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.
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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 |
Comparing commissions and fees, Vantage edges out FXCM on ratings while both sit near the industry average overall. Vantage holds 4.5/5 stars and ranks #20 of 63 for Commissions and Fees, versus FXCM’s 4/5 stars and #25 of 63. On headline spreads, FXCM’s Standard account averaged 0.78 pips on EUR/USD in the EU, U.K., and Australia during May 2024 (1.38 pips via its St. Vincent and the Grenadines entity), which is tighter than Vantage’s typical 1.30 pips for its Standard account (March 2023). For commission-based setups, both brokers land around three-quarters of a pip on EUR/USD: FXCM’s commission-based effective cost is about 0.74 pips, while Vantage’s RAW ECN totals roughly 0.75 pips.
FXCM’s pricing trends slightly higher than the industry average, but its commission-based accounts averaged a low 0.28-pip spread in May 2024 before commissions; once you include the commission-equivalent of about 0.50 pips per round turn, the effective cost is near 0.74 pips. FXCM offers an Active Trader Rebate Program (not available in the U.K. or EU) paying $5–$25 per million traded, with requirements that vary by region. For example, in the U.K., a $25,000 balance and at least $50 million in monthly volume lowers the commission to $2.50 per side ($5 round turn). Keep in mind spreads can widen during rollover or volatile conditions. FXCM rating: 4/5 stars; ranking: #25 of 63.
Vantage’s pricing depends on the account you choose. The Standard STP account lists typical EUR/USD spreads of 1.30 pips (March 2023). The RAW ECN account averaged about 0.15 pips plus a $3 commission per side ($6 round turn), totaling roughly 0.75 pips. The PRO ECN account cuts commissions to $2 per side ($4 round turn) but has eligibility hurdles (e.g., wholesale-client status in Australia or a $10,000 minimum via its Cayman Islands entity). Vantage’s active trader rebates ($2–$8 per lot) apply only to the Standard account, which has the highest spreads. Overall, Vantage is in line with the industry average and slightly ahead in our comparison. Vantage rating: 4.5/5 stars; ranking: #20 of 63.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
Vantage
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | Starts from $50 | $50 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.9 | 1.30 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.8 | 0.75 |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
FXCM and Vantage both support forex trading via CFDs or spot contracts, and each offers copy trading. Vantage lists more instruments overall (about 1,000 tradeable symbols) and more currency pairs (61) than FXCM (440 symbols and 46 forex pairs). Both brokers let you trade crypto as derivatives, but neither provides access to actual, delivered cryptocurrencies.
Neither FXCM nor Vantage gives access to real, exchange-traded shares on U.S. or international stock exchanges (non-CFD). For “Range of Investments,” both earn 3.5 out of 5 stars. In ForexBrokers.com’s rankings out of 63 brokers, FXCM places #48 and Vantage ranks #51. Choose Vantage if you want more symbols and forex pairs; consider FXCM if a slightly higher category placement matters to you.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
Vantage
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 440 | 1000 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 46 | 61 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | No |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | No |
| Cryptocurrency (CFDs) | 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.
FXCM and Vantage both cover the essentials for platform choice and ease of use. Each broker offers a free demo (paper) trading account, an in-house proprietary platform, a Windows desktop download, and a web-based platform. Both support MetaTrader 4 (MT4), copy trading, and let you place trades directly from charts. The key difference is MetaTrader 5 (MT5): Vantage offers MT5, while FXCM does not. If you rely on MT5 for algorithmic trading or newer indicators, Vantage has that option; if MT4 and a strong in-house platform are enough, both brokers fit the bill.
In independent testing of trading platforms and tools, FXCM earns 5 stars and ranks #6 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while Vantage earns 4 stars and ranks #21. In short: choose Vantage if MT5 is a must-have, and lean toward FXCM if top-rated platform quality and tools are your priority.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
Vantage
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 115 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
FXCM vs Vantage for mobile trading: both brokers offer iPhone and Android apps with price alerts for forex and stocks. FXCM stands out by syncing watchlists between the mobile app and your online account, while Vantage does not. For charting, FXCM includes 59 technical studies compared with 30 at Vantage. Both apps let you draw trendlines, and chart drawings auto-save so your notes stay put.
Independent ratings echo the gap: FXCM’s mobile app earns 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #16 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while Vantage scores 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #29. If you want more indicators and synced watchlists, FXCM may be the better fit; if you just need a simple way to trade on iPhone or Android with alerts and basic charting, Vantage gets the job done.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
Vantage
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 59 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
Both FXCM and Vantage excel in providing daily market commentary and access to forex news from major sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, making them reliable choices for staying informed on market trends. However, Vantage takes a step further in technical and fundamental research by offering tools from Autochartist, which FXCM lacks. On the other hand, FXCM integrates with TipRanks for enhanced market insights, a feature not available with Vantage. Both brokers include tools from Trading Central and have economic calendars to keep traders updated on global news events, but neither offers solutions from Acuity Trading.
When considering overall market research capabilities, FXCM edges out with a research rating of 4.5 stars compared to Vantage's 4 stars, according to ForexBrokers.com. Additionally, FXCM is ranked higher for research, occupying the 11th spot among 63 brokers, whereas Vantage is positioned at 22nd. These distinctions highlight FXCM's slightly superior standing in the realm of market research tools and analysis features.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
Vantage
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | Yes |
| Trading Central | Yes | Yes |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | Yes | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
FXCM and Vantage both support beginner traders with forex and CFD education. Each runs online client webinars at least monthly and offers plenty of on-demand learning, including 10+ beginner videos and 10+ advanced videos, so you can build skills from basics to more complex strategies at your own pace.
Independent ratings give FXCM a slight edge for education: FXCM scores 4.5/5 and is ranked #14 of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, while Vantage scores 4/5 and ranks #24. The available data doesn’t confirm whether either broker provides a searchable archive of past webinars or an investor dictionary, and it doesn’t state if they meet a broader “10-piece education library” test—though both clearly exceed that threshold with their video catalogs. For beginners comparing FXCM vs Vantage, both deliver frequent webinars and sizable video libraries, with FXCM edging ahead overall.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
Vantage
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | 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
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Vantage
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|---|---|---|
| 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.
Compared with Vantage, FXCM supports ACH/SEPA transfers plus PayPal, Skrill, and bank wire for deposits and withdrawals, while Vantage offers PayPal, Skrill, and bank wire but not ACH/SEPA; Visa/Mastercard availability is not specified for either broker.
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 |
| Broker Screenshots | FXCM | Vantage | |
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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) | |||
| 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) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | No | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | FXCM | Vantage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 440 | 1000 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 46 | 61 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | No | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (CFDs) | 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 | 0.9 | 1.30 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.8 | 0.75 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | FXCM | Vantage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | Starts from $50 | $50 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | FXCM | Vantage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | FXCM | Vantage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 115 | 30 | |
| 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 Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 59 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | FXCM | Vantage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | Yes | |
| Trading Central | Yes | Yes | |
| TipRanks | Yes | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | FXCM | Vantage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | FXCM | Vantage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| 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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