Exness vs IC Markets Spreads: Head-to-Head Comparison (2026)

Updated Apr 2026 • 12 min read • 8 pairs tested

Exness and IC Markets are two of the most popular choices for traders seeking the lowest possible spreads. Both brokers offer raw spread accounts with commission-based pricing, professional-grade execution, and regulation by respected authorities. But when it comes to the actual spreads you will pay on your trades, there are meaningful differences that can affect your bottom line over time.

We ran both brokers side by side for 30 days, collecting tick data across 8 major pairs during all three trading sessions. This article presents the unfiltered results of that comparison.

Head-to-Head Spread Comparison

Commission Comparison

Both Exness and IC Markets charge $3.50 per lot per side on their raw spread accounts, making the round-turn commission $7.00 per standard lot at both brokers. This means the spread difference is the entire cost differential between the two platforms. Since Exness wins on raw spread across all 8 pairs tested, Exness is the cheaper option for every instrument we measured.

IC Markets does offer a cTrader account with slightly different commission structure at $3.00 per lot per side. However, even with this $1.00 per lot advantage, the wider IC Markets spreads more than offset the commission saving on most pairs.

Execution Speed Comparison

Both brokers deliver institutional-quality execution, but with different strengths. IC Markets average fill time was 38 milliseconds during our testing, compared to 42 milliseconds for Exness. This 4ms difference is negligible for manual traders but may matter for high-frequency algorithmic strategies.

Slippage patterns were similar between both brokers, with positive and negative slippage roughly balanced. Neither broker showed signs of systematic negative slippage or order manipulation during our 30-day test period.

Regulation and Safety

Exness is regulated by FCA (UK), CySEC (Cyprus), FSCA (South Africa), and FSA (Seychelles). IC Markets holds licenses from ASIC (Australia), CySEC (Cyprus), and FSA (Seychelles). Both brokers offer segregated client funds, negative balance protection, and participate in compensation schemes through their European entities.

From a safety perspective, both brokers meet the highest retail standards. Exness publishes monthly financial reports and trading volume data, providing an additional layer of transparency that IC Markets does not match.

Platform and Tools Comparison

IC Markets has a slight edge in platform variety, offering MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, and cTrader. Exness offers MT4, MT5, and their proprietary Exness Terminal web platform. For traders who prefer cTrader, IC Markets is the only option between the two.

Both brokers support Expert Advisors, VPS hosting, and algorithmic trading. IC Markets cTrader platform includes built-in copy trading functionality that Exness matches through their Social Trading feature.

Withdrawal Speed

Exness wins decisively on withdrawal speed. E-wallet withdrawals are processed instantly, often within 30 seconds. IC Markets e-wallet withdrawals take 1-2 hours, and bank transfers take 3-5 business days at IC Markets versus 1-2 days at Exness. If fast access to your funds matters, Exness is the clear choice.

The Verdict

Exness wins this comparison on spreads, withdrawal speed, and transparency. IC Markets offers competitive execution speed and the additional cTrader platform option. For the majority of traders whose primary concern is lowest possible trading costs, Exness is the better choice. For algorithmic traders who specifically need cTrader or Equinix co-location, IC Markets remains a strong option.

Frequently Asked Questions