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

IC Markets Vs Exness For Norway Traders (2026): Comprehensive Comparison

Which broker is better for Norway 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: Norway traders
Updated: October 2026
Compare any two brokers
VS

Quick Verdict — Norway 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 Norway 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 Norway traders in 2026, choosing between IC Markets and Exness is a critical decision. Both brokers hold a stellar 4.8/5 rating, but they cater to different needs. IC Markets is known for its ultra-tight spreads and institutional-grade execution, making it a favorite among scalpers and algorithmic traders in Norway. Exness, on the other hand, offers flexible leverage up to 1:2000 and a lower minimum deposit, appealing to retail traders who want to start small. Both brokers support local payment methods like Bank Transfer, Skrill, Neteller, and USDT, ensuring seamless deposits and withdrawals for Norwegian clients. While neither is directly regulated by the local financial regulator, they operate under reputable international licenses (e.g., CySEC, FCA, FSA). This comparison dives into spreads, platforms, regulation, and more, tailored specifically for the Norwegian trading environment.

🏆

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 Norway traders, IC Markets generally offers lower spreads, particularly on its Raw Spread account with spreads from 0.0 pips on EUR/USD and a commission of $3.5 per lot per side. Exness spreads start from 0.1 pips on its Zero account, with a commission of $3.5 per lot per side. For high-volume traders in Norway, IC Markets can reduce costs significantly. However, Exness has no commission on its Standard account (spreads from 1.0 pips), which suits smaller traders. Both brokers charge no deposit or withdrawal fees for most methods, including USDT and Skrill.

📂

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 - Norway Traders

Entity / AssetIC MarketsExness
Norway (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 Norway Traders
Traders in Norway 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 brokers offer MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5), which are popular among Norway traders for their advanced charting and automated trading capabilities. IC Markets also provides cTrader, known for its user-friendly interface and depth of market, beneficial for scalpers. Exness offers its own WebTerminal and mobile apps, but MT4/MT5 remain the primary platforms. For Norwegian traders, both platforms support Norwegian Krone (NOK) accounts, though USD accounts are more common. IC Markets has a slight edge with cTrader for those who prefer a modern trading environment.

⚡

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 is renowned for its fast execution speeds, averaging 40ms on MetaTrader 4 servers located in New York and London. Exness also offers low latency with execution speeds around 50ms. For Norway traders, both brokers provide excellent execution quality, but IC Markets has a slight edge due to its direct market access (DMA) and no requotes. Exness uses a hybrid model combining STP and ECN, which is reliable for most retail traders. Scalpers and high-frequency traders in Norway will prefer IC Markets.

🛡️

Regulation & Safety for Norway 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) of Seychelles. Exness is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in the UK, CySEC, and the Financial Services Authority (FSA) of Seychelles. For Norway traders, neither broker is directly supervised by the local financial regulator, but they comply with EU standards (via CySEC) and international norms. This provides a reasonable level of client protection, including negative balance protection and segregated accounts. Norway traders should verify their tax obligations when trading with international brokers.

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

Deposits & Withdrawals for Norway

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

For Norway traders, both IC Markets and Exness support Bank Transfer, Skrill, Neteller, and USDT (Tether) for deposits and withdrawals. Bank transfers are reliable but may take 1-3 business days, while e-wallets and USDT are instant. IC Markets has a minimum deposit of $10 (or equivalent), while Exness allows as low as $10. Withdrawals are processed quickly: Exness offers instant withdrawals for e-wallets and USDT, while IC Markets processes within 24 hours. No fees are charged by either broker for these methods, making them cost-effective for Norwegian traders. It's advisable to use the same method for deposits and withdrawals to avoid complications.

☪️

Islamic Accounts - Swap-Free for Norway 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 Norway Muslim traders who require Sharia-compliant trading. These accounts eliminate overnight interest (swap) on positions held beyond the trading day. Exness provides Islamic accounts automatically on all account types, while IC Markets offers them upon request and approval. For Norway traders, this is a valuable option, especially for those trading major forex pairs where swaps can accumulate. Ensure to check the broker's policy on holding positions for extended periods, as some may apply fees after a certain number of days.

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

Both brokers offer 24/7 customer support in multiple languages, including English and Norwegian. IC Markets provides live chat, email, and phone support, with response times under 5 minutes for chat. Exness also offers 24/7 support via live chat, email, and phone, with a dedicated Norwegian-speaking team. For Norway traders, Exness has a slight advantage with its local language support, though IC Markets' support is equally efficient. Both have extensive FAQ sections on their websites.

📱

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? - Norway Guide

Choose IC Markets if you...

  • Are a scalper or day trader needing ultra-tight spreads from 0.0 pips.
  • Trade high volumes and want low commissions ($3.5 per lot).
  • Prefer cTrader platform for advanced order types and depth of market.
  • Want institutional-grade execution with minimal slippage.

Choose Exness if you...

  • Are a retail trader starting with a small deposit (as low as $10).
  • Need flexible leverage up to 1:2000 for larger positions.
  • Want instant withdrawals via e-wallets or USDT.
  • Prefer a broker with a dedicated Norwegian-speaking support team.
❓

FAQ - IC Markets vs Exness in Norway

Is IC Markets or Exness better for Norway?

+

Can Norway traders use both brokers legally?

+

Which broker has lower spreads for Norway traders?

+

How do Norway traders deposit at IC Markets and Exness?

+

Do both brokers offer Islamic accounts for Norway?

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Final Verdict - Norway 2026

IC Markets wins overall

For Norway traders, the choice between IC Markets and Exness depends on your trading style and budget. IC Markets is the superior choice for cost-conscious scalpers and algorithmic traders due to its tighter spreads and faster execution. Exness is better for retail traders who value low minimum deposits, flexible leverage, and instant withdrawals. Both brokers support local payment methods like Bank Transfer, Skrill, Neteller, and USDT, making them accessible for Norwegian clients. While neither is directly regulated by the local financial regulator, their international licenses provide adequate security. Consider your volume, preferred platform, and support needs—IC Markets for precision, Exness for flexibility.

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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