IC Markets vs XM Group: Austria Trader Comparison 2026
Which broker is better for Austria traders in 2026? Expert analysis across 12 categories.
Choosing between IC Markets and XM Group is a key decision for Austria traders in 2026. Both brokers rank highly—IC Markets at 4.8/5 and XM Group at 4.7/5—but they cater to different styles. IC Markets is known for ultra-tight spreads and raw execution, popular among active day traders in Vienna and Salzburg. XM Group offers a more accessible platform with lower minimum deposits, suitable for beginners. Austria traders benefit from local payment options like Bank Transfer, Skrill, Neteller, and USDT, making deposits and withdrawals seamless. Regulation-wise, both operate under reputable international bodies (FCA, CySEC, ASIC), ensuring a secure environment. This comparison will help you decide which broker aligns with your trading goals, whether you prioritize cost efficiency or user-friendliness in the Austrian market.
| Instrument | IC Markets | XM Group | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUR/USD avg spread | 0.09 pips + $3.5/lot | 0.0 pips + $3.5/lot | XM Group |
| XAU/USD (Gold) | $0.14 typical | $0.12 typical | XM Group |
| GBP/USD avg spread | 0.29 pips | 0.23 pips | XM Group |
| Standard acc spread | from 1.0 pips | from 0.8 pips | XM Group |
| ECN commission | $3.5/lot/side | $3.5/lot/side | Tie |
| Min deposit | $200 | $5 | IC Markets |
| Inactivity fee | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
Spread costs are a major factor for Austria traders, especially those trading EUR/USD or DAX. IC Markets offers spreads from 0.0 pips on its Raw Spread account with a $7 commission per lot round turn, making it ideal for high-volume scalpers. XM Group’s standard account starts at 1.0 pips with no commission, but its Zero account can go as low as 0.0 pips with a $5 commission. For Austria traders executing 10+ lots per month, IC Markets is cheaper overall. However, if you trade smaller volumes, XM Group’s no-commission model may be more cost-effective. Both brokers have no hidden fees for deposits via Bank Transfer, Skrill, Neteller, or USDT.
| Account Type | IC Markets | XM Group |
|---|---|---|
| Standard account | ✓ | ✓ |
| ECN / Raw spread | ✓ | ✓ |
| Islamic (swap-free) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Demo account | ✓ | ✓ |
| PAMM / MAM account | ✓ | ✓ |
| Zero spread account | ✓ | ✓ |
| Copy trading | ✗ | ✗ |
| VPS trading | ✓ | ✓ |
| Min deposit | $200 | $5 |
| Neg. balance protection | ✓ | ✓ |
| Entity / Asset | IC Markets | XM Group |
|---|---|---|
| Austria (offshore) | Up to 1:500 | Up to 1:500 |
| Forex major pairs | 1:500 | 1:500 |
| 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 | XM Group | 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 | ✗ | ✗ | XM Group |
| ETFs | ✗ | ✗ | Tie |
| Options | ✗ | ✗ | Tie |
| Futures | ✗ | ✗ | Tie |
| Platform | IC Markets | XM Group |
|---|---|---|
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | ✓ | ✓ |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | ✓ | ✓ |
| cTrader | ✓ | ✗ |
| TradingView | ✗ | ✗ |
| Expert Advisors (EAs) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Scalping allowed | ✓ | ✓ |
| Hedging allowed | ✓ | ✓ |
| Fixed spreads | ✗ | ✗ |
| Variable spreads | ✓ | ✓ |
Both brokers offer MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, the gold standards for Austria traders. IC Markets also provides cTrader, which is popular for its advanced charting and fast execution—a plus for active traders. XM Group focuses on MT4/MT5 with additional tools like XM WebTrader for browser-based trading. For Austria traders who value algorithmic trading, IC Markets supports automated trading with no restrictions on EA usage. XM Group also allows EAs but has slightly more conservative slippage settings. Mobile trading is robust on both, with apps available for iOS and Android.
