Short answer
Expert Option is ahead on our score, 3.7/5 against 3.1/5 for IQcent.
Expert Option fits: Beginners who trade mainly on their phone
Skip Expert Option if: You want many instruments or longer-term analysis
IQcent fits: Very small trades and copy trading
Skip IQcent if: You pay by card or want a regulator behind you
Score by score
Expert Option 3.7/5
- Platform and apps4.3
- Costs and minimums4.1
- Payment options4.2
- Support3.9
- Licensing and openness2.4
IQcent 3.1/5
- Platform and apps3.9
- Costs and minimums3.2
- Payment options3.8
- Support3.6
- Licensing and openness1.5
How the two sites look
Expert Option and IQcent in brief
Expert Option (2014). Expert Option has sold fixed-time trades since 2014. The screen is deliberately bare: one chart, a stake, a timer, up or down. Account levels add assets, higher payouts and a personal manager as deposits grow.
IQcent. IQcent combines fixed-time options and CFDs on its own platform and is known for very small trades and account levels.
Licence and safetyBetter here: Expert Option
Neither Expert Option nor IQcent is authorised by a leading regulator or by any regulator in Asia. Both run through offshore companies, so there is no compensation fund and no local authority to complain to.
Official warnings and alert-list entries we found: Expert Option 3, IQcent 0.
| What we compare | Expert Option | IQcent |
|---|---|---|
| Licence | No government licence. Registered in St Vincent and the Grenadines and a member of The Financial Commission, a private dispute body. | No. Reportedly run from the Marshall Islands, citing only IFMRRC, a private organisation. |
| Official warnings we found | CSA / AMF, MAS, RBI | – |
| Dispute body | Member of The Financial Commission (private dispute body) | No outside dispute body |
On licensing and openness Expert Option scores higher (2.4 vs 1.5).
Entry cost and chargesBetter here: Expert Option
Both ask for the same first deposit: $10. The smallest trade is $1 on Expert Option and $0.01 on IQcent.
| What we compare | Expert Option | IQcent |
|---|---|---|
| Lowest deposit | $10 | $10 |
| Lowest trade | $1 | $0.01 |
| Charges | Charge on inactive accounts; no pay-in fee listed | Reported 5% charge on card deposits; crypto deposits free |
| Pay-out charges | No platform fee reported; your payment provider may charge | Reported 5% fee on card deposits; check the cashier |
| Dormant account fee | Dormant fee in the terms – check amount and trigger | Check the current terms |
| Bonus | Deposit bonuses reported; check volume conditions before accepting | Large deposit bonuses with volume rules |
Payouts and the win rate you needBetter here: IQcent
IQcent advertises the higher top payout (95% vs 90%), which cuts the win rate you need to break even from 52.6% to 51.3%.
| What we compare | Expert Option | IQcent |
|---|---|---|
| Top payout | 90% | 95% |
| Win rate to break even | 52.6% | 51.3% |
| Note | Reviews report 86–95% depending on account level and asset | Sources cite 84–98% by level and asset |
Top payouts apply to a few assets at the busiest hours. Look at the payout on the trade ticket before you open a trade; it is often lower.
Platform and phone appsBetter here: Expert Option
Expert Option. A web platform with a clean chart, basic indicators and a feed of other users' trades. Good enough for simple trading, thin for detailed analysis.
IQcent. Web platform with options and CFD modes, and copy trading from about USD 20.
| What we compare | Expert Option | IQcent |
|---|---|---|
| Platform | Browser, Android, iPhone | Browser, Android, iPhone |
| Android | Yes | Yes |
| iPhone | Yes | Yes |
| Extras | Account levels, Trader feed, Easy layout | Account levels, Copy trading |
Instruments and trade durations
| What we compare | Expert Option | IQcent |
|---|---|---|
| Instruments | ~100 | – |
| Markets | Currencies, Crypto, Commodities, Shares, Indices | Currencies, Crypto, Commodities, Indices |
| Trade durations | 5 seconds – 24 hours | From 5 seconds (short-term) |
Paying in and cashing outBetter here: Expert Option
Expert Option. Verification must be complete first, and users say it can take longer than elsewhere, so finish it before you need the money.
IQcent. Reported USD 20 minimum; faster on higher levels.
| What we compare | Expert Option | IQcent |
|---|---|---|
| Pay-in methods | Cards, E-wallets, Crypto, Local payment methods | Cards, Crypto |
| Pay-out methods | Cards, E-wallets, Crypto, Local payment methods | Cards, Crypto |
| Smallest withdrawal | $10 | $20 |
| Pay-out speed | Within 2 working days according to the platform; e-wallets and crypto can be quicker | Faster on higher levels |
Practice accountLevel
Both have a free practice account, so you can try the two platforms with virtual money before depositing.
| What we compare | Expert Option | IQcent |
|---|---|---|
| Practice balance | $10,000 | Yes |
| Try without signing up | Yes | – |
SupportBetter here: Expert Option
| What we compare | Expert Option | IQcent |
|---|---|---|
| How to reach support | Live chat, Email, Help pages | Live chat, Email |
| Support | 3.9/5 | 3.6/5 |
Which markets they acceptBetter here: IQcent
Expert Option accepts residents of 17 of the markets we cover, IQcent of 18.
Only IQcent: 1 markets
Bangladesh
Strengths and weak points
Expert Option
- +Easy layout for complete beginners
- +Proper Android and iPhone apps
- +Financial Commission membership gives you a place to complain
- +Crypto and local payments in many countries
- −No government licence
- −Fewer instruments than the leaders
- −Better payouts reserved for bigger deposits
- −Dormant account fee after a quiet period
IQcent
- +Trades from USD 0.01
- +Copy trading
- +Advertised payouts up to 95%
- +Crypto deposits accepted
- −No regulator; cites a private body (IFMRRC)
- −Minimum deposit varies, up to USD 250
- −Reported 5% fee on card deposits
- −Regulator warnings reported by third parties
So, Expert Option or IQcent?
Expert Option is better in 5 of 7 categories here. Expert Option is ahead on our score, 3.7/5 against 3.1/5 for IQcent.
Our choice: Expert Option
Expert Option fits: Beginners who trade mainly on their phone
Whichever you pick, practise on the demo first, keep the first deposit small and withdraw part of it before adding more. Binary options are high-risk and most retail accounts lose money.
Quick answers
Expert Option or IQcent: which is better?
Expert Option is ahead on our score (3.7/5 vs 3.1/5). Expert Option fits: Beginners who trade mainly on their phone. IQcent fits: Very small trades and copy trading.
Which needs a smaller deposit, Expert Option or IQcent?
Both ask for the same first deposit: $10.
Which pays more, Expert Option or IQcent?
IQcent advertises the higher top payout (95% vs 90%), which cuts the win rate you need to break even from 52.6% to 51.3%.
Does any regulator supervise Expert Option or IQcent?
No leading regulator and no Asian regulator licenses either of them. Both work through offshore companies, so your money has little protection.
More comparisons and guides
- Pocket Option vs Expert Option
- Pocket Option vs IQcent
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- Expert Option vs Binomo
- Expert Option vs Binarium
- Expert Option vs BinaryCent
Expert Option review →IQcent review →Is Expert Option legit? →Is IQcent legit? →
