Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of VT Markets 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.
When comparing VT Markets and IFC Markets, both online brokers are privately owned and not listed on any stock exchange. Neither acts as a bank, and each presents distinct regulatory credentials. VT Markets, established in 2016, boasts a single Tier-1 license known for its high trust. It holds a Trust Score of 70 out of 99 from ForexBrokers.com, which indicates an average risk level. Meanwhile, IFC Markets, founded in 2006, does not possess a Tier-1 license but maintains one Tier-2 license recognized as trusted by ForexBrokers.com.
Although both brokers are deemed private and non-banking entities, their Trust Scores differ. IFC Markets has a slightly higher Trust Score of 73, marking it as an average-risk broker, similar in risk level to VT Markets. Their regulatory setups suggest that while VT Markets leans on its Tier-1 license for credibility, IFC Markets relies on solid Tier-2 licensing for assurance. This comparison highlights the necessity for traders to weigh regulatory factors when choosing a broker, alongside considering their own risk tolerance and professional needs.
| Feature |
VT Markets
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2016 | 2006 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
VT Markets keeps costs straightforward with two choices: a commission-free Standard STP account and a Raw ECN account that charges a small commission in return for tighter pricing. The Standard STP lists a typical EUR/USD spread of 1.2 pips, while the Raw ECN came in at an effective 0.83 pips (0.23-pip average spread plus a 0.6-pip round-turn commission). Both account types require just $100 to get started. Overall, VT Markets earns 4.5/5 stars for commissions and fees and is ranked #21 out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com.
IFC Markets’ classic pricing is higher, with an average EUR/USD spread of 1.44 pips versus an industry average of 1.08. Its newer ECN account improves things to an effective 1.1 pips after a 0.005% commission is applied on both sides of the trade. There are no inactivity fees, and active traders can qualify for discounts. For commissions and fees, IFC Markets holds a 4/5 star rating and is ranked #40 out of 63 by ForexBrokers.com.
Comparing the two, VT Markets is cheaper on headline spreads in both account styles: 1.2 pips (Standard) and 0.83 pips (ECN) versus IFC Markets’ 1.44 pips (standard) and 1.1 pips (ECN). Traders who want the lowest possible trading costs may prefer VT Markets’ ECN setup, while those who value no inactivity charges and potential volume discounts may find IFC Markets appealing. Your choice may come down to how often you trade and whether you prefer commission-free pricing or ECN-style commissions.
| Feature |
VT Markets
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | $1 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.2 | 1.44 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.8 | 1.1 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | Yes |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | 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.
VT Markets vs. IFC Markets: for overall range, VT Markets lists more tradable symbols (about 1,000) than IFC Markets (around 630). Both brokers let you trade forex as CFDs or spot, though IFC Markets edges ahead on currency choice with 49 forex pairs versus 39 at VT Markets. Each supports copy trading and offers cryptocurrency derivatives, but neither lets you buy actual crypto.
If you want real shares, neither broker provides U.S.-listed stocks, but both allow access to exchange-traded securities on select international markets (not CFDs). According to ForexBrokers.com, both earn 3.5 out of 5 stars for Range of Investments, with VT Markets ranked 40th of 63 brokers and IFC Markets ranked 44th, giving VT Markets a small advantage in this category.
| Feature |
VT Markets
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1000 | 630 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 39 | 49 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | 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.
VT Markets and IFC Markets both cover the essentials: free demo (paper) trading, Windows desktop and browser-based platforms, copy trading, and the popular MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5. Each lets you trade directly from charts and customize watch lists with seven fields. Neither supports ZuluTrade. In our ratings for Trading Platforms and Tools, both earn 4 stars.
The main difference is platform variety. IFC Markets adds an in-house platform alongside MT4/MT5, while VT Markets focuses on third-party options. In ForexBrokers.com’s 63-broker comparison, IFC Markets ranks #37 for Platforms and Tools, ahead of VT Markets at #48. If you want an in-house platform option plus MetaTrader, IFC Markets may appeal; if you’re set on MetaTrader with demo access and chart trading, both are suitable picks.
| Feature |
VT Markets
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | No | 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 [DELETED] | ||
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 15 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) [DELETED] | ||
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Comparing VT Markets vs IFC Markets for mobile trading, both brokers offer iPhone and Android apps with price alerts and real-time watchlists. Their charting tools are comparable: each app includes 30 technical indicators, the ability to draw trendlines, and multiple time frames (intraday, daily, weekly) to suit different trading styles.
