IC Markets vs FXTM 2026: Sweden Retail Trader Comparison
Which broker is better for Sweden traders in 2026? Expert analysis across 12 categories.
For Sweden traders looking to trade forex and CFDs, IC Markets and FXTM are two of the most popular brokers globally, but they cater to different needs. IC Markets, with a score of 4.8/5, is known for its ultra-low spreads, fast execution, and institutional-grade trading environment, making it a top choice for active retail traders in Sweden who prioritize cost efficiency. FXTM, scoring 4.3/5, offers a more balanced approach with a user-friendly platform, extensive educational resources, and a range of account types suitable for beginners and intermediate traders. Both brokers accept Swedish clients and support local payment methods like Bank Transfer, Skrill, Neteller, and USDT. However, Sweden traders must consider that neither broker is directly regulated by the Swedish Financial Supervisory Authority (Finansinspektionen), but they operate under reputable international licenses. This comparison will help you decide which broker aligns better with your trading style, whether you're a scalper seeking razor-thin spreads or a long-term investor valuing support and education.
| Instrument | IC Markets | FXTM | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUR/USD avg spread | 0.09 pips + $3.5/lot | 0.0 pips + $3.5/lot | FXTM |
| XAU/USD (Gold) | $0.14 typical | $0.12 typical | FXTM |
| GBP/USD avg spread | 0.29 pips | 0.23 pips | FXTM |
| Standard acc spread | from 1.0 pips | from 0.8 pips | FXTM |
| ECN commission | $3.5/lot/side | $3.5/lot/side | Tie |
| Min deposit | $200 | $10 | FXTM |
| Inactivity fee | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
When comparing trading costs for Sweden traders, IC Markets clearly leads with spreads starting from 0.0 pips on its Raw Spread account (plus a $3.50 commission per lot), while FXTM's standard account offers spreads from 1.0 pips with no commission. For a Sweden trader executing 10 lots per month on EUR/USD, IC Markets costs approximately $35 in commissions versus FXTM's $100 in spread costs (assuming 1 pip spread). This makes IC Markets significantly cheaper for high-volume traders. However, FXTM's Zero account also offers spreads from 0.0 pips with a commission, but the overall cost is still slightly higher than IC Markets. Sweden traders should also consider swap rates, which are competitive at both brokers, but IC Markets offers lower overnight financing for most currency pairs.
| Account Type | IC Markets | FXTM |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | FXTM |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | FXTM | 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+ | ✗ | IC Markets |
| Stocks / Share CFDs | ✗ | ✗ | FXTM |
| ETFs | ✗ | ✗ | Tie |
| Options | ✗ | ✗ | Tie |
| Futures | ✗ | ✗ | Tie |
| Platform | IC Markets | FXTM |
|---|---|---|
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | ✓ | ✓ |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | ✓ | ✓ |
| cTrader | ✓ | ✗ |
| TradingView | ✗ | ✗ |
| Expert Advisors (EAs) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Scalping allowed | ✓ | ✓ |
| Hedging allowed | ✓ | ✓ |
| Fixed spreads | ✗ | ✗ |
| Variable spreads | ✓ | ✓ |
Both brokers offer MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5), which are the most popular platforms among Sweden traders for their advanced charting, automated trading, and EA support. IC Markets also provides cTrader, a platform favored by scalpers for its depth of market and fast order execution. FXTM offers its proprietary FXTM Trader app for mobile trading, which is intuitive but less advanced than cTrader. For Sweden traders who rely on algorithmic trading or need advanced tools, IC Markets is the better choice. FXTM's platforms are more suitable for beginners who prefer simplicity and integrated educational content.
| Factor | IC Markets | FXTM | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Execution model | ECN/STP | True ECN | FXTM |
| 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 speeds, averaging under 40ms, thanks to its Equinix NY4 data center and low-latency infrastructure. This is ideal for Sweden traders using automated strategies or scalping. FXTM's execution speeds are also fast (around 100ms) but slightly slower due to its multi-asset liquidity providers. Both brokers offer no requotes, but IC Markets has a slight edge in order execution quality, especially during high volatility.
