IC Markets vs Exness for New Zealand Traders 2026

For New Zealand traders, trading costs are crucial. IC Markets offers raw spreads from 0.0 pips with a $3.50 commission per lot, making it highly competitive for high-volume traders. Exness provides spreads from 0.1 pips on its Zero account with a $3.50 commission, while its Standard account has no commission but wider spreads. Over 100 lots per month, IC Markets can save you up to $50 in spread costs compared to Exness. However, Exness's Standard account is better for low-volume traders who prefer no commission.

Both brokers support MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, and cTrader, which are popular among New Zealand traders. IC Markets offers superior execution speeds with its low-latency servers in New York and London, ideal for scalpers. Exness provides the same platforms but with additional tools like Trading Central and a proprietary web platform. For Kiwis who trade on the go, both have mobile apps with full functionality. IC Markets edges ahead for algorithmic traders due to its robust API support.

IC Markets offers superior execution with an average speed of 40ms and no requotes, thanks to its Equinix NY4 data centre. Exness provides execution speeds of around 60ms with no dealing desk intervention. For New Zealand scalpers and high-frequency traders, IC Markets is the better choice due to lower latency. Exness is still reliable for most traders, with slippage protection and a 99.9% order execution rate.

IC Markets is regulated by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) and the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC), while Exness is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC). Neither broker is directly regulated by the local financial regulator in New Zealand, but they comply with international standards. For New Zealand traders, this means your funds are held in segregated accounts and you have access to investor compensation schemes in certain jurisdictions. Always verify the broker's registration with the local financial regulator before trading.

New Zealand traders can deposit and withdraw using Bank Transfer, Skrill, Neteller, and USDT at both brokers. IC Markets supports these methods with no deposit fees and withdrawal fees only for bank transfers (approx. $20). Exness offers instant deposits for e-wallets and USDT, with no fees for most methods. Minimum deposits are lower at Exness ($10) compared to IC Markets ($200). Withdrawals are processed within 24 hours for e-wallets and USDT, while bank transfers take 1-3 business days. Both brokers support NZD deposits via Bank Transfer, making it easy for Kiwis to fund their accounts.

Both IC Markets and Exness offer Islamic (swap-free) accounts for New Zealand Muslim traders. IC Markets provides swap-free accounts on all account types, including Raw Spread and Standard, with no additional fees. Exness offers Islamic accounts on Standard and Zero accounts, but some currency pairs may incur swap charges after a holding period (e.g., 7 days for major pairs). New Zealand traders should contact support to confirm eligibility and any specific conditions. Both brokers require a declaration of faith for Islamic account approval.

IC Markets offers 24/7 customer support via live chat, email, and phone, with a dedicated team for New Zealand clients. Exness provides multilingual support 24/7, including English, with faster response times on live chat. Both brokers have comprehensive FAQ sections and educational resources. For New Zealand traders, Exness's support is slightly more responsive during NZ business hours, while IC Markets excels in technical support for platform issues.