Many traders are searching for the Best IC Markets Alternatives with Low Spreads because of the level of competition within the trading market. IC Markets provides ECN pricing and narrow spreads. However, other brokers have started to offer similar conditions as well.

Pepperstone, Exness, and FP Markets, for example, provide new and advanced platforms, are well-regulated, and provide rapid withdrawals. Because of this, they are good alternative forex trading platforms, especially for new and professional traders.

Key Point

Broker	Key Point (Low Spreads / Standout Feature)
Pepperstone	Razor account averages ~0.02–0.09 pips on EUR/USD with commission around $6–7 round-turn, available across MT4, MT5, cTrader, and TradingView simultaneously
Fusion Markets	RAW account offers among the lowest commissions (~$4.50 round-trip) with average EUR/USD spreads near 0.09 pips and fast (~79ms) execution, popular with scalpers
FP Markets	ECN pricing with spreads starting from 0.0 pips on major pairs like EUR/USD, USD/JPY, and GBP/USD, Slashdot plus a no-restrictions policy for scalpers and EA users
XTB	Pro account delivers commission-free spreads from 0.1 pips on EUR/USD, one of the lowest all-in costs among spread-only (no commission) accounts
Exness	Known for 24/7 instant withdrawals and strong capital flexibility, PU Prime competitive raw spreads and consistently tight execution
VT Markets	Positioned as a lower-cost option with comparable raw-spread accounts and lower minimum deposits than IC Markets
Blueberry Markets	Tier-1 regulated with low minimum deposit and raw-spread accounts aimed at scalping strategies KenMacro
OANDA	Not the tightest spreads outright, but reliable for medium-to-long-term strategies with low spreads on major currency pairs and strong regulatory compliance
PU Prime	Integrated ecosystem with proprietary platforms and 1,000+ CFDs, PU Prime competitive spreads across a broad instrument range
Interactive Brokers	Not a spread-focused ECN broker, but relevant if you want direct access to real stocks, options, futures, and bonds across 150+ global markets PU Prime rather than pure forex/CFD spreads

1. Pepperstone

Pepperstone is an excellent broker dedicated to providing fast, low-spread trading with an unbeatable level of liquidity. Manual and algorithmic traders alike will appreciate the support for MT4, MT5, and cTrader. Forex, indices, commodities, and CFDs with no dealing desk intervention are available.

Funding and withdrawals are possible through a variety of methods including bank transfer, PayPal, Skrill and other e-wallets. Customer support is available 24/5 with an excellent response time. Pepperstone is one of the best regulated brokers on the market with an exceptional level of security and trading infrastructure.

Why traders choose Pepperstone

• Incorporation: 2010
• Spreads: From 0.0 (Razor account)
• Trading Platforms: MT 4, MT 5, cTrader
• Regulatory Compliance: ASIC (Australia), FCA (UK), CySEC, DFSA
• Withdrawal Processing Time: 1–2 business days (e-wallets usually same day)
• Customer Support: 24/5 live chat, email, phone

Best For:

Scalping and day trading, due to Pepperstone’s ultra-low spreads, fast ECN execution, and excellent platform support, including MT4, MT5, and cTrader, all of which support professional traders.

Pepperstone – Pros & Cons

Pros	Cons
Ultra-low spreads from 0.0 pips	No weekend crypto trading (limited hours)
Fast ECN execution	No proprietary trading platform
Supports MT4, MT5, cTrader	Advanced tools may feel complex for beginners
Strong regulation (ASIC, FCA)	No cent/micro account option

2. Fusion Markets

Fusion Markets is a great solution for traders that are exclusively concerned with keeping trading costs low. The low cost structure is complemented by the support for MT4, MT5, and cTrader as well as access to Forex, indices, commodities, and CFDs. Fusion is particularly known for low, competitive commissions.

Most transfer methods including bank transfer, card transfer and PayPal are free of charge for deposits and withdrawals. Fusion also provides a good level of support and responsiveness for a broker that is open 24/5. Fusion is regulated in Australia and provides a good alternative to IC Markets for low cost trading.

Why traders choose Fusion Markets

• Incorporation: 2017
• Spreads: From 0.0 (ECN pricing)
• Trading Platforms: MT 4, MT 5, cTrader
• Regulatory Compliance: ASIC (Australia), VFSC
• Withdrawal Processing Time: 1–2 days (most cases no withdrawal fees)
• Customer Support: 24/5 live chat, email

Best For:

Offering low-cost forex trading, especially for those beginners and budget traders who appreciate spreads with very low or no commission.

