Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of IC Markets 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.
IC Markets and Vantage are both well-established online brokers, with IC Markets founded in 2007 and Vantage in 2009. Neither company is publicly traded or operates as a bank, focusing solely on brokerage services. When it comes to licensing, both hold two Tier-1 licenses, which are considered highly trusted. Vantage holds an additional Tier-2 license, adding to its credibility, while IC Markets does not hold any Tier-2 licenses.
Looking at their Trust Scores as rated by ForexBrokers.com, Vantage edges out IC Markets with a score of 90, categorizing it as highly trusted. IC Markets follows closely with a respectable score of 84, marking it as trusted. These scores reflect their regulatory standings and can be helpful for those choosing between these two brokers.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
Vantage
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2007 | 2009 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 3 | 3 |
IC Markets stands out for its competitive commissions and fees, earning it a 5-star rating and a #5 ranking among 62 brokers by ForexBrokers.com. With three account types, including the commission-free Standard and the commission-based Raw Spread and cTrader Raw Spread accounts, IC Markets offers flexibility for various traders. The cTrader Raw Spread has a slight edge with a lower commission of $3 per side per 100,000 units compared to MetaTrader's $3.5 per side. Effective spreads are highly competitive, with the all-in cost for the EUR/USD starting at 0.62 pips, making IC Markets a top choice for cost-conscious traders.
Vantage, with a 4.5-star rating and ranked #19 by ForexBrokers.com, provides three account options: Standard STP, RAW ECN, and PRO ECN. While its trading costs align with industry norms, Vantage doesn't quite match pricing leaders like IC Markets. The Standard account lists typical spreads of 1.30 pips, whereas the RAW ECN account offers an average spread of 0.15 pips with an additional $3 commission per side, totaling 0.75 pips. The PRO ECN account presents the most attractive option for high-volume traders by offering a reduced commission of $2 per side.
Both brokers offer benefits for active traders, with IC Markets providing discounts for trading over 100 standard lots monthly, and Vantage offering a rebate program on its Standard account. However, despite the rebate, Vantage's spreads are typically higher. IC Markets holds a more favorable position for those seeking minimal trading costs, but Vantage could appeal to traders meeting the account requirements for its PRO ECN option.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
Vantage
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $200 | $50 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.62 | 1.30 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.62 | 0.75 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | 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 comparing IC Markets and Vantage in terms of their range of investments, both platforms provide forex trading as either a CFD or spot contract. IC Markets outshines with a staggering 3,583 tradeable symbols, easily surpassing Vantage's offering of 1,000. Both brokers provide access to 61 tradeable forex pairs, aligning them perfectly in this aspect. However, IC Markets gains an edge by allowing clients to purchase exchange-traded securities on international exchanges, unlike Vantage, which does not offer this feature. Neither platform allows for the purchase of exchange-traded securities on U.S. exchanges, nor do they support the acquisition of actual cryptocurrencies, though both offer cryptocurrency derivatives.
Additionally, both IC Markets and Vantage support copy trading, expanding their investment strategies for users. Based on ForexBrokers.com rankings, IC Markets receives a high praise with a 4.5-star rating and stands at #25 out of 62 brokers in the Range of Investments category. In contrast, Vantage is given a more modest 3.5-star rating and ranks #50. This comparison underscores IC Markets' more comprehensive investment options, particularly in offering a greater number of tradeable symbols and access to international exchange-traded securities.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
Vantage
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 3583 | 1000 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 61 | 61 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | 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 comparing IC Markets to Vantage in terms of their trading platforms and tools, both brokers provide users with a comprehensive trading experience, including the option for simulated trading through free virtual demo accounts. While Vantage offers a proprietary platform developed in-house, IC Markets does not; however, both brokers support MetaTrader 4 and 5, ensuring robust functionality and efficiency. Both have Windows-based desktop platforms, web-based trading interfaces, and the ability to trade directly from stock charts. When it comes to additional tools, Vantage includes DupliTrade capabilities, while IC Markets features ZuluTrade support. Both platforms offer copy trading, 15 drawing tools for charting, and seven columns in their watch lists.
In a rating context, both IC Markets and Vantage are rated four stars for their trading platforms and tools, indicating a strong user experience. ForexBrokers.com ranks IC Markets slightly higher in the Trading Platforms and Tools category at 16th out of 62 brokers, compared to Vantage, which holds the 21st position. This ranking highlights the competitive edge each broker holds in facilitating efficient and accessible trading experiences, with slight individual distinctions that cater to specific trader preferences.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
Vantage
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | No | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes |
| DupliTrade | No | Yes |
| ZuluTrade | Yes | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 15 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Both IC Markets and Vantage offer comprehensive mobile trading apps available for iPhone and Android users, making trading on the go accessible for everyone. These apps come fully equipped with practical features like stock and forex price alerts, the ability to draw trendlines, and the capability to view multiple time frames on charts. Each platform offers 30 technical studies in their charting tools and allows users to create watchlists with real-time quotes. However, they both fall short in one area: neither app offers watchlist symbol syncing, meaning changes made on the mobile app don't sync automatically with the user's online account. Both apps are convenient for traders who prioritize real-time insights and technical analysis accessibility.
