Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Vantage vs IFC 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.
Vantage and IFC Markets are established online brokers, with Vantage founded in 2009 and IFC Markets in 2006. Both companies operate privately and are not affiliated with any banks. When it comes to regulatory credentials that inspire trust, there's a notable difference between the two. Vantage holds two Tier-1 licenses, which are typically seen as highly reliable, and one Tier-2 license. In contrast, IFC Markets has no Tier-1 licenses but does hold one Tier-2 license.
ForexBrokers.com rates brokers based on their trust score, which reflects the security of their regulatory frameworks. Vantage achieves a strong trust score of 90 out of 99, placing it in the highly trusted category. Meanwhile, IFC Markets has a trust score of 73, which falls into the average risk bracket. This comparison highlights how Vantage offers a more assured trading environment based on regulatory oversight, making it a preferred choice for clients prioritizing trust and safety.
| Feature |
Vantage
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2009 | 2006 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 0 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 3 | 1 |
When comparing the commissions and fees of Vantage and IFC Markets, Vantage offers a variety of account options that cater to different trading needs. With its Standard STP account, traders face typical spreads of 1.30 pips on the EUR/USD, whereas the RAW ECN account offers more competitive pricing with average spreads of 0.15 pips and a commission totaling 0.75 pips per round turn. For those seeking even better rates, the PRO ECN account presents a lower commission of $4 per round turn, although this requires additional qualifications such as being a wholesale client or having a minimum deposit of $10,000. Active traders at Vantage benefit further with rebate opportunities based on their trading volumes, but these rebates only apply to the Standard account.
On the other hand, IFC Markets features an average EUR/USD spread of 1.44, slightly above the industry average, which may not appeal to cost-conscious traders. However, their newer ECN account offers a more attractive pricing model with effective spreads sitting at 1.1 pips, factoring in a 0.005% commission on each trade side. The absence of inactivity fees and the availability of active trader discounts serve as additional financial incentives for frequent traders considering IFC Markets.
Overall, Vantage is rated slightly higher at 4.5 stars compared to IFC Markets' 4-star rating for commissions and fees. In the rankings by ForexBrokers.com, Vantage holds a stronger position at #19 out of 63 brokers, while IFC Markets is ranked at #39. These ratings and rankings reflect the competitive pricing structure of Vantage, especially for those who qualify for its more beneficial account tiers, whereas IFC Markets offers an appealing model for traders who prefer to avoid inactivity fees and appreciate active trader discounts.
| Feature |
Vantage
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $50 | $1 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.30 | 1.44 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.75 | 1.1 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
When it comes to the range of investments, both Vantage and IFC Markets offer competitive options for traders, particularly in the realm of forex trading. Both platforms allow users to trade forex as CFDs or spot contracts, catering to those interested in currency markets. Vantage offers a more extensive selection with 61 tradeable forex pairs, compared to IFC Markets' offering of 49. Furthermore, Vantage provides access to a total of 1000 tradeable symbols, while IFC Markets offers 630 symbols. However, neither platform supports buying exchange-traded securities from U.S. markets like Apple shares directly, though IFC Markets stands out by allowing the purchase of some international securities.
For those interested in modern trading methods, both Vantage and IFC Markets offer copy trading, making it easier to mimic successful trader strategies. When it comes to cryptocurrency, both brokers provide the ability to trade derivatives rather than actual coins. They both hold an identical rating of 3.5 stars for range of investments, but IFC Markets slightly edges out Vantage in ranking by ForexBrokers.com, taking the 43rd spot compared to Vantage's 50th place. This nuanced landscape makes each platform appealing depending on individual trading preferences and priorities.
| Feature |
Vantage
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1000 | 630 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 61 | 49 |
| 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). |
Dive deeper: Best Copy Trading Platforms.
When evaluating the trading platforms and tools offered by Vantage and IFC Markets, both brokers provide comprehensive solutions that cater to various trading needs. Each offers a free virtual demo account, allowing users to practice trading without financial risk. Both platforms have in-house proprietary tools and support MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5), providing flexibility and familiarity for seasoned traders. Traders can access these platforms on Windows-based desktop applications or via web browsers. Additionally, both brokers support copy trading, enabling traders to follow and replicate the trades of more experienced investors.
