Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
IC Markets vs Vantage Markets
Where IC Markets and Vantage Markets differ
| Compare | IC Markets ReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |  Vantage Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $200 | $50Lower |
| Markets | Stocks, Forex, CFDs, Futures, Crypto, Bonds | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, CFDs, Crypto |
| Regulators | SIPC | FCA (Financial Conduct Authority), ASIC (Australian Securities and Investments Commission), CIMA (Cayman Islands Monetary Authority), VFSC (Vanuatu Financial Services Commission) |
| Investor protection | SIPC up to USD 500,000 | FSCS up to GBP 85,000 |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | No internal deposit fees | No deposit fee |
| Platforms | MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, CTrader, TradingView, WebTrader, IC Social | MT4, MT5, Vantage App, ProTrader |
| Inactivity fee | $0 | Not confirmed |
| Maximum retail leverage | Not confirmed | Up to 1:500 offshore, 1:30 FCA |
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Key differences
- Vantage Markets scores higher overall: 9.4 vs 9.0.
- Regulators: only IC Markets offers SIPC.
- Regulators: only Vantage Markets offers FCA (Financial Conduct Authority), ASIC (Australian Securities and Investments Commission), CIMA (Cayman Islands Monetary Authority).
- Vantage Markets is licensed in 3 more countries.
- Minimum deposit is lower at Vantage Markets: $50 vs $200.
- Markets: only IC Markets offers Futures, Bonds.
- Markets: only Vantage Markets offers ETFs.
- Platforms: only IC Markets offers MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, CTrader.
- Platforms: only Vantage Markets offers MT4, MT5, Vantage App.
- Audience: only IC Markets offers Experienced, Day traders.
Our verdict on each
IC Markets
IC Markets suits experienced day-traders who want a wide market list and no account fee, and it is a weaker fit if you want to start small. The minimum deposit of $200 is the number most readers will notice, while the inactivity fee of $0 takes that worry away.
Vantage Markets
Vantage Markets is a low-fees broker for beginners who want forex, shares, ETFs, CFDs and crypto in a single account. It opens at a minimum deposit of $50 with no deposit or withdrawal fee, and UK clients get FSCS up to GBP 85,000 from the FCA.
Score breakdown
| Area | IC Markets | Vantage Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.9HigherMinimum deposit of $200 sits above the site median of €4.64, while the inactivity fee is $0. | 8.7 |
| Offer | 9.8Higher | 9.6 |
| Trust | 8.6 | 9.9Higher |
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | IC Markets | Vantage Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | Not confirmed | |
| Cayman Islands | Not confirmed | |
| United Kingdom | Not confirmed | |
| United States | SIPC SIPC member 71021 | Not confirmed |
| Vanuatu | Not confirmed |
How they place
| Ranking | IC Markets | Vantage Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 132 of 490 | 52 of 490 |
| Forex brokers | 57 of 147 | 23 of 147 |
| Low-spread forex brokers | 55 of 145 | 21 of 145 |
| CFD brokers | 48 of 122 | 18 of 122 |
| Copy trading platforms | 13 of 37 | 5 of 37 |
If neither fits
ActivTrades has minimum deposit at $0, against $200 for IC Markets and $50 for Vantage Markets.
ActivTrades reviewSources behind this comparison
IC Markets
- ic.com: 5 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- sipc.org: 3 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- hercules-finance.com: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- fxranking.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
Vantage Markets
- forexrecon.com: 6 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- forexbrokers.id: 3 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- forexdailyinfo.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | IC Markets | Vantage Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Demo account, Copy trading, Mobile app | Demo account, Mobile app, Copy trading |
| Pricing model | Low fees | Low fees |
| Audience | Experienced, Day traders | Beginners |
| Legal entity | RB INTERNATIONAL MARKETS (USA) LLC | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | IC Markets | Vantage Markets | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $200highest quarter | $50above the median | $10 |
| Inactivity fee | $0at the median | Not confirmed | $0 |
Median across 99 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
IC Markets
Pros
- The inactivity fee is $0, and the brand ranks at 1 of 56 brands on that measure.
- Deposit and withdrawal carry no internal fees, so moving money in and out does not add to the cost of a trade.
- You can trade stocks, forex, contracts for differences, futures, crypto and bonds from one account, which is a wider list than eToro's stocks, etfs and forex.
Cons
- The minimum deposit of $200 sits above the site median of €4.64, so the account is less accessible than CFI, where the minimum deposit is $0.
- The brand ranks at 172 of 213 brands on minimum deposit, which puts the entry cost near the expensive end of the list.
- The stated audience is experienced traders and day-traders, so a first-time investor gets less hand-holding than the low-fees brands on the site.
Vantage Markets
Pros
- A single account covers stocks, etfs and forex, so shares, ETFs, forex, CFDs and crypto do not need separate apps.
- Licensed by FCA (Financial Conduct Authority), ASIC (Australian Securities and Investments Commission) and CIMA (Cayman Islands Monetary Authority), so the entity behind the account sits in a named jurisdiction.
- Trading runs on MT4, MT5 and Vantage App, so you can start on a phone and move to a desktop terminal.
Cons
- The $50 minimum deposit is high for a starter account: it ranks 132 of 213 brands on this measure, and the typical figure across the list is €4.64.
- Retail leverage runs Up to 1:500 offshore, 1:30 FCA, so the higher offshore rate does not apply to UK clients.
Who each suits
IC Markets
Who it suits
- Experienced day-traders trading forex, contracts for differences, futures and crypto through a single account
- Anyone who trades on several platforms and wants MetaTrader, cTrader, TradingView and a web platform side by side
- Traders who want to hold an account open without paying an inactivity fee
Who should look elsewhere
- First-time investors who want a guided, beginner-led platform, where eToro suits better
- Anyone starting with a small amount, since Vantage opens at a minimum deposit of $5 against $200 here
- Long-term investors building a portfolio of funds or exchange-traded products, which eToro covers with its wider stocks, etfs and forex
Vantage Markets
Who it suits
- Beginners: the brand is listed for beginners (beginners), with a demo account in demo account, mobile app and copy trading.
- UK clients who want forex and CFDs beside shares, with FSCS up to GBP 85,000 from the FCA.
- People who want to follow other traders, since copy trading is part of demo account, mobile app and copy trading.
Who should look elsewhere
- CFI, if the entry amount matters more than the market list: its minimum deposit is $0 against $50 here.
- eToro, if you want a single app that also covers stocks, etfs and forex, adding futures to the stocks, etfs and forex list here.
Questions about each
IC Markets
What is the minimum deposit to open an IC Markets account?+
The minimum deposit is $200. Set that against the site median of €4.64 to see where the entry point sits, and remember this money is committed before any trade is placed. Readers starting small may prefer a lower floor elsewhere.
Is there an inactivity fee at IC Markets?+
The inactivity fee is $0, so an account can sit open without a charge for being dormant. The brand ranks at 1 of 56 brands on that measure, which makes it one of the strongest results in our data for holding costs.
Vantage Markets
How much do I need to open a Vantage Markets account?+
The listed minimum deposit is $50, and there is no deposit or withdrawal fee to add to it. That sits above the typical figure across the brands compared here, which is €4.64, so it is worth checking the entry point on your own account before funding it.
How are the costs kept low?+
Vantage Markets runs on a low-fees model (low fees), and there is no deposit fee on funding or taking money out (No deposit fee). demo account, mobile app and copy trading are all included too, so you can try a demo account and the mobile app before putting money in.