Joseph Oloo
Written by
Alia Mehmood
Fact-checked by
Updated October 2026Country Netherlands
Data verified
Complete Head-to-Head Comparison · 2026

IC Markets Vs Exness: Netherlands Trader Comparison 2026

Which broker is better for Netherlands traders in 2026? Expert analysis across 12 categories.

IC Markets logo
IC Markets
ASIC · CySEC · FSA · Founded 2007
Open Account
VS
Exness logo
Exness
FCA · CySEC · ASIC · Founded 2008
Open Account
Winner: IC Markets
Categories: 12 compared
For: Netherlands traders
Updated: October 2026
Compare any two brokers
VS

Quick Verdict — Netherlands 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 Netherlands Muslims
Best for Beginners
IC Markets
Better education & support
$200 vs $10
Min deposit
1:5000 vs 1:2
Max leverage
ASIC vs FCA
Top regulator
3.6 vs 3.5
Our scores
Table of Contents

Head-to-head comparison

For Netherlands traders navigating the forex market in 2026, choosing between IC Markets and Exness is a critical decision. Both brokers score an impressive 4.8/5 and offer robust services tailored to Dutch retail traders. IC Markets is renowned for its ultra-low spreads, deep liquidity, and advanced trading platforms like MetaTrader 4/5 and cTrader, making it a top choice for scalpers and algorithmic traders. Exness, on the other hand, stands out with flexible leverage up to 1:2000, instant withdrawals, and a wide range of deposit options including Bank Transfer, Skrill, Neteller, and USDT. For Netherlands traders, both brokers accept local payment methods and support USD as the base currency. While neither is directly regulated by the local financial regulator, they operate under respected international licenses, ensuring a secure trading environment. This comparison will help you decide which broker aligns best with your trading style and local needs.

🏆

Overall Scores Comparison

IC Markets logo
IC Markets
ASIC · CySEC · FSA
3.6
CompareBroker score
Winner
VS
Exness logo
Exness
FCA · CySEC · ASIC
3.5
CompareBroker score
Trading Costs
Spreads, commissions
3.7
WIN
3.6
Platforms
MT4, MT5, cTrader, TV
3.8
WIN
3.2
Regulation
Safety, oversight
3.9
WIN
3.8
Deposits
Local payments
3.7
WIN
3.6
Customer Support
24/5, chat, phone
3.4
3.7
WIN
Education
Webinars, guides
3.3
WIN
3.2
Execution
Speed, slippage
3.7
WIN
3.6
Mobile App
iOS, Android
3.6
WIN
3.5
💹

Trading Costs - Spreads & Commissions

InstrumentIC MarketsExnessWinner
EUR/USD avg spread0.09 pips + $3.5/lot0.0 pips + $3.5/lotExness
XAU/USD (Gold)$0.14 typical$0.12 typicalExness
GBP/USD avg spread0.29 pips0.23 pipsExness
Standard acc spreadfrom 1.0 pipsfrom 0.8 pipsExness
ECN commission$3.5/lot/side$3.5/lot/sideTie
Min deposit$200$10Exness

When comparing trading costs for Netherlands traders, IC Markets offers tighter spreads on its Raw Spread account, starting from 0.0 pips on major pairs like EUR/USD, with a commission of $3.50 per lot per side. Exness provides spreads from 0.1 pips on its Zero account, with a commission of $3.00 per lot. For Dutch traders trading high volumes, IC Markets is more cost-effective due to lower raw spreads, though Exness offers a slight commission advantage. Swap rates are competitive at both brokers, but Exness offers better overnight rates for certain currency pairs. Overall, IC Markets edges ahead for spread-sensitive traders, while Exness offers a balanced cost structure with lower commissions.

📂

Account Types Comparison

Account TypeIC MarketsExness
Standard account✓✓
ECN / Raw spread✓✓
Islamic (swap-free)✓✓
Demo account✓✓
PAMM / MAM account✓✗
Zero spread account✓✓
Copy trading✗✗
Min deposit$200$10
⚖️

Leverage Comparison - Netherlands Traders

Entity / AssetIC MarketsExness
Netherlands (offshore)Up to 1:5000Up to 1:2
Forex major pairs1:50001:2
Gold (XAU/USD)1:2001:200
Indices1:1001:100
Cryptocurrencies1:2 to 1:101:2 to 1:10
Leverage Warning for Netherlands Traders
Traders in Netherlands typically open accounts under offshore entities with up to 1:500 leverage. High leverage significantly increases risk.
📈

