PU Prime vs IC Markets

PU Prime or IC Markets – which is better for UK traders 2025? Compare PU Prime and IC Markets in this detailed breakdown of their platforms, features and fees.

PU Prime vs IC Markets Comparison Table 2025
PU Prime IC Markets
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4.2
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4.8
PU Prime is ranked #46 among CFD brokers. IC Markets is ranked #4 among CFD brokers.
Pacific Union Prime, regulated by the FSCA and offshore authorities, is a multi-asset broker providing competitive fees and direct market access. It offers trading in forex, commodities, stocks, bonds, and indices. Traders can utilise the widely-used MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, as well as a bespoke mobile app. Fees differ by account type: the Standard account has no commission, with spreads starting from 1.9 pips, while the Prime account charges $7 commission per lot with spreads from 0.4 pips. IC Markets is an internationally acclaimed forex and CFD broker, admired for its competitive pricing, diverse trading instruments, and superior technology. Established in 2007 and based in Australia, the firm is under the regulation of ASIC, CySEC, and FSA. It has successfully drawn over 180,000 clients from more than 200 nations.
Pros
  • Industry-acclaimed MT4 and MT5 platforms, along with their mobile applications.
  • A strong selection of nearly 1,000 instruments spans six asset classes.
  • The Prime account offers competitive fees, featuring spreads as low as 0.4 and a £7 commission.
  • Safeguards clients by keeping their funds separate and ensuring they cannot go into debt.
  • PU Social app with features for trading emulation.
  • Practice account with simulated capital.
  • Swap-free Islamic account
  • Multilingual customer service
  • IC Markets provides some of the industry's narrowest spreads, offering 0.0-pip spreads on major currency pairs. This makes it an extremely cost-effective choice for traders.
  • As a well-regulated and reputable broker, IC Markets focuses on client safety and transparency to provide a dependable global trading experience.
  • In 2025, IC Markets earned DayTrading.com's accolade for 'Best MT4/MT5 Broker' due to its top-tier MetaTrader integration. This achievement highlights the broker's continuous refinement over the years to enhance the platform experience.
  • IC Markets provides reliable 24/5 support, especially for account and funding queries, drawing from direct experience.
  • Access over 2,250 CFDs across diverse markets like forex, commodities, indices, shares, bonds, and cryptocurrencies. This variety enables traders to employ diversified strategies.
Cons
  • No primary regulatory supervision.
  • For withdrawals below $100, there's a relatively steep minimum charge of $40 including a handling fee.
  • Standard account spreads are average.
  • IC Markets provides metals and cryptocurrencies for trading through CFDs, though the selection is narrower compared to brokers such as eToro. This limits opportunities for traders focused on these asset classes.
  • The tutorials, webinars, and educational resources require enhancement, lagging behind competitors such as CMC Markets, which diminishes their appeal to novice traders.
  • Certain withdrawal methods incur fees, including a $20 charge for wire transfers. These costs can reduce profits, particularly with frequent withdrawals.
  • Although there are four top-tier third-party platforms available, the absence of in-house software or a trading app tailored for novice traders is notable.
  • Interest is not paid on idle cash, a feature gaining popularity with alternatives such as Interactive Brokers.
Awards
  • Best MT4/MT5 Broker 2025 - DayTrading.com
  • Best MT4/MT5 Broker 2023 - DayTrading.com
  • Best Forex Broker 2022 - DayTrading.com
  • Best Overall Broker 2020 - DayTrading.com
  • Best Trading App 2020 - DayTrading.com
FCA Regulated
No

