SMC vs ICT: What's the Real Difference and Which Should You Learn First?

Should I learn SMC or ICT? And what's the actual difference? After studying both for 2+ years, here's my honest breakdown: **ICT (Inner Circle Trader):** - Comprehensive, detailed methodology with specific time-based frameworks - Strong focus on institutional order flow and time - More rules and structure — easier to test systematically - Steep learning curve (hundreds of hours of content) **SMC (Smart Money Concepts):** - More of a "school of thought" derived from ICT, simplified and spread by many creators - Focuses on market structure, OBs, FVGs without the time-component - Easier to learn the basics quickly - No single authoritative source — inconsistent terminology across teachers **My recommendation:** Learn SMC basics first (BOS, CHoCH, OBs, FVGs) — 2–4 weeks. Then, if it resonates, go deeper into ICT to add the kill zone/time component that dramatically improves setup quality. Did you learn SMC or ICT first? What's been your experience with each?