Fusion Markets – Pros & Cons

Pros	Cons
Very low trading commissions	Limited advanced research tools
Tight spreads from 0.0 pips	Fewer platform choices
Simple and beginner-friendly setup	No proprietary trading platform
No inactivity fees	Limited product range vs big brokers

3. FP Markets

ECN pricing starts spreads at around zero for major forex pairs with FP Markets. They support trading on MT4, MT5, and on IRESS. FP Markets offers other assets like shares, indices, commodities, and CFD cryptos.

They also allow for easy and fast deposits and withdrawals via bank transfers, with cards, and e-wallets like Skrill and Neteller. 24/7 customer support is provided with multilingual support. FP Markets is an Australian and European regulated broker. This means strong fund protection is guaranteed, and with the quality of trading tools and execution for active traders, FP Markets excels.

Why traders choose FP Markets

• Incorporation: 2005
• Spreads: From 0.0 (Raw ECN account)
• Trading Platforms: MT 4, MT 5, IRESS
• Regulatory Compliance: ASIC, CySEC
• Withdrawal Processing Time: Same day to 1 business day
• Customer Support: 24/7 multilingual support

Best For:

Advanced traders who appreciate ECN pricing and deep liquidity, along with MT4, MT5, and IRESS, and other platform offerings, will find FP Markets best for them.

FP Markets – Pros & Cons

Pros	Cons
ECN pricing with raw spreads	IRESS platform may feel complex
MT4, MT5, and advanced platforms	Some withdrawal methods may charge fees
Strong liquidity access	Interface not very beginner-friendly
Regulated in ASIC & CySEC	Limited crypto offerings

4. XTB

XTB’s xStation is their proprietary platform for all global CFD and forex trading. Its fast execution and good pricing make it very competitive. xStation offers trading support for the same assets as XTB. xStation makes CFD and forex trading easy, as it is a user friendly platform for all traders. XTB also support the trading of indices, commodities and stock CFDs.

With bank transfers and cards, deposits and withdrawals are free with fast execution. The support is 24/5. They also offer good education and tools for the market. XTB is a multi-region broker and is as secure and as transparent as they come.

Why traders choose XTB

• Incorporation: 2002
• Spreads: From ~0.1 (variable CFD spreads)
• Trading Platforms: xStation 5 (proprietary), mobile app
• Regulatory Compliance: FCA, KNF (Poland), CySEC
• Withdrawal Processing Time: 1–3 business days
• Customer Support: 24/5 + business education tools

Best For:

Beginners and CFD traders will appreciate XTB’s xStation, along with its excellent educational resources and simplified trading.

XTB – Pros & Cons

Pros	Cons
Easy-to-use xStation 5 platform	No MetaTrader support in some regions
Strong educational resources	Higher spreads vs ECN brokers
Commission-free stock trading	Limited algorithmic trading tools
Highly regulated globally	Fewer advanced trading options

5. Exness

Broadly known for their ultra-sharp spreads and high leverage with instant execution, Exness offers trading across many asset classes and supports both MT4 and MT5. This is especially appealing for HFT traders, including scalpers, because of the enjoyable trading conditions.

Withdrawals may also be instant in the case of cards, some e-wallets, and bank transfers. Support is provided 24 hours a day in several languages. Due to international regulations, Exness offers transparent pricing and unlimited leverage in some regions, providing the necessary infrastructure to trade for both novice and professional traders.

Why traders choose Exness

• Incorporation: 2008
• Spreads: From 0.0 (Raw Spread accounts)
• Trading Platforms: MT 4, MT 5
• Regulatory Compliance: CySEC, FCA, FSCA, FSA (varies by region)
• Withdrawal Processing Time:** Instant to a few minutes (biggest plus)
• Customer Support: 24/7 multilingual support

Best For:

Due to its instant withdrawals, ultra-narrow spreads, and flexible trading, Exness will be best for high-frequency and especially, scalping traders.

Exness – Pros & Cons

Pros	Cons
Instant withdrawals (major advantage)	High leverage risk for beginners
Ultra-tight spreads	Offshore entities in some regions
MT4 & MT5 support	Limited stock trading options
Flexible account types	Not ideal for long-term investors

6. VT Markets

VT Markets is an ECN broker with competitive spreads and fast execution. VT Markets provides access to the MT4 and MT5 trading platforms and trades offered with institutional liquidity and low latency.

Payment methods offered by VT Markets include bank transfers, a variety of cards, and e-wallet options such as Skrill and Neteller. Support is offered 24 hours a day, 5 days a week in several languages with VT Markets being regulated in Australia and in several other jurisdictions. VT Markets offers active traders convenient and low cost trading.