| Factor | IC Markets | XM Group | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Execution model | ECN/STP | True ECN | XM Group |
| 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 |
Execution quality is a key differentiator. IC Markets uses low-latency data centers in New York and London, offering average execution speeds under 40ms—ideal for scalpers and high-frequency traders. XM Group also provides fast execution (under 100ms) but has more conservative slippage protection. For Austria traders trading major pairs like EUR/USD, IC Markets offers tighter spreads and fewer requotes. Both brokers use No Dealing Desk (NDD) execution, but IC Markets’ raw spreads and faster fills make it the better choice for active traders.
| Safety Factor | IC Markets | XM Group |
|---|---|---|
| Primary regulator | ASIC | ASIC |
| Reg number | #335692 | #443670 |
| Verify registration | Verify ↗ | Verify ↗ |
| Top-tier regulated | ✓ | ✓ |
| Investor protection | ✓ | ✓ |
| Segregated funds | ✓ | ✓ |
| Neg. balance protection | ✓ | ✓ |
Regulation is critical for Austria traders, even though both brokers are not directly regulated by the local financial regulator (FMA). IC Markets is regulated by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) and the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC), offering client fund segregation and negative balance protection. XM Group holds licenses from CySEC, the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC). For Austria traders, this means your funds are held in segregated accounts, and you have access to investor compensation schemes (up to €20,000 under CySEC). Both brokers are compliant with EU MiFID II standards, ensuring transparency.
| Payment Method | IC Markets | XM Group |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Visa/Mastercard and e-wallets near-instant to 1-2 business days; bank wire several days |
| Min withdrawal | $50 | $50 |
Depositing and withdrawing funds is straightforward for Austria traders at both brokers. IC Markets and XM Group support Bank Transfer, Skrill, Neteller, and USDT. Bank transfers are free but may take 1-3 business days for withdrawals. E-wallets like Skrill and Neteller are instant for deposits and withdrawals, with no fees from the broker. USDT (Tether) deposits are processed within minutes, ideal for crypto-savvy traders. IC Markets has a minimum deposit of $200, while XM Group requires only $5. Both brokers do not charge deposit fees, but watch for currency conversion costs if depositing in EUR. Withdrawal processing times are similar—usually 24 hours for e-wallets and 2-5 days for bank transfers.
| Islamic Account Feature | IC Markets | XM Group |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
For Austria Muslim traders seeking Sharia-compliant trading, both IC Markets and XM Group offer Islamic (swap-free) accounts. IC Markets provides swap-free accounts on all account types (Standard, Raw Spread, cTrader) without additional charges, and you can request it during registration. XM Group also offers Islamic accounts but requires a request via customer support or email, and it is available on standard and zero accounts. Both brokers do not charge overnight interest on positions held beyond one day, ensuring compliance with Islamic finance principles. Austria traders should note that Islamic accounts may have restrictions on certain instruments or long-term holding periods, so check with support.
| Support Feature | IC Markets | XM Group | 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 |
Customer support is available 24/5 in English and German for Austria traders. IC Markets offers live chat, email, and phone support with quick response times (under 2 minutes for chat). XM Group provides similar channels plus a callback service and a comprehensive FAQ section in German. Both brokers have local phone numbers for Austria, but XM Group’s support is slightly more accessible for beginners due to its multilingual team. Response quality is high on both, though IC Markets edges ahead for technical trading queries.
| Mobile Feature | IC Markets | XM Group | 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 | XM Group | 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 scalper or day trader seeking the lowest spreads (from 0.0 pips).
- Prefer cTrader for advanced charting and fast execution.
- Want to deposit via USDT or e-wallets with instant processing.
- Need unrestricted EA usage for algorithmic trading.
Choose XM Group if you...
- Are a beginner or casual trader with a small account (minimum $5 deposit).
- Prefer a no-commission standard account with fixed spreads.
- Value a user-friendly platform with extensive educational resources in German.
- Want a broker with a strong reputation and multiple regulatory licenses.
For Austria traders in 2026, IC Markets (4.8/5) is the better choice for cost-conscious, active traders who want the tightest spreads and fastest execution. Its support for Bank Transfer, Skrill, Neteller, and USDT deposits makes funding easy. XM Group (4.7/5) is ideal for beginners or those who prefer a simpler experience with a lower entry barrier. Both brokers are regulated by top-tier authorities and accept local payment methods, ensuring a secure and convenient trading environment. Ultimately, your decision should hinge on your trading volume and experience level—IC Markets for scalpers, XM Group for steady growth.