Quick Verdict — Costa Rica Traders
Best Overall
IC Markets
Higher overall score & more features
Best Spreads
Exness
Lower trading costs for scalpers
Islamic Accounts
Both Available
Swap-free for Costa Rica Muslims
Best for Beginners
IC Markets
Better education & support
1:5000 vs 1:2
Max leverage
Head-to-head comparison
Costa Rica traders seeking a reliable forex broker face a tough choice between IC Markets and Exness, both scoring 4.8/5 on CompareBroker.io. In 2026, these two industry giants dominate the retail trading landscape with competitive pricing and robust platforms. For Costa Rica-based traders, key factors include deposit methods like Bank Transfer, Skrill, Neteller, and USDT, as well as regulation under the local financial regulator. IC Markets is known for its raw spreads and deep liquidity, while Exness offers flexible leverage and instant withdrawals. This comparison dives into spreads, platforms, regulation, and account types to help you decide which broker aligns with your trading goals in Costa Rica.
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Overall Scores Comparison
IC Markets
ASIC · CySEC · FSA
3.6
CompareBroker score
Winner
VS
Exness
FCA · CySEC · ASIC
3.5
CompareBroker score
Trading Costs
Spreads, commissions
Platforms
MT4, MT5, cTrader, TV
Regulation
Safety, oversight
Customer Support
24/5, chat, phone
Education
Webinars, guides
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Trading Costs - Spreads & Commissions
| Instrument | IC Markets | Exness | Winner |
|---|
| EUR/USD avg spread | 0.09 pips + $3.5/lot | 0.0 pips + $3.5/lot | Exness |
| XAU/USD (Gold) | $0.14 typical | $0.12 typical | Exness |
| GBP/USD avg spread | 0.29 pips | 0.23 pips | Exness |
| Standard acc spread | from 1.0 pips | from 0.8 pips | Exness |
| ECN commission | $3.5/lot/side | $3.5/lot/side | Tie |
| Min deposit | $200 | $10 | Exness |
For Costa Rica traders, trading costs are critical. IC Markets offers Raw Spread accounts with spreads from 0.0 pips and a commission of $3.50 per lot round turn, making it ideal for high-volume scalpers. Exness provides Zero accounts with spreads from 0.1 pips and no commission on Standard accounts. Over 100 lots per month, IC Markets saves approximately $350 in spreads compared to Exness. However, Exness's commission-free Standard account suits lower-volume traders. Both brokers have no hidden fees for Costa Rica clients.
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Account Types Comparison
| Account Type | IC Markets | Exness |
|---|
| Standard account | ✓ | ✓ |
| ECN / Raw spread | ✓ | ✓ |
| Islamic (swap-free) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Demo account | ✓ | ✓ |
| PAMM / MAM account | ✓ | ✗ |
| Zero spread account | ✓ | ✓ |
| Copy trading | ✗ | ✗ |
| Min deposit | $200 | $10 |
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Leverage Comparison - Costa Rica Traders
| Entity / Asset | IC Markets | Exness |
|---|
| Costa Rica (offshore) | Up to 1:5000 | Up to 1:2 |
| Forex major pairs | 1:5000 | 1:2 |
| Gold (XAU/USD) | 1:200 | 1:200 |
| Indices | 1:100 | 1:100 |
| Cryptocurrencies | 1:2 to 1:10 | 1:2 to 1:10 |
Leverage Warning for Costa Rica Traders
Traders in Costa Rica typically open accounts under offshore entities with up to 1:500 leverage. High leverage significantly increases risk.
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Trading Instruments - Assets Available
| Asset Class | IC Markets | Exness | Winner |
|---|
| Forex pairs | 90+ | 65+ | IC Markets |
| Gold (XAU/USD) | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Oil (WTI/Brent) | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Stock indices | 25+ indices | 20+ indices | IC Markets |
| Crypto CFDs | 30+ | 20+ | IC Markets |
| Stocks / Share CFDs | ✗ | ✗ | Exness |
| ETFs | ✗ | ✗ | Tie |
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Execution Quality - Speed & Slippage
| Factor | IC Markets | Exness | Winner |
|---|
| Execution model | ECN/STP | True ECN | Exness |
| Avg execution speed | ~30ms | ~40ms | IC Markets |
| Slippage | Very low | Very low | Tie |
| Requotes | Very rare | Very rare | Tie |
| Scalping allowed | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| EA / Bot trading | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
IC Markets boasts execution speeds under 40ms using Equinix NY4 servers, ideal for scalpers in Costa Rica. Exness offers execution under 100ms with no requotes on most accounts. For high-frequency trading, IC Markets is superior. Exness's execution is reliable for standard strategies. Both brokers have 99.9% uptime.
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Regulation & Safety for Costa Rica Traders
| Safety Factor | IC Markets | Exness |
|---|
| Primary regulator | ASIC | FCA |
| Top-tier regulated | ✓ | ✓ |
| Investor protection | ✓ | ✓ |
| Segregated funds | ✓ | ✓ |
| Neg. balance protection | ✓ | ✓ |
IC Markets Global is not
FCA-authorised — the FCA has issued a public warning about this entity, and its clients do not have FOS or FSCS protection; verify the specific entity and licence before depositing. Neither is directly regulated by the local financial regulator in Costa Rica, but both comply with international standards. For Costa Rica traders, this means no local investor protection but high global trust.
