IC Markets vs Exness: A Comprehensive Comparison for Lebanon Traders (2026)
Which broker is better for Lebanon traders in 2026? Expert analysis across 12 categories.
For Lebanon traders in 2026, choosing between IC Markets and Exness is a pivotal decision. Both brokers boast a stellar 4.8/5 rating and cater to retail traders with robust offerings. IC Markets is renowned for its raw spreads and ultra-fast execution, making it a favorite among scalpers and algorithmic traders. Exness, on the other hand, shines with flexible leverage, instant withdrawals, and a broader range of local payment methods including USDT, which is increasingly popular in Lebanon due to economic instability. The local financial regulator does not prohibit either broker, providing a safe environment for traders. Whether you prioritize low trading costs or flexibility in deposits and withdrawals, this comparison will help you decide based on Lebanon-specific factors like Bank Transfer, Skrill, Neteller, and USDT support.
| 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 Lebanon traders, trading costs are crucial. IC Markets offers spreads from 0.0 pips on its Raw Spread account with a $7 round-turn commission per lot, making it highly competitive for high-volume traders. Exness provides spreads as low as 0.1 pips on its Zero account with a similar commission structure, but its standard accounts have wider spreads. For example, on EUR/USD, IC Markets' raw spread averages 0.1 pips, while Exness' standard spread is around 0.3 pips. Over 100 lots traded monthly, IC Markets can save Lebanon traders approximately $200 in spreads, but Exness' lower commission on certain accounts may offset this for smaller traders.
| 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Lebanon (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 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5), which are preferred by Lebanon traders for their advanced charting and automated trading capabilities. IC Markets also provides cTrader, a platform popular for its intuitive interface and depth of market. Exness offers its proprietary WebTerminal and mobile apps, which are optimized for local internet speeds. For Lebanon traders who rely on Expert Advisors (EAs) or scalping, IC Markets' cTrader is a strong advantage. Exness' platforms are more user-friendly for beginners and offer seamless integration with local payment methods.
| 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 known for its ultra-fast execution with an average speed of 40ms, making it ideal for scalpers and high-frequency traders in Lebanon. Exness offers execution speeds around 50ms, which is still excellent but slightly slower. Both brokers use No Dealing Desk (NDD) execution, ensuring no requotes or conflicts of interest. For Lebanon traders who trade volatile assets like gold or forex pairs, IC Markets' faster execution minimizes slippage.
| 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). Exness is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in the UK and the Financial Services Authority (FSA) in Seychelles. For Lebanon traders, these international licenses ensure a high level of fund security and transparency. The local financial regulator does not impose additional restrictions, but traders should note that brokers operate under international law. Both brokers offer negative balance protection and segregated accounts, which are critical for risk management in volatile markets.
| 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 |
Lebanon traders can fund their accounts using Bank Transfer, Skrill, Neteller, and USDT at both IC Markets and Exness. Exness goes further by supporting Perfect Money and SticPay, which are popular in Lebanon. IC Markets requires a minimum deposit of $200 for standard accounts, while Exness allows deposits as low as $10, making it more accessible for retail traders. USDT deposits are processed instantly at both brokers, which is a key advantage given Lebanon's banking challenges. Withdrawals are also efficient: Exness offers instant withdrawals for e-wallets and USDT, while IC Markets processes them within 24 hours. Bank transfers may take 1-3 business days. For Lebanon traders, Exness' lower minimum deposit and instant withdrawal feature are particularly attractive.
| 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 Lebanon's Muslim traders. IC Markets provides Islamic accounts on all account types without any swap charges on overnight positions, making it ideal for long-term traders. Exness also offers Islamic accounts, but they are limited to standard and cent accounts. To activate an Islamic account, Lebanon traders simply need to contact customer support and provide a declaration of faith. Both brokers comply with Sharia law by waiving interest on positions held overnight. IC Markets' broader availability across account types gives it a slight edge for traders who want swap-free conditions on raw spreads.
| 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. Exness also provides 24/7 support with a dedicated Arabic-speaking team, which is a significant advantage for Lebanon traders who prefer assistance in Arabic. Both brokers have extensive FAQ sections and educational resources. Exness' local language support and faster response times make it slightly more accessible for Lebanon traders.
| 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
- Prefer cTrader for its advanced features and depth of market
- Trade high volumes and want to minimize per-lot costs
- Need Islamic accounts on all account types
Choose Exness if you...
- Want flexible leverage up to 1:2000 for small accounts
- Prefer instant withdrawals and lower minimum deposits ($10)
- Want Arabic-speaking customer support and local payment methods like USDT and SticPay
- Are a beginner looking for a user-friendly platform with educational resources
For Lebanon traders in 2026, both IC Markets and Exness are top-tier brokers with a 4.8/5 rating. IC Markets excels in raw spreads and execution speed, making it ideal for professional and high-volume traders. Exness offers greater flexibility with lower minimum deposits, instant withdrawals, and support for USDT and other local payments, which is crucial given Lebanon's economic conditions. The local financial regulator does not restrict either broker. If you prioritize trading costs and advanced platforms, choose IC Markets. If you value flexible deposits, fast withdrawals, and Arabic support, Exness is the better choice. Ultimately, your decision should align with your trading style and financial needs in Lebanon.