IC Markets vs Exness 2026: Which Broker is Better for Vietnam Traders?
Which broker is better for Vietnam traders in 2026? Expert analysis across 12 categories.
Vietnam's forex market has grown rapidly, with retail traders seeking reliable brokers that offer low costs, fast execution, and local payment methods. IC Markets and Exness are two of the most popular choices, both scoring 4.8/5 on CompareBroker. IC Markets is known for its institutional-grade trading conditions, including raw spreads from 0.0 pips and deep liquidity, making it a top pick for scalpers and algorithmic traders. Exness, on the other hand, appeals to a broader audience with flexible leverage up to unlimited, no deposit fees, and a lower minimum deposit of just $10. For Vietnam traders, both brokers support essential local payment methods like Bank Transfer, Skrill, Neteller, and USDT, ensuring convenient funding and withdrawals. This comparison will help you decide which broker aligns with your trading style, whether you prioritize tight spreads or flexible account terms.
| 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 Vietnam traders, IC Markets offers a clear advantage on spreads with its Raw Spread account, where EUR/USD spreads start from 0.0 pips plus a $7 round-turn commission. Exness provides competitive spreads on its Zero account, also starting from 0.0 pips but with a $3.5 per lot commission per side. For high-volume traders, IC Markets is more cost-effective due to lower overall commission. However, Exness eliminates swap fees on certain instruments and offers no deposit fees, which can reduce costs for long-term holders. Vietnam traders trading 10+ lots per month will save more with IC Markets, while Exness is better for those trading smaller volumes or holding positions overnight.
| 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Vietnam (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 Vietnam traders for their advanced charting tools and automated trading capabilities. IC Markets also provides cTrader, a popular platform for ECN trading with deeper order book visibility, ideal for scalpers. Exness offers its proprietary WebTerminal and mobile apps, but lacks cTrader. For Vietnam traders who rely on Expert Advisors (EAs) and custom indicators, both brokers support full EA compatibility. IC Markets is better for traders who want cTrader, while Exness offers more platform variety with its own tools.
| 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 ultra-fast execution with average speeds under 40ms on its Equinix NY4 servers, ideal for scalping and high-frequency trading. Exness also offers fast execution, typically under 100ms, but may experience slight delays during high volatility. For Vietnam traders, IC Markets' execution quality is superior for strategies that require minimal slippage, while Exness is reliable for most retail trading needs. Both brokers offer no requotes and support hedging.
| 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 top-tier authorities including the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) and the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC), ensuring strict client fund segregation and negative balance protection. Exness is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in the UK and the Financial Services Authority (FSA) in Seychelles, offering similar protections. For Vietnam traders, both brokers comply with international standards, but Exness provides additional transparency by publishing financial audits. The local financial regulator in Vietnam does not directly oversee these brokers, so traders must rely on the brokers' home regulators for dispute resolution. Both are considered safe for retail traders.
| 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 |
Vietnam traders can fund their accounts using Bank Transfer, Skrill, Neteller, and USDT at both brokers. IC Markets requires a minimum deposit of $200 for bank transfers and $50 for e-wallets, while Exness allows deposits as low as $10 for most methods, making it more accessible for beginners. USDT deposits are processed instantly on both platforms, with no additional fees from the brokers. Withdrawals are typically processed within 24 hours for e-wallets and 1-3 business days for bank transfers. Exness stands out by offering fee-free withdrawals, while IC Markets may charge a small fee for certain methods. Both brokers support local Vietnamese banks, but Exness has a more streamlined process for VND conversions.
| 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 Vietnam Muslim traders who require Sharia-compliant trading. IC Markets provides swap-free accounts on request for all account types, with no overnight interest on positions held for more than 3 days. Exness automatically applies swap-free status to clients from Muslim-majority countries, including Vietnam, without requiring a separate application. Both brokers ensure that Islamic accounts are used for genuine trading and not for arbitrage, and they reserve the right to revert to standard accounts if abuse is detected. This makes both brokers suitable for Vietnam's Muslim community.
| 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 as the primary language. Exness provides multilingual support, including Vietnamese, through live chat and phone during business hours. For Vietnam traders, Exness has a slight advantage with native language support, making it easier to resolve issues. IC Markets' support is responsive but may require English proficiency. Both brokers have extensive FAQ sections and educational resources in English.
| 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 tightest spreads from 0.0 pips.
- Prefer cTrader platform for advanced order book and depth of market.
- Trade with Expert Advisors (EAs) and require ultra-fast execution below 40ms.
- Deposit larger amounts ($200+) and prioritize raw spreads over low minimum deposits.
Choose Exness if you...
- Are a beginner or low-volume trader wanting a low minimum deposit of $10.
- Value flexible leverage, including unlimited leverage on certain accounts.
- Prefer fee-free deposits and withdrawals via Bank Transfer, Skrill, or USDT.
- Want customer support in Vietnamese for easier communication.
For Vietnam traders, both IC Markets and Exness are top-tier brokers with a 4.8/5 rating, but the best choice depends on your priorities. IC Markets is ideal for experienced scalpers and algorithmic traders who need ultra-tight spreads and fast execution, especially if they deposit via Bank Transfer or USDT. Exness is better for beginners and casual traders who value low minimum deposits, flexible leverage, and fee-free local payment methods like Skrill and Neteller. Both brokers are regulated and safe, but Exness offers native Vietnamese support. Ultimately, if you trade high volumes, go with IC Markets; if you want simplicity and lower costs, choose Exness. Consider testing both with a demo account to see which fits your style.