Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Vantage vs Xtrade, 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.
Founded in 2009, Vantage stands out in the online brokerage realm with a high Trust Score of 90, as rated by ForexBrokers.com. This score places Vantage in the highly trusted category, thanks to its two Tier-1 licenses and one Tier-2 license. While Vantage is neither publicly traded nor a bank, it is regarded as a reliable option for traders seeking a secure trading environment.
Xtrade, established in 2003, offers a more moderate level of trust at a Trust Score of 74, which signifies an average risk according to ForexBrokers.com. Unlike Vantage, Xtrade is supported by one Tier-1 license and one Tier-2 license. Similar to Vantage, Xtrade isn’t publicly traded nor operates as a bank, but its regulatory standing suggests it is a reasonable choice for those mindful of investment security.
| Feature |
Vantage
|
Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2009 | 2003 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
Vantage provides a variety of account options which influence its trading costs, ranging from the Standard STP account with no commissions to the commission-based RAW ECN and PRO ECN accounts. The Standard account features spreads of around 1.30 pips on EUR/USD, while the RAW account offers an average spread of 0.15 pips, with an additional commission of $3 per side ($6 per round turn), bringing the total to approximately 0.75 pips. The PRO account offers even more competitive pricing with a $2 commission per side ($4 per round turn), though it requires adherence to specific qualifications depending on the regulatory entity, including a minimum account balance or wholesale client status.
For those engaged in high-volume trading, Vantage offers an active trader program starting with a minimum balance of $10,000, providing rebates between $2 and $8 per standard lot based on account balance and trading volume. Despite its offerings, including the narrowly priced PRO account, Vantage remains competitive but not among the lowest-cost brokers when compared to industry leaders like Saxo, IG, and CMC Markets.
In contrast, Xtrade does not provide specific average spread data, which can affect transparency when comparing costs. In terms of overall value, Vantage scores a high 4.5 out of 5 stars for commissions and fees, securing the 18th position out of 62 brokers, while Xtrade lags behind with a rating of 2.5 stars, ranking last at 62nd. This disparity highlights Vantage's more economical edge over Xtrade in trading costs.
| Feature |
Vantage
|
Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $50 | $250 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.30 | N/A |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.75 | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | No |
| 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 offerings of Vantage and Xtrade, both brokers present viable options for forex traders, as they each support forex trading through CFDs or spot contracts. Vantage, however, stands out slightly in terms of variety, offering 1,000 tradeable symbols, while Xtrade provides 482. In the realm of forex pairs, Vantage and Xtrade are almost neck-and-neck, with Vantage offering 57 pairs compared to Xtrade's 56. If you're interested in copy trading, Vantage has the advantage since Xtrade does not support this feature. Both brokers abstain from providing access to exchange-traded U.S. and international securities as well as direct cryptocurrency purchase; however, they do offer cryptocurrency derivatives.
Despite the differences in offerings, both Vantage and Xtrade receive a rating of 3.5 stars for their range of investments. Interestingly, Xtrade is ranked slightly higher at #49 in the Range of Investments category by ForexBrokers.com, compared to Vantage's position at #50 out of a total of 62 brokers. This subtle difference reflects the competitive nature of their offerings, making them both suitable choices depending on individual trading preferences and needs.
| Feature |
Vantage
|
Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1000 | 482 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 57 | 56 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | No |
| 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 Vantage and Xtrade in terms of online trading platforms and tools, there are several key differences. Both brokers provide a simulated trading environment through free virtual demo accounts and offer proprietary platforms developed in-house. However, Vantage stands out by offering a Windows-based desktop platform, which Xtrade does not support. Both brokers ensure accessibility with web-based trading options. An additional edge for Vantage is its support for popular platforms like MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, whereas Xtrade does not offer these platforms. Moreover, Vantage facilitates copy trading and supports DupliTrade and ZuluTrade, unlike Xtrade, which lacks these tools.
In terms of charting capabilities, Xtrade offers a wider range of drawing tools, numbering 100 compared to Vantage's 15. Both brokers allow trading directly from the stock chart interface. For watchlist customization, Xtrade provides 9 columns compared to Vantage's 7. Overall, Vantage is rated higher for its trading platforms and tools, receiving a 4-star rating and ranking 15th among 62 brokers on ForexBrokers.com. In contrast, Xtrade gets a 3.5-star rating and is ranked 58th. This highlights Vantage's broader features and additional trading options as a significant advantage for traders looking for a comprehensive trading experience.
| Feature |
Vantage
|
Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | No |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | No |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | No |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No |
| DupliTrade | Yes | No |
| ZuluTrade | Yes | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | N/A |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 15 | 100 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 9 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
When it comes to mobile trading apps, both Vantage and Xtrade offer apps for iPhone and Android users, making them accessible to a wide range of traders. However, Vantage takes the lead with additional features like stock and forex price alerts, a range of 30 technical studies for charting, and the ability to draw trendlines directly on charts. Users can also view charts across multiple time frames such as daily, weekly, or intraday, and have their drawings automatically saved, providing a comprehensive trading experience on the go. Furthermore, Vantage allows the creation of watchlists with real-time quotes, though neither platform offers syncing of watchlist symbols with online accounts.
