IC Markets vs Exness: Switzerland Broker Comparison 2026

For Switzerland traders, trading costs are a key factor. IC Markets offers a Raw Spread account with spreads from 0.0 pips and a commission of $3.50 per lot per side, making it ideal for scalpers. Exness provides a Zero account with spreads from 0.1 pips and no commission, but standard accounts have slightly wider spreads. Over high trading volumes, IC Markets often results in lower total costs, especially for EUR/USD and USD/CHF pairs. Exness, however, offers fixed spreads on certain accounts, which can be beneficial during volatile Swiss market hours. Both brokers charge no deposit fees, but IC Markets has a slight edge in raw spread tightness for active traders.

Both IC Markets and Exness offer the popular MetaTrader 4 (MT4), MetaTrader 5 (MT5), and cTrader platforms. For Switzerland traders, MT4 is widely used for its advanced charting and automated trading via Expert Advisors. IC Markets also provides a web trader and mobile apps with full functionality. Exness adds its own web platform with one-click trading and advanced risk management tools. Both support VPS hosting for low-latency trading, which is crucial for Swiss traders near major financial hubs. The choice depends on preference: IC Markets for cTrader's depth of market, Exness for its custom web interface.

IC Markets offers ultra-fast execution with an average speed of 40ms, using Equinix NY4 and LD4 data centers. Exness also provides fast execution at around 50ms, with servers in London and New York. For Switzerland traders, the proximity to European servers ensures low latency. IC Markets has a slight edge in execution speed, but both are excellent for scalping and high-frequency trading. Exness offers no dealing desk execution on most accounts, reducing slippage.

IC Markets is regulated by the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC), the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), and the Financial Services Authority (FSA) in Seychelles. Exness holds licenses from CySEC, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in the UK, and the Financial Services Commission (FSC) in BVI. Neither broker is regulated by the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA). For Switzerland traders, this means they are not protected by Swiss investor compensation schemes. However, both brokers adhere to strict international standards and offer segregated client accounts. Swiss traders should ensure they are comfortable with the regulatory jurisdiction before opening an account.

Switzerland traders can fund their accounts at both IC Markets and Exness using Bank Transfer, Skrill, Neteller, and USDT. IC Markets processes deposits instantly with no fees, and withdrawals are processed within 1-2 business days for bank transfers and same day for e-wallets. Exness also offers instant deposits and withdrawals, with bank transfers taking up to 24 hours. USDT deposits are supported on both platforms, allowing Swiss traders to use cryptocurrency for faster transfers. Minimum deposits are low: $200 for IC Markets and $10 for Exness, making Exness more accessible for beginners. Both brokers support CHF as a base currency, but USD is recommended for lower spreads.

Both IC Markets and Exness provide Islamic (swap-free) accounts for Switzerland traders who follow Sharia law. IC Markets offers swap-free accounts on all account types with no additional fees, and the request can be made after account opening. Exness also offers Islamic accounts, but requires documentation to confirm the trader's Muslim faith. Exness applies a small administrative fee after a certain holding period on swap-free accounts. For Swiss Muslim traders, IC Markets may be more straightforward, while Exness offers similar benefits with a slightly more rigorous verification process.

IC Markets provides 24/7 customer support via live chat, email, and phone, with multilingual agents including German. Exness also offers 24/7 support with live chat and email, but phone support is limited to certain hours. Both have extensive FAQ sections. For Switzerland traders, IC Markets' German support may be more convenient, while Exness' response times are generally fast. Both brokers offer support in English, which is widely spoken in Switzerland.