IC Markets vs XM Group: Which Broker is Better for Ukraine Traders in 2026?
Which broker is better for Ukraine traders in 2026? Expert analysis across 12 categories.
For Ukraine traders looking to enter the forex market in 2026, choosing between IC Markets and XM Group is a key decision. Both brokers are well-established globally, but they cater to slightly different trader profiles. IC Markets, with a score of 4.8/5, is known for its ultra-low spreads, fast execution, and advanced trading tools, making it a favorite among experienced traders and scalpers. XM Group, scoring 4.7/5, offers a more balanced approach with generous bonuses, educational resources, and a user-friendly interface that appeals to beginners and intermediate traders. In Ukraine, where local trading conditions include limited access to traditional banking and a growing interest in crypto-friendly payment methods, both brokers support Bank Transfer, Skrill, Neteller, and USDT for deposits and withdrawals. This comparison will help you decide which broker aligns with your trading style, budget, and local needs.
| 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 Ukraine traders, trading costs are a critical factor, especially when trading high volumes. IC Markets offers spreads from 0.0 pips on its Raw Spread account with a commission of $3.50 per lot per side, while XM Group’s standard account has spreads from 1.0 pips with no commission. On a typical trade of 10 lots per month on EUR/USD, IC Markets costs approximately $70 in commissions plus variable spreads, whereas XM Group costs around $100 in spreads alone. For lower-volume traders, XM Group may be more cost-effective due to zero commissions. Both brokers offer competitive pricing, but IC Markets is generally cheaper for active Ukraine 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Ukraine (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, which are popular among Ukraine traders for their advanced charting and automated trading capabilities. IC Markets also provides cTrader, a platform known for its intuitive interface and depth of market, ideal for scalpers. XM Group offers its own XM WebTrader, which is accessible without download and features one-click trading. For Ukraine traders with varying internet reliability, XM’s web-based platform may be more convenient, while IC Markets’ cTrader offers superior execution speed for high-frequency strategies.
| 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, with average speeds under 40 milliseconds on its Raw Spread account, making it ideal for scalpers and high-frequency traders in Ukraine. XM Group offers execution speeds of around 100 milliseconds, which is still competitive but slower than IC Markets. Both brokers use No Dealing Desk (NDD) execution, ensuring no requotes. For Ukraine traders with high-volume strategies, IC Markets’ speed advantage can reduce slippage and improve trade outcomes.
| 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) of Belize, and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC). Neither broker is directly regulated by the local financial regulator in Ukraine, but both operate under international licenses that accept Ukraine clients. This means Ukraine traders are protected by client fund segregation and negative balance protection, though they may not have access to local dispute resolution. XM Group’s CySEC regulation offers additional investor compensation up to €20,000, which can be reassuring for smaller traders.
| 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 |
Ukraine traders can fund their accounts at both brokers using Bank Transfer, Skrill, Neteller, and USDT. IC Markets supports instant deposits via Skrill and Neteller with no fees, while bank transfers may take 1-3 business days. XM Group offers similar options, with Skrill and Neteller deposits processed instantly and bank transfers taking 2-5 business days. USDT deposits are available at both brokers, with IC Markets accepting USDT on the Ethereum network (ERC-20) and XM Group supporting multiple crypto networks. Withdrawals are processed within 24 hours at both brokers, though bank transfers may incur intermediary fees. For Ukraine traders, using Skrill or Neteller is the fastest and most cost-effective method, while USDT provides an alternative for those preferring crypto.
| 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 Ukraine Muslim traders requiring Sharia-compliant accounts, both IC Markets and XM Group offer Islamic (swap-free) accounts. These accounts do not charge or pay overnight swap fees, allowing traders to hold positions indefinitely without interest. IC Markets provides Islamic accounts on request for all account types, while XM Group offers them automatically on all accounts for clients from Muslim-majority regions. XM Group’s Islamic accounts also include a free VPS service for active traders, which can be beneficial for Ukraine traders using automated strategies. Both brokers ensure that swap-free accounts comply with Islamic finance principles.
| 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 |
IC Markets offers 24/7 customer support via live chat, email, and phone, with Ukrainian language support available during business hours. XM Group provides 24/5 support with multilingual options, including Ukrainian, through live chat and phone. XM Group also has a dedicated support line for Ukraine clients, which can be helpful for resolving issues quickly. Both brokers have comprehensive FAQ sections on their websites.
| 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 an experienced trader or scalper needing ultra-low spreads and fast execution.
- Trade high volumes (over 10 lots per month) to benefit from lower per-trade costs.
- Prefer advanced platforms like cTrader for depth of market analysis.
- Want to use USDT deposits with support for ERC-20 network.
Choose XM Group if you...
- Are a beginner or intermediate trader seeking educational resources and bonuses.
- Prefer a user-friendly web platform with one-click trading.
- Want Islamic accounts automatically available without requesting.
- Value additional regulatory protection from CySEC's investor compensation scheme.
For Ukraine 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, cost-conscious traders who prioritize low spreads and fast execution, especially when using Skrill, Neteller, or USDT for deposits. XM Group (4.7/5) is better suited for beginners or those who value educational support, bonuses, and easier access to Islamic accounts. While neither broker is regulated by the local financial regulator, both offer strong international oversight. For most Ukraine traders, especially those trading high volumes, IC Markets provides a slight edge in overall value and performance.