Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of IC Markets 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.
When comparing IC Markets and VT Markets, both online brokers bring distinct regulatory features to the table. IC Markets, established in 2007, holds a Trust Score of 84 out of 99, as per ForexBrokers.com. This score places it in the trusted category. The broker possesses two Tier-1 licenses, which contribute to its strong regulatory standing. On the other hand, VT Markets, founded in 2016, holds one Tier-1 license and one Tier-2 license. With a Trust Score of 70, it resides in the average risk category according to ForexBrokers.com.
Neither IC Markets nor VT Markets are publicly traded or operate as banks. While IC Markets boasts a longer operational history and a slightly higher Trust Score, VT Markets still maintains a noteworthy regulatory presence with its Tier-1 and Tier-2 licenses. These credentials offer potential users essential insights into how each broker is perceived by regulatory agencies and their overall trustworthiness in the financial market.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
VT Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2007 | 2016 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 3 | 0 |
For commissions and fees, IC Markets generally undercuts VT Markets on its top-tier accounts. IC Markets earns 5/5 stars and ranks #5 of 63 for Commissions & Fees, while VT Markets earns 4.5/5 stars and ranks #21 of 63. If you want the lowest possible all-in costs, IC Markets’ Raw accounts are typically cheaper than VT Markets’ Raw ECN, though final pricing can vary by platform, account type, and (for IC Markets) the Cyprus, Australia, or Seychelles entity you use.
IC Markets offers three choices: a commission-free Standard account and two commission-based Raw accounts (cTrader or MetaTrader). cTrader Raw charges $3.00 per side ($6 round turn) per standard lot; the MetaTrader Raw account charges $3.50 per side ($7 round turn). On EUR/USD, IC Markets lists a 0.02-pip average spread (Aug 2022); adding commission puts the all-in cost around 0.62 pips on cTrader or 0.72 pips on MetaTrader. The Standard account averages about 0.62 pips with no commission. High-volume traders (100+ lots/month) can get discounts, and IC Markets earned Best in Class for Commissions & Fees in the 2024 Annual Awards.
VT Markets keeps things simple with two accounts and a $100 minimum deposit for each. The Standard STP account is commission-free but shows a typical 1.2-pip spread on EUR/USD. The Raw ECN account is more cost-effective, with an effective 0.83-pip spread based on a 0.23-pip average spread plus a 0.6-pip round-turn commission (Sep 2021). While VT Markets’ Raw ECN pricing is competitive for the industry, IC Markets’ lowest all-in costs are typically sharper, especially on cTrader Raw.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
VT Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $200 | $100 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.62 | 1.2 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.62 | 0.8 |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
For sheer variety, IC Markets offers a wider range of investments than VT Markets. IC Markets lists 3,583 tradeable instruments and 61 forex pairs, while VT Markets provides 1,000 instruments and 39 pairs. Both brokers support forex trading via CFDs/spot, offer copy trading, and provide access to cryptocurrency derivatives (but not direct, delivered crypto).
When it comes to shares, neither broker lets you buy U.S.-listed stocks on-exchange, but both do offer exchange-traded international shares. Based on ForexBrokers.com’s ratings for Range of Investments, IC Markets scores 4.5 out of 5 (ranked 26th of 63), while VT Markets earns 3.5 out of 5 (ranked 40th of 63), underscoring IC Markets’ broader selection.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
VT Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 3583 | 1000 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 61 | 39 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes |
| 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.
IC Markets and VT Markets both lean on the popular MetaTrader suite rather than building their own in-house platforms. Each broker offers MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, with access via a Windows desktop download and a web-based (browser) platform. You can open a free demo (paper) trading account with either broker, explore copy trading options, and place trades directly from charts—useful for quick execution while analyzing price action.