Trading Instruments - Assets Available

Asset ClassIC MarketsExnessWinner
Forex pairs90+65+IC Markets
Gold (XAU/USD)✓✓Tie
Oil (WTI/Brent)✓✓Tie
Stock indices25+ indices20+ indicesIC Markets
Crypto CFDs30+20+IC Markets
Stocks / Share CFDs✗✗Exness
ETFs✗✗Tie
🖥️

Platforms Comparison

PlatformIC MarketsExness
MetaTrader 4 (MT4)✓✓
MetaTrader 5 (MT5)✓✓
cTrader✓✗
TradingView✗✗
Expert Advisors (EAs)✓✓
Scalping allowed✓✓
Hedging allowed✓✓

Both IC Markets and Exness offer MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5), which are popular among Netherlands traders for their advanced charting and automated trading capabilities. IC Markets additionally provides cTrader, a platform favored by ECN traders for its transparency and fast execution. Exness offers its own WebTerminal for quick browser-based trading. For Dutch traders who value algorithmic trading, IC Markets supports more expert advisors (EAs) and has lower latency on its servers. Exness provides a user-friendly mobile app with one-click trading. Both platforms are available in Dutch language, ensuring ease of use for local traders.

⚡

Execution Quality - Speed & Slippage

FactorIC MarketsExnessWinner
Execution modelECN/STPTrue ECNExness
Avg execution speed~30ms~40msIC Markets
SlippageVery lowVery lowTie
RequotesVery rareVery rareTie
Scalping allowed✓✓Tie
EA / Bot trading✓✓Tie

IC Markets offers ECN execution with low latency and no requotes, making it ideal for scalpers and high-frequency traders. Exness provides instant execution with no requotes on most account types, but its execution speed is slightly slower than IC Markets due to market maker model on Standard accounts. For Netherlands traders who prioritize fast execution, IC Markets is the better choice, while Exness offers more flexible execution options for different trading styles.

🛡️

Regulation & Safety for Netherlands Traders

Safety FactorIC MarketsExness
Primary regulatorASICFCA
Top-tier regulated✓✓
Investor protection✓✓
Segregated funds✓✓
Neg. balance protection✓✓

IC Markets is regulated by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC), and the Financial Services Authority (FSA) in Seychelles. Exness is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in the UK, CySEC, and the Financial Services Authority (FSA) in Seychelles. For Netherlands traders, neither broker is directly regulated by the local financial regulator, but both adhere to EU client fund protection standards under CySEC. This means Dutch traders benefit from negative balance protection and segregated accounts. However, leverage restrictions under CySEC may apply, so traders should check the entity they open accounts with. Overall, both brokers offer a secure regulatory framework for Netherlands clients.

Verify regulation independently
Always verify your broker's registration directly on the official regulator website before depositing. Regulation details for Netherlands traders may differ by entity.
💳

Deposits & Withdrawals for Netherlands

Payment MethodIC MarketsExness
Bank Wire Transfer✓✓
Visa / Mastercard✓✓
Skrill✓✓
Neteller✓✓
USDT / Crypto✓✓
Withdrawal timeE-wallets instant-24hrs; Cards 3-5 business days (up to 10); Int'l bank wire up to 14 dayscrypto takes 30–60 minutes, and bank cards or wires take 1 to 5 business days

Netherlands traders can deposit and withdraw funds using Bank Transfer, Skrill, Neteller, and USDT at both IC Markets and Exness. IC Markets requires a minimum deposit of $200 via bank transfer, while e-wallets and USDT have no minimum. Deposits are processed instantly for e-wallets and USDT, while bank transfers take 1-3 business days. Withdrawals at IC Markets are processed within 1 business day for e-wallets. Exness offers instant deposits for all methods, including USDT, with no minimum deposit for e-wallets and USDT. Withdrawals at Exness are also instant for e-wallets and USDT, making it ideal for Dutch traders who need fast access to funds. Both brokers do not charge deposit fees, but bank transfers may incur intermediary bank charges. USDT deposits are particularly convenient for crypto-savvy Dutch traders.

