Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Trading 212 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 considering online trading platforms, Trading 212 and VT Markets stand out as popular options, yet they differ significantly in terms of trust and regulatory credentials. Trading 212, established in 2004, boasts two Tier-1 licenses, reflecting a strong regulatory standing. However, it holds no Tier-2 licenses, and it is not publicly traded or a bank. Its Trust Score from ForexBrokers.com is 79, positioning it in the average risk category.
In contrast, VT Markets, founded in 2016, holds one Tier-1 and one Tier-2 license, denoting a reliable regulatory framework. Like Trading 212, it is neither a publicly traded company nor a bank. However, VT Markets scores 70 on the ForexBrokers.com Trust Scale, marking it as another average risk broker. Both platforms offer different strengths in terms of their establishment and regulatory coverage, guiding users to consider their preferences for risk and trust in broker selection.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
VT Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2004 | 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 | 0 | 0 |
When comparing Trading 212 and VT Markets in terms of commissions and fees, both brokers offer distinct advantages tailored to different types of traders. Trading 212 features two types of accounts: Invest, with a minimal deposit requirement of just 1 euro, and CFD, requiring a 10 euro deposit. The key selling point of the Trading 212 CFD account is its zero-commission claim, though traders should be mindful of the spread costs, particularly for forex. The average spread on the popular EUR/USD pair was 1.9 pips in January 2024, which is higher than the industry standard. Despite this, Trading 212 has earned a 4-star rating for commissions and fees and is ranked #43 out of 62 brokers by ForexBrokers.com.
VT Markets, on the other hand, provides two types of accounts as well: the Raw ECN and the Standard STP. Both accounts necessitate a minimum deposit of $100. The Standard STP account boasts commission-free trading but includes higher spreads, with the EUR/USD typically at 1.2 pips. In contrast, the Raw ECN account offers a more competitive spread, with effective costs shown as 0.83 pips, combining a 0.6 round-turn commission with a 0.23 average spread as of September 2021. VT Markets stands out with a 4.5-star rating for commissions and fees and holds an impressive #20 position out of 62 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com.
In summary, Trading 212 might appeal to those who prioritize low initial deposits and a simple fee structure, despite its above-average spreads. Meanwhile, VT Markets targets traders looking for tighter spreads through its Raw ECN account at a slightly higher deposit threshold. Both brokers bring unique strengths to the table, yet it's crucial for prospective traders to weigh these fee structures against their personal trading strategies and financial goals.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
VT Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | €10 | $100 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.9 | 1.2 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.9 | 0.8 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | No |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
When comparing Trading 212 and VT Markets, both platforms provide opportunities for forex trading via CFDs. However, Trading 212 offers a significantly larger range of tradeable symbols, with 8,025 available compared to VT Markets' 1,000. For forex pairs, Trading 212 leads with 146, surpassing VT Markets' 39 pairs. Another distinct advantage is Trading 212’s availability of exchange-traded securities on U.S. exchanges, allowing clients to directly purchase stocks like Apple, a feature VT Markets lacks. Both platforms provide access to international securities, enabling clients to invest in companies like Vodafone listed on the London Stock Exchange.
In terms of additional features, VT Markets supports copy trading, making it an attractive choice for those looking to mirror successful trading strategies, a feature not supported by Trading 212. When it comes to cryptocurrency, both platforms offer cryptocurrency derivatives rather than actual cryptocurrencies. In the rankings, Trading 212 shines brighter with a 5-star rating and a #15 ranking for its range of investments, outperforming VT Markets, which holds a 3.5-star rating and a #39 ranking. For investors seeking a broader selection of investment options and direct stock purchasing capabilities, Trading 212 presents a more comprehensive package.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
VT Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 8025 | 1000 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 146 | 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) | 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). | 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.
Trading 212 and VT Markets both offer users the ability to explore trading through free virtual demo accounts. While Trading 212 provides a proprietary trading platform crafted in-house, VT Markets relies on popular third-party platforms such as MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5). This gives VT Markets an edge for traders who prefer the widespread tools and features offered by MT4 and MT5. On the other hand, Trading 212's web-based platform is known for its user-friendly design, although it lacks a Windows-based desktop application which VT Markets provides. Both platforms support web-based trading with VT Markets further supporting desktop options.
When it comes to additional features, VT Markets stands out with its copy trading option, allowing less experienced traders to mirror the trades of successful investors. Charting capabilities slightly vary as well, with Trading 212 offering 20 drawing tools compared to VT Markets' 30. Both platforms allow direct trading from stock charts. For watchlists, VT Markets provides more customization with seven fields as opposed to Trading 212's five. In terms of recognition, Trading 212 is ranked higher at #20 compared to VT Markets' #47 by ForexBrokers.com for their trading platforms and tools, though both are rated four stars out of five. This suggests that while both brokers are credible in their offerings, Trading 212 may have a slightly more favorable standing in the broader trading community.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
VT Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | No |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | No | 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) | 54 | 15 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 20 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 5 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Both Trading 212 and VT Markets provide mobile trading apps available for iPhone and Android devices, ensuring users can trade on the go with ease. While both platforms offer essential features like stock or forex price alerts and the ability to draw trendlines on charts, Trading 212 distinguishes itself by offering more advanced options for its users. For instance, Trading 212 provides a wide range of 104 technical studies in its app, significantly outpacing the 30 studies available with VT Markets. Additionally, Trading 212 allows watchlist symbol syncing between its mobile app and online account, while VT Markets does not offer this feature, potentially creating a more seamless experience for Trading 212 users.
