Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of FXCM vs Vantage, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Between 51% and 89% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
FXCM and Vantage are both prominent online brokers, but their regulatory standings and trust ratings showcase some differences. FXCM, established in 1999, holds a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 95, making it highly trusted by industry standards. It is publicly traded, adding an additional layer of transparency. FXCM holds four Tier-1 licenses, reflecting its strong regulatory position, and an additional two Tier-2 licenses, seen as trusted. Though not a bank, FXCM’s long-standing presence and regulatory credentials enhance its appeal to traders.
Founded in 2009, Vantage distinguishes itself with a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 90, placing it within the highly trusted category, albeit slightly lower than FXCM. Not publicly traded, Vantage still maintains strong regulatory oversight with two Tier-1 licenses and one Tier-2 license. Like FXCM, it does not operate as a bank. Despite its newer market presence compared to FXCM, Vantage's solid licenses and trust score affirm its reliability and suitability for traders seeking a secure online trading experience.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
Vantage
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1999 | 2009 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 2 |
FXCM and Vantage are two notable online brokers, each offering a unique structure for trading commissions and fees. FXCM’s forex trading costs tend to be above the industry average, with standard account spreads of 0.78 pips for its European, U.K., and Australian offerings, though these can go up to 1.38 pips for accounts under the St. Vincent and the Grenadines entity. Notably, FXCM does provide a commission-based account option with more competitive spreads averaging 0.28 pips, though these increase to approximately 0.74 pips when commissions are included. FXCM also offers an Active Trader Rebate Program, which mandates at least $10 million in monthly trading volume for rebates that can range from $5 to $25 per million traded. Rated 4 out of 5 stars for its commission and fees structure, FXCM ranks 24th out of 62 brokers in this category per ForexBrokers.com.
Vantage, in comparison, sets its standard trading costs largely around the industry average. The Standard STP account typically lists spreads of 1.30 pips on the EUR/USD, while the Raw account offers average spreads of 0.15 pips, coupled with a per-side commission of $3, leading to an effective cost of 0.75 pips. The PRO account from Vantage is particularly competitive, featuring a $2 per-side commission provided you meet certain account requirements, such as qualifying as a wholesale client in Australia or funding your account with at least $10,000 in the Cayman Islands. Vantage surpasses FXCM with a rating of 4.5 stars and holds the 18th position out of 62 brokers for commissions and fees at ForexBrokers.com.
Both FXCM and Vantage cater to active traders with their respective rebate programs, though it's worth noting the availability and requirements can differ by account type and geographic region. FXCM’s active trader incentives are tiered and not available in the U.K. or EU, while Vantage’s program provides rebates ranging from $2 to $8 per standard lot on its highest-spread Standard account. These distinctions highlight that while both brokers have their strengths in certain areas, potential clients should consider factors like average spreads, commission costs, and account qualifications to determine which broker might best suit their trading needs.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
Vantage
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | Starts from $50 | $50 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.78 | 1.30 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.78 | 0.75 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
When evaluating FXCM and Vantage for their range of available investments, both platforms offer forex trading via CFDs and spot contracts. FXCM provides access to 440 tradeable symbols while Vantage boasts a wider selection with 1,000 symbols. This gives Vantage an edge in the sheer number of investment options. In terms of forex pairs, FXCM offers 43 pairs compared to Vantage, which offers 57 pairs, indicating a broader selection for those specifically interested in forex trading.
Neither FXCM nor Vantage offers exchange-traded securities on either U.S. or international exchanges, which means users can't purchase shares like Apple or Vodafone directly. Both brokers, however, do support copy trading, allowing investors to mimic the trades of successful traders. Additionally, each provides options for trading cryptocurrency derivatives, although they do not facilitate the purchase of actual cryptocurrencies. Both FXCM and Vantage carry the same rating of 3.5 stars for their range of investments, with FXCM ranked as #47 and Vantage as #50 among 62 brokers by ForexBrokers.com.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
Vantage
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 440 | 1000 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 43 | 57 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | No | No |
| Cryptocurrency (Derivative) | Yes | Yes |
| Disclaimers | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). |
Dive deeper: Best Copy Trading Platforms.
When it comes to trading platforms and tools, both FXCM and Vantage cater to traders with a diverse range of offerings, making them popular choices in the online trading landscape. FXCM provides users with access to their proprietary platform alongside the widely-used MetaTrader 4 (MT4), though they do not support MetaTrader 5 (MT5). Traders will appreciate FXCM’s competitive rating of five stars for its platforms and tools, contributing to its rank as number six among 62 brokers on ForexBrokers.com. Beyond its proprietary offerings, FXCM supports web-based trading and a downloadable Windows platform. The broker also includes a variety of trading features like copy trading with ZuluTrade, trading directly from charts, and comprehensive watch list fields to enhance the trading experience.
