Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of IC Markets 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.
IC Markets and Vantage are both well-established online brokers, with IC Markets founded in 2007 and Vantage in 2009. Neither company is publicly traded or operates as a bank, focusing solely on brokerage services. When it comes to licensing, both hold two Tier-1 licenses, which are considered highly trusted. Vantage holds an additional Tier-2 license, adding to its credibility, while IC Markets does not hold any Tier-2 licenses.
Looking at their Trust Scores as rated by ForexBrokers.com, Vantage edges out IC Markets with a score of 90, categorizing it as highly trusted. IC Markets follows closely with a respectable score of 84, marking it as trusted. These scores reflect their regulatory standings and can be helpful for those choosing between these two brokers.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
Vantage
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2007 | 2009 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 3 | 3 |
IC Markets generally comes out cheaper on trading costs than Vantage. It earned 5/5 stars for Commissions & Fees and is ranked #5 out of 63 brokers, with “Best in Class” recognition in 2024. Vantage scores 4.5/5 stars and ranks #12 out of 63; its pricing is close to the industry average and trails the leaders.
On IC Markets’ commission accounts, cTrader Raw charges $3 per side ($6 round turn) and listed an average EUR/USD spread of 0.02 pips (Aug 2022), for an all-in cost near 0.62 pips; the MetaTrader Raw account charges $3.5 per side ($7 round turn) for about 0.72 pips all-in. IC Markets’ Standard account averages 0.62 pips with no commission. Vantage’s Standard STP account showed typical EUR/USD spreads of 1.30 pips (Mar 2023). Its RAW ECN account averaged 0.15 pips plus $3 per side ($6 round turn), totaling about 0.75 pips. The PRO ECN tier lowers commission to $2 per side ($4 round turn)—Vantage’s best-priced option—though eligibility and funding rules apply by entity.
Both brokers vary pricing by account type, platform, and the entity that holds your account. IC Markets supports cTrader and MetaTrader (MT4/MT5) and offers volume discounts for traders doing 100+ lots per month, alongside a low deposit for its commission accounts. Vantage runs an active-trader rebate program of $2–$8 per lot, but it’s only available on the higher-spread Standard account; its PRO ECN often requires wholesale-client status (Australia) or at least $10,000 funding (Cayman). For most traders, IC Markets’ tighter effective spreads make it the lower-cost choice, while Vantage can be competitive if you qualify for PRO ECN.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
Vantage
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $200 | $50 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.62 | 1.32 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.62 | 0.72 |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
Comparing the range of investments, IC Markets offers 3,583 tradeable symbols versus Vantage’s 1,000. Both brokers support forex trading (available as CFDs or spot) with 61 currency pairs each, and both provide copy trading. For crypto, neither lets you buy actual coins, but both offer cryptocurrency CFDs.
A key difference is share dealing: IC Markets lets clients buy exchange-traded shares on select international exchanges (not CFDs), while Vantage does not; neither broker offers U.S.-listed share dealing. Overall, IC Markets earns 4.5/5 stars for Range of Investments and ranks #22 out of 63, while Vantage scores 3.5/5 stars and ranks #32—making IC Markets the better pick if you want more markets to choose from.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
Vantage
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 3583 | 1000 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 61 | 61 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | 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.
Comparing IC Markets vs Vantage for trading platforms and tools: both brokers offer free demo (paper) trading, plus web-based and Windows desktop platforms. Each supports MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5), copy trading, and the ability to place trades directly from charts. Both score 4 out of 5 stars for Trading Platforms and Tools. According to ForexBrokers.com, IC Markets ranks #17 out of 63 brokers in this category, while Vantage comes in at #20.
The key difference is platform choice. IC Markets sticks to popular third‑party platforms, while Vantage also provides a proprietary platform built in-house. If you prefer a broker’s own interface alongside MT4/MT5, Vantage may appeal. If you’re comfortable with widely used third‑party platforms and want a slightly higher category ranking, IC Markets has the edge.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
Vantage
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | No | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Comparing the IC Markets mobile app to the Vantage mobile app shows a very close match. Both brokers offer iPhone and Android apps, plus price alerts to help you track forex and other markets on the go. Each app includes 30 technical studies for charting, supports drawing trendlines, and auto-saves your chart drawings. One limitation to note is that neither app offers watchlist syncing between mobile and the web platform, so changes made on one device won’t carry over automatically.
