Which broker is better for Sweden traders in 2026? Expert analysis across 12 categories.
Sweden traders seeking a reliable forex broker face a tough choice between IC Markets and Exness, both scoring an impressive 4.8 out of 5. IC Markets, founded in 2007, is renowned for its ultra-low spreads and institutional-grade execution, making it a favorite among active retail traders in Stockholm, Gothenburg, and MalmΓΆ. Exness, established in 2008, has built a strong reputation for flexible leverage, instant withdrawals, and a user-friendly experience that appeals to traders of all levels. Both brokers accept Swedish clients and support popular local payment methods like Bank Transfer, Skrill, Neteller, and USDT. This comparison will help you decide which broker fits your trading style, whether you prioritize raw spreads, high leverage, or seamless deposits and withdrawals in SEK or USD. Weβll examine trading costs, platforms, regulation, and specific features relevant to the Swedish market, including Islamic accounts and local 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 | β | β | Tie |
For Sweden traders, trading costs are a critical factor, especially for those trading high volumes. IC Markets offers a Raw Spread account with spreads from 0.0 pips and a commission of $7 per lot round turn, which is highly competitive for EUR/USD and other major pairs. Exness provides a Zero account with spreads from 0.1 pips and a commission of $3.5 per side per lot, making it slightly more expensive for scalpers. On a standard account, Exness has no commission but wider spreads. For a Sweden trader executing 10 lots per day, IC Markets can save up to $20 daily compared to Exness on the Zero account. Both brokers have no hidden fees, but IC Marketsβ raw pricing is better for high-volume strategies.
| Account Type | IC Markets | Exness |
|---|---|---|
| Standard account | β | β |
| ECN / Raw spread | β | β |
| Islamic (swap-free) | β | β |
| Demo account | β | β |
| PAMM / MAM account | β | β |
| Zero spread account | β | β |
| Copy trading | β | β |
| VPS trading | β | β |
| Min deposit | $200 | $10 |
| Neg. balance protection | β | β |
| Entity / Asset | IC Markets | Exness |
|---|---|---|
| Sweden (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) | β | β | Tie |
| Oil (WTI/Brent) | β | β | Tie |
| Stock indices | 25+ indices | 20+ indices | IC Markets |
| Crypto CFDs | 30+ | 20+ | IC Markets |
| Stocks / Share CFDs | β | β | Exness |
| ETFs | β | β | Tie |
| Options | β | β | Tie |
| Futures | β | β | Tie |
| Platform | IC Markets | Exness |
|---|---|---|
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | β | β |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | β | β |
| cTrader | β | β |
| TradingView | β | β |
| Expert Advisors (EAs) | β | β |
| Scalping allowed | β | β |
| Hedging allowed | β | β |
| Fixed spreads | β | β |
| Variable spreads | β | β |
Both IC Markets and Exness offer industry-leading platforms that Sweden traders will find familiar and powerful. IC Markets provides MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, and cTrader, with the latter offering advanced charting and depth of marketβideal for precision trading. Exness also offers MT4, MT5, and its proprietary WebTerminal, plus mobile apps with one-click trading. Sweden traders who value automated trading will appreciate IC Marketsβ superior API support and VPS options, while Exnessβs platforms are more intuitive for beginners. Both support Swedish language interfaces and 24/5 support in English and Swedish.
| 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 | β | β | Tie |
| Scalping allowed | β | β | Tie |
| News trading | β | β | Tie |
| EA / Bot trading | β | β | Tie |
IC Markets is known for its ultra-fast execution with no requotes, using Equinix NY4 data centers and low-latency connectivity, making it ideal for Sweden scalpers and algo traders. Exness also offers fast execution with an average speed of 0.1 seconds on MT4/MT5, but may experience occasional slippage during high volatility. For Sweden traders focused on precise entry and exit, IC Marketsβ institutional-grade infrastructure is superior, while Exness provides reliable execution for most retail strategies.
| Safety Factor | IC Markets | Exness |
|---|---|---|
| Primary regulator | ASIC | FCA |
| Reg number | #335692 | #730729 |
| Verify registration | Verify β | Verify β |
| Top-tier regulated | β | β |
| Investor protection | β | β |
| Segregated funds | β | β |
| Neg. balance protection | β | β |
IC Markets is regulated by top-tier authorities including 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) in the UK and the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC). Neither broker is directly licensed by the Swedish Financial Supervisory Authority (Finansinspektionen), but both operate legally for Swedish clients under EU passporting rules (for CySEC entities) or as international brokers. Sweden traders should note that negative balance protection is standard with Exness for retail clients, while IC Markets offers it on certain entities. Always verify your account type and jurisdiction before trading.