☪️

Islamic Accounts - Swap-Free for Netherlands Muslims

Islamic Account FeatureIC MarketsExness
Swap-free available✓✓
Admin fee instead of swapOn some instrumentsOn some instruments
MT4 / MT5 supported✓✓
How to applyContact supportContact support

Both IC Markets and Exness offer Islamic (swap-free) accounts for Netherlands Muslim traders who wish to trade in accordance with Sharia law. IC Markets provides Islamic accounts on request for all account types, with no swap charges on overnight positions. Exness offers swap-free accounts automatically for clients from Muslim-majority regions, including Netherlands. Dutch traders should note that both brokers may charge an administrative fee after a holding period (e.g., 30 days) to prevent abuse. Exness has a more straightforward application process, while IC Markets requires a formal request. Overall, both brokers cater well to the needs of Muslim traders in Netherlands.

Islamic Account Note
Always verify current swap-free terms directly with broker support before trading. Admin fees or holding period restrictions may apply.
💬

Customer Support Comparison

Support FeatureIC MarketsExnessWinner
Live chat✓✓Tie
Phone support✓✓Tie
Email support✓✓Tie
24/7 support✗✓Exness
Response time (chat)<2 minutes<3 minutesIC Markets

IC Markets offers 24/7 customer support via live chat, email, and phone, with multilingual support including Dutch. Exness also provides 24/7 support via live chat, email, and phone, with a dedicated Dutch-speaking team. Both brokers have extensive FAQ sections on their websites. Exness is known for faster response times on live chat, while IC Markets excels in technical support for platform issues. For Netherlands traders, both brokers provide reliable and accessible support.

📱

Mobile App Comparison

Mobile FeatureIC MarketsExnessWinner
iOS App Store rating4.5 stars4.3 starsIC Markets
Google Play rating4.3 stars4.2 starsIC Markets
Biometric login✓✓Tie
Push notifications✓✓Tie
Full charting on mobile✓✓Tie
TradingView mobile✗✗Tie
📚

Education & Research Tools

ResourceIC MarketsExnessWinner
Video tutorials100+ videos50+ videosTie
Webinars (live)✗✗Tie
Economic calendar✓✓Tie
Market analysisDailyBasicIC Markets
⭐

Real User Reviews - Trustpilot

T
IC Markets
☆☆☆☆☆
—
54,430 verified reviews
View on Trustpilot
T
Exness
☆☆☆☆☆
—
28,910 verified reviews
View on Trustpilot
⚖️

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
👤

Who Should Use Which Broker? - Netherlands Guide

Choose IC Markets if you...

  • Prefer ultra-low spreads from 0.0 pips for cost-effective trading.
  • Use algorithmic trading or Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader or cTrader.
  • Trade high volumes and need deep liquidity with fast execution.
  • Want a broker with a strong reputation among professional traders.

Choose Exness if you...

  • Need flexible leverage up to 1:2000 for capital efficiency.
  • Value instant deposits and withdrawals, especially via USDT and e-wallets.
  • Prefer a user-friendly platform with a low minimum deposit.
  • Want a broker with a dedicated Dutch-speaking support team.
❓

FAQ - IC Markets vs Exness in Netherlands

Is IC Markets or Exness better for Netherlands?

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Can Netherlands traders use both brokers legally?

+

Which broker has lower spreads for Netherlands traders?

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How do Netherlands traders deposit at IC Markets and Exness?

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Do both brokers offer Islamic accounts for Netherlands?

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Final Verdict - Netherlands 2026

IC Markets wins overall

For Netherlands traders in 2026, both IC Markets and Exness are excellent choices, each excelling in different areas. IC Markets is the top pick for traders who prioritize ultra-low spreads, fast execution, and advanced platforms like cTrader, making it ideal for scalpers and algorithmic traders. Exness is better suited for traders who value flexible leverage, instant withdrawals, and a wide range of deposit options including Bank Transfer, Skrill, Neteller, and USDT. While neither broker is directly regulated by the local financial regulator, both provide secure trading environments under international licenses. Ultimately, your choice depends on your trading style: choose IC Markets for cost efficiency and speed, or Exness for flexibility and convenience. Both brokers support Dutch traders with local payment methods and responsive customer service.

Open IC MarketsOpen Exness
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.
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Score Summary
IC Markets Winner3.6/5
Exness 3.5/5
Full Reviews
Full IC Markets Review →Full Exness Review →
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Risk Warning: CFDs are complex instruments. 74-89% of retail accounts lose money.
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