IFC Markets vs LegacyFX 2024

IFC Markets is not publicly traded and does not operate a bank. IFC Markets is authorised by zero Tier-1 regulators (Highly Trusted), zero Tier-2 regulators (Trusted), zero Tier-3 regulators (Average Risk), and one Tier-4 regulator (High Risk). IFC Markets is authorised by the following tier-1 regulators: BVI Financial Services Commission (FSC).

LegacyFX is not publicly traded and does not operate a bank. LegacyFX is authorised by one Tier-1 regulator (Highly Trusted), zero Tier-2 regulators (Trusted), zero Tier-3 regulators (Average Risk), and one Tier-4 regulator (High Risk). LegacyFX is authorised by the following Tier-1 regulators: Regulated in the European Union via the MiFID passporting system.

IFC Markets is a well-established broker that has been in operation for 17 years. Forex traders at ICF Markets gain access to multiple trading platforms, a growing range of tradeable markets, and a balanced offering of research and educational content. However, IFC Markets’ Trust Score suffers due to the broker’s limited range of regulatory licenses.

LegacyFX is a plain-vanilla MetaTrader 5 (MT5) broker that offers a medium range of CFD markets and forex pairs. It has built a good foundation of research offerings, and its investor education content is on par with the industry average. Overall, LegacyFX still has room to grow, and trails behind the best MetaTrader brokers.

To open a trading account with IFC Markets, you'll need to make an initial minimum deposit of $1.

LegacyFX requires a minimum deposit of $500 before you can open an account and start trading.

It's important to make sure that your forex broker accepts the funding options and deposit methods that work best for you. IFC Markets offers Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) and Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) for banking, whereas LegacyFX provides Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit), Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw), Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) and Neteller (Deposit/Withdraw). Neither have PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw).

Comparing the trading costs of forex and CFDs is not easy. Not every broker publishes average spread data, and pricing structures vary. Based on our thorough, data-driven testing of each broker's commissions and fees, we found that IFC Markets offers better pricing overall for traders.

Methodology: When testing each broker's commissions, fees, and pricing, we analyze multiple trade scenarios and award points based on the expansiveness (or inexpensiveness) of the broker's spreads. We then run multiple scenarios for different investor types, incorporating any miscellaneous fees, to determine an "all-in" cost per trade. Learn more about how we test.

At ForexBrokers.com, we track over 110 international regulatory agencies and sort them by tiers (Tier-1, Tier-2, Tier-3, Tier-4, and Tier-5) to help you choose well-regulated, highly trusted forex brokers. Learn more about our proprietary Trust Score rating system. Based on our research on the regulatory status of over 60 brokers, we've found that LegacyFX holds 1 global Tier-1 licenses, while IFC Markets holds 0. Both IFC Markets and LegacyFX hold 0 global Tier-2 licenses.

After evaluating each broker based on their number of held licenses, years in business, and a range of other data-driven variables, we've determined that IFC Markets and LegacyFX have earned the same Trust Score (67).

To compare the trading platforms of both IFC Markets and LegacyFX, we tested each broker's trading tools, research capabilities, and mobile apps. For trading tools, IFC Markets offers a better experience. With research, IFC Markets offers superior market research. Finally, we found IFC Markets to provide better mobile trading apps.

Here’s what trading platforms are available at IFC Markets:

• Proprietary Platform - Yes
• Web Platform - Yes
• cTrader - No
• DupliTrade - No
• MT4 - Yes
• MT5 - Yes
• ZuluTrade - No
• TradingView - No

Here’s what trading platforms are available at LegacyFX:

• Proprietary Platform - No
• Web Platform - Yes
• cTrader - No
• DupliTrade - No
• MT4 - No
• MT5 - Yes
• ZuluTrade - No
• TradingView - No

The MetaTrader trading platform suite is wildly popular among forex and CFD traders across the globe. IFC Markets offers MetaTrader 4 (MT4), while LegacyFX does not. Forex traders also appreciate the ability to engage in social copy trading. IFC Markets and LegacyFX both offer copy trading.

IFC Markets provides traders 49 currency pairs (e.g., EUR/USD) compared to LegacyFX's 44 available pairs. If you are interested in trading CFDs, IFC Markets offers traders access to 630 CFDs, while LegacyFX offers access to 425 CFDs; so IFC Markets offers 205 more CFDs than LegacyFX.

We found in our testing that IFC Markets offers a more diverse selection of investment options than LegacyFX, allowing you to trade Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs), U.S. Stocks (CFD), Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD), Cryptocurrency (Derivative) and Social Trading / Copy Trading. Neither have Cryptocurrency (Physical) and Spread Betting.