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 | 3 |
When comparing FXCM and Vantage based on commissions and fees, both brokers offer competitive yet varying pricing structures across different account types. FXCM provides several account options, with forex spreads being slightly higher than the industry average. Their standard account spreads averaged 0.78 pips on the EUR/USD, while commission-based accounts had lower spreads of 0.28 pips, excluding commissions. FXCM also offers an Active Trader Rebate Program, not available in the U.K. or EU, which can provide modest rebates depending on trading volume and account balance. Despite its offerings, FXCM has room for improvement when compared to competitors like Tickmill and FP Markets.
Vantage, on the other hand, offers three main types of accounts: Standard STP, RAW ECN, and PRO ECN. The Standard account features typical spreads of 1.30 pips on the EUR/USD. For the RAW account, spreads are as low as 0.15 pips, with an added commission totaling 0.75 pips. The PRO ECN account stands out with a commission of only $2 per side, which requires specific account qualifications based on the governing entity. Vantage also features an activity-based rebate program, though it is limited to the Standard account, which carries the highest spreads. This makes Vantage a solid choice for cost-conscious traders, though it doesn’t quite match the price leaders in the market.
Overall, both FXCM and Vantage have been recognized for their competitive fee structures, with FXCM receiving a 4-star rating for commissions and fees, ranking 25th out of 63 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com. Vantage earned a 4.5-star rating, placing it at 19th in the same category. These rankings suggest that while both brokers offer appealing pricing, Vantage may have a slight edge in terms of cost efficiency.
| 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 | Yes |
| 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 considering FXCM and Vantage for your trading needs, both brokers offer opportunities to trade forex either as CFDs or spot contracts, catering well to forex enthusiasts. FXCM provides access to 440 tradeable symbols, which is slightly more limited compared to Vantage's extensive offering of 1,000 symbols. In terms of forex pairs, Vantage again leads with 61 options, surpassing FXCM's 46 forex pairs. Neither broker provides direct access to exchange-traded securities on U.S. or international exchanges, which might be a consideration if you're looking to trade traditional stocks. However, both brokers facilitate cryptocurrency derivative trading, albeit not actual cryptocurrency purchases.
Both FXCM and Vantage present copy trading features which can be appealing for those just starting out or anyone interested in mimicking successful strategies. Rated at 3.5 stars by ForexBrokers.com for their range of investments, both brokers offer competitive services, although there is more depth available at Vantage. However, FXCM holds a slightly better position at #47 in the category compared to Vantage's #50 ranking out of 63 brokers. This makes them fairly comparable in terms of investment options, with the choice largely depending on the specific trading instruments that prioritize in your investment strategy.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
Vantage
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 440 | 1000 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 46 | 61 |
| 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 offered by FXCM and Vantage, both brokers provide a range of options to cater to different trader needs. FXCM and Vantage each offer a proprietary platform, allowing for unique trading experiences tailored by the brokers themselves. They both support MetaTrader 4, which is a favorite among traders for its advanced analytical tools. However, Vantage goes a step further by also offering MetaTrader 5 and DupliTrade, providing traders with even more flexibility and options. FXCM shines with its provision of ZuluTrade for social trading enthusiasts, which Vantage does not offer. Additionally, both brokers offer simulated trading with free virtual demo accounts for practice, as well as web-based and Windows-based desktop trading platforms.
In terms of charting tools, FXCM offers 10 drawing tools, slightly fewer than the 15 provided by Vantage, but both have the essential functionality to trade directly from a stock chart. FXCM offers more columns for watch lists, accommodating 13 fields compared to Vantage's 7, which helps users organize and monitor market information effectively. FXCM receives a perfect 5-star rating for its trading platforms and tools, ranking 6th out of 63 brokers, indicating its high level of customer satisfaction. In comparison, Vantage is rated 4 stars and holds the 21st position, reflecting a still strong but slightly less favorable assessment. These attributes make FXCM a compelling choice for traders seeking diverse platform features and highly-rated tools.
| 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 | No |
| 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 comparing the mobile trading apps of FXCM and Vantage, both platforms provide comprehensive support for iPhone and Android devices. FXCM shines with its extensive 59 technical studies for charting, setting it apart from Vantage, which offers 30. Both apps offer features like price alerts, trendline drawing, and multiple time frame views, providing flexibility for traders. However, FXCM holds an advantage with its ability to sync watchlist symbols between the mobile app and online account, a feature Vantage lacks. Additionally, users of both apps can create watchlists with real-time quotes and rely on auto-saving features for chart drawings.
In terms of user ratings, FXCM receives a slightly higher rating of 4.5 stars compared to Vantage’s 4 stars for mobile trading. According to ForexBrokers.com, FXCM ranks 16th out of 63 brokers, while Vantage holds the 28th position. This suggests a stronger overall performance and user approval for FXCM when it comes to mobile trading functionality, making it a more appealing choice for those prioritizing advanced features and seamless device integration.
| 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 the market research offerings of FXCM and Vantage, both brokers provide daily market commentary and access to forex news from leading sources like Bloomberg and Reuters. However, they differ in some key areas. FXCM does not include tools from Autochartist, whereas Vantage does, enhancing technical and fundamental analysis capabilities. Both brokers do offer tools from Trading Central and sentiment analysis tools that display the ratio of long or short positions across various instruments. Additionally, FXCM offers research from TipRanks, a feature not available with Vantage, giving FXCM an edge in this area.
Both FXCM and Vantage provide economic calendars to track global news events, but there are differences in their overall research ratings. FXCM boasts a 4.5-star rating for research, ranking 11th among 63 brokers, according to ForexBrokers.com. Vantage, on the other hand, holds a 4-star rating, placing it 21st in the same category. These distinctions suggest that while both brokers are strong in providing market insights, FXCM takes a slight lead in the range of research tools and overall ranking.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
Vantage
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | Yes |
| 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 comparing FXCM and Vantage in terms of educational resources for beginners in forex and CFDs trading, both brokers provide a comprehensive array of learning materials. They each offer more than ten educational pieces including articles, videos, and archived webinars, making it easy for novices to get started. Additionally, both FXCM and Vantage host at least one online educational webinar per month, with access to a searchable archive of past sessions. This is particularly useful for those who want to revisit previous webinars at their convenience.
FXCM stands out slightly more in offering educational content tailored to both beginners and experienced traders, providing at least ten videos dedicated to each group. It also includes an investor dictionary with over 50 terms, which is also available from Vantage. Despite both offering extensive resources, FXCM is rated higher in education, achieving 4.5 stars compared to Vantage's 4 stars, and it ranks 14th out of 63 brokers for education on ForexBrokers.com, while Vantage holds the 24th spot. For beginners aiming for a well-rounded educational experience, FXCM appears to have a slight edge in educational value.
| 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 63 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 | 3 |
| 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) | 46 | 61 | |
| 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 | Yes | |
| 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 | No |
| 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 | Yes | |
| 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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