When it comes to recognition for trading platforms and tools, both brokers earned 4 stars from ForexBrokers.com. That said, IC Markets ranks higher in the category (#16 out of 63) compared with VT Markets (#48 out of 63). If overall platform ranking matters to you, IC Markets may have the edge; if you simply want a familiar MetaTrader setup with demo access and copy trading, both are strong contenders.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
VT Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | No | No |
| 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 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Comparing IC Markets vs VT Markets for mobile trading, both brokers offer iPhone and Android apps with price alerts, 30 technical studies for charts, and the ability to draw trendlines. Watchlist symbol syncing isn’t available on either app, so changes made on mobile won’t sync to the web platform. One practical difference: IC Markets auto-saves your chart drawings, while VT Markets does not.
Both apps earn 4 out of 5 stars, but IC Markets ranks higher overall for Mobile Trading Apps (#22 of 63) than VT Markets (#45 of 63) on ForexBrokers.com. If you value auto-saved chart work and a higher industry ranking, IC Markets has the edge; if you just need a solid iOS or Android trading app with alerts and a full set of indicators, either broker can work.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
VT Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | No |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
IC Markets vs VT Markets for market research: both brokers deliver daily market commentary, real-time forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones, Trading Central analytics, sentiment tools that show long/short ratios, and an easy-to-use economic calendar. These shared features make it simple to follow headlines, analyze setups, and time events across currency pairs and other instruments.
The key difference is that IC Markets also offers Autochartist, which helps spot chart patterns and potential trade ideas—something VT Markets doesn’t provide. IC Markets does not include TipRanks or Acuity Trading, and VT Markets’ support for TipRanks or Acuity Trading isn’t specified. Based on our ratings, IC Markets scores 4 stars for Research and ranks #23 out of 63 brokers, while VT Markets earns 3.5 stars and ranks #37. If market research depth is your focus, IC Markets has a slight edge.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
VT Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
| Trading Central | Yes | Yes |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | |
| Acuity Trading | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
For beginner-friendly trading education, IC Markets holds a clear edge over VT Markets. IC Markets is rated 4/5 stars for Education and ranks #16 out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, while VT Markets scores 3.5/5 stars and ranks #56. Both brokers provide at least 10 beginner videos that cover forex and CFD basics. IC Markets also runs monthly educational webinars, whereas VT Markets does not. We couldn’t confirm whether either broker offers a searchable archive of past webinars or whether each meets the broader “10+ total pieces” bar for forex/CFD education across formats.
If you plan to grow beyond the basics, IC Markets offers at least 10 advanced trading videos, while VT Markets does not meet that mark. It’s also not specified whether either broker includes an investor dictionary with 50+ terms. In short, beginners get solid video learning at both brokers, but IC Markets adds recurring webinars and deeper advanced content, making it the stronger choice for expanding your forex and CFD knowledge.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
VT Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
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 VT Markets. IC Markets finished with an overall rank of #20, while VT Markets finished with an overall rank of #44.
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
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VT Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 84 | 70 |
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Both IC Markets and VT Markets do not provide the option to purchase actual delivered cryptocurrency, but they both offer the ability to buy cryptocurrency derivatives.
Comparing payment methods, IC Markets and VT Markets both support Skrill and bank wire transfers but do not offer ACH or SEPA, while only IC Markets provides PayPal for deposits and withdrawals.
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 | VT Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 84 | 70 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IC Markets Review | VT Markets Review |
| Broker Screenshots | IC Markets | VT Markets | |
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| Regulation | IC Markets | VT Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 84 | 70 | |
| Year Founded | 2007 | 2016 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 3 | 0 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | IC Markets | VT Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | 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) | No | 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) | IC Markets | VT Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | IC Markets | VT Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 3583 | 1000 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 61 | 39 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes | |
| 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 | VT Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.62 | 1.2 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.62 | 0.8 | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | IC Markets | VT Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $200 | $100 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | IC Markets | VT Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | No | No | |
| 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 | VT Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 15 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | IC Markets | VT Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | No | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | IC Markets | VT Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central | Yes | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | ||
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | IC Markets | VT Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | IC Markets | VT Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | VT Markets Review |
| Overall | IC Markets | VT Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 84 | 70 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IC Markets Review | VT Markets Review |
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