Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Interactive Brokers 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.
Interactive Brokers, established in 1977, is a well-regarded online brokerage firm that boasts a Trust Score of 99 out of 99, indicating a very high level of trust. As a publicly traded company, it provides transparency and accountability to its clients. Although it is not a bank, Interactive Brokers holds nine Tier-1 licenses and two Tier-2 licenses, signifying its strong regulatory standing and high level of trustworthiness as per ForexBrokers.com.
In contrast, VT Markets was founded in 2016 and is not publicly traded. With a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 70 out of 99, it is categorized as an average risk broker. VT Markets is also not a bank, but it holds one Tier-1 license and one Tier-2 license. This shows it is regulated, though it has a more limited regulatory framework compared to Interactive Brokers, aligning with its average trust level.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
VT Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1977 | 2016 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 9 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
Interactive Brokers (IBKR) and VT Markets take different paths on commissions and fees. IBKR wins on pure pricing efficiency for active forex traders: it earns 5/5 stars and ranks #2 of 63 for Commissions and Fees, while VT Markets earns 4.5/5 stars and ranks #21 of 63. VT Markets offers two simple choices—a commission-free Standard STP account with wider spreads, or a Raw ECN account with tighter spreads plus a commission and a low $100 minimum deposit on both.
Interactive Brokers does not publish average forex spreads, but during Q3 2024 its EUR/USD averaged 0.19 pips, translating to about 0.59 pips all-in after commission. IBKR charges a commission instead of marking up spreads: typically $16–$40 per million round turn ($8–$20 per side), with a $2 minimum per side ($4 round turn). On a $100,000 EUR/USD trade, the commission is roughly 0.40 pips in addition to the spread—low by industry standards—and high-volume traders can qualify for lower minimums ($1.50, even $1 per order with very large monthly volumes). The caveat: because of the $2-per-side minimum, trades smaller than 100,000 units become proportionally more expensive.
VT Markets’ pricing depends on the account you choose. The Standard STP account is commission-free but lists a typical EUR/USD spread of 1.2 pips. The Raw ECN account targets tighter pricing, with an effective EUR/USD cost of about 0.83 pips (0.23-pip average spread plus a 0.6-pip round-turn commission, based on September 2021 data). That makes Raw ECN competitive in the market, though still higher than IBKR’s 0.59-pip all-in snapshot. For very small trade sizes, VT Markets’ commission-free Standard plan can be attractive, while frequent or larger-size traders are likely to find IBKR’s commission model more cost-efficient overall.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
VT Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $100 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.59 | 1.2 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.65 | 0.8 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | No | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
Interactive Brokers offers a wider range of investments than VT Markets. You can trade forex as CFDs or spot with both brokers, but Interactive Brokers lists about 8,500 tradable symbols versus roughly 1,000 at VT Markets, and 90 forex pairs versus 39. Interactive Brokers also lets clients buy real exchange‑traded stocks and ETFs on both U.S. and international exchanges (think Apple on NASDAQ or Vodafone in London). VT Markets does not offer U.S. exchange‑traded shares, though it does provide some international exchange‑traded access.
For crypto, Interactive Brokers supports both actual coins and crypto derivatives, while VT Markets offers only derivatives. VT Markets includes copy trading, which Interactive Brokers does not. Overall, Interactive Brokers is rated 5 stars and ranked #1 out of 63 brokers for range of investments, compared with VT Markets at 3.5 stars and #40—making Interactive Brokers the better pick if you want the broadest selection and direct market access, and VT Markets a fit if you prefer CFD and derivative trading with the option to copy trade.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
VT Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 8500 | 1000 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 90 | 39 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | Yes | 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). | 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.
Interactive Brokers and VT Markets both offer free paper trading demo accounts along with Windows desktop and web-based platforms. Interactive Brokers uses its own in-house platform, while VT Markets does not have a proprietary platform and instead supports MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5). Copy trading is available at VT Markets but not at Interactive Brokers; neither broker supports DupliTrade or ZuluTrade. Both brokers let you place trades directly from charts. For Trading Platforms and Tools, ForexBrokers.com rates Interactive Brokers at 5 stars (ranked #3 of 63) and VT Markets at 4 stars (ranked #48 of 63).
