IC Markets vs PU Prime
IC Markets: 4.7/5 | PU Prime: 4.4/5
Key Facts Compared
| Feature | IC Markets | PU Prime |
|---|---|---|
| Regulation | ASIC, CySEC, FSA | ASIC (AFSL 410681, Australian residents only, via puprime.au since Sep 2026), FSCA (FSP 52218), FSC Mauritius (GB23202672), FSA Seychelles (SD050), UAE CMA (promotion licence) |
| Minimum Deposit | $200 | $20 (Cent), $50 (Standard), $1,000 (Prime), $10,000 (ECN) |
| Spreads From | 0.0 pips (Raw), 0.6 pips (Standard) | 1.3 pips (Standard), 0.0 pips (Prime/ECN) |
| Commission | $3.50 per lot per side (Raw) | $0 (Standard), $3.50/side (Prime), $1.50/side (ECN) |
| Leverage | Up to 1:500 | Up to 1:1000 (auto-reduces to 1:500 above $20K equity) |
| Platforms | MT4, MT5, cTrader | MT4, MT5, PU Prime app + web trader, copy trading |
| Instruments | 60+ Forex, Indices, Commodities, Crypto, Bonds | 960+ (Forex, Indices, Commodities, Shares, Crypto, Bonds, ETFs) |
| Account Types | Standard, Raw Spread | n/a |
| Deposit Methods | Bank, Card, Skrill, Neteller, PayPal, Crypto | n/a |
| Withdrawal Time | 1-3 business days | n/a |
| Founded | n/a | 2015 (as Pacific Union, rebranded PU Prime) |
| Deposit Bonus | n/a | 100% first deposit up to $1,000 credit, then 20% up to $9,000 (alternative: 50% up to $500, then 20% up to $9,500). Credit, not withdrawable; profits are |
| Other Promotions | n/a | 13% p.a. Funds Growth (0.05% daily cashback on $5K+ balances, 1 standard lot/week per $5K), VPS refund up to $25-$50/month, product cashback |
| Fund Safety | n/a | Negative balance protection, segregated funds, Lloyd's insurance up to $1,000,000, no deposit/withdrawal fees |
Who Should Choose IC Markets
- Scalpers and high-frequency traders
- Traders who need raw spreads
- cTrader users
- High-volume traders needing deep liquidity
Who Should Choose PU Prime
- Traders who want high offshore leverage from a broker with a real regulatory family behind it
- Beginners starting tiny: the $20 Cent account is a true micro on-ramp
- Multi-asset traders who want forex, shares, indices, metals, crypto, bonds, and ETFs in one place
- Bonus hunters who read terms: 100% first-deposit credit bonus up to $1,000
IC Markets: Our Take
The go-to broker for serious traders. Raw spreads from 0.0 pips, deep liquidity, and institutional-grade execution make IC Markets the top choice for scalpers and high-volume traders.
PU Prime: Our Take
PU Prime is the licence collector. Five separately regulated entities: ASIC in Australia, FSCA in South Africa, FSC Mauritius, FSA Seychelles, and a CMA licence in the UAE. Founded 2015 as Pacific Union, serving 700K+ active traders across 100+ countries with 960+ instruments, a $20 Cent account entry, and leverage up to 1:1000 on the offshore entities. The catch worth understanding: which entity holds YOUR account decides which protections you actually get. Few brokers pair a genuine tier-1 licence in the family with offshore leverage this high. That combination is the whole pitch, and unlike most brokers making it, PU Prime's licence numbers all check out.