In contrast, Xtrade lacks some of the advanced features found in Vantage's app. It does not provide price alerts, trendline drawing capabilities, multiple chart time frames, or automatic saving of chart drawings. Users also miss out on the ability to create watchlists with live quotes. Despite both apps receiving a 4-star rating for mobile trading, Vantage ranks higher at #26 out of 62 brokers in the Mobile Trading Apps category by ForexBrokers.com, compared to Xtrade's ranking at #53. This highlights Vantage’s more feature-rich mobile app offering for traders.
| Feature |
Vantage
|
Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | No |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | N/A |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | No |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When comparing Vantage to Xtrade for market research, both platforms provide comprehensive daily market commentary and access to forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg and Reuters. However, Vantage stands out by offering Trading Central's technical analysis tools, which are absent in Xtrade's offerings. Additionally, Vantage provides a sentiment-based trading tool that helps traders gauge market sentiment by displaying the long or short positions across various currency pairs. In contrast, Xtrade lacks a comparable tool, potentially limiting its traders' ability to assess market trends effectively.
While neither Vantage nor Xtrade incorporates research tools from Autochartist or Acuity Trading, both brokers offer an economic calendar that keeps traders informed of global economic events. Despite their similarities, Vantage's extensive research capabilities have earned it a higher rating of 4 stars compared to Xtrade's 3.5 stars. Additionally, Vantage ranks #24 out of 62 brokers in the Research category according to ForexBrokers.com, highlighting its commitment to providing valuable market insights, whereas Xtrade ranks at #52, indicating room for improvement in its research offerings.
| Feature |
Vantage
|
Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | No |
| 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.
When comparing Vantage and Xtrade for educational resources tailored to beginner traders, Vantage stands out with a comprehensive offering. It provides over 10 educational pieces focusing on forex and CFDs, and it also excels in hosting at least one live educational webinar each month. In addition, Vantage boasts a searchable archive of recorded webinars, giving new traders access to a wealth of previously shared expert insights at their convenience. Xtrade, while also offering educational pieces, does not host regular webinars or maintain a library of past sessions. This makes Vantage the more accessible choice for learners who benefit from interactive and archived educational content.
Vantage further appeals to beginners with over 10 videos specifically aimed at introducing trading concepts. It also offers advanced videos for seasoned traders and provides a dictionary with definitions of more than 50 investing terms, ensuring clarity and ease of understanding. Xtrade, although supplying a dictionary comparable in scope, lacks the same volume of beginner and advanced video content. With a higher education rating and a rank of #27 in education by ForexBrokers.com, compared to Xtrade's #46, Vantage clearly sets a higher bar for education among its peers.
| Feature |
Vantage
|
Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| 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 Xtrade. Vantage finished with an overall rank of #26, while Xtrade finished with an overall rank of #59.
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
|
Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 90 | 74 |
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Both Vantage and Xtrade do not offer the ability to buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrency, but they both provide the option to trade cryptocurrency derivatives.
When comparing online brokers, Vantage stands out by offering PayPal for deposits and withdrawals, a service Xtrade lacks, while both platforms support Skrill, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wire transactions, although neither provides ACH or SEPA transfer options.
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 | Xtrade | |
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| Trust Score | 90 | 74 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Vantage Review | Xtrade Review |
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| Regulation | Vantage | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 90 | 74 | |
| Year Founded | 2009 | 2003 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | No | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Vantage | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| 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 | No | |
| 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 | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | 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 | Vantage | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1000 | 482 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 57 | 56 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | No | |
| 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 | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.30 | N/A | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.75 | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Vantage | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $50 | $250 | |
| 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 | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | No | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | No | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | No | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | Yes | No | |
| ZuluTrade | Yes | No |
| Trading Tools | Vantage | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | No | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 9 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | N/A | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 15 | 100 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | No |
| Mobile Trading | Vantage | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | No | |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | N/A | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | No |
| Research | Vantage | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Vantage | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Vantage | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Xtrade Review |
| Overall | Vantage | Xtrade | |
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| Trust Score | 90 | 74 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Vantage Review | Xtrade Review |
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