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IC Markets offers five copy-trading integrations — cTrader Copy, Myfxbook AutoTrade, ZuluTrade, IC Social, and MT4/MT5 Signals — making it the broker with the widest range of copy-trading access points for a single account. With raw spreads from 0.0 pips plus $6/RT on cTrader (or $7/RT on MT4/MT5), IC Markets is the execution-cost leader for serious copy traders. Regulated by ASIC, CySEC, SCB, and FSA Seychelles, it serves clients globally with institutional-grade liquidity. This review covers all five systems, their costs, and who each serves best.
Key Takeaways
| Detail | IC Markets Copy Trading |
|---|---|
| Copy platforms | cTrader Copy, Myfxbook AutoTrade, ZuluTrade, IC Social, MT Signals |
| Minimum deposit | $200 (all account types) |
| Raw Spread account | From 0.0 pips + $7/RT (MT4/MT5) or $6/RT (cTrader) |
| Myfxbook markup | +0.6 pip added to standard spread |
| Regulation | ASIC, CySEC, SCB, FSA (Seychelles) |
| Instruments | 2,250+ (forex, indices, commodities, stocks, crypto, bonds, futures) |
| Execution | True ECN — average 40ms server latency (NY4/LD5 Equinix) |
Five Copy-Trading Systems Explained
IC Markets doesn't build a proprietary copy platform. Instead, it integrates with five established systems — each with different strengths. Here's what each offers (DayTrading.com, 2026):
1. cTrader Copy (Native Integration)
The flagship option for IC Markets clients using cTrader. Strategy providers publish directly on the cTrader platform, and copiers allocate capital with one click. No third-party account needed — everything happens inside cTrader.
- Cost: Raw spread from 0.0 pips + $6/RT commission. Provider may charge a performance fee.
- Minimum: $200 account deposit; per-strategy minimums vary.
- Strength: Fastest execution (same platform, no bridge latency). Full provider transparency with verified track records.
- Best for: Cost-sensitive traders wanting raw ECN execution on copied trades.
2. Myfxbook AutoTrade
Myfxbook verifies provider track records independently — all results are audited and confirmed from live accounts. This verification is the key differentiator. Copiers connect their IC Markets MT4/MT5 account to Myfxbook and follow verified systems.
- Cost: Standard spread + 0.6 pip markup. No separate commission.
- Minimum: $200 account; varies per system.
- Strength: Independent third-party verification of all track records. You know the numbers are real.
- Best for: Those who prioritise proven, audited results over lowest cost.
3. ZuluTrade
ZuluTrade is an external social trading platform with its own community, ranking system, and portfolio tools. IC Markets clients connect their account to ZuluTrade to access its provider marketplace. ZuluTrade provides its own risk scoring ("ZuluRank") and portfolio-building tools.
- Cost: Spread + ZuluTrade subscription fee (varies by plan).
- Minimum: $200 IC Markets deposit + ZuluTrade requirements.
- Strength: Large provider marketplace, social features, portfolio allocation tools.
- Best for: Those wanting a social community and portfolio-level risk management.
4. IC Social
IC Markets' own social trading app — a mobile-first copy platform built in-house. Browse providers, view performance, and copy directly from the IC Social app. Simpler than cTrader Copy but more accessible for mobile users who don't want the complexity of a full trading platform.
- Cost: Standard IC Markets spreads apply.
- Minimum: $200 account deposit.
- Strength: Simple mobile interface, no third-party setup.
- Best for: Mobile-first users wanting a native IC Markets experience without external platforms.
5. MT4/MT5 Signals (MQL5 Marketplace)
The MetaTrader signals marketplace — thousands of providers publishing signals directly in MT4/MT5. IC Markets clients can subscribe to any signal directly from within the platform. This is the largest signal marketplace by provider count.
- Cost: Standard spreads + signal subscription fee (set by provider, typically $20–$50/month).
- Minimum: $200 deposit; subscription fee per signal.
- Strength: Largest provider pool. Thousands of strategies across all styles.
- Best for: Experienced traders who want maximum choice and can evaluate providers independently.
What Does IC Markets Copy Trading Cost?
IC Markets' cost advantage is in execution — raw ECN spreads that most copy-trading brokers can't match. But cost varies by which system you use:
| System | Spread | Commission | Additional Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| cTrader Copy (Raw) | From 0.0 pips | $6/RT | Provider performance fee |
| MT4/MT5 Raw Spread | From 0.0 pips | $7/RT | Signal subscription |
| Myfxbook AutoTrade | Standard + 0.6 pip | None | None (markup is the fee) |
| ZuluTrade | Standard spread | None | ZuluTrade subscription |
| IC Social | Standard spread | None | None |
The cTrader Copy Raw Spread path gives the lowest total cost — EUR/USD averages 0.02 pips during London sessions with the $6/RT commission. For a 1-lot EUR/USD trade, that's roughly $6.20 round-trip all-in. Compare this to Myfxbook's 0.6 pip markup on a standard 0.8 pip spread = 1.4 pips total = $14/lot — more than double. Calculate your exact costs with our true-cost calculator.
Execution Quality: Why It Matters for Copy Trading
IC Markets operates True ECN execution with servers in Equinix NY4 (New York) and LD5 (London) data centres. Average execution speed is approximately 40ms. For copy trading specifically, this matters because:
- Slippage reduction — Faster execution means your copied trade fills closer to the provider's price. On a volatile breakout trade, 200ms vs 40ms can mean 1–3 pips of slippage difference.
- Accurate replication — Scalping strategies that enter and exit within minutes need sub-100ms execution to replicate faithfully. IC Markets delivers this.
