
Trading Account Comparison: IC Markets Standardvs XS Pro
Explore differences in spreads, commissions, deposits and trading conditions, alongside a detailed review of each account's advantages and limitations.


Pro
What Makes IC Markets Standard Different from XS Pro?
Before comparing the numbers, it is important to understand the purpose of each account and the conditions that may make it suitable for different traders.
IC Markets Standard
The IC Markets Standard account is the broker’s straightforward pricing option for traders who prefer trading without a separate per-lot commission. According to Broker Alarab data, spreads range from 0.8–1.0 pips, commission is $0, the minimum deposit is $200 and orders use Market Execution. We categorize it for beginners, while comparing Standard with IC Markets Raw accounts becomes increasingly important as trading activity grows.
XS Pro
The XS Pro account is designed for traders seeking tighter spreads than the core XS account options while keeping a commission-free pricing model. According to Broker Alarab data, spreads range from 0.6–1.0 pips, the minimum deposit is $500 and orders use Market Execution, making Pro a more specialized option for active traders than Standard, Micro or Cent.
Compare Trading Accounts, Spreads, Commissions and Platforms
Review spreads, commissions, minimum deposits, trading platforms, execution methods and broker-level regulatory information.
01 — Basic Account Information
Compare the broker, account name, account classification and regulatory information.
Broker
Account Name
Account Type
Broker Regulatory Licenses
Broker-level regulatory information. Verify which legal entity serves your country.
02 — Spreads and Trading Costs
Compare the recorded trading costs without assuming undocumented pricing.
Advertised Spread Range
Minimum Recorded Spread
Based on the available account information.
Average Recorded Spread
Advertised Commission
03 — Deposits and Execution
Review account funding requirements and order execution characteristics.
Minimum Deposit
Order Execution Method
Trading Platforms
Available platforms may differ by account type.
04 — Account Features and Conditions
Review relevant account characteristics and trading suitability.
Scalping Suitability
An internal classification, not a guarantee of suitability.
05 — Broker Information and Regulation
Broker-level information does not guarantee that every license applies to the selected account.
Listed Regulatory Licenses
Broker Maximum Leverage
Actual leverage may depend on the account, jurisdiction and legal entity.
Open a Trading Account
Information is based on records available to Broker Alarab. Trading conditions may vary by account, country and legal entity.
| Comparison Criteria | IC Markets Standard | XS Pro |
|---|---|---|
01 — Basic Account Information Compare the broker, account name, account classification and regulatory information. | ||
| Broker | IC Markets | XS |
| Account Name | Standard | Pro |
| Account Type | standard | standard |
| Broker Regulatory Licenses Broker-level regulatory information. Verify which legal entity serves your country. | ASIC | CySEC | FSA | SCB | ASIC | CySEC | FSA | LFSA | FSCA | FSC | SCA |
02 — Spreads and Trading Costs Compare the recorded trading costs without assuming undocumented pricing. | ||
| Advertised Spread Range | 0.8 - 1.0 | 0.6 – 1.0 |
| Minimum Recorded Spread Based on the available account information. | 0.8 | 0.7 |
| Average Recorded Spread | 0.9 | 0.7 |
| Advertised Commission | $0 | $0 |
03 — Deposits and Execution Review account funding requirements and order execution characteristics. | ||
| Minimum Deposit | $200 | $500 |
| Order Execution Method | Market Execution | Market Execution |
| Trading Platforms Available platforms may differ by account type. | MT4 | MT5 | cTrader | TradingView | MT4 | MT5 |
04 — Account Features and Conditions Review relevant account characteristics and trading suitability. | ||
| Scalping Suitability An internal classification, not a guarantee of suitability. | Not classified in this category | Not classified in this category |
05 — Broker Information and Regulation Broker-level information does not guarantee that every license applies to the selected account. | ||
| Listed Regulatory Licenses | ASIC | CySEC | FSA | SCB | ASIC | CySEC | FSA | LFSA | FSCA | FSC | SCA |
| Broker Maximum Leverage Actual leverage may depend on the account, jurisdiction and legal entity. | 1:500 | 1:2000 |
| Open a Trading Account | Open Account ↗ | Open Account ↗ |
Broker Alarab's Assessment of Both Accounts
We review each account independently, highlighting strengths, limitations and the types of traders it may suit, without declaring an unsupported winner.

