Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of FXCM vs VT Markets, 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, established in 1999, is known for its solid foundation and long-standing presence in the trading industry. It is publicly traded, indicating a level of transparency in its operations. With a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 95 out of 99, FXCM is highly trusted, thanks in part to holding four Tier-1 licenses and two Tier-2 licenses. This regulatory backing provides traders with confidence in the broker's trustworthiness and compliance with high standards.
On the other hand, VT Markets, founded in 2016, positions itself as a newer player in the online brokerage scene. While it is not publicly traded, it holds one Tier-1 license and one Tier-2 license. VT Markets has a Trust Score of 70, classifying it as an average-risk broker. Traders considering VT Markets should be aware of its shorter track record and comparatively lower regulatory backing, which may impact their perception of its reliability.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
VT Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1999 | 2016 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
Comparing commissions and fees, VT Markets edges out FXCM in our ratings: VT Markets earns 4.5 stars and ranks #21 out of 63 brokers for the Commissions and Fees category at ForexBrokers.com, while FXCM earns 4 stars and ranks #25. FXCM’s overall forex pricing is slightly higher than the industry average, though specific account setups and rebates can narrow the gap.
FXCM offers both standard and commission-based pricing. In May 2024, average EUR/USD spreads on its standard account were 0.78 pips in the EU, U.K., and Australia, and 1.38 pips with its St. Vincent and the Grenadines entity. Its commission-based account averaged a 0.28-pip core spread (May 2024), with an effective spread near 0.74 pips after adding the commission-equivalent of about 0.50 pips per round turn. FXCM’s five-tier Active Trader Rebate Program (not available in the U.K. or EU) offers $5–$25 per million traded if you do at least $10 million per month; in the U.K., a $25,000 balance and $50 million in monthly volume can reduce commissions to $2.50 per side ($5 round turn), bringing the effective spread to about 0.78 pips (based on a 0.28-pip core in January 2024). As with most brokers, spreads can widen during rollover or unusual market conditions.
At VT Markets, the Standard STP account is commission-free with a typical EUR/USD spread of 1.2 pips, while the Raw ECN account shows an effective spread of about 0.83 pips (0.23-pip average spread plus a 0.6-pip round-turn commission, based on September 2021 data). Both accounts have a $100 minimum deposit. In practice, FXCM’s commission-based effective spread near 0.74 pips can undercut VT Markets’ Raw ECN example, and FXCM’s standard EU/U.K./Australia spread of 0.78 pips is tighter than VT Markets’ Standard STP 1.2 pips. Even so, VT Markets holds the advantage in our scoring and rank for pricing overall (4.5 stars, #21) versus FXCM (4 stars, #25).
| Feature |
FXCM
|
VT Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | Starts from $50 | $100 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.9 | 1.2 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.8 | 0.8 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts [DELETED] | ||
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | 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.
FXCM and VT Markets both support forex trading via CFDs and spot and both offer copy trading. VT Markets lists about 1,000 tradeable symbols, more than FXCM’s 440. FXCM, however, offers more currency pairs (46 vs. 39). Neither broker lets you buy U.S.-listed shares for direct ownership, but VT Markets does provide access to some international exchange-traded shares, while FXCM does not. For crypto, each broker offers derivatives only; neither supports buying delivered coins.
Both brokers earn 3.5 out of 5 stars for Range of Investments. In ForexBrokers.com’s 63-broker comparison, VT Markets ranks #40 and FXCM ranks #48. Choose VT Markets if you want a larger overall product lineup and access to international shares. Pick FXCM if having more forex pairs matters most.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
VT Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 440 | 1000 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 46 | 39 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | Yes |
| 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.
FXCM and VT Markets both provide free demo accounts for simulated (paper) trading, making it easy to practice strategies without risking real money. For platforms, FXCM offers its own proprietary platform alongside MetaTrader 4 (MT4), plus Windows desktop and web-based trading. VT Markets does not have a proprietary platform but supports both MT4 and MetaTrader 5 (MT5), and also provides Windows desktop and web-based platforms. Both brokers support copy trading and let you place trades directly from charts.