The key differences show up in convenience features. IFC Markets syncs your mobile watchlist with your web account and automatically saves chart drawings; VT Markets doesn’t offer either. Both earn 4 stars for Mobile Trading Apps, yet ForexBrokers.com ranks VT Markets higher (#45 of 63) than IFC Markets (#53 of 63). Choose IFC Markets if synced watchlists and saved drawings matter most, or VT Markets if you prefer the higher third‑party ranking—either way, you get a capable mobile trading app.
| Feature |
VT Markets
|
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 | No | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
Comparing VT Markets vs IFC Markets for market research: both brokers provide daily market commentary, an economic calendar, and a sentiment-based tool that shows the ratio of long and short positions. VT Markets goes further with forex news from top-tier sources such as Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones, and includes Trading Central for technical and fundamental insights. Neither broker offers Autochartist. IFC Markets does not provide TipRanks or Acuity Trading research; VT Markets’ access to TipRanks or Acuity Trading isn’t specified.
According to ForexBrokers.com, both VT Markets and IFC Markets earn 3.5 out of 5 stars for research. VT Markets ranks 37th out of 63 brokers in the Research category, while IFC Markets ranks 41st, suggesting VT Markets has a slight edge thanks to its premium news feed and Trading Central tools.
| Feature |
VT Markets
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | No |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
Comparing VT Markets vs IFC Markets for beginner education: both brokers provide at least 10 forex and CFD learning materials, plus 10+ beginner-focused trading videos. Each also offers an investor dictionary with 50+ terms to help you learn the lingo. However, neither runs monthly client webinars or keeps a searchable archive of past sessions. On overall Education quality, both earn 3.5 out of 5 stars.
The biggest difference is depth beyond the basics: IFC Markets offers at least 10 advanced videos for experienced traders, while VT Markets does not. That extra content helps explain why IFC Markets ranks #30 out of 63 brokers for Education on ForexBrokers.com, compared with VT Markets at #56. For beginners starting from scratch, both are suitable; if you expect to progress into more advanced topics, IFC Markets may be the better fit. If live webinars are important, neither broker currently meets that need.
| Feature |
VT Markets
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | No | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | No | No |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | No | 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 VT Markets is better than IFC Markets. VT Markets finished with an overall rank of #44, while IFC Markets finished with an overall rank of #45.
VT Markets benefits from being part of the Vantage Group of companies, and provides access to the MetaTrader suite of platforms as well as its own VT Pro trading app.
| Feature |
VT Markets
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IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 70 | 73 |
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Both VT Markets and IFC Markets do not offer the ability to buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrency, but they both provide the option to trade cryptocurrency derivatives.
While both VT Markets and IFC Markets do not support ACH, SEPA, or PayPal for deposits and withdrawals, they both offer transactions via Visa, Mastercard, and bank wires, with VT Markets additionally providing an option for Skrill unlike IFC Markets.
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 | VT Markets | IFC Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 70 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | VT Markets Review |
| Broker Screenshots | VT Markets | IFC Markets | |
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| Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Regulation | VT Markets | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 70 | 73 | |
| Year Founded | 2016 | 2006 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | No | ||
| Tier-1 Licenses | 1 | 0 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | VT Markets | 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) | No | ||
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | No | ||
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | ||
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | No |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | VT Markets | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | ||
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | ||
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | VT Markets | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1000 | 630 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 39 | 49 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | 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 | VT Markets | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.2 | 1.44 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.8 | 1.1 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | VT Markets | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | $1 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | 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 | VT Markets | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | No | 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 [DELETED] | |||
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | VT Markets | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 15 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) [DELETED] | |||
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | VT Markets | 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 | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | VT Markets | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | No | ||
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | VT Markets | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | No | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | No | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | No | Yes | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | VT Markets | 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 | VT Markets Review |
| Overall | VT Markets | IFC Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 70 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | VT Markets Review |
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