IC Markets vs Elev8

Quick Answer

Best for	Winner	Why
Starting small	IC Markets	No minimum at its global company against $25
Raw-spread account	IC Markets	Elev8 has no raw-spread account
Top-tier licences in the group	IC Markets	ASIC and CySEC; Elev8 is offshore only
No inactivity fee	IC Markets	Elev8: $5 a month after a full year without trading
cTrader	IC Markets	Elev8 doesn’t offer it

A “winner” here means the better published figure on that one line. It is not a recommendation: the right broker depends on where you live and how you trade.

Comparison Table

	IC Markets	Elev8
Operating since	ASIC licence since 2009	Brand launched in 2026; its companies have operated since 2022
Company for international clients	Raw Trading Ltd, licensed by the FSA in Seychelles (SD018)	Elev8 Markets (FSC Mauritius, GB21027161), Keytech Limited (FSA Seychelles, SD131) and Finexis Markets Ltd (MISA, Comoros)
Regulators in the group	ASIC, CySEC, FSA Seychelles, SCB Bahamas, CMA Kenya	FSC Mauritius, FSA Seychelles, MISA Comoros
Minimum deposit	None at the global company; $200 at the Australian company	$25
Commission-free spreads	Standard from 0.8 pips	From 0.6 pips, no commission
Raw-spread account	Raw Spread from 0.0 pips (EUR/USD average 0.1) plus $3.50 per side	None
Maximum leverage	1:5000 on forex at the global company (tiered by position size); 1:30 in Australia and the EU	1:1000 (crypto 1:200)
Platforms	MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView	MT4, MT5, Elev8Trader
Copy trading	IC Social, cTrader Copy, ZuluTrade and Signal Start	Copy trading with Master Traders (0.2-pip service mark-up)
Inactivity fee	Not listed	$5 a month after a full year without trading
Withdrawal fee	None from IC Markets	None from Elev8
Swap-free	Swap-free accounts with a flat holding fee	All accounts swap-free
Bonus	100% first-deposit bonus up to $1,000, then 50% (global company)	50% bonus on each deposit

Figures come from each broker’s official site, checked on 11 October 2026. Spreads move through the day, and conditions vary by country and by the company that holds your account.

Regulation and Safety

IC Markets’ group holds ASIC and CySEC licences plus offshore licences in Seychelles, the Bahamas and Kenya. International clients are served by its Seychelles company, where IC says client money is insured up to US$1,000,000. CySEC fined its EU company €250,000 in 2024, which the company has taken to judicial review.

Elev8 launched as a brand in 2026; the companies behind it have operated since 2022. They hold offshore licences from the FSC in Mauritius, the FSA in Seychelles and the MISA in the Comoros. Elev8 says it keeps client funds in segregated accounts and offers negative balance protection. Its site names no compensation scheme.

On paper IC Markets has the stronger regulatory footprint, but that only helps if your account sits with one of its strictly regulated companies. Check which company your country places you with before you deposit.

Trading Costs

On commission-free accounts, IC Markets lists: Standard from 0.8 pips. Elev8 lists: From 0.6 pips, no commission. “From” figures are minimums, so expect wider live spreads, especially around news.

Only IC Markets offers a raw-spread account: Raw Spread from 0.0 pips (EUR/USD average 0.1) plus $3.50 per side. Elev8 is spread-only, which is simpler but usually costs more per trade for frequent traders.

IC Markets lists no inactivity fee. Elev8’s inactivity fee: $5 a month after a full year without trading. Withdrawal fees: IC Markets: none from IC Markets; Elev8: none from Elev8.

Platforms and Copy Trading

IC Markets offers MT4, MT5, cTrader and TradingView. Elev8 offers MT4, MT5 and Elev8Trader.

IC Markets’s copy trading: IC Social, cTrader Copy, ZuluTrade and Signal Start. Elev8’s copy trading: Copy trading with Master Traders (0.2-pip service mark-up). Copying another trader doesn’t remove risk: you can lose money as fast as trading yourself.

Leverage

IC Markets’s maximum leverage: 1:5000 on forex at the global company (tiered by position size); 1:30 in Australia and the EU. Elev8’s: 1:1000 (crypto 1:200).

A higher maximum is not an advantage in itself. Leverage multiplies losses as fast as gains, so beginners should use far less than either broker allows.

Which One Should You Choose?

Go with IC Markets if:

• You trade often and want raw spreads
• You want cTrader or TradingView
• You want a group with ASIC and CySEC licences

Go with Elev8 if:

• You want commission-free, swap-free trading from $25
• You want a deposit bonus
• You accept a new brand with offshore licences only

Whichever you choose, test a small withdrawal early, verify your account before you need your money, and risk only what you can afford to lose.

FAQ

Which has the lower minimum deposit, IC Markets or Elev8? IC Markets. IC Markets: none at the global company; $200 at the Australian company. Elev8: $25.

How are IC Markets and Elev8 regulated? IC Markets’s international clients deal with Raw Trading Ltd, licensed by the FSA in Seychelles (SD018). Elev8’s deal with Elev8 Markets (FSC Mauritius, GB21027161), Keytech Limited (FSA Seychelles, SD131) and Finexis Markets Ltd (MISA, Comoros). Group regulators: IC Markets: ASIC, CySEC, FSA Seychelles, SCB Bahamas, CMA Kenya; Elev8: FSC Mauritius, FSA Seychelles, MISA Comoros.

Which is cheaper to trade with? It depends on the account. Commission-free: IC Markets: Standard from 0.8 pips; Elev8: from 0.6 pips, no commission. Raw accounts: IC Markets: Raw Spread from 0.0 pips (EUR/USD average 0.1) plus $3.50 per side; Elev8: none.

Does either charge an inactivity fee? IC Markets: not listed. Elev8: $5 a month after a full year without trading.

Do both offer copy trading? IC Markets: IC Social, cTrader Copy, ZuluTrade and Signal Start. Elev8: Copy trading with Master Traders (0.2-pip service mark-up).

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