IC Markets vs Exness for Malta Traders (2026)
Which broker is better for Malta traders in 2026? Expert analysis across 12 categories.
Malta traders looking for a reliable forex broker in 2026 often compare IC Markets and Exness, both rated 4.8/5 by traders worldwide. These two industry leaders offer robust trading conditions, but they cater to slightly different needs. IC Markets is renowned for its ultra-low spreads and deep liquidity, making it a favorite among scalpers and algorithmic traders. Exness, on the other hand, stands out with flexible leverage up to 1:2000 and instant withdrawal processing, appealing to retail traders who value speed and simplicity. For Malta-based traders, both brokers accept local payment methods like Bank Transfer, Skrill, Neteller, and USDT, ensuring seamless deposits and withdrawals. While neither broker is regulated by the local financial regulator in Malta, both hold licenses from top-tier authorities like CySEC and FCA, providing a layer of security. This comparison will help you decide which broker aligns with your trading style, whether you prioritize cost efficiency or flexibility in the Maltese trading environment.
| 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 for Malta traders, IC Markets offers tighter spreads starting from 0.0 pips on its Raw Spread account, but charges a commission of $3.50 per lot per side. Exness provides spreads from 0.1 pips on its Zero account with a similar commission structure, or commission-free trading on its Standard account with spreads from 0.3 pips. For high-volume Malta traders, IC Markets is more cost-effective due to lower overall costs per trade, especially for those executing multiple lots daily. Exness may suit smaller traders who prefer no-commission accounts. Both brokers offer competitive pricing in USD, which is the base currency for most Malta 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Malta (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 | ✓ | ✓ |
IC Markets and Exness both support MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5), which are the preferred platforms for Malta retail traders due to their advanced charting and automated trading capabilities. IC Markets also offers cTrader, a platform popular for ECN trading with direct market access. Exness provides its proprietary web trader platform in addition to MT4/MT5. For Malta traders using mobile devices, both brokers have highly rated apps. If you need advanced order types and algorithmic trading, IC Markets has an edge with cTrader. For simplicity and ease of use, Exness's platforms are equally reliable.
| 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 |
Execution quality is critical for Malta traders, especially scalpers. IC Markets offers ultra-fast execution with an average speed of 40ms on its ECN infrastructure, with no requotes. Exness also provides fast execution at around 50ms, with 99% of orders executed instantly. Both brokers have no dealing desk intervention, ensuring transparency. For high-frequency traders, IC Markets' lower latency and direct market access through cTrader may be preferable, while Exness is equally reliable for most retail 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 | ✓ | ✓ |
Regulation is a key consideration for Malta traders. IC Markets is regulated by the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), ensuring client fund segregation and negative balance protection. Exness is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in the UK and CySEC, providing similar protections. Neither broker is regulated by the local financial regulator in Malta, but both comply with European Union standards through their CySEC licenses. For Malta traders, this means deposits are protected up to €20,000 under the Investor Compensation Fund for CySEC-regulated entities. Exness also offers a unique feature of unlimited leverage for professional clients, but retail traders face standard ESMA leverage limits.
| 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 |
Malta traders can fund their accounts at both IC Markets and Exness using Bank Transfer, Skrill, Neteller, and USDT. IC Markets has a minimum deposit of $200 for bank transfers and $50 for e-wallets, with withdrawals processed within 1 business day. Exness offers lower minimums—$10 for most methods—and processes withdrawals instantly for e-wallets and USDT. Bank transfers at both brokers take 1-3 business days. For Malta traders using USDT (Tether), both brokers support deposits and withdrawals in USD-pegged stablecoins, which are fast and low-cost. Exness has an edge with instant withdrawals for Skrill and Neteller, while IC Markets is equally reliable but slightly slower. No deposit fees are charged by either broker, but bank transfer fees may apply from your Maltese bank.
| 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 Malta Muslim traders who require compliance with Sharia law. IC Markets provides swap-free accounts on request for all account types, including Raw Spread and Standard accounts, with no additional fees. Exness offers Islamic accounts automatically on Standard and Zero accounts, and they are available to retail traders in Malta. Both brokers ensure no interest is charged or earned on overnight positions. Traders should note that swap-free accounts may have restrictions on long-term holding of certain instruments, but for most forex pairs, they function normally. This makes both brokers suitable for Malta's Muslim community.
| 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 and Exness both provide 24/7 customer support in English, which is widely spoken in Malta. IC Markets offers live chat, email, and phone support, with average response times under 30 seconds for live chat. Exness also offers 24/7 support via live chat, email, and phone, with multilingual agents. For Malta traders, the availability of phone support during European trading hours is a plus. Exness has a slight edge with its dedicated account managers for higher-volume traders, but both brokers offer reliable support.
| 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 ultra-low spreads from 0.0 pips.
- Prefer cTrader for its advanced ECN features and direct market access.
- Trade high volumes and want to minimize per-trade costs.
- Need a broker with deep liquidity and fast execution for major forex pairs.
Choose Exness if you...
- Want flexible leverage up to 1:2000 for small account sizes.
- Prefer instant withdrawals via Skrill, Neteller, or USDT.
- Are a beginner or retail trader who benefits from commission-free Standard accounts.
- Value lower minimum deposits ($10) and easy account setup.
For Malta traders, both IC Markets and Exness are excellent choices with identical 4.8/5 ratings. IC Markets is ideal for cost-conscious scalpers and algorithmic traders who prioritize tight spreads and advanced platforms like cTrader. Exness is better for retail traders who value flexibility, instant withdrawals via Skrill, Neteller, or USDT, and lower entry barriers. While neither broker is regulated by the local financial regulator, both hold CySEC licenses, offering EU-level protection. Ultimately, choose IC Markets for raw spreads and execution speed, or Exness for user-friendly features and fast payments. Both support Bank Transfer and the local payment methods Malta traders rely on.