IC Markets vs Exness for Suriname Traders (2026)
Which broker is better for Suriname traders in 2026? Expert analysis across 12 categories.
For Suriname traders looking to enter the forex market, choosing the right broker is crucial. IC Markets and Exness are two of the most popular global brokers, both scoring 4.8/5 in our comparison. While both cater to retail traders, they differ in key areas that matter to Suriname residents. IC Markets is known for its ultra-low spreads, deep liquidity, and professional-grade trading conditions, ideal for active traders. Exness, on the other hand, offers more flexible account options, lower minimum deposits, and a wider range of payment methods including USDT, which is increasingly popular in Suriname. Both brokers accept deposits via Bank Transfer, Skrill, and Neteller, making them accessible to local traders. However, Suriname’s local financial regulator does not directly oversee either broker, so traders must rely on the brokers’ international licenses. This page provides a detailed comparison to help you decide which broker fits your trading style and local needs.
| 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 has a clear edge for Suriname traders who trade frequently. Its Raw Spread account offers spreads from 0.0 pips with a $7 round-turn commission per lot, resulting in lower total costs for high-volume traders. Exness spreads start from 0.1 pips on its Zero account with a similar commission structure, but its Standard account has no commission and wider spreads. For Suriname traders trading 10+ lots per month, IC Markets typically saves $20-50 in spread costs compared to Exness. However, Exness offers negative balance protection, which can be valuable for retail traders managing risk.
| 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Suriname (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 same core platforms: MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, and cTrader, all available on desktop, web, and mobile. For Suriname traders, this means full access to advanced charting, automated trading via Expert Advisors (EAs), and fast execution. IC Markets provides cTrader with its own copy trading platform, which is popular among Suriname traders who follow signal providers. Exness offers a proprietary web platform and a mobile app with one-click trading, which is convenient for traders on the go. Both brokers support VPS hosting for low-latency trading, critical for Suriname traders connecting to international servers.
| 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 speeds, averaging under 40 milliseconds, thanks to its Equinix NY4 data center and No Dealing Desk (NDD) model. Exness execution speeds are also fast, typically under 100 milliseconds, with a hybrid market maker and STP model. For Suriname traders, IC Markets provides a clear advantage for scalping and high-frequency strategies, while Exness offers sufficient speed for most retail traders. Both brokers have 99.9% uptime and no requotes on major pairs.
| 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 holds licenses from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in the UK, CySEC, and the Financial Services Authority (FSA) of Seychelles. For Suriname traders, neither broker is directly regulated by the local financial regulator, but both are overseen by reputable international bodies. Exness offers negative balance protection and segregated client funds, which adds a layer of security. IC Markets provides negative balance protection only for EU clients, so Suriname traders should consider this when assessing risk.
| 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 |
Both IC Markets and Exness support the payment methods most relevant to Suriname traders: Bank Transfer, Skrill, Neteller, and USDT. IC Markets requires a minimum deposit of $200 via bank transfer or $50 via e-wallets, while Exness has no minimum deposit, making it more accessible for beginners. Withdrawals are processed within 1-2 business days for Skrill and Neteller, and up to 5 days for bank transfers. USDT deposits are processed instantly on both platforms, with no additional fees from the brokers. Exness also supports local currency accounts, but Suriname traders will need to convert to USD for trading. IC Markets charges a small fee for bank transfers, while Exness offers free withdrawals for most methods. Overall, Exness provides more flexibility for Suriname traders with smaller capital.
| 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 Suriname Muslim traders who require compliance with Sharia law. IC Markets provides swap-free accounts on all account types, including Raw Spread and Standard, with no additional fees. Exness offers Islamic accounts on Standard and Cent accounts only, with swap-free conditions on all instruments except certain commodities. Both brokers require a declaration of faith for account activation. For Suriname traders, IC Markets offers broader access to Islamic accounts across all trading styles, while Exness limits it to lower-tier accounts. It’s important to note that swap-free accounts may have holding period limits on both platforms.
| 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 multilingual agents available. Exness also provides 24/7 support through live chat, email, and a comprehensive FAQ section. For Suriname traders, response times are similar, with live chat being the fastest option. IC Markets has a slight edge in technical support for platform issues, while Exness excels in account-related queries. Both brokers support English, which is widely used in Suriname’s business environment.
| 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-volume trader needing the lowest spreads and fastest execution.
- Prefer cTrader platform for advanced charting and algorithmic trading.
- Have a deposit of $200 or more and trade 10+ lots per month.
- Want Islamic accounts available on all account types.
Choose Exness if you...
- Are a beginner or casual retail trader with a small deposit (no minimum).
- Prefer flexible payment methods including USDT and free withdrawals.
- Value negative balance protection for risk management.
- Want a simpler account structure with commission-free options.
For Suriname traders, the choice between IC Markets and Exness comes down to trading style and budget. IC Markets is the better option for active traders who can meet the $200 minimum deposit and want the lowest spreads, fastest execution, and full Islamic account support. Exness is ideal for beginners and smaller traders who appreciate no minimum deposit, flexible USDT deposits, and negative balance protection. Both brokers accept Bank Transfer, Skrill, Neteller, and USDT, making them accessible to Suriname residents. While neither is regulated by the local financial regulator, both are backed by top-tier international licenses. Ultimately, IC Markets suits performance-focused traders, while Exness offers greater accessibility and safety nets.