IC Markets vs Exness 2026: Which Broker is Best for Thailand Traders?
Which broker is better for Thailand traders in 2026? Expert analysis across 12 categories.
Thailand traders looking for a reliable forex broker in 2026 are often torn between IC Markets and Exness, two industry giants both scoring 4.8/5. With the Thai baht’s volatility and the growing popularity of USDT deposits, choosing the right broker is crucial. IC Markets is renowned for its ultra-low spreads and institutional-grade execution, making it a top choice for scalpers and algorithmic traders. Exness, on the other hand, stands out with its flexible deposit options including local Bank Transfer, Skrill, Neteller, and USDT, plus unlimited leverage for professional accounts. Both brokers accept Thai clients without direct local financial regulator oversight, but operate under strong international licenses. This comparison will help you decide which broker fits your trading style, whether you prioritize cost efficiency or payment convenience in Thailand.
| 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 |
For Thailand traders, trading costs are a major consideration. IC Markets offers raw spreads from 0.0 pips on its Raw Spread account with a commission of $7 per lot round turn, making it ideal for high-volume scalpers. Exness’s standard account has spreads from 0.3 pips with no commission, but its Zero account offers spreads from 0.0 pips with a lower commission than IC Markets. Over 100 lots per month, IC Markets can save you $50–100 compared to Exness standard accounts. However, Exness’s lower minimum deposit ($10 vs $200) makes it more accessible for Thai beginners.
| 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Thailand (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, MetaTrader 5, and cTrader, which are popular among Thai traders. IC Markets’ cTrader platform is particularly favored for its advanced charting and fast execution, while Exness provides a user-friendly web terminal and mobile app. For Thai traders who trade on the go, Exness’s app supports local language and Thai baht conversion, giving it a slight edge in accessibility. Both platforms are stable and offer VPS hosting for algorithmic traders in Thailand.
| 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 offers true ECN execution with no requotes and average execution speed under 40ms, making it ideal for scalpers in Thailand using USDT deposits. Exness also provides fast execution (under 100ms) but may have requotes during high volatility. For Thai traders using automated strategies, IC Markets’ execution quality is superior, while Exness is sufficient for most manual traders.
| 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 ASIC (Australia), CySEC (Cyprus), and FCA (UK), while Exness holds licenses from FCA, CySEC, and FSA (Seychelles). Neither broker is directly regulated by the local financial regulator in Thailand, but both comply with international standards. For Thai traders, this means your funds are protected by negative balance protection and segregated accounts. Exness also offers an investor compensation fund for EU clients, though this may not apply to Thai residents. Always verify the entity you open an account with.
| 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 |
Thailand traders have multiple deposit and withdrawal options at both brokers. IC Markets supports Bank Transfer (international), Skrill, Neteller, and USDT, with a minimum deposit of $200. Exness offers the same methods plus local Thai bank transfers via its local payment partners, with a minimum deposit of just $10. USDT deposits are processed instantly on both platforms, ideal for crypto-savvy Thai traders. Withdrawals are free on both brokers, but Exness processes them faster (within 24 hours) compared to IC Markets (1-3 business days). For Thai traders who value speed and low fees, Exness has a clear advantage in this area.
| 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 Muslim traders in Thailand. IC Markets provides swap-free accounts on all account types with no time limit, making it a long-term solution for halal trading. Exness also offers Islamic accounts, but some instruments may have a swap-free period (e.g., 30 days) after which a fee applies. Thai Muslim traders should check the latest terms, especially for commodities and indices. IC Markets is generally more accommodating for long-term Islamic traders.
| 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 live chat and email support in English, with some Thai-language support available during business hours. Exness provides 24/7 support in multiple languages including Thai, with a dedicated local phone number for Thailand. For Thai traders who prefer speaking in their native language, Exness has a slight edge in customer support accessibility.
| 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.
- Trade high volumes (over 100 lots/month) and want to minimize costs.
- Prefer cTrader platform for advanced charting and fast execution.
- Need a long-term Islamic account with no swap-free time limit.
Choose Exness if you...
- Want to start trading with a low minimum deposit of $10.
- Prefer local Bank Transfer and instant USDT deposits/withdrawals.
- Need unlimited leverage for professional trading strategies.
- Value 24/7 Thai-language customer support and local payment partners.
For Thailand traders in 2026, both IC Markets and Exness are excellent brokers, but your choice depends on your priorities. If you are a cost-conscious scalper or algorithmic trader who values ultra-low spreads and execution speed, IC Markets is the better choice, especially if you can meet the $200 minimum deposit via Bank Transfer or USDT. If you prefer flexible deposits (including local Thai bank transfers, Skrill, Neteller, and USDT), lower minimum deposit, and unlimited leverage, Exness is more accessible. Both brokers are trusted internationally and not directly regulated by the local financial regulator, but offer strong fund safety. Ultimately, test both with a demo account to see which platform feels more comfortable for your trading style in Thailand.