Why traders choose VT Markets

• Founded: 2015
• Spread: 0.0 pips (ECN accounts)
• Platforms: MT4, MT5
• Regulation: ASIC, FSCA
• Withdrawal Speed: 1 – 3 Business Days
• Support: 24/5 Live Chat and Email

Best For:

Cost conscious and active traders will appreciate VT Markets’ ECN trading with low spreads and quick execution.

VT Markets – Pros & Cons

Pros	Cons
ECN-style low spreads	Limited global brand recognition
Fast execution speeds	Fewer research tools
MT4 & MT5 support	Offshore regulation in some regions
Good for scalping	Not very beginner-focused

7. Blueberry Markets

Blueberry Markets is an Australian broker with focus on transparency and trading costs as well as customer support. Blueberry Markets is an MT4 and MT5 broker with ECN pricing and fast execution. Blueberry markets provides access to the same products and services as VT Markets.

Funding methods includes bank transfers, several cards and popular e wallets with fast withdrawal. Blueberry Markets customer support is provided 24 hours a day, 5 days a week with a personal account manager for premium customers. Blueberry Markets is regulated by ASIC and offers secure trading conditions.

Why traders choose Blueberry Markets

• Founded in: 2016
• Spread: From 0.0 pips (Direct ECN pricing)
• Platforms: MT4, MT5
• Regulation: ASIC (Australia)
• Withdrawal Speed: 1-2 working days
• Support: 24/5 dedicated account managers + chat

Best For:

Excellent customer support, combined with ASIC regulation and reliable ECN trading conditions, make Blueberry Markets best of these offerings.

Blueberry Markets – Pros & Cons

Pros	Cons
Strong ASIC regulation	Smaller product range
Excellent customer support	No proprietary platform
Tight ECN spreads	Limited global availability
Good for beginners & pros	Fewer advanced analytics tools

8. OANDA

OANDA is one of the best regulated brokers with a great reputation for execution and transparent pricing. The broker is known for its in house developed trading platform and also offers Meta Trader 4 in some regions. OANDA offers trading on a wide variety of instruments such as Forex, Indices, Commodities, and Bonds.

The broker has easy deposits and withdrawals via bank transfer and cards. Their compliance and security standards are excellent. Their customer service is great and available via phone, chat, and email. OANDA is one of the best brokers with excellent research and trading tools for long term trading due to it’s strong regulation in major financial jurisdictions.

Why traders choose OANDA

• Founded in: 1996
• Spread: From ~0.1–1.0 (no commission for many regions)
• Platforms: OANDA Trade platform, MT4 (limited regions)
• Regulation: FCA, CFTC/NFA (US), ASIC, IIROC
• Withdrawal Speed: 1-3 working days
• Support: Phone, email, chat (24/5 depending region)

Best For:

Research-driven traders and long-term traders will appreciate OANDA’s regulatory standing, transparency, and trust, along with its sophisticated tools for analysis.

OANDA – Pros & Cons

Pros	Cons
Highly trusted global broker	Higher spreads than ECN brokers
Strong regulation (FCA, CFTC)	Limited platform options in some regions
Powerful research tools	No aggressive leverage options
Reliable execution	Less suitable for scalping

9. PU Prime

PU Prime is a competitive multi-asset broker that has Meta Trader 4 and Meta Trader 5. Trading offers include Forex, Indices, Commodities, Stocks, and Crypto CFDs.

Ease of deposits and withdrawals is done via bank transfers, cards, and e wallets with good speed. Customer service is available 24/5 in a multitude of languages. PU Prime is regulated in offshore jurisdictions. Flexible trading conditions, bonus programs, and various account types are offered by the broker, for both retail and professional traders.

Why traders choose PU Prime

• Founded in: 2015
• Spread: From 0.0 pips (ECN accounts)
• Platforms: MT4, MT5
• Regulation: ASIC (limited), offshore FSA
• Withdrawal Speed: 1-2 working days
• Support: 24/5 multilingual support

Best For:

Flexible traders who want high leverage, different account types, and more access to the forex, CFDs, and crypto markets will benefit most from PU Prime.

PU Prime – Pros & Cons

Pros	Cons
High leverage options	Offshore regulation structure
MT4 & MT5 supported	Limited brand reputation
Multiple asset classes	Fewer institutional tools
ECN account availability	Not ideal for long-term investors

10. Interactive Brokers

Interactive Brokers is a premium global broker having institutional grade pricing, global market access and exceptionally low commissions. The broker has great support for its own Trader Workstation (TWS), web platform, and mobile app. Trading instruments covered are Stocks, Forex, Futures, Options and Bonds.

