IC Markets vs Exness: Complete Comparison for Philippines Traders (2026)
Which broker is better for Philippines traders in 2026? Expert analysis across 12 categories.
For Philippines traders in 2026, choosing between IC Markets and Exness is a common dilemma. Both brokers hold a stellar 4.8/5 rating and cater to retail traders seeking reliable forex and CFD trading. IC Markets is renowned for its ultra-low spreads and ECN execution, making it a top choice for scalpers and algorithmic traders. Exness, on the other hand, offers flexible leverage up to unlimited, instant withdrawals, and a lower minimum deposit, appealing to beginners and those with smaller capital. Both brokers accept local payment methods like Bank Transfer, Skrill, Neteller, and USDT, ensuring convenient deposits and withdrawals for Filipino traders. While neither is directly regulated by the local financial regulator, they operate under respected international licenses. This comparison will help you decide which broker aligns with your trading style, risk tolerance, and local needs in the Philippines.
| 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 Philippines traders, IC Markets has a clear edge in spreads. On its Raw Spread account, spreads start from 0.0 pips on major pairs like EUR/USD, with a commission of $3.50 per lot per side. Exness offers spreads from 0.1 pips on its Zero account but charges a commission of $3.50 per lot per side as well. For high-volume traders in the Philippines, IC Markets is more cost-effective, especially for scalping strategies. Exness may be cheaper for lower volumes due to its lower minimum deposit and no inactivity fees. Both brokers have no hidden fees on deposits via local methods.
| 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Philippines (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 the industry-standard MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 platforms, which are widely used by Philippines traders for their advanced charting, automated trading, and custom indicators. IC Markets also provides cTrader, a platform favored for its intuitive interface and depth of market, ideal for scalpers. Exness offers its proprietary WebTerminal and mobile apps, but lacks cTrader. For Filipino traders who prioritize fast execution and advanced tools, IC Markets has a slight advantage. Exness platforms are more user-friendly for beginners, with built-in educational resources.
| 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 ECN execution with no dealing desk intervention, offering average execution speeds under 40ms. Exness also provides fast execution with a no-dealing-desk model, but speeds can vary during high volatility. For Philippines traders who scalp or use automated strategies, IC Markets' execution quality is superior. Exness is reliable for standard trading but may have slight slippage during news events.
| 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 | ✓ | ✓ |
Neither IC Markets nor Exness is directly regulated by the local financial regulator in the Philippines. However, both are regulated by top-tier authorities: IC Markets by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) and the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC), while Exness is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and CySEC. For Philippines traders, this means client funds are held in segregated accounts and negative balance protection is provided. While local regulation is absent, these international licenses offer robust protection. Always verify the broker's regulatory status before trading.
| 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 |
Philippines traders can fund their accounts using Bank Transfer, Skrill, Neteller, and USDT with both brokers. IC Markets requires a minimum deposit of $200 for bank transfers and $50 for e-wallets, while Exness has a lower threshold of $10 for most methods, including USDT. Deposits are usually instant for Skrill, Neteller, and USDT, while bank transfers take 1-3 business days. Withdrawals are processed quickly: Exness offers instant withdrawals for e-wallets and USDT, while IC Markets processes within 24 hours. Both brokers do not charge deposit fees, making them cost-effective for Filipino traders. USDT deposits are increasingly popular due to their speed and low fees.
| 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 provide Islamic (swap-free) accounts for Muslim traders in the Philippines. IC Markets offers Islamic accounts on request for all account types, with no swap charges on overnight positions. Exness automatically provides swap-free accounts for clients in eligible regions, including the Philippines, without requiring a separate request. Both brokers comply with Sharia law by not charging or paying interest. However, IC Markets may impose a holding period on some instruments. Filipino Muslim traders can trade confidently with either broker, but Exness offers a more seamless setup.
| 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 English-speaking agents available. Exness provides 24/7 multilingual support including Filipino (Tagalog) on live chat and phone, which is a significant advantage for Philippines traders. Both brokers have extensive FAQ sections. For local language assistance, Exness is the better choice.
| 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 seeking the lowest spreads and fastest execution.
- Prefer advanced platforms like cTrader for depth of market analysis.
- Trade high volumes and want cost-effective commission structures.
- Need robust regulation from ASIC or CySEC for added security.
Choose Exness if you...
- Are a beginner or retail trader with a small starting capital.
- Want instant withdrawals and flexible leverage up to unlimited.
- Prefer local language support in Filipino (Tagalog).
- Use USDT or e-wallets for deposits and need a low minimum deposit.
For Philippines traders in 2026, both IC Markets and Exness are top-tier brokers, but the best choice depends on your trading style. IC Markets excels in low spreads and fast execution, ideal for experienced scalpers and algorithmic traders. Exness offers beginner-friendly features, unlimited leverage, and local language support, making it perfect for new retail traders. Both support Bank Transfer, Skrill, Neteller, and USDT for deposits, ensuring convenient local transactions. While neither is regulated by the local financial regulator, their international licenses provide adequate protection. If you prioritize cost efficiency and advanced platforms, choose IC Markets. If you value flexibility, lower barriers, and Filipino support, Exness is the better fit.