Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Vantage vs IronFX, 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.
Vantage and IronFX are both well-established online brokers, with Vantage founded in 2009 and IronFX following in 2010. Neither of these brokers is publicly traded or operates as a bank. In terms of trust and regulation, Vantage holds two Tier-1 licenses, which are considered highly trusted, and an additional Tier-2 license, making it a reliable choice with a Trust Score rating of 90 out of 99 according to ForexBrokers.com.
In comparison, IronFX holds three Tier-1 licenses but has no Tier-2 licenses. It achieves a Trust Score rating of 83 out of 99, placing it in the trusted category. Both brokers offer reassurance through their regulatory measures, but Vantage edges out in trust score rating, reflecting a slightly higher level of confidence for clients seeking security in their online trading platform.
| Feature |
Vantage
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2009 | 2010 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 3 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 3 | 1 |
When comparing the commissions and fees of online brokerages Vantage and IronFX, Vantage offers a variety of account options. At Vantage, traders can choose between the Standard STP, RAW ECN, and PRO ECN accounts, with pricing mostly aligning with the industry average. Vantage's Standard account lists spreads typically at 1.30 pips for EUR/USD, whereas the RAW account features average spreads of 0.15 pips with an added $3 commission per side. The PRO account presents competitive pricing with a commission of $2 per side. However, opening a PRO account requires meeting certain conditions, such as a significant minimum deposit or qualifying as a wholesale client.
IronFX, on the other hand, lists slightly higher spreads compared to the industry average. Their Standard variable spread account typically has spreads of 1.8 pips, while the zero fixed-spread account starts with a $18 per lot commission and widens spreads to 3 pips overnight. Although pricing details lack specific time frames, the general trend indicates that IronFX may not be as competitive in terms of cost as other brokers.
In terms of ratings and rankings, Vantage earns a 4.5-star rating for commissions and fees, positioning them at #19 out of 62 brokers ranked by ForexBrokers.com. IronFX receives a slightly lower rating of 4 stars and is ranked at #47. This comparison highlights Vantage as the more cost-effective option, especially for active traders seeking favorable pricing conditions and account flexibility.
| Feature |
Vantage
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $50 | $50 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.30 | 1.2 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.75 | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| 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 the investment range offered by Vantage and IronFX, both brokers provide opportunities for forex trading through CFDs or spot contracts. While Vantage allows clients access to 1,000 tradable symbols, IronFX provides 340, highlighting a broader range from Vantage. However, when it comes to forex pairs, IronFX takes the lead with 83 options compared to Vantage's 61 pairs. Unfortunately, neither broker allows direct purchasing of exchange-traded securities on U.S. or international exchanges, such as Apple or Vodafone shares.
Both Vantage and IronFX offer cryptocurrency derivatives, though neither supports the purchase of actual cryptocurrencies. Additionally, both brokers provide copy trading features. In terms of investment range ratings, both are rated at 3.5 stars. According to ForexBrokers.com, Vantage is ranked 50th, just ahead of IronFX, which is ranked 51st, out of 62 brokers reviewed. This suggests a slight edge for Vantage in their overall investment offerings.
| Feature |
Vantage
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1000 | 340 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 61 | 83 |
| 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 comparing the trading platforms and tools of Vantage and IronFX, both brokers offer a range of features to support traders, including simulated (paper) trading through free virtual demo accounts. Vantage edges ahead with its proprietary platform, which is developed in-house, offering additional customization and features. Both Vantage and IronFX provide Windows-based desktop download platforms and web-based trading options. They also support the popular MetaTrader 4 (MT4) platform; however, only Vantage offers the upgraded MetaTrader 5 (MT5) version. For those interested in copy trading, both brokers have this capability, although Vantage expands its offering with DupliTrade, which is not available with IronFX.
Technical traders will find both brokers provide 15 drawing tools for charting, and they support trading directly from stock charts. When it comes to watch lists, both Vantage and IronFX include seven columns for fields, giving users a straightforward way to track asset movements. Rated 4 stars for its trading platforms and tools, Vantage comes in at #21 out of 62 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, indicating a strong standing. In contrast, IronFX holds a 3.5-star rating, ranked at #60 out of 62 brokers, suggesting room for improvement in their trading tools and platform offerings. Overall, Vantage offers more advanced options and has a higher rating, making it a preferable choice for traders seeking varied and comprehensive trading tools.
| Feature |
Vantage
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | No |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No |
| DupliTrade | Yes | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | 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.
