IC Markets vs Exness: A Detailed Comparison for Kuwait Traders (2026)
Which broker is better for Kuwait traders in 2026? Expert analysis across 12 categories.
For Kuwait traders looking to enter the forex market in 2026, choosing between IC Markets and Exness is a critical decision. Both brokers are globally recognized and have earned a 4.8/5 rating, but they cater to slightly different trading needs. IC Markets is renowned for its ultra-low spreads and institutional-grade trading conditions, making it a favorite among scalpers and high-frequency traders. Exness, on the other hand, is celebrated for its flexible leverage, instant withdrawals, and user-friendly platforms, appealing to a broader range of retail traders in Kuwait. With local payment methods like Bank Transfer, Skrill, Neteller, and USDT supported by both, Kuwait traders can easily fund their accounts. This comparison will help you determine which broker aligns best with your trading style, whether you prioritize cost efficiency or convenience in deposit and withdrawal processes.
| 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 |
When comparing trading costs, IC Markets typically offers tighter spreads, especially on its Raw Spread account where spreads can start from 0.0 pips with a commission of $7 per lot round turn. This is ideal for Kuwait traders who trade high volumes and want to minimize per-trade costs. Exness offers competitive spreads on its Standard account (from 0.3 pips) and Raw Spread account (from 0.0 pips with commission), but its spreads can be slightly wider during volatile market conditions. For Kuwait traders, IC Markets is generally more cost-effective for high-frequency trading, while Exness may be better for those who prefer no-commission trading on standard accounts.
| 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Kuwait (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 IC Markets and Exness offer the popular MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5) platforms, which are widely used by Kuwait traders for their advanced charting tools and automated trading capabilities. IC Markets also provides cTrader, a platform favored for its intuitive interface and depth of market features, ideal for scalpers. Exness offers its own web trader platform in addition to MT4/MT5, which is accessible from any browser without installation. For Kuwait traders, the choice depends on whether you prefer the robust features of cTrader (IC Markets) or the convenience of Exness’s proprietary platform.
| 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 is renowned for its ultra-fast execution speeds, averaging under 40ms, thanks to its Equinix NY4 data center and direct market access (DMA). This is ideal for Kuwait scalpers and high-frequency traders. Exness also offers fast execution with speeds under 100ms, but its execution is slightly slower due to its market maker model for some account types. For Kuwait traders who prioritize speed and minimal slippage, IC Markets is the clear winner.
| 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 top-tier authorities including the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) and the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC), providing a high level of security for Kuwait traders. Exness is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in the UK and the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC), ensuring strict adherence to international standards. While neither broker is directly regulated by the local Kuwaiti financial regulator, both accept Kuwaiti residents and offer negative balance protection. This regulatory framework ensures that Kuwait traders can trade with confidence, knowing their funds are segregated and protected.
| 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 |
Kuwait traders have multiple convenient options for deposits and withdrawals at both IC Markets and Exness. Both brokers support Bank Transfer, Skrill, Neteller, and USDT (Tether) deposits, making it easy to fund accounts in USD. Exness is known for its instant withdrawal processing, especially for e-wallets like Skrill and Neteller, and also supports USDT deposits with minimal fees. IC Markets also processes withdrawals efficiently but may take 1-2 business days for bank transfers. For Kuwait traders who prioritize speed, Exness is the better choice, while IC Markets offers reliable processing for those who prefer traditional bank transfers or USDT. Minimum deposit requirements are low at both brokers, making them accessible to retail traders.
| 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 Kuwaiti Muslim traders who wish to trade in accordance with Sharia law. These accounts do not charge or pay swap interest on positions held overnight, making them suitable for traders who prefer to avoid interest-based transactions. IC Markets provides Islamic accounts on request, while Exness offers them automatically for clients from Islamic countries, including Kuwait. Kuwait traders should note that Islamic accounts may have conditions such as limited holding periods or higher spreads, so it is important to review the terms before opening an account.
| 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 multilingual customer support via live chat, email, and phone, with a dedicated team that can assist Kuwait traders in Arabic. Exness also provides 24/7 support with Arabic language options and is known for its responsive live chat. Both brokers have comprehensive FAQ sections on their websites. For Kuwait traders, Exness may have a slight edge due to faster response times, but IC Markets is equally reliable for resolving issues.
| 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 high-frequency trader needing ultra-low spreads and fast execution.
- Prefer the cTrader platform for its advanced features and depth of market.
- Trade large volumes and want to minimize per-trade costs with commission-based accounts.
- Value institutional-grade trading conditions and direct market access (DMA).
Choose Exness if you...
- Need instant withdrawals via Skrill, Neteller, or USDT for quick access to funds.
- Prefer flexible leverage options, including unlimited leverage for certain account types.
- Are a beginner or retail trader wanting a user-friendly platform with no commission on standard accounts.
- Want a broker with a strong reputation for customer support and Arabic language assistance.
Both IC Markets and Exness are top-tier brokers for Kuwait traders, but the best choice depends on your trading priorities. IC Markets excels in cost efficiency, execution speed, and advanced platforms, making it ideal for experienced traders who trade high volumes. Exness stands out with its instant withdrawals, flexible leverage, and user-friendly experience, appealing to retail traders who value convenience and speed. With both brokers supporting local payment methods like Bank Transfer, Skrill, Neteller, and USDT, Kuwait traders can easily manage their funds. If you are a serious trader focused on minimizing costs, choose IC Markets. If you prefer hassle-free deposits and withdrawals with flexible trading conditions, Exness is the better option. Always consider your individual trading style and needs when making your decision.