0.09 pips + $3.5/lot | 0.0 pips + $3.5/lot | Exness |
| XAU/USD (Gold) | $0.14 typical | $0.12 typical | Exness |
| GBP/USD avg spread | 0.29 pips | 0.23 pips | Exness |
| Standard acc spread | from 1.0 pips | from 0.8 pips | Exness |
| ECN commission | $3.5/lot/side | $3.5/lot/side | Tie |
| Min deposit | $200 | $10 | Exness |
| Inactivity fee | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
For Bangladesh traders, trading costs are a major consideration, especially when dealing with the BDT-USD conversion. IC Markets offers tighter spreads starting from 0.0 pips on its Raw Spread account, but charges a commission of $7 per lot round turn. This is ideal for high-volume traders who open multiple lots daily. Exness provides spreads from 0.3 pips on its Standard account with no commission, and 0.1 pips on its Raw Spread account with a $3.5 commission per lot. For a trader in Bangladesh executing 50 lots per month, IC Markets would cost approximately $350 in commission, while Exness would cost $175 on Raw Spread but with slightly wider spreads. Overall, IC Markets is better for scalpers, while Exness suits traders who prioritize low upfront costs.
| Account Type | IC Markets | Exness |
|---|---|---|
| Standard account | ✓ | ✓ |
| ECN / Raw spread | ✓ | ✓ |
| Islamic (swap-free) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Demo account | ✓ | ✓ |
| PAMM / MAM account | ✓ | ✗ |
| Zero spread account | ✓ | ✓ |
| Copy trading | ✗ | ✗ |
| VPS trading | ✓ | ✓ |
| Min deposit | $200 | $10 |
| Neg. balance protection | ✓ | ✓ |
| Entity / Asset | IC Markets | Exness |
|---|---|---|
| Bangladesh (offshore) | Up to 1:500 | Up to 1:2000 |
| Forex major pairs | 1:500 | 1:2000 |
| 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 | IC Markets | Exness | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex pairs | 90+ | 65+ | IC Markets |
| Gold (XAU/USD) | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Oil (WTI/Brent) | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Stock indices | 25+ indices | 20+ indices | IC Markets |
| Crypto CFDs | 30+ | 20+ | IC Markets |
| Stocks / Share CFDs | ✗ | ✗ | Exness |
| ETFs | ✗ | ✗ | Tie |
| Options | ✗ | ✗ | Tie |
| Futures | ✗ | ✗ | Tie |
| Platform | IC Markets | Exness |
|---|---|---|
| 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 widely used by Bangladesh traders due to their reliability and advanced charting tools. IC Markets also provides cTrader, a platform preferred by scalpers for its faster execution and depth of market. Exness offers a proprietary web platform and mobile app with one-click trading and advanced risk management features. For traders in Bangladesh who often trade on mobile during Dhaka market hours, Exness's mobile app is more user-friendly with instant deposit notifications. IC Markets is better for desktop-based algorithmic traders who need cTrader's advanced features.
| Factor | IC Markets | Exness | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Execution model | ECN/STP | True ECN | Exness |
| Avg execution speed | ~30ms | ~40ms | IC Markets |
| 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 |
IC Markets offers institutional-grade execution with no requotes and average execution speed under 40ms, using Equinix NY4 data centers. Exness also provides fast execution with no dealing desk intervention, but its average speed is around 50ms. For scalpers in Bangladesh trading during London and New York sessions, IC Markets' faster execution can translate to better slippage control. Exness is still excellent for most retail traders, but IC Markets has a slight edge for high-frequency strategies.
| Safety Factor | IC Markets | Exness |
|---|---|---|
| Primary regulator | ASIC | FCA |
| Reg number | #335692 | #730729 |
| Verify registration | Verify ↗ | Verify ↗ |
| Top-tier regulated | ✓ | ✓ |
| Investor protection | ✓ | ✓ |
| Segregated funds | ✓ | ✓ |
| Neg. balance protection | ✓ | ✓ |
IC Markets is regulated by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) and the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC), offering strong client protection under Tier-1 jurisdictions. Exness is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in the UK, CySEC, and the Financial Services Authority (FSA) in Seychelles. For Bangladesh traders, this means your funds are held in segregated accounts and covered by compensation schemes (up to €20,000 under CySEC). The local financial regulator in Bangladesh does not directly oversee forex brokers, so choosing a broker with top-tier regulation adds a layer of security. Exness has an edge with its FCA regulation, which provides access to the UK Financial Ombudsman Service.