| Safety Factor | IC Markets | FXTM |
|---|---|---|
| Primary regulator | ASIC | FCA |
| Reg number | #335692 | #600475 |
| Verify registration | Verify ↗ | Verify ↗ |
| Top-tier regulated | ✓ | ✓ |
| Investor protection | ✓ | ✓ |
| Segregated funds | ✓ | ✓ |
| Neg. balance protection | ✓ | ✓ |
Neither IC Markets nor FXTM is directly regulated by the Swedish Financial Supervisory Authority (Finansinspektionen), which means Sweden traders do not have local investor protection schemes like the Swedish Deposit Guarantee. IC Markets is regulated by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) and the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC), offering strong oversight and negative balance protection. FXTM is regulated by CySEC, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in the UK, and the Financial Services Commission (FSC) in Mauritius. For Sweden traders, this means both brokers are safe but operate under EU or offshore frameworks. IC Markets' ASIC regulation is considered more stringent, while FXTM's FCA license provides additional confidence. Sweden traders should verify their broker's legal entity and ensure compliance with local tax reporting.
| Payment Method | IC Markets | FXTM |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Cards instant (up to 2h EU); e-wallets instant-2h; bank/local transfer 1 business day; crypto up to 24h |
| Min withdrawal | $50 | $50 |
Sweden traders can deposit and withdraw funds at both IC Markets and FXTM using Bank Transfer, Skrill, Neteller, and USDT, which are all widely accepted. IC Markets also supports credit/debit cards (Visa, Mastercard) and PayPal, while FXTM offers additional options like local bank transfers in SEK and UnionPay. Deposits via Skrill and Neteller are usually instant and fee-free at both brokers, while bank transfers may take 1-3 business days and incur small fees depending on the bank. USDT deposits (via TRC20 or ERC20) are processed quickly with low fees, ideal for crypto-savvy Sweden traders. Withdrawals are processed within 24 hours at IC Markets and 1-2 business days at FXTM, with e-wallets being the fastest. Sweden traders should note that FXTM charges a small withdrawal fee for bank transfers, while IC Markets covers most fees for the first withdrawal monthly.
| Islamic Account Feature | IC Markets | FXTM |
|---|---|---|
| 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 FXTM offer Islamic (swap-free) accounts for Sweden traders who require Sharia-compliant trading. IC Markets provides swap-free accounts on all account types (Standard, Raw Spread, and cTrader) upon request, with no additional fees for holding positions overnight. FXTM offers Islamic accounts on its Standard and Cent accounts, but not on its ECN or Zero accounts. FXTM's Islamic accounts may have a longer processing time for approval. For Sweden Muslim traders, IC Markets is more flexible as it covers a wider range of account types and instruments, while FXTM is a good option for beginners trading smaller volumes. Both brokers ensure no interest is charged or earned on overnight positions.
| Support Feature | IC Markets | FXTM | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Live chat | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Phone support | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Email support | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| 24/7 support | ✗ | ✗ | Tie |
| 24/5 support | ✓ | ✓ | 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 fast response times (under 30 seconds for live chat). FXTM also provides 24/5 support with live chat, email, and callback service, but response times can be slower during peak hours. For Sweden traders, both brokers have English-speaking support, but FXTM offers support in Swedish through its global team. IC Markets' support is more efficient for technical issues, while FXTM excels in educational assistance.
| Mobile Feature | IC Markets | FXTM | 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 | FXTM | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Video tutorials | 100+ videos | 50+ videos | IC Markets |
| Webinars (live) | ✗ | Monthly | Tie |
| Economic calendar | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Market analysis | Daily | Basic | IC Markets |
| Beginner resources | Excellent | Basic | IC Markets |
Choose IC Markets if you...
- Are a high-volume or scalping trader seeking the lowest spreads and fastest execution.
- Use automated trading strategies (EAs) on MT4/MT5 or cTrader.
- Prefer a wide range of deposit methods including Skrill, Neteller, and USDT with low fees.
- Want access to advanced trading tools and depth of market features.
Choose FXTM if you...
- Are a beginner or intermediate trader who values educational resources and demo accounts.
- Prefer a broker with a strong brand reputation and multiple account types (including micro lots).
- Need support in Swedish or prefer a more user-friendly trading platform.
- Want to trade with smaller capital and benefit from flexible leverage options.
For Sweden traders, the choice between IC Markets and FXTM ultimately depends on your trading style and experience level. IC Markets, with a 4.8/5 score, is the superior choice for active, cost-conscious traders who prioritize low spreads, fast execution, and advanced platforms like cTrader. It also excels in supporting local payment methods like Bank Transfer, Skrill, Neteller, and USDT with minimal fees. FXTM, scoring 4.3/5, is better suited for beginners or those who value education, a wider range of account types, and Swedish-language support. However, both brokers operate without direct Swedish Financial Supervisory Authority regulation, so traders should exercise due diligence. If you trade high volumes and want to minimize costs, IC Markets is the clear winner. For a balanced trading experience with strong support, FXTM is a solid alternative.