IC Funded Review: A Detailed Evaluation
Table of Contents
Overview
IC Funded is a leading proprietary trading platform designed for traders seeking access to substantial capital without exposing their own funds to risk. By partnering with IC Markets, one of the most respected brokers globally, IC Funded ensures optimal trading conditions, including industry-leading execution speeds and minimal spreads. Traders using the platform can engage in a broad spectrum of markets, from forex to commodities, benefiting from a professional-grade infrastructure. In this review, we’ll assess whether IC Funded meets the needs of ambitious traders aiming to scale their strategies through prop trading.
What is IC Funded?
IC Funded operates as a prop firm that provides traders the chance to manage significant capital by completing a two-phase evaluation. With account sizes ranging from $5,000 to $500,000, traders can progressively scale up based on their performance. One of the primary attractions of IC Funded is its provision of high leverage, coupled with access to a diverse range of tradable assets, thanks to its collaboration with IC Markets. This partnership reinforces IC Funded’s offering, giving traders a reliable platform with tight spreads and comprehensive market access.
Account Tiers and Fees
IC Funded’s account tiers are tailored to meet the needs of traders at different levels of experience and financial capability. These tiers allow traders to begin their journey with as little as $5,000 in capital or, for those aiming higher, go up to $500,000 in funding. Each tier comes with a one-time fee, granting access to the evaluation process:
- $5,000 account: $49 fee
- $10,000 account: $99 fee
- $50,000 account: $289 fee
- $100,000 account: $499 fee
- $250,000 account: $1,249 fee
- $500,000 account: $2,498 fee
These fees are relatively affordable compared to many other prop firms, providing traders with a low-cost entry into potentially managing larger capital. A key feature of IC Funded’s model is that the fee is refundable upon successful completion of the evaluation, as it is returned with the trader’s first profit withdrawal. This offers an extra incentive, making it a risk-efficient option for traders aiming to demonstrate their skills while avoiding upfront loss. The affordability of these fees, combined with the refund opportunity, positions IC Funded as an accessible and cost-effective platform for traders who wish to scale their strategies.
Evaluation Process
The evaluation process at IC Funded is divided into two distinct phases:
- Phase 1: Traders must achieve a 10% profit target without violating the risk management rules. These rules include a 5% daily drawdown limit and a 10% overall loss limit.
- Phase 2: The profit target is reduced to 5%, but traders must still follow the same risk parameters: a maximum 5% daily drawdown and a 10% overall loss.
What sets IC Funded apart from other prop firms is the flexibility given to traders. There is no time limit to complete either phase, meaning traders can take as long as they need to meet their targets without the pressure of a deadline. This feature is especially attractive compared to other prop trading firms that often impose strict time constraints during evaluations. This relaxed time frame enables traders to strategize and perform at their own pace, ensuring that their trading decisions are more focused and calculated.
Key Features of IC Funded
Leverage and Trading Instruments
IC Funded offers leverage of up to 50:1 on forex and gold, 10:1 on indices and commodities, and 5:1 on equities. This flexibility allows traders to take on larger positions and capitalize on market opportunities.
Traders can also access a broad range of trading instruments, including:
- Forex pairs
- Commodities
- Indices
This diversity enables traders to apply a wide array of strategies across different markets, increasing the potential for profitability.
Profit Sharing
IC Funded offers an industry-competitive profit-sharing model:
- First month: Traders keep 75% of the profits.
- After the first month: The profit split increases to 80%.
This tiered structure rewards successful traders and is competitive compared to other firms in the industry, which often offer lower profit splits.
Risk Management Tools
Risk management is central to IC Funded’s model. Traders must adhere to a maximum daily drawdown of 5% and an overall drawdown of 10%. The platform’s risk monitoring ensures that traders stay within these limits, providing an extra layer of security.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- No time limits: Traders can complete the evaluation phases at their own pace.
- High profit splits: Up to 80% after the first month.
- Access to multiple platforms: Traders can choose between MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, and cTrader.
- Flexible funding tiers: Traders can start with lower fees and gradually scale up.
Cons:
- Strict risk parameters: The 5% daily drawdown and 10% overall drawdown can be challenging for less experienced traders.
Educational Resources and Support
While IC Funded is primarily designed for experienced traders, it offers a range of educational resources aimed at helping traders refine their skills and increase their chances of passing the evaluation phases. These resources include webinars, market analysis tools, and trading strategies, which provide traders with the insights and techniques necessary to improve their trading performance.