Deposits and withdrawals are made via bank transfer. This method is fast and secure. Customer support is focused primarily on serious traders and investors. Worldwide, Interactive Brokers is one of the most heavily regulated brokers. This is due, in part, to their offering of the highest level of liquidity coupled with the most powerful and advanced trading infrastructure available in the industry.

Why traders choose Interactive Brokers

• Founded in: 1978
• Spread: Very low (institutional interbank pricing)
• Platforms: Trader Workstation (TWS), IBKR Mobile, Web Trader
• Regulation: SEC, FINRA, FCA, ASIC, global
• Withdrawal Speed: 1-2 working days (bank transfer only)
• Support: 24/5 support (more professional / institutional focus)

Best For:

Professional and institutional traders who want comprehensive global market access, advanced tools, and ultra-low commissions will benefit most from Interactive Brokers.

Interactive Brokers – Pros & Cons

Pros	Cons
Institutional-grade trading platform	Complex for beginners
Extremely low commissions	Account setup can be difficult
Global market access	No high leverage forex focus
Strong regulation worldwide	UI not beginner-friendly

Broker Comparison by Key Features

Lowest Spread Advantage

• Some brokers (e.g. Exness, Pepperstone, and FP Markets) start their spreads at 0.0 pips (ECN/raw accounts)
• This is especially good for trades that will be opened and closed frequently (i.e. scalping)
• Consistency of spreads matters more than just having the “lowest” spread

Trading Platforms Availability

• Brokers mostly provide access to MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5
• XTB employs its own trading platform (xStation 5)
• Interactive Brokers uses the more advanced TWS professional trading platform
• The choice of platform can affect the speed of trading, available tools, and automation level

Regulation & Safety Level

• The better regulated brokers (OANDA, Pepperstone, and Interactive Brokers) have oversight from (ASIC, FCA, CySEC, CFTC, FINRA)
• Strong regulation = better protection of trader funds and transparency

Withdrawal Speed & Ease

• Exness is known for offering instant withdrawal and is a clear winner
• Other brokers withdraw funds to traders within 1–3 business days
• Transfers done via E-wallets are faster than bank withdrawals

Trading Execution Quality

• ECN brokers (e.g. Fusion Markets, VT Markets) offer fast and low-latency trading execution
• No dealing desk (NDD) is better for transparency in trading
• Also important for trades opened and closed in a very short time (scalping, news trading)

Deposit Methods & Flexibility

• Common methods include bank transfer, credit/debit cards, Skrill, Neteller
• Brokers like Blueberry Markets and PU Prime offer many different global methods
• Some brokers offer instant funding

Customer Support Quality

• Having 24/5 customer support is the norm for most brokers
• Pepperstone and OANDA have great live chat and email support
• Premium brokers provide a dedicated account manager
• Good support is crucial for the swift resolution of issues

What is the Best Alternative to IC Markets for You?

Scalping Traders

For scalping, Exness or Pepperstone are ideal since they have ultra-low spreads, lightning fast execution, and superior pricing.

Beginner Traders

XTB is the best for beginner traders. They have the easiest trading platform, great beginner education, and beginner friendly user interfaces.

Professional Traders

For advanced traders, Interactive Brokers is the best choice since they have the best tools, access to all of the global markets, and the lowest commissions for the highest volume trades.

Low Spread Focus Traders

For the best spreads, FP Markets and Fusion Markets are the best choices since they have the best ECN pricing and low spread costs.

Fast Withdrawal Users

The best for fast withdrawal user requests is Exness since they have the best instant withdrawals and the best smooth instant payment requests.

Multi-Asset Traders

OANDA and VT Markets have forex and all the indices, commodities and CFDs, so they have the best single platform for all trading.

Strong Support & Safety Focus

Blueberry Markets and Pepperstone have the best support, are with ASIC, and have the best safe trading for long-term trading.

Conclusion

Ease of use, level of safety, features, speed of execution, and costs are all important factors in a trading alternative. Pepperstone and Exness are good alternatives for forex traders that want fast execution and low cost.

XTB and OANDA are good alternatives for beginners. XTB and OANDA are based on good regulation and have good educational resources, but are not useful for professional traders. Interactive Brokers is a good alternative for high volume traders.

The best alternative depends on the costs and the match of your trading strategy, risk preference, and use of the platform. The lowest spread is not the main concern.

FAQ