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 |
Vantage vs. IFC Markets: commissions and fees comparison. Vantage earns 4.5/5 stars and ranks #20 out of 63 for Commissions and Fees at ForexBrokers.com, while IFC Markets scores 4/5 stars and ranks #40 out of 63. Both brokers vary pricing by account type and by the entity that holds your account. In general, Vantage lands around the industry average, whereas IFC Markets’ standard spreads are a bit higher.
Vantage offers three account types: the spread-only Standard STP, plus RAW ECN and PRO ECN with commissions. Typical EUR/USD spreads were 1.30 pips on the Standard account (March 2023). The RAW ECN averaged 0.15 pips plus a $3 commission per side ($6 round turn), for an all-in cost near 0.75 pips. The PRO ECN cuts the commission to $2 per side ($4 round turn), making it Vantage’s best-priced option, though eligibility depends on the regulator/entity (for example, wholesale-client status in Australia or a $10,000 minimum under the Cayman entity). Vantage also offers an active trader program paying $2–$8 per standard lot based on balance and volume (tiers start at $10,000 and go up to $300,000+), but it applies only to the higher-spread Standard account.
IFC Markets lists an average EUR/USD spread of 1.44 pips, above the industry average of 1.08. Active traders can consider the ECN account, where the effective spread is about 1.1 pips after the 0.005% commission charged on both sides. There’s no inactivity fee, and active-trader discounts are available. Versus Vantage, IFC Markets’ standard spreads are wider, while its ECN pricing narrows the gap; note that Vantage’s RAW ECN all-in cost was about 0.75 pips during the same period, and its PRO ECN reduces commissions further for those who qualify.
| Feature |
Vantage
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $50 | $1 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.30 | 1.44 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.75 | 1.1 |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
Vantage and IFC Markets both support forex trading as either CFDs or spot contracts, and both offer copy trading. Vantage lists about 1,000 tradeable symbols with 61 forex pairs, while IFC Markets offers around 630 symbols with 49 forex pairs. For cryptocurrencies, each broker lets you trade crypto via CFDs, but neither allows buying actual coins. When it comes to exchange-traded securities, Vantage does not offer access to U.S. or international exchanges, whereas IFC Markets provides access to select international exchanges (but not U.S. markets).
Both brokers earn 3.5 out of 5 stars for Range of Investments. However, IFC Markets ranks higher in this category at 44th out of 63 brokers, compared to Vantage at 51st. Choose Vantage if you want a larger overall list of symbols and forex pairs, or go with IFC Markets if you value access to international exchange-traded shares alongside CFDs and forex.
| Feature |
Vantage
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1000 | 630 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 61 | 49 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | 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). |
Dive deeper: Best Copy Trading Platforms.
Vantage and IFC Markets both check the key boxes for trading platforms and tools. Each broker offers a free demo account for paper trading, a proprietary platform, and support for Windows desktop and web-based platforms. They also support MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5), plus copy trading. If you like chart-centric workflows, both let you place trades directly from charts. Specific counts for built-in technical indicators and watch list fields aren’t provided here, and may vary by platform version.
In independent testing by ForexBrokers.com, both brokers earned 4 out of 5 stars for Trading Platforms and Tools. That said, Vantage ranks higher overall at #21 out of 63 brokers, while IFC Markets is #37. If rankings matter to you, Vantage edges ahead, but feature-wise these two are closely matched for everyday platform needs.
| Feature |
Vantage
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| 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) | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Both Vantage and IFC Markets offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, covering the basics traders expect. Each app supports stock and forex price alerts, offers 30 technical indicators for charting, and lets you draw trendlines. Your chart drawings also auto-save, so you won’t lose your work when you switch screens or devices.
The main difference is watchlists: IFC Markets syncs watchlists between the mobile app and your online account, while Vantage does not. Both apps earned 4 stars for Mobile Trading Apps, but Vantage ranks higher in ForexBrokers.com’s comparison—29th out of 63 brokers, versus IFC Markets at 53rd. Choose IFC Markets if synced watchlists are a must; pick Vantage if overall standing in third-party rankings matters more to you.
| Feature |
Vantage
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | No | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
Comparing market research at Vantage vs IFC Markets: both offer daily market commentary, an economic calendar with global events, and a sentiment tool showing long/short positioning. The big difference is depth. Vantage streams forex news from major outlets like Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones, and adds third‑party analytics from Autochartist and Trading Central. IFC Markets does not provide those newswires or these two popular research suites. Neither broker includes TipRanks or Acuity Trading tools.
For ratings, Vantage scores 4 out of 5 stars for research and ranks #22 of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while IFC Markets earns 3.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #41. In short, choose Vantage if you want richer news and technical/fundamental tools; pick IFC Markets if you’re fine with core basics like commentary, sentiment, and a calendar.
| Feature |
Vantage
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
| Trading Central | Yes | No |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
Both Vantage and IFC Markets deliver forex and CFD education that meets the mark for beginners, offering far more than the minimum 10 pieces of learning content. Each broker provides at least 10 beginner videos and at least 10 advanced videos, so new traders can start with basics and later move into deeper topics without switching platforms.
Where they differ is live learning: Vantage runs client webinars at least once a month, while IFC Markets does not. That helps explain Vantage’s higher Education score (4 stars) and better category rank (#24 of 63) compared with IFC Markets (3.5 stars; #30 of 63). If you want ongoing live sessions alongside a strong video library, Vantage is the better fit; if you’re fine with on-demand education only, IFC Markets still offers plenty to get started.
| Feature |
Vantage
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No |
| 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 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 |
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IFC Markets
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|---|---|---|
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| Trust Score | 90 | 73 |
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Vantage vs IFC Markets: neither online broker offers the ability to buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrency, but both allow trading cryptocurrency CFDs (not the underlying asset).
Comparing online brokers Vantage and IFC Markets for deposit and withdrawal methods: neither supports ACH or SEPA transfers; Vantage accepts PayPal and Skrill while IFC Markets does not; both support bank wire transfers; 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 | Vantage | IFC Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 90 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Vantage Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Vantage | IFC Markets | |
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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 | ||
| 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 | ||
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | ||
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | ||
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | No | ||
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | No | ||
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | |||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | No | ||
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | ||
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | No |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Vantage | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | ||
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | No | ||
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | ||
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | Vantage | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1000 | 630 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 61 | 49 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | 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). |
| Cost | Vantage | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.30 | 1.44 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.75 | 1.1 | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Vantage | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $50 | $1 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | Vantage | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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) | Yes | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Vantage | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Vantage | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | No | Yes | |
| 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 | Vantage | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Vantage | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Vantage | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| 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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