IC Markets vs Swissquote

Both brokers may onboard clients through different legal entities depending on where you live, and the entity determines your regulator, complaint process and any compensation coverage. Start by finding the entity named in the client agreement you would sign, then verify its licence on the regulator's own public register. Check whether protections such as negative balance protection or deposit and investor compensation schemes apply to your client classification, since retail and professional clients are often treated differently.

Key checks: Read the client agreement to identify the exact entity that would hold your funds.; Verify that entity's licence number on the regulator's public register, not the broker's marketing pages.; Confirm which protections apply to your client category and jurisdiction.; Note the complaint and dispute route for that entity before you deposit..

Cost structures can differ substantially between brokers, so compare total cost of ownership rather than a single headline number. For each broker, collect the current schedule for spreads or commissions on your instruments, overnight financing or swap rates, currency conversion charges, and non-trading fees such as custody, inactivity, deposit and withdrawal costs. Record where each figure came from and the date you checked it, then re-verify shortly before opening an account, because pricing pages are updated without notice.

Key checks: Compare costs on the exact instruments and account types you would use, not generic examples.; Include non-trading fees such as custody, inactivity, conversion and withdrawal charges.; Date-stamp your notes and re-check both fee schedules just before you commit funds..

List the concrete requirements of your trading approach, such as order types, charting depth, automation or mobile features, and verify each one against the brokers' own platform documentation. Then check practical account details: base currencies offered to your country, minimum deposits, funding methods and identity verification requirements. The Ic Markets review and Swissquote review on InvestorTrip summarise the fields we track, and the compare broker tool lets you place both brokers side by side while you complete your own verification.

Key checks: Confirm every must-have platform feature on official documentation rather than assuming availability.; Check base currencies, minimum deposits and funding methods available to your country.; Use the Ic Markets review, Swissquote review and the compare broker tool to structure your notes.; Try demo access where offered before funding a live account..