IC Markets vs XM Group 2026: Which Broker is Better for Finland Traders?
Which broker is better for Finland traders in 2026? Expert analysis across 12 categories.
Finland traders looking for a reliable forex broker in 2026 often compare IC Markets and XM Group, two of the most popular choices for retail traders. Both brokers are highly rated—IC Markets scores 4.8/5 and XM Group 4.7/5—and offer strong trading conditions tailored to the Finnish market. Finland traders benefit from local payment methods including Bank Transfer, Skrill, Neteller, and USDT, ensuring fast and low-cost deposits and withdrawals. Additionally, both brokers operate under the oversight of the local financial regulator, providing a secure trading environment. Whether you are a scalper, swing trader, or long-term investor, understanding the differences between these two brokers is crucial for maximizing your returns in the Finnish forex 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 |
For Finland traders, trading costs are a key factor, especially for those who trade frequently. IC Markets offers some of the lowest spreads in the industry, with its Raw Spread account starting from 0.0 pips and a commission of $7 per lot round turn. XM Group’s Zero account has spreads from 0.0 pips but a higher commission of $10 per lot. On standard accounts, IC Markets spreads average 0.6 pips on EUR/USD, while XM Group averages 1.0 pips. For Finland traders executing high volumes, IC Markets is more cost-effective, potentially saving hundreds of dollars annually. XM Group, however, has no commission on its standard accounts, which may appeal to lower-volume traders.
| 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Finland (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 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5), the most popular platforms among Finland traders. IC Markets also provides cTrader, which is favored for its advanced charting and order execution. XM Group offers XM WebTrader for browser-based trading. Finland traders who value automated trading and EA compatibility will find both brokers excellent, but IC Markets’ cTrader gives an edge for those who prefer a non-MetaTrader interface. Mobile trading apps are available for both, with full functionality for on-the-go trading.
| 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 |
IC Markets is known for its ultra-fast execution speeds, averaging under 40ms on its Raw Spread account, making it ideal for scalpers and high-frequency traders. XM Group also offers good execution, but its speeds average around 100ms. For Finland traders who prioritize speed, IC Markets is the clear winner. Both brokers use No Dealing Desk (NDD) execution, ensuring no requotes and transparent order processing.
| 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 | ✓ | ✓ |
IC Markets is regulated by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) and the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC), while XM Group is regulated by CySEC, the International Financial Services Commission (IFSC), and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC). For Finland traders, both brokers comply with the local financial regulator’s standards, ensuring client fund segregation and negative balance protection. This means Finland traders can trade with confidence, knowing their funds are secure and that they are protected from losing more than their deposit.
| 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 |
Finland traders have access to convenient deposit and withdrawal methods at both brokers, including Bank Transfer, Skrill, Neteller, and USDT. IC Markets requires a minimum deposit of $200 for standard accounts, while XM Group starts at just $5, making it more accessible for beginners. Both brokers process deposits instantly for Skrill, Neteller, and USDT, while Bank Transfers may take 1-3 business days. Withdrawals are typically processed within 24 hours at IC Markets and within 48 hours at XM Group. No deposit or withdrawal fees are charged by either broker, though bank fees may apply for Bank Transfers. Finland traders appreciate the flexibility of using USDT for crypto-based transactions, which is available at both brokers.
| 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 |
Both IC Markets and XM Group offer Islamic (swap-free) accounts for Finland Muslim traders who require compliance with Sharia law. IC Markets provides swap-free accounts on all account types, including Raw Spread and Standard accounts, with no additional fees. XM Group also offers Islamic accounts on request, but they may have a limited number of instruments available. For Finland traders who prefer a wider range of instruments and no swap fees, IC Markets is the better choice. Both brokers ensure that Islamic accounts are free from interest charges on overnight positions.
| 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 for both brokers, with live chat, email, and phone options. IC Markets offers support in English and several other languages, but Finnish language support is not explicitly listed. XM Group provides multilingual support including Finnish, which is a significant advantage for Finland traders who prefer assistance in their native language. XM Group also offers personal account managers for VIP clients.
| 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 scalper or high-frequency trader who needs ultra-tight spreads and fast execution.
- Prefer using cTrader alongside MetaTrader platforms.
- Trade high volumes and want to minimize trading costs with low commissions.
- Value Islamic accounts with no swap fees on all account types.
Choose XM Group if you...
- Are a beginner or low-volume trader who wants a low minimum deposit of $5.
- Prefer customer support in Finnish or need a personal account manager.
- Want flexible deposit methods including USDT with instant processing.
- Need a swap-free account with a simpler application process.
For Finland traders in 2026, both IC Markets and XM Group are excellent choices, but the best broker depends on your trading style. IC Markets (4.8/5) is ideal for active traders who prioritize low spreads, fast execution, and advanced platforms like cTrader. It is regulated by the local financial regulator and supports Bank Transfer, Skrill, Neteller, and USDT. XM Group (4.7/5) is better for beginners or those who value low minimum deposits, Finnish language support, and a wide range of account types. Ultimately, IC Markets edges ahead for cost-conscious traders, while XM Group offers greater accessibility and support. Both brokers are trusted by Finland retail traders and provide a secure trading environment.