| Payment Method | IC Markets | Exness |
|---|---|---|
| Bank Wire Transfer | β | β |
| Visa / Mastercard | β | β |
| Skrill | β | β |
| Neteller | β | β |
| USDT / Crypto | β | β |
| 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 |
Sweden traders can fund their accounts using Bank Transfer, Skrill, Neteller, and USDT at both brokers. IC Markets requires a minimum deposit of $200 (or equivalent in SEK) via Bank Transfer, while e-wallets like Skrill and Neteller have no minimum. Withdrawals are processed within 1-3 business days for bank transfers and instantly for e-wallets. Exness offers a lower minimum deposit of just $10 for most methods, including Skrill and Neteller, and supports USDT with no fees. Exness is known for instant withdrawals 24/7, even on weekends, which is a major advantage for Sweden traders who need quick access to funds. Both brokers accept SEK through Bank Transfer, but conversion fees may apply.
| Islamic Account Feature | IC Markets | Exness |
|---|---|---|
| Swap-free available | β | β |
| Admin fee instead of swap | On some instruments | On some instruments |
| MT4 / MT5 supported | β | β |
| Gold swap-free | β | β |
| Crypto swap-free | β | β |
| How to apply | Contact support | Contact support |
For Swedenβs growing Muslim trading community, both IC Markets and Exness offer Islamic (swap-free) accounts that comply with Sharia law. IC Markets provides Islamic accounts on request for all account types, with no swap charges on overnight positions, but requires a minimum deposit of $200. Exness offers automatic swap-free accounts for clients residing in predominantly Muslim countries, including Sweden, with no extra fees. Exnessβs process is more streamlined, as it applies automatically based on account registration, while IC Markets requires a manual request. Both brokers ensure no interest is charged or paid, and positions are closed before rollover to avoid any riba.
| Support Feature | IC Markets | Exness | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Live chat | β | β | Tie |
| Phone support | β | β | Tie |
| Email support | β | β | Tie |
| 24/7 support | β | β | Exness |
| 24/5 support | β | β | Tie |
| Response time (chat) | <2 minutes | <3 minutes | IC Markets |
IC Markets offers 24/7 multilingual customer support via live chat, email, and phone, with a dedicated team for Swedish clients available during European business hours. Exness also provides 24/7 support in multiple languages, including Swedish, through live chat, email, and a callback service. Sweden traders will find both responsive, but Exnessβs live chat is slightly faster with average response times under 30 seconds, while IC Markets excels in technical support for platform issues.
| Mobile Feature | IC Markets | Exness | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| iOS App Store rating | 4.5β | 4.3β | IC Markets |
| Google Play rating | 4.3β | 4.2β | IC Markets |
| Biometric login | β | β | Tie |
| Push notifications | β | β | Tie |
| Full charting on mobile | β | β | Tie |
| Mobile deposit/withdrawal | β | β | Tie |
| TradingView mobile | β | β | Tie |
| Dark mode | β | β | Tie |
| Resource | IC Markets | Exness | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Video tutorials | 100+ videos | 50+ videos | IC Markets |
| Webinars (live) | β | β | Tie |
| Economic calendar | β | β | Tie |
| Market analysis | Daily | Basic | IC Markets |
| Beginner resources | Excellent | Basic | IC Markets |
Choose IC Markets if you...
Choose Exness if you...
For Sweden traders, the choice between IC Markets and Exness hinges on your trading style and priorities. IC Markets wins on raw spreads and execution speed, making it the top pick for active traders and scalpers who trade high volumes. Exness excels with its instant withdrawals, low minimum deposit, and flexible leverage, appealing to beginners and those who value liquidity access. Both brokers support local payments like Bank Transfer, Skrill, Neteller, and USDT, and offer Islamic accounts. While neither is directly regulated by Finansinspektionen, both operate under strong international oversight. If you prioritize cost efficiency and advanced tools, go with IC Markets. If you prefer flexibility and fast withdrawals, Exness is your better match.