Last updated: 22 September 2026
IC Markets, now trading under the IC brand, is known for a low-spread model in which several accounts quote spreads from 0.0 pips. Plenty of traders still open a Standard account by default without accounting for the markup built into the spread, or pick Raw Spread on MT4/MT5 without ever comparing it to cTrader Raw.
This guide will compare IC Markets account types — the IC Markets Standard account, the IC Markets Raw Spread account, cTrader Raw, Raw Pro and Raw Pro+ — on spread, commission, platform and the capital each one requires.
More importantly, Backcom will help you work out which IC Markets account to choose for your trading style, and run the cost per lot before and after cashback so you are not judging by the advertised spread alone.
If you want to check the licences and the entity behind the broker before opening anything, start with our IC Markets review.
IC Markets Account Types Compared: All 5 In One Table
The IC Markets account types fall into five groups: Standard charges no commission but adds a markup to the spread; Raw Spread on MT4/MT5 quotes from 0.0 pips with commission of around $3.5 per lot per side; cTrader Raw charges commission on notional value; Raw Pro and Raw Pro+ target traders with larger capital and higher volume.
| Account type | Min. deposit | Spread from | Commission/side | Round turn | Platform | Leverage | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | None required | around 0.8 pips | $0 | $0 | MT4, MT5, cTrader | 1:5000 (MT4/MT5) | Beginners, low volume |
| Raw Spread | None required | 0.0 pips | $3.5/lot | $7/lot | MT4, MT5 | 1:5000 | Scalpers, EAs, day traders |
| cTrader Raw | None required | 0.0 pips | around $3 per $100,000 | around $6+ | cTrader, TradingView | 1:1000 | Manual scalpers |
| Raw Pro | $5,000 | 0.0 pips | around $1.5/lot | around $3/lot | MT4, MT5 | 1:5000 | High-volume traders |
| Raw Pro+ | $100,000 | 0.0 pips | around $1/lot | around $2/lot | MT4, MT5 | 1:5000 | Very large, professional accounts |
According to the official IC Markets account overview, the important difference between the IC Markets account types is how the cost is charged: markup folded into the spread, or a raw spread with a separate commission.
That is the single distinction worth internalising before anything else, because a spread from 0.0 pips does not mean the trade is free. Everything else separating the IC Markets account types follows from it.
Since July 2026 IC Markets has moved to the IC identity and the ic.com domain. The rebrand does not replace existing trading accounts, but the display names and the Client Portal interface may have been updated.
For Raw Pro and Raw Pro+ specifically, availability can depend on the legal entity and on your own client conditions. Check Open Additional Account in the Secure Client Portal before funding anything.
IC Markets Standard Account: No Commission, Markup In The Spread
The IC Markets Standard account is the easiest of the IC Markets account types to follow, because you never have to track a separate commission on each trade.
In exchange, the cost is built straight into the spread — the defining trait that separates it from every other one of the IC Markets account types.
How IC Markets Charges On The Standard Account
The Standard account takes no commission per lot. Instead, the broker adds a markup to the raw price.
A simple example:
- Raw market spread on EUR/USD: 0.1 pips.
- Assumed markup: 0.8 pips.
- Spread shown to the trader: around 0.9 pips.
- Pip value on 1 lot of EUR/USD: around $10.
- Total spread cost: around $9 per lot.
So the fact that the IC Markets Standard account charges no commission does not make trading free.
Compared with the IC Markets Raw Spread account, Standard looks simpler in your trade history, but the cost is sitting inside the spread all the same.
That is exactly why, when you compare IC Markets account types, you should never read the commission column on its own.
Who Should Use The IC Markets Standard Account?
The Standard account suits:
- Traders new to Forex.
- Traders running low volume.
- Anyone not scalping many trades a day.
- Traders who prefer the cost expressed mainly through the spread.
- Anyone prioritising a higher cashback rate per lot.