IC Markets
Standard

XS
Pro
Broker Alarab's Assessment
We see IC Markets Standard as better suited to traders who value simple commission-free pricing, particularly beginners who do not want to calculate spread and commission together. However, IC Markets offers several Raw alternatives, making comparison essential. Its 0.8–1.0 pip range can matter more as volume and trading frequency increase, so zero commission alone should not determine the choice.
Broker Alarab's Assessment
We see XS Pro as one of the more balanced XS options for traders who now place greater importance on spread cost but do not want a per-lot commission model. Its 0.6–1.0 pip range gives it a clear advantage over Standard in our data, although the $500 minimum deposit makes it more relevant to traders who have moved beyond the entry stage.
Account Advantages
- ✓No separate trading commission according to Broker Alarab data
- ✓Spreads range from 0.8–1.0 pips in our data
- ✓Straightforward cost structure that is easier for beginners to understand
- ✓Minimum deposit is $200 according to our data
- ✓Provides a clear alternative for traders who do not want tight-spread pricing with a separate commission
Account Advantages
- ✓Spreads range from 0.6–1.0 pips according to Broker Alarab data
- ✓No separate trading commission based on our account data
- ✓Clearly tighter displayed spread range than Standard, Micro and Cent in our dataset
- ✓Combines tighter spreads with a pricing model that has no per-lot commission
- ✓Can become more relevant to active traders as trading size or frequency increases
Disadvantages and Considerations
- !Spread range is wider than the Raw accounts listed in our data
- !Commission-free does not mean the transaction has no cost
- !Spread cost can become more important for scalping and frequent trading
- !Active traders should compare Standard with Raw Spread and the professional Raw tiers before choosing
Disadvantages and Considerations
- !The minimum deposit is $500 according to our account data
- !Higher entry requirement than Standard, Micro and Cent
- !Elite provides a tighter displayed spread range for traders comfortable with a separate commission
- !Low-frequency traders may not value the tighter spread enough to justify the higher deposit requirement
Who Is This Account Suitable For?
- •Beginners looking for an IC Markets account with easy-to-understand pricing
- •Traders who prefer not to pay a separate commission per lot
- •Lower-frequency traders who are not focused exclusively on obtaining the tightest possible spread
- •Users who prefer a primarily spread-based cost model instead of combining spread and commission
Who Is This Account Suitable For?
- •More experienced traders who now place greater importance on spread costs
- •Active traders seeking tighter spreads without a separate trading commission
- •Traders able to meet the $500 minimum deposit requirement
- •Users looking for a middle ground between Standard and the commission-based Elite pricing model
Detailed Account Analysis
IC Markets Standard vs Raw Spread: Which Account Is Better?
This is one of the most important comparisons when choosing an IC Markets account. According to Broker Alarab data, Standard uses a 0.8–1.0 pip spread range with no separate commission, while Raw Spread uses 0.0–0.3 pips with a $7-per-lot commission. Both have a $200 minimum deposit in our data, so the entry requirement does not decide the comparison. Standard provides simpler pricing, while Raw Spread reduces the spread in exchange for commission. The better option depends on lot size, trading frequency and the total cost produced by each structure.
Is the IC Markets Standard Account Good for Beginners?
Broker Alarab categorizes Standard for beginners, and one reason this type of account can suit newer traders is the clarity of its cost structure. There is no separate per-lot commission, allowing traders to focus primarily on the spread when understanding entry and exit costs. This does not reduce trading risk or guarantee that Standard is always the cheapest account. Its main advantage for beginners is pricing simplicity, while Raw accounts can be compared later as trading size and frequency increase.
When Does a Raw Account Make More Sense Than Standard?
As traders become more spread-sensitive or increase their transaction frequency and trading volume, comparing Standard with the Raw accounts becomes more important. Standard is listed at 0.8–1.0 pips in our data, while several Raw options use tighter ranges with separate commissions. Traders should translate both the spread difference and commission into an effective cost at their expected lot size. This produces a more useful decision than relying only on labels such as commission-free or tight spread.
Detailed Account Analysis
XS Pro vs Standard: Is the Tighter Spread Worth a $500 Deposit?