In addition to the educational content, IC Funded provides 24/5 live support, ensuring that traders can receive real-time assistance whenever they need help navigating the platform or dealing with technical issues. This combination of educational resources and responsive support makes IC Funded a valuable platform for traders who want to continuously enhance their knowledge and improve their results.
Trader Success Stories
IC Funded has several success stories from traders who have completed the evaluation and moved on to manage significant amounts of capital. The platform’s transparent processes and reliable infrastructure have enabled traders to grow their accounts and achieve consistent profitability.
Who Should Use IC Funded?
IC Funded is ideal for traders who have experience managing risk and hitting profit targets consistently. It’s particularly suited for forex traders who are looking to scale their strategies without risking personal funds. While the firm’s rules may seem strict to beginners, seasoned traders will appreciate the opportunity to access high funding levels and leverage.
Comparison with Other Prop Firms
When comparing IC Funded with firms like The 5%ers and Leeloo, IC Funded’s unique advantages stand out in several areas such as funding flexibility, profit-sharing, and evaluation process. Here’s how it compares:
IC Funded:
- Profit Split: IC Funded offers a starting profit split of 75/25, which increases to 80/20 after the first month. While not the highest in the market, it remains competitive for traders aiming to build consistent profits.
- Evaluation Process: A key benefit of IC Funded is its no-time-limit evaluation process, which allows traders to progress at their own pace without the pressure of strict deadlines.
- Infrastructure: Partnered with IC Markets, IC Funded provides a superior trading infrastructure with tight spreads, fast execution, and access to a wide range of instruments, making it ideal for traders looking for a stable and well-supported trading environment.
The 5%ers:
- Profit Split: The 5%ers offers a 50/50 profit split, which is considerably lower than IC Funded’s 80/20 structure. Although The 5%ers emphasizes long-term growth with account scaling, the lower profit split can be a drawback for traders seeking higher earnings from the outset.
- Evaluation Process: The 5%ers gives traders up to 180 days to pass their evaluation, which is more generous than many other firms but still imposes a time limit, unlike IC Funded’s open-ended timeline.
- Capital Limits: While The 5%ers offers funding up to $1.2 million for top traders, its initial account sizes start lower and the scaling process is more gradual, requiring more milestones to access significant capital.
Leeloo:
- Profit Split: Leeloo offers a 100% profit split on the first $8,000 in profits, which then shifts to 80%, making it appealing in the short term but less rewarding long-term compared to IC Funded’s consistent 80% after the first month.
- Evaluation Process: Leeloo offers flexible rules with no daily drawdown or scaling requirements, which might attract traders looking for lenient trading conditions. However, Leeloo’s funding limits are lower, maxing out at $200,000, significantly less than IC Funded’s $500,000.
- Infrastructure: Leeloo’s trading platform offers decent functionality but lacks the robust infrastructure provided by IC Markets through IC Funded, which is more suitable for professional-grade trading.
While The 5%ers and Leeloo offer unique features like lenient trading rules or 100% profit splits initially, IC Funded provides a more balanced and flexible long-term trading environment. Its open-ended evaluation process, partnership with IC Markets, and competitive profit-sharing model make it a superior choice for traders looking to grow their accounts steadily and manage larger capital without the pressure of time constraints.
10. Final Verdict
For experienced traders looking to manage substantial capital, IC Funded is an excellent choice. Its flexible evaluation process, high profit-sharing model, and solid partnership with IC Markets make it a standout option in the prop trading space.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- What is the profit split at IC Funded?
IC Funded offers a profit split starting at 75/25, with traders keeping 75% of the profits. After the first month, this profit share increases to 80/20, allowing traders to retain a significant portion of their profits. - How long does the evaluation process take at IC Funded?
One of IC Funded’s standout features is that there is no time limit on the evaluation phases. Traders can take as long as they need to meet their targets in Phase 1 and Phase 2, offering flexibility and reducing pressure. - What kind of trading instruments can I access with IC Funded?
Through its partnership with IC Markets, IC Funded provides access to a wide range of trading instruments, including forex, commodities, indices, and equities. This diversity allows traders to diversify their strategies across various markets. - What is the maximum funding available at IC Funded?
IC Funded offers up to $500,000 in funding, depending on the evaluation tier selected. This gives traders the opportunity to manage large amounts of capital and grow their trading careers with significant backing. - Are the evaluation fees refundable?
Yes, the evaluation fees at IC Funded are refundable upon your first withdrawal after passing the evaluation. This adds an extra layer of financial security and incentive for traders to succeed.