Under the cashback rates Backcom publishes for the Forex and metals group, Standard carries an indicative rebate of around $4 per lot, higher than Raw Spread.
That can narrow the real cost gap between the two accounts considerably once cashback is applied.
On the other hand, if you run an EA or trade tens to hundreds of lots a month, the Standard account is rarely the first choice — the spread markup compounds quickly with volume.
IC Markets Raw Spread Account: 0.0 Pips Plus $3.5 Per Lot Per Side
The IC Markets Raw Spread account is the one traders hear about most, because the spread can start at 0.0 pips.
Unlike the IC Markets Standard account, Raw Spread keeps the quote close to the raw price and charges commission separately. It is the reference point most people use when they rank the IC Markets account types on cost.
On the published rates for the IC Markets Raw Spread Account, commission on MetaTrader is normally around $3.5 per lot per side — that is $7 to open and close 1 lot.
Converting Commission To Pips: Is Raw Spread Really Cheaper Than Standard?
Assume you trade 1 lot of EUR/USD:
Raw Spread:
- Actual spread: 0.1 pips ≈ $1.
- Commission to open: $3.5.
- Commission to close: $3.5.
- Total commission: $7.
- Total cost: around $8.
Standard:
- Assumed spread: 0.9 pips.
- Cost: around $9.
- Commission: $0.
In this example the Raw Spread account is about $1 per lot cheaper before cashback.
Note that the spread is not fixed. In thin liquidity, around rollover or on major economic releases it can widen, so the real cost will not always match the example above.
Who Is Raw Spread For?
Raw Spread normally suits:
- Scalpers.
- Day traders.
- Anyone running an EA on MT4 or MT5.
- Traders taking many positions a day.
- Anyone who wants spread and commission clearly separated.
- High-volume traders who do not yet qualify for Raw Pro.
With fast in-and-out strategies, a few tenths of a pip can move the long-run result meaningfully. See how scalping strategies work if that is your approach.
If you are torn between the IC Markets Standard account and the IC Markets Raw Spread account, add up spread + commission − cashback rather than assuming Raw is always cheaper because it quotes from 0.0 pips.
cTrader Raw, Raw Pro And Raw Pro+: The Other Three Raw Variants
Beyond Raw Spread on MetaTrader, the IC Markets account types include further Raw configurations for different platforms and client groups.
The three to know are cTrader Raw, Raw Pro and Raw Pro+. They round out the IC Markets account types and each one answers a different constraint: platform, capital, or both.
cTrader Raw: Commission Charged Per $100,000 Of Notional
This is the part traders most often misread.
Commission on cTrader Raw is not necessarily expressed as $x per lot the way it is on the IC Markets Raw Spread account on MetaTrader.
The usual basis is around $3 per $100,000 of notional value, per side.
For example, if 1 lot of EUR/USD has a notional value of about $110,000 at the time of the trade, commission works out at roughly:
110,000 / 100,000 × $3 = $3.3 per side.
Opening and closing is therefore about $6.6.
Because the exchange rate of the pair moves, the equivalent cost “per lot” shifts slightly too.
cTrader Raw suits traders who want:
- The cTrader interface.
- Depth of Market.
- Fast manual execution.
- Raw pricing.
- Competitive commission.
- TradingView integration where the account supports it.
Raw Pro And Raw Pro+: Lower Commission For Larger Capital
Raw Pro and Raw Pro+ are aimed at clients with more capital.
On the official IC Markets account table:
- Raw Pro: minimum capital around $5,000, commission around $1.5 per lot per side.
- Raw Pro+: minimum capital around $100,000, commission around $1 per lot per side.
Against the IC Markets Raw Spread account at $3.5 per lot per side, the gap matters once you are trading hundreds of lots.
Raw Spread costs $7 round turn while Raw Pro is around $3 — a difference of roughly $4 per lot.
At 100 lots a month that is a difference of about:
100 × $4 = $400 per month.