This is the central comparison before choosing Pro. Broker Alarab data lists Pro spreads at 0.6–1.0 pips versus 1.1–1.8 pips for Standard, with no separate trading commission on either account. Pro, however, requires a $500 minimum deposit while our Standard data lists no minimum. Pro therefore has a clear displayed spread advantage, but the value of that advantage increases as trading size and frequency rise. Lower-frequency traders may place more value on Standard’s easier entry requirements.
XS Pro vs Elite: Commission-Free Spreads or More Specialized Pricing?
Pro and Elite both appeal to traders paying closer attention to transaction costs, but they approach pricing differently. Pro is listed at 0.6–1.0 pips with no separate commission, while Elite has a 0.0–0.2 pip range with a $6-per-lot commission in our data. Both have a $500 minimum deposit. The comparison therefore comes down to effective cost: Pro offers simpler commission-free pricing, while Elite provides tighter displayed spreads in exchange for a separate charge on each lot.
Is the XS Pro Account Good for Active Trading?
Pro can become more attractive as trading activity increases because its tighter spread range compared with the core XS accounts can accumulate into meaningful cost differences across more trades. At the same time, having no separate commission makes its pricing easier to evaluate than Elite. Highly active traders should not assume Pro is automatically cheaper, however, and should compare Pro spread costs with the combined spread and commission cost of Elite using their typical lot size and trading frequency.
Important details about the IC Markets Standard account
Commission-free does not mean free trading
Standard has a $0 commission in our data, but its 0.8–1.0 pip spread range remains an important component of transaction cost and should be included in comparisons.
The minimum deposit in our data is $200
Broker Alarab lists a $200 minimum deposit for Standard. This is an account requirement rather than a recommendation for suitable trading capital or risk.
Compare Standard and Raw using total trading cost
The presence of commission on a Raw account or its absence on Standard does not determine the cheaper option by itself. Spread differences and commission should be compared using expected volume and transaction frequency.
Important details about the XS Pro account
The XS Pro minimum deposit is $500
According to Broker Alarab data, XS Pro requires a $500 minimum deposit. This is an important difference from the core XS accounts in our dataset and should be considered before comparing spread figures alone.
Pro tightens the spread without adding a separate commission
Our data lists spreads of 0.6–1.0 pips with no separate trading commission. This places Pro between the wider-spread core accounts and Elite, which offers tighter displayed spreads with a per-lot commission.
A tighter spread does not automatically make Pro the right account
The value of lower spreads depends on trading size and frequency. Pro should be evaluated according to strategy, capital and effective transaction costs rather than selected solely because its displayed spread range is tighter than Standard.
How to Choose the Right Trading Account
Numbers alone are not enough. Account suitability depends on your trading strategy, capital, financial instruments and the conditions applicable to you.
Compare Spreads and Commissions Together
The recorded spread for IC Markets Standard is 0.8 - 1.0, while XS Pro shows 0.6 – 1.0. Evaluating overall trading costs also requires checking commission rates, pricing units, instruments and position sizes.
Review Minimum Deposit Requirements
The recorded minimum deposit for IC Markets Standard is $200, compared with $500 for XS Pro. A lower deposit requirement may provide more flexibility, but it does not automatically make an account better.
Compare Trading Platforms and Execution
Check which trading platforms each broker actually offers for the selected account, including MetaTrader 4 or MetaTrader 5 where supported. Also review execution policies and potential slippage. Availability and conditions may vary by account and country.
Verify Regulation and Eligibility
Confirm the legal entity that will serve your account, the regulatory framework applicable to that entity, and whether the selected account is available in your country.
FAQs About IC Markets Standard vs XS Pro
Answers to common questions about account comparisons, trading costs and account conditions.
What is the difference between IC Markets Standard and XS Pro?+
Is the account with the lowest spread always better?+
Can I compare two accounts from the same broker?+
How can I verify the trading conditions?+
What is the IC Markets Standard account?+
What is the IC Markets Standard spread and commission?+
What is the IC Markets Standard minimum deposit?+
What is the difference between IC Markets Standard and Raw Spread?+
What is the XS Pro account?+
What is the XS Pro spread and commission?+
Explore Both Trading Accounts in Detail
Review the full account information, compare trading conditions and verify the broker's requirements before opening an account.