When it comes to ratings, both IC Markets and Vantage are evenly matched with a 4-star rating in the Mobile Trading Apps category. However, IC Markets takes a slight edge in overall rankings from ForexBrokers.com, coming in at #22 compared to Vantage's #27 out of 62 brokers evaluated. While both platforms offer a solid mobile trading experience, traders who value popular opinion and rankings might lean towards IC Markets for a slightly higher regarded app. Ultimately, both apps cater well to the needs of active traders looking for mobile solutions.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
Vantage
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 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.
Both IC Markets and Vantage provide a comprehensive suite of tools and resources that cater to traders seeking market research. Each broker supplies daily market commentary and offers forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg and Reuters. They both integrate technical and fundamental analysis tools from companies such as Autochartist and Trading Central, enhancing the research capabilities available to their users. Furthermore, both brokers include sentiment-based trading tools that present insights into the long or short positions across currency pairs, supporting traders in making informed decisions. Although neither broker offers research tools from Acuity Trading or market insights from TipRanks, their inclusion of an economic calendar ensures traders are informed of global news events affecting various economies.
When comparing their market research offerings, IC Markets and Vantage exhibit remarkable parity, receiving an equal rating of 4 out of 5 stars for research. However, in terms of ranking among their peers, Vantage slightly edges out with a research rank of #21, whereas IC Markets ranks at #23, according to ForexBrokers.com. Both brokers, with their rich set of tools and features, remain strong contenders for traders prioritizing access to diverse and insightful market research.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
Vantage
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | Yes |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When comparing the educational resources provided by IC Markets and Vantage for beginners, both brokers offer a range of helpful tools. Each platform provides over 10 educational pieces focused on forex and CFDs, including articles, videos, and archived webinars. They also host monthly live webinars to keep clients engaged and informed. For those unable to attend live sessions, both IC Markets and Vantage maintain searchable archives of recorded webinars. New traders can benefit from the beginner-focused trading videos available on each platform, complemented by a library of advanced videos for experienced traders. Additionally, both brokers feature an investor dictionary with over 50 investing terms to help demystify trading language.
Despite their similarities, the two brokers have some distinctions in their overall educational offerings. IC Markets and Vantage earned a rating of four stars for education; however, IC Markets ranks slightly higher at 16th place compared to Vantage at 24th among 62 brokers on ForexBrokers.com. This difference in ranking might reflect nuances in user experience or the depth of resources available. Nevertheless, both platforms are reliable choices for beginners seeking comprehensive educational support on their trading journey.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
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 IC Markets is better than Vantage. IC Markets finished with an overall rank of #20, while Vantage finished with an overall rank of #26.
IC Markets’ competitive pricing and scalable execution make it an excellent option for algorithmic traders. Though it supports an impressive range of third-party tools and plugins, IC Markets’ research and education offerings are not as impressive as those offered by industry leaders.
| Feature |
IC Markets
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Vantage
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 84 | 90 |
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Neither IC Markets nor Vantage offers the ability to buy actual delivered cryptocurrency, but both platforms provide options for trading cryptocurrency derivatives.
Both IC Markets and Vantage provide several options for depositing or withdrawing account funds, including PayPal, Skrill, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wires, although neither offers ACH or SEPA transfers.
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 | IC Markets | Vantage | |
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| Trust Score | 84 | 90 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IC Markets Review | Vantage Review |
| Broker Screenshots | IC Markets | Vantage | |
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| Regulation | IC Markets | Vantage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 84 | 90 | |
| Year Founded | 2007 | 2009 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 2 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 3 | 3 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | IC Markets | Vantage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | 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) | No | 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) | IC Markets | Vantage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | No | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | IC Markets | Vantage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 3583 | 1000 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 61 | 61 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | 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 | IC Markets | Vantage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.62 | 1.30 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.62 | 0.75 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | IC Markets | Vantage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $200 | $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 | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | IC Markets | Vantage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | No | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes | |
| cTrader | Yes | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | Yes | |
| ZuluTrade | Yes | No |
| Trading Tools | IC Markets | Vantage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 15 | 15 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | IC Markets | Vantage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 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 | IC Markets | Vantage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | IC Markets | 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 | IC Markets | 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 | IC Markets Review | Vantage Review |
| Overall | IC Markets | Vantage | |
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| Trust Score | 84 | 90 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IC Markets Review | Vantage Review |
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