Independent broker research
027Vol. IVJuly 10, 2026
Independent broker research

Broker comparison

TIO Markets vs IC Markets

Tio Markets and IC Markets often appear on the same shortlist for traders comparing retail brokers. This page does not crown a winner. Instead, it walks you through a verification process you can apply to both brokers so your decision rests on current, confirmed facts rather than marketing summaries. Broker conditions differ by country and account type and are revised regularly, so every claim you read elsewhere should be checked against each broker's own published documents.

TIO Markets vs IC Markets cover image

TIO Markets

Current broker data

Review
Rating
4.8 / 5
Minimum deposit
$50
Regulator labels
FCA
Markets listed
Forex, Metals, Energy, Stocks, Indices +2
Editorial status
High-attention notice

Editorial notice

TIO-branded entities have multiple distinct regulatory matters. UK: TIO Markets UK Limited remains FCA-authorised (Firm Reference Number 488900), but the UK Financial Conduct Authority has issued two clone-firm advisories — "TIO Market Trading" at tiomarkets-trading.com dated 28 September 2023 (FCA: https://www.fca.org.uk/news/warnings/tio-market-trading-tiomarkets-tradingcom-clone-fca-authorised-firm) and "TIO PreMarkets" at tiopremarkets.com dated 22 July 2024 (FCA: https://www.fca.org.uk/news/warnings/tio-premarkets-tiopremarketscom-clone-fca-authorised-firm). Both are described by the FCA as "not authorised by us but … contacting people pretending to be an authorised firm." Cyprus: TIO Markets CY Ltd (Cyprus Investment Firm licence 429/23, originally authorised 10 April 2023) is under examination for voluntary renunciation of its CySEC authorisation (CySEC register: https://www.cysec.gov.cy/en-GB/entities/investment-firms/cypriot/96336/). The genuine FCA-authorised UK entity operates at www.tiomarkets.uk. Readers should verify the domain and Firm Reference Number against the FCA Register before depositing.

IC Markets

Current broker data

Review
Rating
4.5 / 5
Minimum deposit
$200
Regulator labels
ASIC, CySEC, FSA, CMA
Markets listed
Forex, Commodities, Indices, Cryptocurrencies, Stocks
Editorial status
No current notice

How to read this comparison

The facts below come from InvestorTrip's current broker database and linked review pages. They are a screening aid, not a claim that a broker is available, cheaper or safer for every country, account type or legal entity.

Compare costs using each broker's own documents

The only reliable way to compare trading costs between Tio Markets and IC Markets is to read the current pricing pages and contract specifications each broker publishes, matched to the account type you would actually open. Advertised spreads are often quoted for a single account tier or specific market hours, and total cost includes commissions, swaps, and non-trading fees. Build a simple cost table for your three to five most-traded symbols and fill it in from primary sources only.

Key checks: Record spreads and commissions per account type for the symbols you trade, not headline examples.; Confirm swap rates and any triple-swap days if you hold positions overnight.; List deposit, withdrawal, conversion, and inactivity fees for both brokers.; Recheck the figures shortly before funding, since schedules are updated without notice..

Verify regulation, legal entity and client protections

Both brands may onboard clients through different legal entities depending on residence, and the entity determines your regulator, leverage limits, and dispute options. Before comparing anything else, establish which Tio Markets entity and which IC Markets entity would serve you, then verify each license on the relevant regulator's public register. Read the client agreement for that entity to understand how client funds are held and what happens in a dispute.

Key checks: Identify the exact onboarding entity for your country at each broker before comparing terms.; Confirm license status on the regulator's register, not only on the broker's website.; Check fund segregation arrangements and any compensation scheme eligibility in the client agreement.; Confirm whether negative balance protection applies to your entity and account..

Run a practical trial before committing funds

Documents tell you the rules; a trial tells you the experience. Open demo accounts at both Tio Markets and IC Markets, execute the strategies you actually use, and evaluate platform stability, order handling, and charting for your workflow. Then review the full field-by-field breakdowns in our Tio Markets review and IC Markets review, and use the compare broker tool to line the two up in a single view before making a decision.

Key checks: Test your usual order types and position sizes on demo accounts at both brokers.; Ask each broker's support team a specific question and compare the answers you receive.; Verify minimum deposits, available base currencies, and withdrawal timelines in writing.; Use the InvestorTrip reviews and comparison tool to consolidate your findings..

Verdict

There is no universal winner between Tio Markets and IC Markets. Choose based on verified costs for your instruments, the regulatory entity that applies to your residence, and how each platform performs in your own demo testing, then confirm everything in the brokers' current documents.