IC Markets vs Exness for Norway Traders (2026): Comprehensive Comparison
Which broker is better for Norway traders in 2026? Expert analysis across 12 categories.
For Norway traders in 2026, choosing between IC Markets and Exness is a critical decision. Both brokers hold a stellar 4.8/5 rating, but they cater to different needs. IC Markets is known for its ultra-tight spreads and institutional-grade execution, making it a favorite among scalpers and algorithmic traders in Norway. Exness, on the other hand, offers flexible leverage up to 1:2000 and a lower minimum deposit, appealing to retail traders who want to start small. Both brokers support local payment methods like Bank Transfer, Skrill, Neteller, and USDT, ensuring seamless deposits and withdrawals for Norwegian clients. While neither is directly regulated by the local financial regulator, they operate under reputable international licenses (e.g., CySEC, FCA, FSA). This comparison dives into spreads, platforms, regulation, and more, tailored specifically for the Norwegian 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 Norway traders, IC Markets generally offers lower spreads, particularly on its Raw Spread account with spreads from 0.0 pips on EUR/USD and a commission of $3.5 per lot per side. Exness spreads start from 0.1 pips on its Zero account, with a commission of $3.5 per lot per side. For high-volume traders in Norway, IC Markets can reduce costs significantly. However, Exness has no commission on its Standard account (spreads from 1.0 pips), which suits smaller traders. Both brokers charge no deposit or withdrawal fees for most methods, including USDT and Skrill.
| 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Norway (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 popular among Norway traders for their advanced charting and automated trading capabilities. IC Markets also provides cTrader, known for its user-friendly interface and depth of market, beneficial for scalpers. Exness offers its own WebTerminal and mobile apps, but MT4/MT5 remain the primary platforms. For Norwegian traders, both platforms support Norwegian Krone (NOK) accounts, though USD accounts are more common. IC Markets has a slight edge with cTrader for those who prefer a modern trading environment.
| 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 fast execution speeds, averaging 40ms on MetaTrader 4 servers located in New York and London. Exness also offers low latency with execution speeds around 50ms. For Norway traders, both brokers provide excellent execution quality, but IC Markets has a slight edge due to its direct market access (DMA) and no requotes. Exness uses a hybrid model combining STP and ECN, which is reliable for most retail traders. Scalpers and high-frequency traders in Norway will prefer IC Markets.
| 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), the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC), and the Financial Services Authority (FSA) of Seychelles. Exness is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in the UK, CySEC, and the Financial Services Authority (FSA) of Seychelles. For Norway traders, neither broker is directly supervised by the local financial regulator, but they comply with EU standards (via CySEC) and international norms. This provides a reasonable level of client protection, including negative balance protection and segregated accounts. Norway traders should verify their tax obligations when trading with international brokers.
| 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 |
For Norway traders, both IC Markets and Exness support Bank Transfer, Skrill, Neteller, and USDT (Tether) for deposits and withdrawals. Bank transfers are reliable but may take 1-3 business days, while e-wallets and USDT are instant. IC Markets has a minimum deposit of $200 (or equivalent), while Exness allows as low as $10. Withdrawals are processed quickly: Exness offers instant withdrawals for e-wallets and USDT, while IC Markets processes within 24 hours. No fees are charged by either broker for these methods, making them cost-effective for Norwegian traders. It's advisable to use the same method for deposits and withdrawals to avoid complications.
| 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 Norway Muslim traders who require Sharia-compliant trading. These accounts eliminate overnight interest (swap) on positions held beyond the trading day. Exness provides Islamic accounts automatically on all account types, while IC Markets offers them upon request and approval. For Norway traders, this is a valuable option, especially for those trading major forex pairs where swaps can accumulate. Ensure to check the broker's policy on holding positions for extended periods, as some may apply fees after a certain number of days.
| 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 |
Both brokers offer 24/7 customer support in multiple languages, including English and Norwegian. IC Markets provides live chat, email, and phone support, with response times under 5 minutes for chat. Exness also offers 24/7 support via live chat, email, and phone, with a dedicated Norwegian-speaking team. For Norway traders, Exness has a slight advantage with its local language support, though IC Markets' support is equally efficient. Both have extensive FAQ sections on their websites.
| 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 needing ultra-tight spreads from 0.0 pips.
- Trade high volumes and want low commissions ($3.5 per lot).
- Prefer cTrader platform for advanced order types and depth of market.
- Want institutional-grade execution with minimal slippage.
Choose Exness if you...
- Are a retail trader starting with a small deposit (as low as $10).
- Need flexible leverage up to 1:2000 for larger positions.
- Want instant withdrawals via e-wallets or USDT.
- Prefer a broker with a dedicated Norwegian-speaking support team.
For Norway traders, the choice between IC Markets and Exness depends on your trading style and budget. IC Markets is the superior choice for cost-conscious scalpers and algorithmic traders due to its tighter spreads and faster execution. Exness is better for retail traders who value low minimum deposits, flexible leverage, and instant withdrawals. Both brokers support local payment methods like Bank Transfer, Skrill, Neteller, and USDT, making them accessible for Norwegian clients. While neither is directly regulated by the local financial regulator, their international licenses provide adequate security. Consider your volume, preferred platform, and support needs—IC Markets for precision, Exness for flexibility.