Tier A comparison
Exness vs IC Markets
No single winner. Pick Exness if funding familiarity and operational speed in your region matter most. Pick IC Markets if you already optimise around raw/ECN-style MT5 cost structure and are comfortab…
Diligence
Trust signals
- Operated by Kodiac Capital Limited (Dubai company registration (filing in progress)) — see Trust Center.
- Broker pages describe connectivity to Kodiac desks; funds stay at your broker.
- No invented licences, awards, or guaranteed returns.
Diligence
How we test brokers
- Confirm the broker appears in the Kodiac MT5 directory and connectivity docs.
- Check public entity / platform claims against primary sources — never invent licences.
- Score only when evidence exists; otherwise leave cells pending.
- Disclose that Kodiac is not the broker and does not custody broker balances.
01 · Summary
Winner summary
No single winner. Pick Exness if funding familiarity and operational speed in your region matter most. Pick IC Markets if you already optimise around raw/ECN-style MT5 cost structure and are comfortable with that onboarding path. On Kodiac, both keep funds at the broker.
Best for Exness
Exness is typically better when you already bank there, need flexible funding rails (including crypto where offered), and want the shortest path from funded MT5 → Kodiac desk.
Best for IC Markets
IC Markets is typically better when raw-account pricing culture and active-trader workflows are your priority and you have already verified the IC Markets entity serving you.
02 · Scorecard
Feature comparison table
| Dimension | Exness | IC Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Regulation & entity clarity | Multi-entity — verify agreement entity on Exness + register | Multi-entity — verify agreement entity on IC Markets + register |
| Platforms (MT5) | MT5 supported for Kodiac desk path | MT5 supported for Kodiac desk path |
| Account types (typical) | Standard / raw-or-zero style (names vary) — confirm live | Standard / raw+commission culture — confirm live |
| Spreads & typical cost profile | Account-type dependent; confirm live | Often raw+commission culture; confirm live |
| Funding & withdrawals | Broad methods in many regions incl. crypto where offered | Solid professional rails; entity-specific |
| Beginner / first-desk fit | Often easier when Exness KYC/funding already works | Better when you already understand raw-account costs |
| Instruments & markets | Wide CFD book where permitted | Wide CFD book where permitted |
| Support & onboarding | Retail-scale support; test yourself | Active-trader oriented; test yourself |
| Kodiac managed-desk fit | Excellent when Exness MT5 already funded | Excellent when IC Markets MT5 already funded |
03 · Costs
Fees
Do not decide from screenshots. Exness and IC Markets both offer standard- and raw-style MT5 accounts depending on entity. Raw accounts often add commission; standard accounts embed cost in spread. Open both demo/live pricing (where available) and compare your symbols during London/NY overlap. Include swap expectations if you hold overnight — short-term desk styles still pay financing on some symbols.
04 · Platforms
Platforms
Both are MT5-first for Kodiac desks. Server names differ — copy exactly from the broker’s MT5 download/login screen. Other platforms (apps, cTrader, etc.) are out of scope unless Kodiac docs explicitly add them. After connection, use the Kodiac dashboard for risk-tier behaviour; broker terminals will not show Kodiac pause logic.
05 · Execution
Execution
We do not publish latency leaderboards. Execution quality depends on account type, symbol, session, and entity. Use small size first after Kodiac approval; judge fills yourself. If fills disappoint, change broker settings or broker of record — Kodiac cannot rewrite broker liquidity.
06 · Diligence
Regulation
Both brands use multiple legal entities. Your client agreement — not this page — names the firm. Verify that firm on the official broker site and the regulator register. Kodiac (Kodiac Capital Limited, Dubai company registration (filing in progress)) is neither broker. Treat “CySEC vs ASIC” marketing slogans as incomplete until the agreement entity is checked.
07 · Verdict
Final verdict
For Kodiac desks: choose the broker you can legally fund and operate today. Exness often wins on familiarity in several retail corridors; IC Markets often wins for traders already committed to raw MT5 economics. Connect only one broker of record to start, then add complexity later. Beginners should optimise for successful funding + conservative risk tiers, not the lowest advertised spread.
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Methodology
Comparisons use a fixed dimension set across pairs. Cells remain empty or marked pending until a human editor cites evidence. No winner is declared without documented criteria. Recommendations are use-case based (“best for”), not universal rankings. G3-07 added Exness vs XM and OANDA vs IG scorecards alongside Sprint 1 depth. We do not invent pip averages or licence numbers.
Sources
Support
Frequently asked questions
Regulation, broker connect, pause floors, and how access works.
Not required. Pick one broker of record, fund it, connect MT5 to Kodiac, validate the desk, then reconsider diversification.
It depends on account type, symbol, and session. Compare live quotes — we refuse invented averages.
Kodiac lists both for MT5 desks. Preference should follow your compliance and funding reality.
Usually the broker you can fund and operate without friction. If Exness KYC already works, start there; if you already run IC Markets raw accounts, stay. See /brokers for the full directory.
Yes, but finish one funded path end-to-end on Kodiac first. Mid-desk broker switches add operational risk.
At Exness or IC Markets — never custodied by Kodiac.
Diligence
Editorial policy
AI may draft. A human author and reviewer must approve before publish. Facts about brokers require primary sources. Fake statistics, fake regulation claims, and fake awards are prohibited.
Full governance: review cadence, citation rules, and versioning live in the G1-03 content standard (engineering docs). On-site disclosures remain authoritative for legal wording.
Diligence
Affiliate & commercial disclosure
Kodiac Capital provides mandate design, desk execution and oversight. We are not the broker named on this page, do not custody client broker balances, and may earn fees when you use Kodiac products. Broker terms, spreads, and availability are set by the broker — verify on the broker’s official site.
Diligence
Risk disclosure
Trading Forex and CFDs involves substantial risk of loss and is not suitable for all investors. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Capital is at risk.
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