TL;DR — Exness pays a higher rebate (up to $7/forex, $14/gold) and has a far lower $10 minimum, while IC Markets (up to $6/forex, $9/gold) is a true raw-spread ECN broker favoured by cost-sensitive, high-volume traders. Pick Exness for rebate + easy entry; pick IC Markets for the tightest raw spreads.
Cashback rebate, head to head
| Exness | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|
| Forex (up to) | $7.00 / lot | $6.00 / lot (Raw) |
| Gold XAUUSD (up to) | $14.00 / lot | $9.00 / lot (Raw) |
| Min. deposit | $10 | $200 |
| Regulation | FSA, CySEC | ASIC, CySEC |
| Account style | Standard / Pro | Raw / ECN |
Exness edges the rebate on both instruments and is far more accessible at $10 vs $200. IC Markets' appeal isn't the rebate headline — it's the raw-spread execution that active traders pay up for.
Spreads & execution
IC Markets is a genuine ECN broker with very tight raw spreads and a per-lot commission — the rebate then claws most of that commission back. If you scalp or run high volume where every pip of spread matters, that combination is compelling. Exness's Standard accounts are simpler and cheaper to start.
Getting started
Both let you link an existing account through Expaid. The big practical difference is entry cost: $10 at Exness versus $200 at IC Markets.
Verdict — Want the higher rebate and a low $10 start? Exness. Want raw-spread ECN execution and trade enough volume to justify $200? IC Markets.
Learn more
Read the Exness cashback guide and IC Markets cashback guide, see the full comparison, or estimate your cashback. Create your Expaid account.