Vantage and IFC Markets both offer 15 drawing tools for charting and allow for direct trading from stock charts. They also feature seven columns for watch lists, giving users a detailed overview of their chosen securities. Although Vantage stands out by offering DupliTrade, a popular copy trading platform that is not available with IFC Markets, neither broker currently supports ZuluTrade. With Vantage ranked 21st and IFC Markets 36th out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, both have been rated four stars, reflecting their strong offerings in trading platforms and tools.
| Feature |
Vantage
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| 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) | Yes | Yes |
| DupliTrade | Yes | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 15 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Both Vantage and IFC Markets offer comprehensive mobile trading apps available on iPhone and Android, catering to the needs of traders on the go. Each platform provides essential features such as price alerts for stocks or forex, the ability to draw trendlines, view multiple time frames, and auto-save chart drawings. They both offer 30 technical studies to enhance charting analysis and allow users to create watchlists with real-time quotes. However, a notable difference is that IFC Markets supports watchlist symbol syncing between its mobile app and online account, a feature Vantage lacks, ensuring seamless transitions for users who frequently switch between devices.
Despite both apps receiving a solid four-star rating for their features, Vantage is ranked higher—28th out of 63 brokers—by ForexBrokers.com for its mobile trading services, compared to IFC Markets, which ranks 52nd. This suggests that while both platforms offer similar functionalities, Vantage may be perceived as offering a slightly more refined user experience overall. When choosing between these two brokers for mobile trading, considerations of rankings and specific feature needs like watchlist syncing may guide users in selecting the platform that best suits their trading style.
| Feature |
Vantage
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 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 market research offerings, Vantage and IFC Markets both provide daily market commentary and informative economic calendars to keep traders updated with global events. Where they differ significantly is in the breadth of additional tools and news access. Vantage stands out by delivering forex news from top-tier sources such as Bloomberg and Reuters, enhancing the depth and reliability of the information traders receive. In contrast, IFC Markets does not offer such extensive news coverage from these recognized entities.
Both brokers provide sentiment-based trading tools, which help traders understand market positions. However, Vantage pushes the edge by offering advanced technical analysis tools from renowned companies like Autochartist and Trading Central, which IFC Markets lacks. This array of tools contributes to Vantage's higher rating of 4 stars for research, ranking it 21st out of 63 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com. Meanwhile, IFC Markets has a rating of 3.5 stars, positioning it at 40th in the same category.
| Feature |
Vantage
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | No |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When comparing the educational resources offered by Vantage and IFC Markets, both platforms provide a solid foundation for beginners interested in forex and CFDs, each offering over 10 educational materials ranging from articles to videos. However, Vantage takes a step ahead with its monthly online educational webinars, a feature IFC Markets does not offer. In addition, Vantage provides access to a searchable archive of past webinars, allowing users to revisit valuable discussions at their convenience, a resource that new traders may find invaluable and which IFC Markets lacks.
For video content, both brokers extend learning opportunities to beginners and advanced traders alike. Vantage and IFC Markets each provide over 10 beginner-oriented educational videos and the same number for advanced topics, helping traders at any level enhance their trading strategies. Both platforms also feature an investor dictionary with definitions for over 50 investing terms. Despite these similarities, Vantage slightly edges out IFC Markets with a 4-star education rating compared to a 3.5-star rating for IFC Markets. According to ForexBrokers.com, Vantage is ranked #24 for education among 63 brokers, surpassing IFC Markets, which is ranked at #30. Overall, Vantage appears to offer a more comprehensive educational experience for novice traders.
| Feature |
Vantage
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
| 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 Vantage is better than IFC Markets. Vantage finished with an overall rank of #26, while IFC Markets finished with an overall rank of #45.
Vantage rounds out its MetaTrader platform suite offering with support for multiple social trading platforms, content powered by Trading Central and a proprietary mobile app. However, Vantage trails industry leaders in key areas such as research and education.
| Feature |
Vantage
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IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 90 | 73 |
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Both Vantage and IFC Markets do not offer the ability to purchase actual (delivered) cryptocurrency, but both provide options for trading cryptocurrency derivatives.
When comparing online brokers Vantage and IFC Markets, both offer Visa or Mastercard and bank wire options for deposits and withdrawals, but Vantage stands out by providing additional options like PayPal and Skrill, which are not available with IFC Markets, while neither supports ACH or SEPA transfers.
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 | Vantage | IFC Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 90 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Vantage Review |
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| Regulation | Vantage | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 90 | 73 | |
| Year Founded | 2009 | 2006 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | No | No | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 0 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 3 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Vantage | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | 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 | No | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | No | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | No | No |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Vantage | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | 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 | Vantage | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1000 | 630 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 61 | 49 | |
| 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). |
| Cost | Vantage | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.30 | 1.44 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.75 | 1.1 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Vantage | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $50 | $1 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | Vantage | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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) | Yes | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | Yes | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Vantage | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 15 | 15 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Vantage | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 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 | Vantage | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Vantage | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Vantage | IFC 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 | Vantage Review |
| Overall | Vantage | IFC Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 90 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Vantage Review |
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