List of FCA Regulated Brokers

No

List of FCA Regulated Brokers

Instruments
Forex, Commodities, Cryptocurrencies, Stocks, Indices CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, Bonds, Futures, Crypto
Bonus
100% cashback up to $10,000
Demo Account
Yes Yes
Minimum Deposit
$50 $200
Payment Methods
Minimum Trade
0.01 Lots 0.01 Lots
Regulator
ASIC (Australian Securities and Investments Commission), FSA (Financial Services Authority of Seychelles), FSCA (Financial Sector Conduct Authority), SVGFSA (Financial Services Authority St Vincent & The Grenadines) ASIC, CySEC, CMA, FSA
Mobile Apps
iOS & Android iOS & Android
Trading App
IC Markets provide mobile apps for their cTrader, MT4, MT5, and TradingView platforms. Developed separately for Android and iOS, these apps leverage each system's unique capabilities. Featuring raw pricing and spreads from 0.0, they offer superb tools for every trader level. What truly distinguishes them is maintaining IC Markets’ renowned rapid execution speed within the apps. This ensures a professional and highly responsive trading experience.
iOS App Rating
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4.7
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3.1
Android App Rating
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3.5
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4.2
Margin Trading
Yes Yes
MetaTrader 4
Yes Yes
MetaTrader 5
Yes Yes
cTrader
No Yes
AlgoTrader
No No
OmniTrader
No No
TradingView
No Yes
Autochartist
No No
eSignal
No No
Trading Central
No Yes
STP Account
Yes No
ECN Account
Yes Yes
DMA Account
No Yes
MAM Account
No Yes
PAMM Account
No Yes
LAMM Account
No No
Demat Account
No No
AI / Machine Learning
No No
Robo Advisor
No No
Negative Balance Protection
No Yes
Market Maker
No No
P2P Trading
No No
Spot Trading
No Yes
Auto Trading
Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader, cBots on cTrader, Myfxbook AutoTrade
Copy Trading
Yes Yes
Copy Trading Platform
PU Social allows clients to replicate the strategies and positions of professional traders. The app, accessible on both iOS and Android platforms, features a social trading network with thousands of traders. Introduced in February 2023, the IC Social app provides an easy platform for learning, sharing, and replicating the trades of other traders with minimal effort. The app also includes risk management features and supports specialised trading groups. Alternatively, IC Markets offers access to Signal Start and popular third-party copy trading platforms like ZuluTrade and cTrader Copy.
Social Trading
Yes Yes
Trade Signals
None Signal Start
VPS Hosting
No Yes
Tournaments
No No
Demo Competitions
No No
Ethical Investing
No No
Custodial Account
No No
Guaranteed Stop Loss
No No
Inactivity Fee
$0
Islamic Account
Yes Yes
Account Currencies
  • USD
  • EUR
  • GBP
  • CAD
  • AUD
  • NZD
  • JPY
  • HKD
  • SGD
  • USD
  • EUR
  • GBP
  • CAD
  • AUD
  • NZD
  • JPY
  • CHF
  • HKD
  • SGD
Commodities
  • Oil
  • Gold
  • Copper
  • Silver
  • Corn
  • Cocoa
  • Coffee
  • Cotton
  • Natural Gas
  • Orange Juice
  • Soybeans
  • Sugar
  • Wheat
  • Gold
  • Oil
  • Silver
  • Orange Juice
  • Cocoa
  • Coffee
  • Corn
  • Soybeans
  • Sugar
  • Wheat
  • Natural Gas
CFD
PU Prime provides CFD trading across a wide range of shares, indices, commodities, bonds, and cryptocurrencies. Leverage options differ depending on the asset, while spreads can range from nearly zero to several hundred pips, varying by instrument and account type. Trading for stocks, indices, commodities, and bonds takes place on the renowned MT4 platform. Trade over 2,250 CFDs anytime from Monday to Friday across key markets, including forex, commodities, indices, stocks, and bonds. IC Markets leverages deep liquidity and cutting-edge bridge technology to offer ideal trading conditions for scalpers, hedgers, and algorithmic traders.
Leverage
1:500 1:30 (ASIC & CySEC), 1:500 (FSA), 1:1000 (Global)
FTSE Spread
Not Available 1.0
GBPUSD Spread<
From 0.5 pips 0.23
Oil Spread
From 1.6 pips 0.03
Stocks Spread
Variable 0.02
Forex
PU Prime offers trading on over 40 forex pairs using the MT4 and MT5 platforms, with flexible leverage reaching up to 1:500. Prime accounts feature spreads starting close to zero, accompanied by a $7 commission per lot. Alternatively, traders can opt for a Standard account, which has no commission but offers wider spreads. IC Markets remains dedicated to offering tight 0.0-pip spreads on major currency pairs like EUR/USD, ensuring outstanding execution with an average speed of 35 milliseconds. Ideal for traders seeking high performance, those dealing in large volumes can also enjoy rebates of up to $2.50 per forex lot.
Assets
800+ 75
GBPUSD Spread
From 0.5 pips 0.23
EURUSD Spread
From 0.2 pips 0.02
EURGBP Spread
From 0.4 pips 0.27
Cryptocurrency
Pacific Union provides leveraged trading on cryptocurrencies against the US Dollar with competitive, real-time spreads. Traders have the advantage of utilising advanced software to examine crypto markets. IC Markets provides a range of over 20 cryptocurrencies for trading through CFDs, featuring less common tokens like Avalanche, Kusama, and Uniswap. Traders can enjoy commission-free transactions and experienced individuals can utilise high leverage up to 1:200 via the MetaTrader platforms.
Spread
From 0.7 pips BTC 42.036
Coins
  • BTC
  • BCH
  • ETH
  • LTC
  • EOS
  • XLM
  • BTC
  • BCH
  • DOT
  • DSH
  • EMC
  • EOS
  • ETH
  • LNK
  • LTC
  • NMC
  • PPC
  • XLM
  • XRP
  • ADA
  • BNB
  • DOG
  • UNI
  • XTZ
Crypto Lending
No No
Crypto Mining
No No
Crypto Staking
No No
Auto Market Maker
No No
PU Prime IC Markets
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