For trading platforms and tools, FXCM is rated 5 stars and ranks #6 out of 63 brokers with ForexBrokers.com, while VT Markets is rated 4 stars and ranks #48. If you want an in-house platform and are fine with MT4 (without MT5), FXCM is a strong pick. If MT5 access is important, VT Markets may suit you better, keeping in mind it does not offer a proprietary platform.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
VT Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading 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) | No | Yes |
| DupliTrade [DELETED] | ||
| ZuluTrade [DELETED] | ||
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 115 | 15 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) [DELETED] | ||
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields [DELETED] |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
FXCM and VT Markets both offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android with real-time watchlists, price alerts, trendline drawing, and multiple time frames for charts. A key difference is watchlist syncing: FXCM syncs symbols between the mobile app and your online account, while VT Markets does not. FXCM also auto-saves your chart drawings; VT Markets does not.
For charting depth, FXCM’s mobile app includes 59 technical studies compared with 30 on VT Markets. This added toolkit helps if you rely on indicators for entries and exits. Reflecting that edge, FXCM earns a 4.5 out of 5 mobile rating and ranks #16 out of 63 brokers for Mobile Trading Apps on ForexBrokers.com, while VT Markets holds a 4 out of 5 rating and ranks #45. In short, VT Markets covers the essentials, but FXCM is the stronger pick for advanced mobile charting and synced watchlists.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
VT Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | No |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
FXCM and VT Markets both cover the essentials for market research: daily market commentary, forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones, Trading Central analysis tools, a sentiment gauge showing long vs. short positioning, and an economic calendar. Neither broker includes Autochartist.
Where they differ is in extras and overall ratings. FXCM adds TipRanks research, while TipRanks and Acuity Trading tools for VT Markets are not specified. FXCM earns 4.5/5 stars for Research and ranks #11 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com; VT Markets scores 3.5/5 and ranks #37. If you want higher-rated research with added insights from TipRanks, FXCM has the edge. If you mainly need core news, commentary, and basic tools, VT Markets covers the bases.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
VT Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | Yes |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | Yes | |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
For beginner traders comparing FXCM and VT Markets, both brokers provide at least 10 beginner-friendly trading videos, making it easy to start learning forex and CFDs at your own pace. FXCM also runs monthly educational webinars, while VT Markets does not offer monthly webinars. It’s not specified whether either broker provides a searchable archive of past webinars or whether they publish an investor dictionary with 50+ terms. It’s also not specified whether either meets the broader threshold of 10+ total forex/CFD education pieces across formats. As you grow, FXCM offers at least 10 advanced videos, whereas VT Markets does not.
Ratings and rankings reflect these differences: FXCM earns 4.5 stars for Education and ranks #14 out of 63 brokers, while VT Markets scores 3.5 stars and ranks #56. If live learning and a clearer path into advanced topics matter to you, FXCM’s education stands out. If you mainly want on-demand beginner videos and can skip webinars and deeper advanced coverage, VT Markets can still be a fit.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
VT Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | ||
| Webinars | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) [DELETED] | ||
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) [DELETED] |
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 VT Markets. FXCM finished with an overall rank of #15, while VT Markets finished with an overall rank of #44.
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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VT Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 95 | 70 |
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Both FXCM and VT Markets do not allow users to buy actual cryptocurrency, but they do offer the ability to buy cryptocurrency derivatives, making them suitable for traders interested in cryptocurrency without the need for physical delivery.
FXCM offers a wider range of deposit and withdrawal options, including ACH, SEPA, PayPal, Skrill, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wires, whereas VT Markets supports Skrill, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wires but does not facilitate ACH, SEPA, or PayPal transactions.
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 | VT Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 95 | 70 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | FXCM Review | VT Markets Review |
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| Regulation | FXCM | VT Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 95 | 70 | |
| Year Founded | 1999 | 2016 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | FXCM | VT Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | No | |
| 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 | VT Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | FXCM | VT Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 440 | 1000 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 46 | 39 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | Yes | |
| 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 | VT Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.9 | 1.2 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.8 | 0.8 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts [DELETED] | |||
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | FXCM | VT Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | Starts from $50 | $100 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | FXCM | VT Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading 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) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade [DELETED] | |||
| ZuluTrade [DELETED] |
| Trading Tools | FXCM | VT Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields [DELETED] | |||
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 115 | 15 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) [DELETED] | |||
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | FXCM | VT Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | No | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | FXCM | VT Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | Yes | |
| TipRanks | Yes | ||
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | FXCM | VT Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | |||
| Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) [DELETED] | |||
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) [DELETED] |
| Major Forex Pairs | FXCM | VT Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | VT Markets Review |
| Overall | FXCM | VT Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 95 | 70 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | FXCM Review | VT Markets Review |
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