UZFX and IC Markets are two of the most-searched ASIC-regulated forex brokers in 2026, and the comparison comes up constantly for retail traders in Australia, Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia and the Philippines. Both hold Australian Financial Services Licences, both run MT4 and MT5, and both target the active ECN-style trader. The differences show up in minimum deposit, product range, funding rails and platform extras — not in regulator tier. This side-by-side walks through the head-to-head across the seven criteria retail traders actually care about.
At-a-Glance Comparison
| Criterion | UZFX (2026) | IC Markets (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Regulator | ASIC AFSL 001291473 | ASIC AFSL 335692 |
| Minimum deposit (Standard) | $50 | $200 |
| Account types | Standard, ECN | Standard, Raw Spread, cTrader Raw |
| EUR/USD spread (Standard) | from 0.6 pips all-in | from 1.0 pip (Standard) |
| EUR/USD spread (ECN/Raw) | from 0.0 pips + commission | from 0.0 pips + $3.50/side |
| Platforms | MT4, MT5, H5 (web + mobile) | MT4, MT5, cTrader |
| Product range | 46+ CFDs (FX, metals, energy, crypto, indices, stocks) | 2,250+ symbols (FX, indices, commodities, bonds, crypto, stocks) |
| Leverage (retail, AU ASIC) | Up to 1:30 (retail) / 1:500 (professional) | Up to 1:30 (retail) / 1:500 (professional) |
| Funding methods | USDT, local bank (VI/ID/TH/MY/PH/AU), cards | Cards, bank wire, Skrill, Neteller, PayPal (region-dependent) |
| Customer support | 24/5 multilingual | 24/5 multilingual |
| Commission model | Standard: none / ECN: per-side | Standard: none / Raw: $3.50/side |
Both brokers run the same ASIC rule book for retail clients: segregated trust accounts, negative-balance protection, leverage capped at 1:30 for retail accounts and 1:500 for professional/eligible wholesale accounts. The day-to-day differences show up in pricing, platforms and accessibility.
1. Regulation — Same Tier, Different Licence Scopes
Both UZFX and IC Markets are licensed by ASIC, which is widely regarded as a Tier-1 regulator for retail forex and CFD activity. The practical implications for a retail trader:
- Client money segregation. Both brokers hold client funds in segregated Australian trust accounts at Tier-1 Australian banks. Funds cannot be used for the broker’s operating expenses.
- Negative-balance protection. Both brokers extend negative-balance protection to retail accounts under ASIC’s product intervention order, so a trader cannot lose more than their deposited balance.
- Leverage caps. Both brokers cap retail leverage at 1:30 for FX majors and 1:20 for indices / commodities, with professional accounts eligible for up to 1:500 subject to an appropriateness assessment.
The licence scopes differ: IC Markets’ AFSL 335692 covers the broader investment-banking and ECN distribution model it has operated since 2007. UZFX’s AFSL 001291473 is scoped specifically for retail and wholesale CFD distribution, which is why the platform is narrower in products but tighter on CFD-specific funding rails.
2. Minimum Deposit — $50 vs $200
For traders funding their first account, the $50 vs $200 gap is the most visible difference. UZFX’s $50 minimum on the Standard account makes the first live trade possible on a smaller initial outlay; IC Markets’ $200 Standard minimum reflects the long-standing ECN positioning.
Both brokers support demo accounts with no time limit, so the practical onboarding path is: demo → small live → scale up. The difference is the threshold for the first live trade.
3. Spreads and Commissions
IC Markets’ Raw Spread account on EUR/USD starts from 0.0 pips with a $3.50 per-side commission, which is the global benchmark for active ECN trading. UZFX’s ECN account tightens to 0.0 pips with a commission in the same per-lot range, while the Standard account runs from 0.6 pips all-in with no commission.