In terms of quality scores, both IC Markets and Vantage earn 4 out of 5 stars for their mobile trading apps. Looking at industry rankings from ForexBrokers.com, IC Markets sits slightly higher at #22 out of 63 brokers, while Vantage is close behind at #24. If small ranking differences matter to you, IC Markets edges ahead; otherwise, both apps deliver similar tools and features for everyday mobile trading.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
Vantage
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | No | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
IC Markets and Vantage are closely matched for market research. Both publish daily market commentary and stream forex news from leading sources such as Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones. Each broker includes Autochartist and Trading Central tools to help spot trade ideas, offers a sentiment gauge showing long vs. short positioning, and provides an economic calendar to track major global events.
Neither broker adds research from TipRanks or Acuity Trading. According to ForexBrokers.com, both earn 4 out of 5 stars for Research, with Vantage ranked 20th out of 63 brokers and IC Markets ranked 21st. Given their near-identical research lineups, your choice may hinge on other factors like platform experience or pricing rather than research features.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
Vantage
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Central | Yes | Yes |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
IC Markets and Vantage both deliver beginner-friendly forex and CFD education with well over 10 learning resources each. You’ll find at least 10 beginner videos and at least 10 advanced videos at both brokers, along with online client webinars hosted at least once per month. This mix of videos and webinars makes it easy for new traders to start with the basics and keep building skills over time.
Both IC Markets and Vantage earn 4 out of 5 stars for Education from ForexBrokers.com. IC Markets is ranked #16 out of 63 brokers for Education, while Vantage is ranked #23 out of 63. For beginners comparing IC Markets vs Vantage, both are strong picks for accessible learning; IC Markets holds a slight edge in the rankings, while Vantage offers a very similar lineup of frequent webinars and beginner-focused videos.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
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 IC Markets is better than Vantage. IC Markets finished with an overall rank of #21, while Vantage finished with an overall rank of #24.
IC Markets’ competitive pricing and scalable execution make it an excellent option for algorithmic traders. Though it supports an impressive range of third-party tools and plugins, IC Markets’ research and education offerings are not as impressive as those offered by industry leaders.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
Vantage
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 84 | 90 |
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IC Markets vs Vantage: neither broker allows buying actual (delivered) cryptocurrencies, but both offer cryptocurrency CFDs for trading without owning the underlying asset.
Both online brokers IC Markets and Vantage do not support ACH or SEPA transfers but do support PayPal, Skrill, and bank wire deposits and withdrawals, while availability of Visa or Mastercard funding is not specified.
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 | IC Markets | Vantage | |
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| Trust Score | 84 | 90 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IC Markets Review | Vantage Review |
| Broker Screenshots | IC Markets | Vantage | |
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| Regulation | IC Markets | Vantage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 84 | 90 | |
| Year Founded | 2007 | 2009 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 2 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 3 | 3 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | IC Markets | Vantage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (FSA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | No | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | |||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | No | 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) | IC Markets | Vantage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | No | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | IC Markets | Vantage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 3583 | 1000 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 61 | 61 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | 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 | IC Markets | Vantage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.62 | 1.32 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.62 | 0.72 | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | IC Markets | Vantage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $200 | $50 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | IC Markets | Vantage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | No | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes | |
| cTrader | Yes | No |
| Trading Tools | IC Markets | Vantage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 30 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | IC Markets | Vantage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | No | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | IC Markets | Vantage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes | |
| Trading Central | Yes | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | IC Markets | Vantage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | IC Markets | Vantage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | IC Markets Review | Vantage Review |
| Overall | IC Markets | Vantage | |
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| Trust Score | 84 | 90 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IC Markets Review | Vantage Review |
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