| Payment Method | IC Markets | Exness |
|---|---|---|
| Bank Wire Transfer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Visa / Mastercard | ✓ | ✓ |
| Skrill | ✓ | ✓ |
| Neteller | ✓ | ✓ |
| USDT / Crypto | ✓ | ✓ |
| Deposit fee | None | None |
| Withdrawal time | E-wallets instant-24hrs; Cards 3-5 business days (up to 10); Int'l bank wire up to 14 days | 24/7 automated; 98% instant to 24hrs; mobile money often instant; bank transfer 1-3 days |
| Min withdrawal | $50 | $50 |
Bangladesh traders can fund their accounts using Bank Transfer, Skrill, Neteller, and USDT at both brokers. IC Markets requires a minimum deposit of $200 via bank transfer, while Skrill and Neteller have a $50 minimum. USDT deposits are processed instantly with no fees. Exness offers a lower minimum deposit of $10 for most methods, including USDT and Skrill, making it more accessible for retail traders. Withdrawals at Exness are processed instantly for e-wallets, while IC Markets takes 1-2 business days. Bank transfers to Bangladesh banks typically take 2-5 business days for both brokers. Exness also supports local bank transfers via partner banks in Bangladesh, reducing conversion costs. For traders using USDT, both brokers offer competitive conversion rates.
| Islamic Account Feature | IC Markets | Exness |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
IC Markets offers Islamic (swap-free) accounts upon request for all account types, with no swap fees on overnight positions. This is beneficial for Muslim traders in Bangladesh who want to avoid interest-based charges. Exness automatically provides swap-free accounts for clients from Muslim-majority countries, including Bangladesh, without requiring additional documentation. Both brokers ensure that Islamic accounts comply with Sharia law, but Exness offers a more seamless process. For Bangladesh traders, this means you can start trading immediately without manual requests.
| Support Feature | IC Markets | Exness | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Live chat | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Phone support | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Email support | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| 24/7 support | ✗ | ✓ | Exness |
| 24/5 support | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Response time (chat) | <2 minutes | <3 minutes | IC Markets |
IC Markets provides 24/7 customer support via live chat, email, and phone, with agents available in English and Arabic. Exness offers 24/7 multilingual support including Bengali, which is a significant advantage for Bangladesh traders who prefer local language assistance. Both brokers have extensive FAQ sections, but Exness's live chat response time is faster (under 1 minute). For technical issues during Dhaka trading hours, Exness's Bengali support is more helpful.
| Mobile Feature | IC Markets | Exness | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| iOS App Store rating | 4.5★ | 4.3★ | IC Markets |
| Google Play rating | 4.3★ | 4.2★ | IC Markets |
| Biometric login | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Push notifications | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Full charting on mobile | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Mobile deposit/withdrawal | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| TradingView mobile | ✗ | ✗ | Tie |
| Dark mode | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Resource | IC Markets | Exness | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Video tutorials | 100+ videos | 50+ videos | IC Markets |
| Webinars (live) | ✗ | ✗ | Tie |
| Economic calendar | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Market analysis | Daily | Basic | IC Markets |
| Beginner resources | Excellent | Basic | IC Markets |
Choose IC Markets if you...
- Are a scalper or day trader who needs ultra-tight spreads from 0.0 pips.
- Trade high volumes (over 10 lots per month) and want to minimize per-lot costs.
- Prefer cTrader platform for advanced charting and depth of market.
- Have a larger deposit budget ($200+ minimum) and prioritize institutional execution.
Choose Exness if you...
- Are a retail trader with a smaller capital (minimum deposit $10).
- Need instant withdrawals via Skrill, Neteller, or USDT for liquidity.
- Prefer local bank transfers in Bangladesh and Bengali customer support.
- Want unlimited leverage and swap-free accounts without manual requests.
For Bangladesh traders, Exness emerges as the more practical choice due to its lower minimum deposit, instant withdrawals, and support for local bank transfers and Bengali language. However, IC Markets is unbeatable for scalpers and high-volume traders who need the tightest spreads and fastest execution. Both brokers accept Bank Transfer, Skrill, Neteller, and USDT, ensuring smooth deposits and withdrawals. Given the lack of direct oversight by the local financial regulator, Exness's FCA regulation provides an extra layer of security. Ultimately, your choice should align with your trading style and capital size. For most retail traders in Bangladesh, Exness offers the best balance of convenience and cost, while IC Markets is the top pick for serious scalpers.