Global Prime vs IC Markets

The entity you sign up with determines which regulator oversees your account, what complaint channels exist and what client money rules apply. Both brokers may operate multiple entities, and the terms can differ between them. Before comparing anything else, identify exactly which legal entity would hold your account and read that entity's client agreement. Check the regulator's public register yourself rather than relying on a badge on a website.

Key checks: Confirm the exact legal entity that would onboard clients from your country of residence.; Look up the entity's licence number directly on the regulator's official register.; Read the client agreement for that specific entity, not a generic global version.; Note any differences in leverage limits or negative balance policies between entities..

Headline spreads rarely tell the full story. Build a like-for-like cost picture by listing each account type at Global Prime and IC Markets, then adding commissions, swap or financing charges, currency conversion fees and any inactivity or withdrawal charges. Test costs on the instruments you actually trade, at the times you actually trade, because published averages may not match your session. Our compare broker tool can help you structure this side-by-side workflow.

Key checks: List every fee line for the account type you would actually open, not the promotional example.; Include commissions, financing charges and conversion fees alongside spreads.; Check minimum deposit, base currency options and withdrawal processing terms in the current schedule.; Where possible, verify live pricing on a demo account before committing funds..

Platform availability, order types and execution policies affect day-to-day trading more than most marketing points. Confirm which platforms each broker currently supports for your entity, how orders are executed and what the broker's order execution policy discloses about slippage and requotes. Also test support responsiveness with a real pre-sales question. For deeper field-by-field detail, open the Global Prime review and the IC Markets review on InvestorTrip before deciding.

Key checks: Confirm supported platforms and order types in current broker documentation.; Read each broker's execution policy and terms on slippage, stops and margin calls.; Contact support with a specific question and note response time and clarity.; Cross-check what you find against both full reviews and the interactive comparison tool..