That said, Raw Pro and Raw Pro+ can depend on account conditions and on the entity serving you. Do not deposit $5,000 or $100,000 purely because the commission is lower without first checking that you can open the account in the Client Portal.
MetaTrader Or cTrader For A Raw Account?
| Criteria | Raw Spread MT4/MT5 | cTrader Raw |
|---|---|---|
| Commission basis | Per lot | Per notional value |
| Automated trading | EAs on MT4/MT5 | cBots |
| Strength | Large EA ecosystem | DOM, strong scalping interface |
IC also documents its platforms and account operations in the official Help Centre.
If you already have EAs written for MT4/MT5, Raw Spread is usually the practical answer. If you trade manually and are comfortable with Depth of Market, cTrader Raw is worth a look.
Real Cost Per Lot Across The IC Markets Account Types, Before And After Cashback
One of the classic mistakes when you compare IC Markets account types is looking at spread or commission in isolation.
Real cost should be worked out as:
Total cost = Spread + Commission − Cashback.
Run that formula on every account you are considering and the ranking of the IC Markets account types often flips. For the full mechanics, see IC Markets trading fees: spread, commission and swap.
Worked Example On EUR/USD
The table below uses example spreads to illustrate the method — these are not fixed spreads you will see at every moment.
| Account | Assumed spread | Round-turn commission | Total before cashback | Indicative Backcom cashback | Cost after cashback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | $9 | $0 | $9 | $4 | ~$5 |
| Raw Spread | $1 | $7 | $8 | $2 | ~$6 |
| Raw Pro | $1 | $3 | $4 | $0.85 | ~$3.15 |
| Raw Pro+ | $1 | $2 | $3 | $0.55 | ~$2.45 |
cTrader Raw is not in the table because Backcom calculates cashback for the cTrader/TradingView group on notional value (around $5 per $1 million) rather than per lot, so it does not reduce to the same unit as the other four accounts.
The striking part is that the IC Markets Standard account is no longer clearly expensive once cashback is counted.
In the example above:
- Standard after cashback: around $5 per lot.
- Raw Spread after cashback: around $6 per lot.
That does not mean Standard is always cheaper than Raw. The result depends on the spread you actually get, when you trade, and the cashback rate applied to your account.
Worked Example On XAU/USD
Gold spreads move far more than Forex majors, so do not transfer the EUR/USD numbers straight across to XAU/USD.
The method stays the same:
- Record the actual spread when you enter.
- Convert that spread into USD on 1 lot.
- Add commission if the account is a Raw type.
- Subtract the cashback that applies.
| Account | Actual spread | Commission | Indicative cashback |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | Market-dependent | $0 | $4/lot |
| Raw Spread | Market-dependent | Per the Raw schedule | $2/lot |
| Raw Pro | Market-dependent | Per the Pro schedule | $0.85/lot |
| Raw Pro+ | Market-dependent | Per the Pro+ schedule | $0.55/lot |
Backcom applies cashback to eligible accounts and credits it to your Backcom wallet on the programme’s payment schedule.
To weigh IC Markets cashback against other brokers, see the broker rebate comparison.
Which IC Markets Account To Choose? Recommendations For 5 Trader Profiles
There is no single best account for everyone, and none of the IC Markets account types is designed to be.
To decide which IC Markets account to choose, weigh three things at once: your trading volume, the platform you use and the size of your capital.
| Trader profile | Account to consider |
|---|---|
| Beginner trading under about 5 lots a month | Standard |
| Scalper or EA on MT4/MT5 | Raw Spread |
| Manual scalper who prefers DOM/cTrader | cTrader Raw |
| Capital from around $5,000 with high volume | Raw Pro if eligible |
| Capital from around $100,000 | Raw Pro+ if eligible |
If you still do not know which IC Markets account to choose, Standard and Raw Spread are the two most accessible options for most retail traders.