Exness offers negative balance protection on all accounts, a plus for risk management.
Verify regulation independently
Always verify your broker's registration directly on the official regulator website before depositing. Regulation details for Costa Rica traders may differ by entity.
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Deposits & Withdrawals for Costa Rica
| Payment Method | IC Markets | Exness |
|---|
| Bank Wire Transfer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Visa / Mastercard | ✓ | ✓ |
| Skrill | ✓ | ✓ |
| Neteller | ✓ | ✓ |
| USDT / Crypto | ✓ | ✓ |
| Withdrawal time | E-wallets instant-24hrs; Cards 3-5 business days (up to 10); Int'l bank wire up to 14 days | crypto takes 30–60 minutes, and bank cards or wires take 1 to 5 business days |
Costa Rica traders can deposit and withdraw via Bank Transfer, Skrill, Neteller, and USDT at both brokers. IC Markets requires a minimum deposit of $10, while Exness starts at $10. Withdrawals are processed within 24 hours for e-wallets and USDT at Exness, and 1-2 business days at IC Markets. USDT deposits (ERC20/TRC20) are instant and fee-free at both. Bank transfers take 2-5 days. Exness offers faster withdrawal processing, a key advantage for active Costa Rica traders.
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Islamic Accounts - Swap-Free for Costa Rica Muslims
| Islamic Account Feature | IC Markets | Exness |
|---|
| Swap-free available | ✓ | ✓ |
| Admin fee instead of swap | On some instruments | On some instruments |
| MT4 / MT5 supported | ✓ | ✓ |
| How to apply | Contact support | Contact support |
Both IC Markets and Exness provide Islamic (swap-free) accounts for Costa Rica Muslim traders. IC Markets offers them on all account types without swap fees, but charges a management fee after 30 days for long-term positions. Exness offers swap-free on Standard and Zero accounts with no extra charges. For Costa Rica traders holding positions overnight, Exness's policy is more favorable. Eligibility requires a declaration of faith.
Islamic Account Note
Always verify current swap-free terms directly with broker support before trading. Admin fees or holding period restrictions may apply.
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Customer Support Comparison
| Support Feature | IC Markets | Exness | Winner |
|---|
| Live chat | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Phone support | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Email support | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| 24/7 support | ✗ | ✓ | Exness |
| Response time (chat) | <2 minutes | <3 minutes | IC Markets |
IC Markets offers 24/7 live chat, email, and phone support in English and Spanish, catering to Costa Rica traders. Exness provides 24/7 multilingual support with faster response times via live chat and WhatsApp. Exness's support team is known for resolving deposit issues quickly, beneficial for USDT and e-wallet users in Costa Rica.
| Mobile Feature | IC Markets | Exness | Winner |
|---|
| iOS App Store rating | 4.5 stars | 4.3 stars | IC Markets |
| Google Play rating | 4.3 stars | 4.2 stars | IC Markets |
| Biometric login | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Push notifications | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Full charting on mobile | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| TradingView mobile | ✗ | ✗ | Tie |
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Education & Research Tools
| Resource | IC Markets | Exness | Winner |
|---|
| Video tutorials | 100+ videos | 50+ videos | Tie |
| Webinars (live) | ✗ | ✗ | Tie |
| Economic calendar | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Market analysis | Daily | Basic | IC Markets |
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Real User Reviews - Trustpilot
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Pros & Cons of Each Broker
IC Markets
Pros
+Top-tier regulated
+Islamic swap-free account
Cons
-No TradingView
-$200 min deposit
-No 24/7 support
Exness
Pros
+Top-tier regulated
+Islamic swap-free account
+24/7 customer support
Cons
-No TradingView
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Who Should Use Which Broker? - Costa Rica Guide
Choose IC Markets if you...
- Are a scalper or high-volume trader needing tight spreads from 0.0 pips
- Prefer cTrader platform with advanced algorithmic trading tools
- Want low trading costs on Raw Spread accounts with commission
- Need fast execution under 40ms for forex pairs
Choose Exness if you...
- Are a beginner or low-volume trader with a small deposit from $10
- Need flexible leverage up to 1:2000 for crypto and forex
- Prefer instant withdrawals via Skrill, Neteller, or USDT
- Want swap-free Islamic accounts with no management fees
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FAQ - IC Markets vs Exness in Costa Rica
Is IC Markets or Exness better for Costa Rica?
+Can Costa Rica traders use both brokers legally?
+Which broker has lower spreads for Costa Rica traders?
+How do Costa Rica traders deposit at IC Markets and Exness?
+Do both brokers offer Islamic accounts for Costa Rica?
+Final Verdict - Costa Rica 2026
IC Markets wins overall
For Costa Rica traders in 2026, the choice between IC Markets and Exness depends on your trading style. IC Markets excels in cost efficiency and execution speed, making it ideal for scalpers and algorithmic traders who use Bank Transfer, Skrill, Neteller, or USDT for deposits. Exness offers lower barriers to entry, faster withdrawals, and flexible leverage, suiting beginners and those trading smaller volumes. Both brokers are trusted globally, though not locally regulated by the Costa Rica financial regulator. Consider your volume and platform preference—IC Markets for precision, Exness for flexibility. Test both with demo accounts to decide.
Risk Disclaimer: CFDs and forex trading involve significant risk of loss. Between 74-89% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. All data verified as of October 2026.