Charting and workflow differ. Interactive Brokers lists 85 drawing tools compared with VT Markets’ 30; indicator counts weren’t specified. Watchlists are far more detailed at Interactive Brokers with 659 available fields versus 7 at VT Markets. In short, Interactive Brokers may suit traders who want deep customization, while VT Markets may appeal to those who want MT4/MT5 plus access to copy trading.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
VT Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | No |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 155 | 15 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 85 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 659 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Interactive Brokers and VT Markets both offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, with price alerts, real-time watchlists, trendline drawing, and multiple chart time frames. Neither app auto-saves chart drawings. The key difference is watchlist syncing: Interactive Brokers syncs watchlists between the mobile app and your online account, while VT Markets does not. For charting, Interactive Brokers offers 97 technical studies compared with 30 at VT Markets, giving traders more ways to analyze forex and stock price action on the go.
In independent testing by ForexBrokers.com, Interactive Brokers earned 5 stars and ranked #4 out of 63 brokers for Mobile Trading Apps, while VT Markets earned 4 stars and ranked #45. If you want deeper charting tools and seamless watchlist syncing across devices, Interactive Brokers is the stronger pick. If you just need core features with alerts and basic charting, VT Markets covers the essentials.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
VT Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 97 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | No | No |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
Interactive Brokers and VT Markets both check the key boxes for market research. Each provides daily market commentary, an economic calendar, and forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones. Both also include Trading Central tools and a sentiment indicator that shows long/short positioning across instruments. Neither broker includes Autochartist.
Where they differ is in third‑party extras and overall ratings. Interactive Brokers adds research from TipRanks and tools from Acuity Trading (Signal Centre), while VT Markets does not list these specific partnerships in our data. According to ForexBrokers.com, Interactive Brokers earns 5 stars for Research and ranks #3 out of 63 brokers; VT Markets earns 3.5 stars and ranks #37. In short, VT Markets covers the essentials, but Interactive Brokers offers a deeper research lineup for traders who want more.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
VT Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | Yes |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | Yes | |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
Interactive Brokers and VT Markets both provide forex and CFD education with at least 10 pieces of learning content, plus investor dictionaries with 50+ terms and 10+ beginner-friendly videos. The big differences appear once you look at ongoing learning: Interactive Brokers runs monthly client webinars and keeps a searchable archive of past sessions, while VT Markets does not offer either. Interactive Brokers also offers 10+ advanced trading videos for when you’re ready to level up; VT Markets lacks that depth for experienced traders.
These gaps show up in independent ratings: Interactive Brokers earns 5 stars for Education and ranks #3 out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, while VT Markets earns 3.5 stars and ranks #56. If you want live classes and an on-demand webinar library alongside beginner videos, Interactive Brokers is the stronger choice. If you just need basic lessons and a glossary to get started, both brokers have you covered.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
VT 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 | No |
| 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 Interactive Brokers is better than VT Markets. Interactive Brokers finished with an overall rank of #2, while VT Markets finished with an overall rank of #44.
Interactive Brokers is a highly trusted multi-asset broker with an extensive offering of tradeable global markets. It delivers competitive fees and high-quality research and education, as well as a modern, institutional-grade trading platform suite.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
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VT Markets
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| Trust Score | 99 | 70 |
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Interactive Brokers allows users to purchase actual delivered cryptocurrency, while both Interactive Brokers and VT Markets offer the ability to buy cryptocurrency derivatives.
Interactive Brokers supports ACH and SEPA transfers, as well as bank wire deposits and withdrawals, while VT Markets provides more varied options, including Skrill, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wires, but lacks ACH and SEPA transfer capabilities.
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 | Interactive Brokers | VT Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 70 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Interactive Brokers Review | VT Markets Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Interactive Brokers | VT Markets | |
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| Regulation | Interactive Brokers | VT Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 70 | |
| Year Founded | 1977 | 2016 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 9 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Interactive Brokers | VT Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | Yes | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Interactive Brokers | VT Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | Interactive Brokers | VT Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 8500 | 1000 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 90 | 39 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | Yes | 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). | 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 | Interactive Brokers | VT Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.59 | 1.2 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.65 | 0.8 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | No | Yes |
| Funding | Interactive Brokers | VT Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $100 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | No | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | Interactive Brokers | VT Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | No | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Interactive Brokers | VT Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 659 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 155 | 15 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 85 | 30 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Interactive Brokers | VT Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 97 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | No | No | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Interactive Brokers | VT Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | Yes | |
| TipRanks | Yes | ||
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Interactive Brokers | VT 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 | No | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Interactive Brokers | VT 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 | Interactive Brokers Review | VT Markets Review |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 70 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Interactive Brokers Review | VT Markets Review |
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