Similarly, Vantage gives traders access to a proprietary platform and supports both MT4 and MT5, along with the additional feature of DupliTrade. Vantage offers a downloadable Windows platform and a web-based trading experience, just like FXCM. While Vantage provides a total of 15 drawing tools compared to FXCM's 10, it offers fewer columns for watch lists, with 7 fields available. Vantage is also rated well, with 4 stars for its trading platforms and tools, placing it at rank 15 among 62 brokers on ForexBrokers.com. With features like ZuluTrade and the ability to trade from charts, Vantage continues to support traders effectively, although it trails FXCM slightly in user ratings and overall rankings.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
Vantage
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes |
| DupliTrade | No | Yes |
| ZuluTrade | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 115 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 10 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 13 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
When it comes to mobile trading apps, both FXCM and Vantage offer comprehensive solutions for traders. Each platform supports both iPhone and Android devices, ensuring you can trade on the go no matter your preferred smartphone. With features like stock and forex price alerts, watchlist creation with real-time quotes, and the ability to draw trendlines on charts, both apps cater to the needs of active traders. However, FXCM edges ahead by allowing watchlist symbol syncing, meaning any changes made to your watchlists in the app automatically reflect in your online account, a feature Vantage does not provide.
FXCM’s mobile app stands out with a more extensive selection of technical studies, offering 59 compared to Vantage’s 30. Both apps support multiple time frames for chart analysis and auto-save your chart drawings, so you won't lose your work. In terms of user feedback, FXCM scores higher with a 4.5-star rating. It’s ranked #16 in the Mobile Trading Apps category by ForexBrokers.com, contrasting with Vantage’s #26 ranking and 4-star rating. This makes FXCM a potentially more appealing choice for traders looking for a feature-rich and highly rated mobile trading experience.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
Vantage
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 59 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When comparing market research capabilities, both FXCM and Vantage deliver daily market commentary and provide access to top-tier forex news from sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones. Both brokers also include technical analysis tools from Trading Central as well as sentiment-based trading tools that show the ratio of long and short positions across various currency pairs. An economic calendar is available with each platform, allowing traders to stay updated on upcoming global news events.
FXCM stands out with an edge by offering market research from TipRanks, a feature not available with Vantage. While neither broker integrates tools from Autochartist or Acuity Trading, FXCM earns a higher research rating with 4.5 out of 5 stars compared to Vantage's 4 stars. According to ForexBrokers.com, FXCM ranks as the 11th best broker for research out of 62, whereas Vantage holds the 24th position. These distinctions highlight FXCM as a slightly more comprehensive choice for traders seeking extensive research resources.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
Vantage
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | Yes |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | Yes | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When it comes to educational resources for beginners in trading, both FXCM and Vantage offer extensive materials to help newcomers navigate the world of forex and CFDs. Each platform provides a minimum of 10 educational pieces, including articles, videos, and archived webinars focused directly on these topics, ensuring comprehensive support for those just starting. Both FXCM and Vantage host informative webinars at least once a month, and these sessions are made available in a searchable archive for users to revisit at their convenience. Additionally, both brokers supply over 10 beginner-focused educational videos, covering fundamental trading aspects essential for novices.
More advanced traders are not left out, as FXCM and Vantage also offer more than 10 videos aimed at experienced traders, ensuring they can continue developing their trading skills. For those needing clarification on investment terms, both platforms provide an extensive investor dictionary featuring definitions of over 50 investing terms. While both brokers provide robust educational offerings, FXCM earns a slightly higher education rating of 4.5 stars compared to Vantage's 4 stars. Furthermore, FXCM is ranked 14th in the education category by ForexBrokers.com, outperforming Vantage, which ranks at 27th place. This suggests that FXCM might have a slight edge in terms of user satisfaction with educational resources.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
Vantage
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 62 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that FXCM is better than Vantage. FXCM finished with an overall rank of #15, while Vantage finished with an overall rank of #26.
For traders who appreciate advanced trading tools and quality market research, FXCM is a winner, especially for algorithmic trading. Its range of tradeable markets is fairly narrow, however, and the pricing at FXCM is just average.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
Vantage
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 95 | 90 |
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FXCM and Vantage both provide the option to trade cryptocurrency derivatives, but neither broker offers the ability to purchase actual delivered cryptocurrency.
FXCM and Vantage both support PayPal, Skrill, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wires for account deposits and withdrawals, but only FXCM additionally offers ACH and SEPA transfers, whereas Vantage does not.
Please note:
We review each broker’s overall global offering – a “Yes” checkmark in our Compare Tool does not guarantee the availability of any specific features in your country of residence. To verify the availability of any features within your country of residence, please contact the broker directly.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | FXCM | Vantage | |
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| Trust Score | 95 | 90 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | FXCM Review | Vantage Review |
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| Regulation | FXCM | Vantage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 95 | 90 | |
| Year Founded | 1999 | 2009 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 2 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 2 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | FXCM | Vantage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | No | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | No | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | FXCM | Vantage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | No | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | FXCM | Vantage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 440 | 1000 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 43 | 57 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | No | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (Derivative) | Yes | Yes | |
| Disclaimers | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). |
| Cost | FXCM | Vantage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.78 | 1.30 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.78 | 0.75 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | FXCM | Vantage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | Starts from $50 | $50 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | FXCM | Vantage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | Yes | |
| ZuluTrade | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Tools | FXCM | Vantage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 13 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 115 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 10 | 15 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | FXCM | Vantage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 59 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | FXCM | Vantage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | Yes | |
| TipRanks | Yes | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | FXCM | Vantage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | FXCM | Vantage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/JPY | Yes | Yes | |
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CAD | Yes | Yes | |
| NZD/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| AUD/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| Review | FXCM Review | Vantage Review |
| Overall | FXCM | Vantage | |
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| Trust Score | 95 | 90 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | FXCM Review | Vantage Review |
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