IC Markets vs Exness: Which Broker Is Best for Finland Traders?
Which broker is better for Finland traders in 2026? Expert analysis across 12 categories.
Finland traders looking for a reliable forex broker often compare IC Markets and Exness, two industry giants both scoring 4.8/5. IC Markets is known for its raw spreads from 0.0 pips and deep liquidity, making it a favorite among scalpers and algorithmic traders in Helsinki and across Finland. Exness, on the other hand, offers flexible leverage up to unlimited on certain accounts and a wider range of deposit methods including popular Finnish options like Skrill, Neteller, Bank Transfer, and USDT. Both brokers serve retail traders well, but their strengths differ. IC Markets excels in cost efficiency for high-volume trading, while Exness provides more accessible entry points and diverse payment solutions. For Finnish traders, the choice depends on trading style, volume, and preferred deposit method. This comparison covers spreads, regulation by the local financial regulator, platforms, and local payment methods to help you decide.
| 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 Finland traders, trading costs are a major factor. IC Markets offers tighter spreads on its Raw Spread account (0.0 pips) with a $7 round-turn commission per lot, ideal for high-frequency scalpers. Exness spreads start at 0.3 pips on its Standard account with no commission, but for high-volume traders, the raw spread account is more cost-effective. Over 100 lots per month, IC Markets can save Finnish traders $200-300 compared to Exness standard accounts. However, Exness offers zero spread on certain forex pairs during news events, which occasional traders find beneficial.
| 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Finland (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 MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, and cTrader, all popular among Finland traders. IC Markets provides cTrader with advanced charting and algorithmic trading capabilities, preferred by Finnish scalpers. Exness also supports these platforms plus its own WebTerminal. For Finnish traders, platform choice often comes down to cTrader’s depth of market (IC Markets) versus Exness’s built-in social trading features. Both platforms are stable and offer fast execution suitable for retail traders in Finland.
| 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 boasts an average execution speed of 40ms and no requotes, ideal for scalpers in Finland. Exness executes orders in under 100ms with 99.9% fill rates. Both use Equinix data centers in London and New York for low latency. For Finnish traders trading during European sessions, both brokers offer excellent execution quality, but IC Markets edges ahead 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), while Exness holds licenses from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and CySEC. Neither broker is regulated by the local financial regulator, meaning Finland traders do not have local investor protection. However, both brokers adhere to strict international standards, including negative balance protection and segregated client funds. Finland traders should verify regulatory status and consider using brokers with local oversight if they prioritize local dispute resolution.
| 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 |
Finland traders can fund accounts using Bank Transfer, Skrill, Neteller, and USDT at both brokers. IC Markets supports instant deposits via Skrill and Neteller with no fees, while Bank Transfers take 1-3 business days and may incur bank charges. Exness also accepts USDT (Tether) on the TRC20 network, which is popular among Finnish crypto users for its low fees and speed. Withdrawals are processed within 24 hours for e-wallets and USDT at Exness, while IC Markets takes up to 1 business day. Both brokers do not charge internal fees, but third-party transfer fees may apply for Bank Transfers. For Finnish traders, USDT deposits offer a fast, low-cost option, especially at Exness.
| 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 |
Both IC Markets and Exness offer Islamic (swap-free) accounts for Finland Muslim traders who require compliance with Sharia law. These accounts do not charge or pay overnight swap fees on positions held beyond the daily rollover. IC Markets provides swap-free accounts on request for all account types, while Exness offers them automatically for clients from countries with Islamic banking requirements. Finland traders should contact support to activate this feature. Both brokers ensure that Islamic accounts maintain standard trading conditions without hidden fees.
| 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 offers 24/7 customer support via live chat, email, and phone, with Finnish language support available during European hours. Exness provides 24/7 multilingual support including Finnish, with faster response times on live chat. Both brokers have extensive FAQ sections and account managers for VIP clients. For Finland traders, Exness’s dedicated Finnish support team is a slight advantage.
| 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 algorithmic trader needing raw spreads from 0.0 pips.
- Trade high volumes (over 50 lots per month) to benefit from lower commission costs.
- Prefer cTrader for its depth of market and advanced charting tools.
- Value ultra-fast execution (40ms) for short-term strategies.
Choose Exness if you...
- Want flexible leverage up to unlimited on certain accounts.
- Prefer depositing with USDT or other cryptocurrencies for lower fees.
- Are a beginner or occasional trader needing lower minimum deposits ($10 vs $200).
- Need Finnish-language customer support and a wider range of deposit methods.
For Finland traders, the choice between IC Markets and Exness depends on trading style and payment preferences. If you are a high-volume scalper or algorithmic trader who prioritizes low spreads and fast execution, IC Markets is the better choice. Its raw spreads from 0.0 pips and 40ms execution make it ideal for active strategies. If you prefer flexible leverage, lower minimum deposits, and diverse payment methods including USDT, Skrill, and Neteller, Exness is more suitable. Both brokers are well-regulated internationally, but neither is overseen by the local financial regulator. For Finnish traders, Exness’s support for USDT deposits and Finnish customer service gives it a local advantage. Ultimately, both are excellent brokers with 4.8/5 ratings, so test both with demo accounts to see which fits your needs best.