When it comes to mobile trading apps, both Vantage and IronFX offer a range of features for iPhone and Android users. Traders will find that both apps provide stock and forex price alerts, ability to draw trendlines, and creation of watchlists with real-time quotes. Both apps also support multiple time frames for chart viewing and auto-save drawings on stock or forex charts, facilitating a dynamic trading experience. With 30 technical studies available in each app, traders can analyze market trends and make informed decisions.
However, there are some differences to consider. While neither Vantage nor IronFX provides watchlist symbol syncing between mobile and online accounts, user ratings suggest a preference for Vantage. Vantage receives a 4-star rating compared to IronFX's 3.5-star mark for mobile trading apps. Additionally, Vantage ranks #28 out of 62 brokers in the Mobile Trading Apps category by ForexBrokers.com, significantly higher than IronFX, which stands at #61. These distinctions might make Vantage a more attractive option for traders searching for an efficient mobile trading experience.
| Feature |
Vantage
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| 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.
When comparing Vantage and IronFX for market research, both online brokers provide daily market commentary and access to forex news from top-notch sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones. Both platforms also offer economic calendars to keep traders updated on global events. A notable difference is that Vantage provides tools from Autochartist, enhancing traders' technical and fundamental analysis capabilities, while IronFX does not offer this feature. Another distinction is that Vantage offers a sentiment-based trading tool for insights into market positions, which is absent with IronFX.
Further supporting their research offerings, both Vantage and IronFX deliver resources from Trading Central, which is beneficial for technical analysis. However, neither platform includes market research from TipRanks or tools from Acuity Trading, like Signal Centre. In terms of rankings and ratings, Vantage and IronFX both earn a research rating of four out of five stars. Nonetheless, Vantage holds a higher position by ForexBrokers.com in the research category, ranking 21st among 62 brokers, while IronFX is positioned at 28th. This difference in rankings suggests a slight edge for Vantage in offering comprehensive market research tools.
| Feature |
Vantage
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | Yes |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
If you're a beginner navigating the world of online trading and seeking comprehensive educational resources, both Vantage and IronFX offer a solid foundation. Each platform provides a minimum of 10 educational pieces focused on forex or CFDs, while also offering over 10 beginner-friendly educational videos. With searchable archives of recorded webinars, users can catch up on past sessions at their convenience. However, when it comes to monthly online client webinars, Vantage has an edge over IronFX as IronFX does not provide this service. Both brokers also equip traders with an investor dictionary for enhancing their trading vocabulary.
For those who are a bit more advanced, Vantage stands out by providing over 10 advanced trading videos, a feature IronFX lacks. Despite these differences, both Vantage and IronFX have earned a respectable four-star rating in the Education category. It's worth noting that Vantage is ranked #24 out of 62 brokers by ForexBrokers.com for education, compared to IronFX, which holds the #44 spot. This ranking highlights Vantage as a slightly more comprehensive option for educational resources, especially for beginners eager to deepen their trading knowledge.
| Feature |
Vantage
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| 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 Vantage is better than IronFX. Vantage finished with an overall rank of #26, while IronFX finished with an overall rank of #48.
Vantage rounds out its MetaTrader platform suite offering with support for multiple social trading platforms, content powered by Trading Central and a proprietary mobile app. However, Vantage trails industry leaders in key areas such as research and education.
| Feature |
Vantage
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IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 90 | 83 |
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Both Vantage and IronFX do not offer the ability to buy actual, delivered cryptocurrency, but they both provide options to trade cryptocurrency derivatives.
When comparing online brokers Vantage and IronFX, both offer Visa/Mastercard and bank wire transfers for deposits and withdrawals, but while Vantage provides additional options such as PayPal and Skrill, IronFX supports only Skrill and lacks PayPal as an option; 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 | Vantage | IronFX | |
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| Trust Score | 90 | 83 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Vantage Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Vantage | IronFX | |
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| Regulation | Vantage | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 90 | 83 | |
| Year Founded | 2009 | 2010 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | No | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 3 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 3 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Vantage | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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) | Yes | Yes | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | No | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | No | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Vantage | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | No | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | Vantage | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1000 | 340 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 61 | 83 | |
| 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 | Vantage | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.30 | 1.2 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.75 | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Vantage | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $50 | $50 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| 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 | Vantage | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | No | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | Yes | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Vantage | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Vantage | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Vantage | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Vantage | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Vantage | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Vantage Review |
| Overall | Vantage | IronFX | |
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| Trust Score | 90 | 83 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Vantage Review |
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