Standard is simple, commission-free and carries the higher cashback. Raw Spread fits better when the strategy needs tight spreads, runs an EA, or trades continuously. Between them they cover most of what the remaining IC Markets account types offer, without the capital thresholds.
Once you have settled on an account type, check the current IC Markets cashback rates with Backcom.
If you want to compare against a broker with even more account configurations, see the 7 Vantage account types.
4 Common Mistakes When Choosing Between IC Markets Account Types
1. Picking Standard just because it says “no commission”
Commission is zero, but the cost is still in the spread. At high volume, that markup adds up.
2. Taking Raw on MT5 when you do not need the MetaTrader ecosystem
If you trade entirely by hand, it is worth comparing cTrader Raw before committing.
3. Assuming cTrader Raw charges a fixed commission per lot
cTrader commission can be charged on USD notional value, so the amount equivalent to 1 lot changes with the instrument and the exchange rate.
4. Ignoring cashback
Judge only on pre-cashback cost and your ranking of the IC Markets account types can look very different from the net cost you actually pay.
How To Open Another IC Markets Account Type In The Secure Client Portal
If you already have an IC Markets account but picked the wrong type, you normally do not need a new client profile.
The basic process:
- Sign in to the Secure Client Portal.
- Choose Open Additional Account.
- Select the account type, platform, base currency and the leverage you are allowed.
- Once the account exists, make an internal transfer if you need to.
An account that is already open normally cannot be converted directly from Standard to Raw or back — the IC Markets account types are set at creation. Creating an additional trading account is the simpler route.
If you do not have an account yet, read how to open an IC Markets account step by step, or start from the IC Markets programme at Backcom.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does The IC Markets Standard Account Charge Commission?
No. The IC Markets Standard account takes no separate per-lot commission. The cost is folded into the spread as a markup instead. You are still paying a trading cost, even though no commission line appears in your trade history.
Standard is also the group with the highest indicative cashback in the Backcom IC Markets programme.
How Much Commission Does The IC Markets Raw Spread Account Charge?
The IC Markets Raw Spread account on MT4/MT5 carries indicative commission of around $3.5 per lot per side, which is roughly $7 per lot round turn.
cTrader Raw works differently: commission can be charged at around $3 per $100,000 of notional value, per side.
What Is The IC Markets Minimum Deposit?
On the official IC Markets Global account table, Standard, Raw Spread and cTrader Raw currently have no minimum deposit. Plenty of older guides still quote $200 — that is a historical figure.
Raw Pro sits at a higher threshold of around $5,000, while Raw Pro+ targets very large accounts at around $100,000. Confirm the live conditions in the Client Portal.
Did The Rebrand To IC Change My Account?
You do not need to reopen an account just because IC Markets now trades as IC.
The brand and domain were updated during 2026 while client accounts carried on unchanged. Display names, the logo and the Client Portal interface may differ from older guides and screenshots, though.
Which Of The IC Markets Account Types Pays The Most Cashback?
On the Backcom rates used in this article, Standard carries an indicative $4 per lot, Raw Spread around $2 per lot, Raw Pro around $0.85 per lot and Raw Pro+ around $0.55 per lot for eligible Forex and metals volume.
Rebates are processed to your Backcom wallet on the programme’s payment schedule.
Conclusion
The IC Markets account types differ mainly in how the cost is charged, which platform they run on, and what capital they require. Standard puts the cost in the spread; Raw Spread and the other Raw variants keep spreads lower and charge commission separately.
If you are weighing up which IC Markets account to choose, a simple rule of thumb:
- Beginner, low volume: Standard.
- Scalper or EA on MT4/MT5: Raw Spread.
- Manual trader on cTrader: cTrader Raw.
- High volume and large capital: consider Raw Pro or Raw Pro+ if your account qualifies.
Above all, when you compare IC Markets account types, do not stop at “spreads from 0.0 pips” or “$0 commission”. Add up the spread, the commission and the cashback you actually receive.
You can check the current policy and rates at Backcom IC Markets before you settle on an account.