Furthermore, Trading 212 supports auto-saving of drawings on charts, reducing the risk of losing valuable insights during technical analysis, a feature VT Markets lacks. Both platforms allow users to create watchlists with real-time quotes and view multiple timeframes on charts, catering to various trading strategies. Rated four stars for mobile trading apps, Trading 212 edges out VT Markets in overall rankings, securing the 17th spot out of 62 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com, compared to VT Markets' 44th position. This suggests that Trading 212 may offer a more comprehensive mobile trading experience to meet the needs of modern traders.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
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 | 104 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | No |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When it comes to market research, Trading 212 and VT Markets offer various tools and resources to their users, yet each has its strengths. Both platforms provide access to forex news from reputable sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, ensuring traders stay informed with top-tier information. Additionally, they both offer sentiment-based trading tools that display the ratio of long and short positions across different instruments, which can be valuable for gauging market trends. Furthermore, they each feature an economic calendar, giving traders insight into current and upcoming global events that could impact their markets of interest.
However, VT Markets stands out with its daily market commentary, a feature Trading 212 lacks, perhaps giving VT Markets users an edge with more frequent insights. Moreover, VT Markets incorporates technical analysis tools from Trading Central, offering additional resources that Trading 212 does not. Despite these differences, both brokers are rated equally at 3.5 stars for research. Yet, VT Markets holds a slightly better position, ranking at #36 out of 62 brokers, while Trading 212 is positioned at #46, indicating a slight edge in their overall research offerings.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
VT Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | No | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | Yes |
| 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.
For beginners eager to learn about forex and CFDs, both Trading 212 and VT Markets present a good variety of educational materials, including at least 10 pieces of content like articles and videos. However, Trading 212 gains an edge with its monthly educational webinars and an accessible archive of past sessions, valuable for newcomers who prefer live interaction and a comprehensive library. On the other hand, VT Markets does not provide regular webinars or a searchable archive, which may limit students who wish to look into previous discussions.
Additionally, while both platforms offer a wealth of beginner-centric videos, Trading 212 stands out by also catering to more advanced traders with over 10 advanced educational videos. Both platforms provide an investor dictionary with more than 50 terms defined, allowing learners to easily understand the basics and complexities of trading jargon. Despite these differences, both Trading 212 and VT Markets share an identical rating of 3.5 stars for education, though Trading 212 is ranked higher overall at #20, compared to VT Markets at #55, according to ForexBrokers.com.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
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 62 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that Trading 212 is better than VT Markets. Trading 212 finished with an overall rank of #31, while VT Markets finished with an overall rank of #44.
Best known for its mobile trading app, Trading 212 offers an easy-to-use trading platform suite for CFD and share trading, as well as a large variety of forex pairs. However, despite its well-designed platform and wide range of symbols, its lack of advanced trading tools and flat research offerings hamper Trading 212’s bid to be considered a top broker.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
VT Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 79 | 70 |
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Both Trading 212 and VT Markets do not offer the ability to buy actual delivered cryptocurrency, but they do provide options to invest in cryptocurrency derivatives.
When comparing online brokers Trading 212 and VT Markets, Trading 212 supports ACH or SEPA transfers and PayPal for deposits and withdrawals, but not Skrill, while VT Markets lacks ACH or SEPA transfers and PayPal, yet accepts Skrill; both brokers offer Visa or Mastercard and bank wires.
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 | Trading 212 | VT Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 79 | 70 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Trading 212 Review | VT Markets Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Trading 212 | VT Markets | |
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| Regulation | Trading 212 | VT Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 79 | 70 | |
| Year Founded | 2004 | 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 | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Trading 212 | VT Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | No | 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) | 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). | Yes | No |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Trading 212 | VT Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | No | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | Trading 212 | VT Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 8025 | 1000 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 146 | 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) | 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). | 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 | Trading 212 | VT Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.9 | 1.2 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.9 | 0.8 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Trading 212 | VT Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | €10 | $100 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | Trading 212 | VT Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | No | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | No | 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 | Trading 212 | VT Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 5 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 54 | 15 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 20 | 30 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Trading 212 | 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 | 104 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Trading 212 | VT Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | No | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Trading 212 | 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 | Trading 212 | 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 | Trading 212 Review | VT Markets Review |
| Overall | Trading 212 | VT Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 79 | 70 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Trading 212 Review | VT Markets Review |
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