IC Markets vs Vantage FX

IC Markets or Vantage FX – which is better for UK traders 2024? Compare IC Markets and Vantage FX in this detailed breakdown of their platforms, features and fees.

IC Markets vs Vantage FX Comparison Table 2024
IC Markets Vantage FX
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4.8
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4.7
IC Markets is ranked #9 among CFD brokers. Vantage FX is ranked #21 among CFD brokers.
IC Markets is a globally recognized forex and CFD broker known for its excellent pricing, comprehensive range of trading instruments, and premium trading technology. Founded in 2007 and headquartered in Australia, the brokerage is regulated by the ASIC, CySEC and FSA, and has attracted more than 180,000 clients from over 200 countries. Founded in 2009, Vantage offers trading on 1000+ short-term CFD products to over 900,000 clients. You can trade Forex CFDs from 0.0 pips on the RAW account through TradingView, MT4 or MT5. Vantage is ASIC-regulated and client funds are segregated. Copy traders will also appreciate the range of social trading tools.
Pros
  • IC Markets offers among the tightest spreads in the industry, with 0.0-pip spreads on major currency pairs, making it especially cost-effective for traders.
  • As a tightly regulated and widely respected broker, IC Markets prioritizes client security and transparency, helping to ensure a reliable trading experience globally.
  • With ultra-fast execution speeds averaging 35 milliseconds and deep liquidity, IC Markets provides an optimal trading environment for scalpers, hedgers, and algorithmic traders.
  • IC Markets offers fast and dependable 24/5 support based on firsthand experience, particularly when it comes to accounts and funding issues.
  • You have access to over 2,250 CFDs across various markets, including forex, commodities, indices, stocks, bonds, and cryptocurrencies, allowing for diversified trading strategies.
  • Vantage maintains its high trust score thanks to its strong reputation and top-tier regulation from the FCA and ASIC
  • The ECN accounts are very competitive with spreads from 0.0 pips and a $1.50 commission per side
  • There’s an excellent suite of trading software, including the award-winning platforms MT4 and MT5
  • The broker has recently made efforts to expand its suite of CFDs providing further trading opportunities
  • Vantage caters to hands-off investors with beginner-friendly social trading via ZuluTrade & Myfxbook
  • The low minimum deposit of $50 and zero funding fees make this broker a great choice for new traders
  • There are no short-term strategy restrictions with hedging and scalping permitted
  • It’s quick and easy to open a live account – taking less than 2 minutes
Cons
  • While IC Markets offers a selection of metals and cryptos for trading via CFDs, the range is not as extensive as brokers like eToro, limiting opportunities for traders interested in these asset classes.
  • The breadth and depth of tutorials, webinars and educational resources still need work, trailing alternatives like CMC Markets and reducing its suitability for beginners.
  • There are fees for certain withdrawal methods, including a $20 wire charge, which can eat into profits, especially for frequent withdrawals.
  • Despite four industry-leading third-party platforms, there is no proprietary software or trading app built with new traders in mind.
  • Interest isn't paid on unused cash, an increasingly popular feature found at alternatives like Interactive Brokers.
  • It's a shame that some clients will need to register with the offshore entity, which offers less regulatory protection
  • A steep $10,000 deposit is needed for the best trading conditions, which include the $1.50 commission per side
  • The average execution speeds of 100ms to 250ms are slower than alternatives based on tests
  • Unfortunately, cryptos are only available for Australian clients
Awards
  • Best MT4/MT5 Broker 2023 - DayTrading.com
  • Best Forex Broker 2022 - DayTrading.com
  • Best Overall Broker 2020 - DayTrading.com
  • Best Trading App 2020 - DayTrading.com
  • Best Broker Australia - Ultimate Fintech Awards 2022
  • Best In CFD Trading 2022 - The European Global Banking & Finance Awards 2022
  • Best Trading App - Professional Trader Awards 2022
  • Best Trade Execution - Global Forex Awards 2023
FCA Regulated
No

List of FCA Regulated Brokers

Yes
Instruments
CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, Bonds, Futures, Crypto CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, ETFs, Bonds, Spread betting
Demo Account
Yes Yes
Minimum Deposit
$200 $50
Payment Methods
Minimum Trade
0.01 Lots 0.01 Lots
Regulator
ASIC, CySEC, FSA FCA, ASIC, FSCA, VFSC
Mobile Apps
iOS & Android iOS & Android
Trading App

IC Markets deliver mobile apps for their cTrader, MT4, MT5 and TradingView  platforms. They have been developed on Android and iOS separately, taking full advantage of the functionality available on each. With raw pricing, and spreads from 0.0, the apps deliver an excellent trading tool for all levels of trader. Yet what really stands out is how they’ve managed to maintain the lightning-fast execution speed IC Markets is known for, right within the apps. It’s a seamless trading experience that feels both professional and highly responsive.