- Deep liquidity — Multiple liquidity providers ensure fills on larger position sizes without significant market impact.
This is why IC Markets is the preferred broker for signal providers running scalping or high-frequency strategies — their copiers get better fill quality.
Who Should Use IC Markets for Copy Trading?
- Cost-optimisation traders — If minimising execution cost is your priority, cTrader Copy + Raw Spread is the cheapest regulated option. Period.
- Those copying scalping/high-frequency strategies — 40ms execution means copied scalp trades actually replicate faithfully.
- Traders wanting choice — Five different systems means you can try cTrader Copy for cost, Myfxbook for verification, ZuluTrade for social features — all from one broker.
- Large-account traders — Deep ECN liquidity means $10K+ allocations fill without significant slippage.
- Aspiring providers — cTrader Copy lets you publish strategies with verified track records to a global audience. Low-cost execution makes your performance numbers look better.
Who Should Look Elsewhere?
- Complete beginners wanting simplicity — Five systems is overwhelming. XM ($50 min, one app) or HFM ($25 min, one system) are simpler starting points.
- Those wanting social community features — IC Markets is execution-focused, not community-focused. eToro is the social platform.
- Traders with <$200 — The $200 minimum is higher than XM ($50) or HFM ($25).
- US clients — IC Markets doesn't serve the US. Use eToro.
IC Markets vs Pepperstone for Copy Trading
| Feature | IC Markets | Pepperstone |
|---|---|---|
| Copy systems | 5 (cTrader Copy, Myfxbook, ZuluTrade, IC Social, MT Signals) | 4 (cTrader Copy, DupliTrade, Signal Start, MT Signals) |
| Raw spread commission | $6/RT (cTrader) / $7/RT (MT) | $7/RT (all platforms) |
| Minimum deposit | $200 | $0 (but DupliTrade needs $2,000) |
| Regulation count | 4 (ASIC, CySEC, SCB, FSA) | 7 (ASIC, FCA, CySEC, BaFin, DFSA, CMA, SCB) |
| Verified providers | Myfxbook (independent audit) | DupliTrade (curated, $2K min) |
| Social features | ZuluTrade + IC Social | Limited |
| Best for | Lowest cost, most choice | Regulatory depth, DupliTrade curation |
Both are excellent ECN brokers. IC Markets wins on cost ($6 vs $7 on cTrader) and system count (5 vs 4). Pepperstone wins on regulatory breadth (7 licences) and curated providers via DupliTrade. Read the full Pepperstone review.
Pros and Cons
✓ Pros
- Raw spreads from 0.0 pips — lowest copy-trading execution cost
- Five copy-trading systems from one broker
- $6/RT commission on cTrader (cheaper than $7 industry standard)
- True ECN execution — 40ms average, Equinix NY4/LD5
- Myfxbook independent verification of provider results
- 2,250+ instruments across all asset classes
- ASIC + CySEC regulation (tier-1)
- No inactivity fee
✗ Cons
- $200 minimum — higher than XM ($50) or HFM ($25)
- Five systems can overwhelm beginners
- Myfxbook adds 0.6 pip markup (hidden cost)
- No US clients
- No curated/vetted provider list (unlike DupliTrade)
- ZuluTrade has separate subscription cost
- Standard copy-trading drawdown risk applies
Getting Started with IC Markets Copy Trading
- Open an IC Markets Raw Spread account — Choose cTrader for $6/RT or MT4/MT5 for $7/RT. Fund with $200+.
- Choose your system:
- Want lowest cost? → cTrader Copy
- Want verified results? → Myfxbook AutoTrade
- Want social features? → ZuluTrade or IC Social
- Want maximum choice? → MT4/MT5 Signals
- Connect your account to the chosen platform (cTrader is built-in; others require account linking).
- Filter providers by drawdown first — Maximum drawdown under 20% is a good starting threshold.
- Diversify across 3–5 uncorrelated providers on different assets/timeframes. Score each with our drawdown scorer.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum deposit for IC Markets copy trading? $200 for all account types. This gives you access to all five copy-trading systems. Individual strategies may have their own minimum allocation requirements.
Which IC Markets copy system is cheapest? cTrader Copy with a Raw Spread account — 0.0 pip spreads + $6/RT commission. No additional platform fees. Myfxbook adds 0.6 pip markup; ZuluTrade charges a subscription.
Is IC Markets good for copying scalping strategies? Yes — it's arguably the best. True ECN execution at ~40ms from Equinix data centres means scalp trades replicate with minimal slippage. Raw spreads ensure the cost doesn't eat into thin margins.
How does Myfxbook AutoTrade verification work? Myfxbook independently connects to providers' live trading accounts and verifies all published results. This means track records can't be faked — unlike platforms where providers self-report. The trade-off is the 0.6 pip markup.
Can I use multiple IC Markets copy systems at once? Yes. You can run cTrader Copy on your cTrader account and Myfxbook/ZuluTrade on a separate MT4/MT5 account simultaneously. Many traders use different systems for different strategy types.
Final Verdict
IC Markets is the execution-cost champion for copy trading — raw spreads from 0.0 pips, $6/RT commission on cTrader, and five different copy systems from one broker. It's the clear choice for cost-sensitive traders and those copying scalping/high-frequency strategies. The trade-off: $200 minimum (vs $50 at XM), five systems that can overwhelm beginners, and no curated provider vetting like Pepperstone's DupliTrade. For absolute beginners, start with XM or HFM. For execution quality and cost optimisation, IC Markets is unmatched. Compare all in our copy-trading broker guide.
