IC Markets vs Saxo Bank: which broker is better in 2026?
We compare IC Markets and Saxo Bank — two forex & CFD brokers — side by side across regulation, fees, platforms, minimum deposit, and our editorial scores. Both score evenly overall — the right choice depends on which criteria matter most to you.
Side-by-side comparison
CriteriaIC MarketsSaxo Bank
Overall score 4.1 4.1
Regulation & safety 3.5 4.5
Fees & deposit 4.5 3.5
Platform & assets 4.5 4.5
User support 4.0 4.0
Trust score80/10085/100
Minimum depositVaries by account type — check the official siteVaries by account type — check the official site
Demo accountAvailableAvailable
PlatformsMetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader, TradingView, WebTrader, IC Mobile AppSaxoTraderGO (web/mobile), SaxoTraderPRO (desktop), API
Fee modelSeveral account types (Raw Spread, Standard, Raw Pro/Pro+, cTrader Raw Spread, Swap Free) — the fee structure per account type has not been verified in detailTiered structure based on volume/account tier (Classic/Platinum/VIP) — tends toward premium, not the cheapest; exact figures not yet verified
Pros & cons
- One of the most popular raw-spread ECN brokers for scalping/algo trading (very low costs)
- Very complete platform selection (MT4/MT5/cTrader/TradingView)
- Regulated by ASIC (Australia) + CySEC for certain entities
- A class-action record (reported since 2024) alleging it misled investors — no verdict yet, but a relevant public fact
- Many clients via offshore entities (Seychelles/Bahamas)
- Leverage is high-risk
- Fully licensed bank (Danish FSA) — prudential oversight + multi-jurisdiction regulation
- Very broad instrument coverage (forex, stocks, ETFs, options, futures, bonds) in one account
- Professional-grade, well-regarded SaxoTraderGO/PRO platform
- Fee structure tends toward premium (not the cheapest), better suited to medium-to-high volume
- Minimum deposit & tiers can feel high for small-capital beginners
- Leveraged products remain high-risk
Regulation at a glance
IC Markets
Exact license numbers not yet verified — the official site mentions multi-regulation but the detailed regulation page was inaccessible during our check. Verify directly with the regulator (ASIC, CySEC, or the Seychelles FSA depending on the entity) before signing up.
Saxo Bank
A fully licensed bank supervised by the Danish FSA (Finanstilsynet), with entities regulated by the FCA (UK), FINMA (Switzerland), MAS (Singapore), ASIC (Australia), and others. Its 'bank' status adds a layer of prudential oversight.