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IC Markets vs HYCM

IC Markets or HYCM – which is better for UK traders 2026? Compare IC Markets and HYCM in this detailed breakdown of their platforms, features and fees.

IC Markets vs HYCM Comparison Table 2026
IC Markets	HYCM

Not Rated	3.8
IC Markets is ranked # among .	HYCM is ranked #23 among CFD brokers.
	Review
IC Markets has closed or no longer accepts UK clients.	HYCM, authorised by four global entities including the FCA, is an online broker. It provides short-term CFD trading on forex, shares, commodities, indices, ETFs, and Bitcoin. The broker supports MT4, MT5, and Trading Central analysis.
Pros
	HYCM, established in 1977, has endured events like Black Wednesday, the 2008 financial crisis, the SNB shock, and various FCA regulatory changes that saw many rivals restructure or exit. While many brokers recently obtained FCA regulation, HYCM's longstanding compliance spans a full generation of retail traders. This signifies a uniquely established track record. Instead of a fixed leverage cap, HYCM's model automatically decreases leverage as position volume grows, safeguarding traders from excessive exposure on large trades without manual margin adjustments. Typical retail brokers set a static leverage limit, leaving risk control entirely to traders. The dynamic model provides a structural risk safeguard, especially beneficial for novice traders gradually expanding positions. While most retail CFD brokers offer gold, oil, and silver, HYCM goes further by providing agricultural soft commodities. This is available from a standard account without requiring a higher minimum deposit or professional status. For those seeking true commodity diversification beyond metals and energy, such access is unusually available at this level.
Cons
	The limitation appears solely in HYCM's terms. Investors opening a Fixed or Classic account, creating a short-term strategy, and executing rapid trades risk having profits seized and accounts suspended without notice. The Raw account allows more precise trading, but the threshold between allowed and forbidden trading frequency is not clearly defined on hycm.com. HYCM still uses the same MT4, MT5, and proprietary mobile app infrastructure from five years ago. There's no TradingView, cTrader, social trading, copy trading, or PAMM available. Despite having nearly 50 years of history and FCA regulation, the lack of platform development shows little focus on technology investment. This is crucial as rivals integrate TradingView and expand social trading to appeal to new retail traders. Brokers such as eToro, Pepperstone, and IC Markets have created client acquisition channels centred on social and copy trading. HYCM lacks this approach. This leaves new traders wishing to invest in proven strategies and experienced traders aiming to profit from managing external capital without a platform. Consequently, HYCM fails to serve this segment of retail traders.
FCA Regulated
	Yes
Instruments
	CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, ETFs
Demo Account
	Yes
Minimum Deposit
	$20
Payment Methods
	Mastercard Neteller Skrill Visa Wire Transfer
Minimum Trade
	0.01 Lots
Regulator
	FCA, DFSA
Mobile Apps
	iOS & Android
iOS App Rating
	3
Android App Rating
	3.6
Margin Trading
	Yes
Margin Rate
	Variable upon regulation and jurisdiction
MetaTrader 4
	Yes
MetaTrader 5
	Yes
cTrader
	No
AlgoTrader
	No
OmniTrader
	No
TradingView
	No
Autochartist
	No
eSignal
	No
Trading Central
	Yes
STP Account
	No
ECN Account
	Yes
DMA Account
	No
MAM Account
	No
PAMM Account
	No
LAMM Account
	No
Demat Account
	No
AI / Machine Learning
	No
Robo Advisor
	No
Negative Balance Protection
	Yes
Market Maker
	No
P2P Trading
	No
Spot Trading
	Yes
Auto Trading
	Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader
Copy Trading
	No
Social Trading
	No
VPS Hosting
	No
Tournaments
	No
Demo Competitions
	No
Ethical Investing
	No
Custodial Account
	No
Guaranteed Stop Loss
	No
Inactivity Fee
	$10
Islamic Account
	Yes
Account Currencies
	USD EUR GBP RUB AED
Commodities
	Gold Silver Coffee Oil Cotton Copper Palladium Platinum Sugar
CFD
	HYCM offers traders the opportunity to engage in trading CFDs across various stocks, indices, commodities, and ETFs, all featuring floating spreads. Leverage limits differ depending on the specific instrument. Clients can select from two top-tier trading platforms.
Leverage
	1:301:500
FTSE Spread
	1.5
GBPUSD Spread<
	0.1
Oil Spread
	2.0
Stocks Spread
	2.2%
Forex
	HYCM provides over 40 forex pairs for trading on the MT4 or MT5 platforms. Leverage is capped at 1:30, compliant with regulatory standards. The Raw account features tight spreads starting at 0.2, while the commission-free Classic account offers spreads from 1.2.
Assets
	40+
GBPUSD Spread
	0.4
EURUSD Spread
	0.1
EURGBP Spread
	0.4

IC Markets	HYCM
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