Vantage offers one of the most complete trading apps we’ve used. The crisp design and slick interface makes analyzing markets and placing trades straightforward. Changing to horizontal mode offers an optimal charting view, though frustratingly it can take a few seconds for the app to respond. Fortunately, this minor drawback is outweighed by the ease of overlaying indicators and drawing tools, plus the integrated economic calendar, newsfeed, market analysis, and even FX TV.

iOS App Rating
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3.1
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3.6
Android App Rating
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4.2
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3.9
Margin Trading
Yes Yes
MetaTrader 4
Yes Yes
MetaTrader 5
Yes Yes
cTrader
Yes No
AlgoTrader
No No
OmniTrader
No No
TradingView
Yes Yes
Autochartist
No No
eSignal
No No
Trading Central
Yes No
STP Account
No Yes
ECN Account
Yes Yes
DMA Account
Yes No
MAM Account
Yes Yes
PAMM Account
Yes Yes
LAMM Account
No No
Demat Account
No No
AI / Machine Learning
No No
Robo Advisor
No No
Negative Balance Protection
Yes Yes
Market Maker
No No
P2P Trading
No No
Spot Trading
Yes Yes
Auto Trading
Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader, cBots on cTrader, Myfxbook AutoTrade Myfxbook AutoTrade, Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader
Copy Trading
Yes Yes
Copy Trading Platform
Launched in February 2023, the IC Social app offers an intuitive way to learn, share, and mirror the positions of other traders with just a few clicks. Additionally, the app features risk management tools and supports dedicated trading groups. Alternatively, IC Markets grants access to Signal Start, along with well-known third-party copy trading platforms including ZuluTrade and cTrader Copy. Traders enjoy social and copy trading at Vantage with the MetaTrader packages, DupliTrade, ZuluTrade and Myfxbook. ZuluTrade is one of the best social trading communities, using a sophisticated algorithm to rank top signal providers.
Social Trading
Yes Yes
Trade Signals
Signal Start Yes
VPS Hosting
Yes Yes
Tournaments
No No
Demo Competitions
No Yes
Ethical Investing
No No
Custodial Account
No No
Guaranteed Stop Loss
No No
Inactivity Fee
$0 $0
Islamic Account
Yes Yes
Account Currencies
  • USD
  • EUR
  • GBP
  • CAD
  • AUD
  • NZD
  • JPY
  • CHF
  • HKD
  • SGD
  • USD
  • EUR
  • GBP
  • CAD
  • AUD
  • NZD
  • JPY
  • HKD
  • SGD
  • PLN
Commodities
  • Gold
  • Oil
  • Silver
  • Orange Juice
  • Cocoa
  • Coffee
  • Corn
  • Soybeans
  • Sugar
  • Wheat
  • Natural Gas
  • Gold
  • Silver
  • Gasoline
  • Copper
  • Palladium
  • Platinum
  • Cocoa
  • Coffee
  • Orange Juice
  • Cotton
  • Sugar
  • Wheat
  • Oil
  • Natural Gas
CFD
You gain access to over 2,250 CFDs, available for trading 24/5 across popular markets such as forex, commodities, indices, stocks, and bonds. Utilizing deep liquidity and advanced bridge technology, IC Markets ensures optimal conditions for scalpers, hedgers, and algo traders alike. Traders can speculate on 1000+ financial markets with high leverage up to 1:500. You can bet on rising and falling prices in currencies, commodities, indices, shares, and more without owning the underlying asset. With the comprehensive choice of CFD trading platforms, users can also switch between desktop, web and mobile for a seamless trading experience.
Leverage
1:30 (ASIC & CySEC), 1:500 (FSA), 1:1000 (Global) 1:500
FTSE Spread
1.0 1.0
GBPUSD Spread<
0.23 0.5
Oil Spread
0.03 0.01
Stocks Spread
0.02 0.01
Forex
IC Markets maintains its commitment to providing exceptionally tight 0.0-pip forex spreads on major currency pairs such as EUR/USD. This makes it an excellent option if you are seeking superior execution, with an average of 35 milliseconds. Additionally, if you are a high-volume trader, you can benefit from rebates of up to $2.50 per forex lot. Vantage offers 55+ currency pairs - above the industry average, so experienced traders can explore plenty of opportunities. Vantage's deep liquidity pool provides forex spreads from 0.0 pips in the ECN account, lower than many alternatives. There are also no commissions, deposit fees or hidden charges.
Assets
75 55+
GBPUSD Spread
0.23 0.5
EURUSD Spread
0.02 0.0
EURGBP Spread
0.27 0.5
Currency Indices
  • USD
Cryptocurrency
IC Markets offers 20+ cryptocurrencies which are tradable via CFDs, including lesser-known tokens such as Avalanche, Kusama and Uniswap. Commission-free trading is available, and experienced crypto traders can access high leverage up to 1:200 in the MetaTrader platforms. You can trade cryptos 24/7, including Bitcoin, with up to 1:200 leverage and zero overnight fees. Various risk management tools are also available, including price alerts and stop losses. The Vantage app also offers an excellent live news feed so you can keep track of the crypto market whilst on the go.
Spread
BTC 42.036 Floating
Coins
  • BTC
  • BCH
  • DOT
  • DSH
  • EMC
  • EOS
  • ETH
  • LNK
  • LTC
  • NMC
  • PPC
  • XLM
  • XRP
  • ADA
  • BNB
  • DOG
  • UNI
  • XTZ
  • ADA
  • AVA
  • BTC
  • DOG
  • EOS
  • ETH
  • LTC
  • NEO
  • SHB
  • SOL
  • TRX
  • UNI
  • XRPandmanymore
Crypto Lending
No No
Crypto Mining
No No
Crypto Staking
No No
Auto Market Maker
No No
IC Markets Vantage FX
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