For a retail trader running 1–5 standard lots per month, the all-in economics of UZFX Standard versus IC Markets Raw are within a few dollars of each other once the commission is added back. For a high-volume scalper running 50+ lots per day, IC Markets’ Raw Spread account is the cheaper option on raw spread economics, and UZFX’s ECN is competitive on the same model. The decision comes down to volume tier and whether you prefer all-in pricing or raw-spread-plus-commission transparency.
4. Platforms — MT4/MT5 Plus One Extra
Both brokers offer MT4 and MT5 with the same EA library, indicator ecosystem and hedging capability. The differentiator is the third platform:
- UZFX H5. A proprietary HTML5 web and mobile terminal that runs in any browser without installation. Useful for traders who want to place a quick order from a borrowed device or a low-spec phone.
- IC Markets cTrader. A native ECN-style front-end with Level II depth, customisable order routing and a cleaner interface for scalping. Useful for traders who specifically want cTrader’s order-book visualisation.
There is no “better” third platform — cTrader is more powerful for serious ECN traders, H5 is more convenient for occasional browser-based access.
5. Product Range — 46+ vs 2,250+
IC Markets lists over 2,250 tradeable symbols, which is one of the widest ranges in the ASIC-regulated retail CFD space — equities on 50+ exchanges, ETF CFDs, government and corporate bond CFDs, and the standard FX/metals/energy/crypto mix.
UZFX lists 46+ CFD products focused on the highest-demand instruments: major and minor FX pairs, XAU/USD and XAG/USD metals, WTI and Brent crude, natural gas, major equity indices (US500, NAS100, US30, DE40, JP225, AU200), Bitcoin and Ethereum, and a curated set of US and ASX share CFDs.
If you specifically want bond CFDs, ETF CFDs or small-cap equity exposure, IC Markets has the wider range. If you trade the major pairs, major indices, gold/silver and the top crypto CFDs, UZFX’s 46+ products cover the case.
6. Funding and Withdrawals — USDT and Local Rails vs Cards and Wire
UZFX supports USDT (TRC-20 and ERC-20) funding with no broker fee, plus local bank rails in Vietnam (Vietcombank, Techcombank), Indonesia (BCA, Mandiri), Thailand (Bangkok Bank, Kasikorn), Malaysia (Maybank, CIMB), the Philippines (BPI, BDO) and Australia (CBA, ANZ, NAB). Local rails settle same-day during banking hours.
IC Markets supports card, bank wire, Skrill, Neteller and PayPal depending on region. USDT is not a primary funding rail. For traders in markets where USDT and local bank transfers are the standard onboarding path, UZFX’s funding stack is the cleaner fit.
7. Customer Support and Education
Both brokers offer 24/5 multilingual customer support covering English, Vietnamese, Indonesian, Thai, Malay, Chinese and Spanish. Both maintain an education library covering platform tutorials, risk management and macro-strategy pieces. The depth of the education library is comparable; the difference is the third-party ecosystem (MarketCFD’s independent reviews apply equally to both).
Which Broker Should You Choose?
- Pick UZFX if you want a lower first-funding threshold ($50), USDT and local bank funding, MT4/MT5 plus a browser-based H5 terminal, and you trade the major FX, index, metal and crypto CFDs.
- Pick IC Markets if you specifically need cTrader, the widest product range (2,250+ symbols), or you are a high-volume scalper running 50+ lots per day on Raw Spread pricing.
Both are ASIC-regulated, both segregate client funds, both offer MT4 and MT5, and both are appropriate for retail traders in AU and Asia. The differentiator is funding convenience, platform extras and product breadth — not regulator tier.
Risk Disclaimer
cfd trading carries significant risk. Both brokers offer leverage up to 1:500 on professional accounts and 1:30 on retail accounts; leverage amplifies both gains and losses. Past broker performance, spread stability or product availability do not guarantee future results. This article is informational and does not constitute investment advice. Verify current broker conditions on the official websites before opening an account.
Recommended Broker: Visit UZFX Official Website