Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
IC Markets vs Vantage
IC Markets vs Vantage: the differences
| Compare | IC Markets ReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |  Vantage |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $200 | $5Lower |
| Markets | Stocks, Forex, CFDs, Futures, Crypto, Bonds | Forex, CFDs, Stocks, ETFs, Crypto, Metals |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | No internal deposit fees | no deposit or withdrawal fee |
| Platforms | MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, CTrader, TradingView, WebTrader, IC Social | MT4, MT5 |
| Account fee | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Regulators | SIPC | Not confirmed |
| Investor protection | SIPC up to USD 500,000 | Not confirmed |
| Retail accounts that lose money | Not confirmed | 74% to 89% |
Same on both: Inactivity fee ($0).
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Key differences
- Vantage scores higher overall: 9.3 vs 9.0.
- Minimum deposit is lower at Vantage: $5 vs $200.
- Markets: only IC Markets offers Futures, Bonds.
- Markets: only Vantage offers ETFs, Metals.
- Platforms: only IC Markets offers MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, CTrader.
- Platforms: only Vantage offers MT4, MT5.
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
Vantage suits UK and European traders who want forex, CFDs, shares, ETFs, crypto and metals in one account. The cost picture is friendly, with an account fee of $0 and no deposit or withdrawal charge, while the opening balance and retail losses are the trade-offs.
Score breakdown
| Area | IC Markets | Vantage |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.9Minimum deposit of $200 sits above the site median of €4.64, while the inactivity fee is $0. | 9.3Higher |
| Offer | 9.8Higher | 9.2 |
| Trust | 8.6 | Not confirmed |
Feature by feature
| Markets | IC Markets | Vantage |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | No | Yes |
| Forex | Yes | Yes |
| CFDs | Yes | Yes |
| Futures | Yes | No |
| Crypto | Yes | Yes |
| Bonds | Yes | No |
| Metals | No | Yes |
Where they rank in our lists
| Ranking | IC Markets | Vantage |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 132 of 490 | 75 of 490 |
| Forex brokers | 57 of 147 | 33 of 147 |
| Low-spread forex brokers | 55 of 145 | 31 of 145 |
| CFD brokers | 48 of 122 | 26 of 122 |
| Copy trading platforms | 13 of 37 | 7 of 37 |
Licences and countries
| Country | IC Markets | Vantage |
|---|---|---|
| United States | SIPC SIPC member 71021 | Not confirmed |
Which one suits you
Pick IC Markets if offer matter most.
Pick Vantage if cost and minimum deposit matter most.
Every fact side by side
| Fact | IC Markets | Vantage |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Demo account, Copy trading, Mobile app | Demo account, Mobile app, Copy trading |
| Pricing model | Low fees | Low fees |
| Audience | Experienced, Day traders | Not confirmed |
| Legal entity | RB INTERNATIONAL MARKETS (USA) LLC | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | IC Markets | Vantage | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $200highest quarter | $5below the median | $10 |
| Account fee | Not confirmed | $0at the median | $0 |
| Inactivity fee | $0at the median | $0at the median | $0 |
| Retail accounts that lose money | Not confirmed | 74% to 89%above the median | 70.375 |
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
Pros
- No standing charges on the account: an account fee of $0 and an inactivity fee of $0, so a balance left untouched still costs nothing to keep.
- One account across forex, cfds and stocks, so short-term currency trading and longer stock holding do not need a second broker.
- A demo account, a mobile app and copy trading, with orders placed on MT4 and MT5 listed in MT4 and MT5.
Cons
- The minimum deposit of $5 leaves Vantage at 92 of 213 on entry cost, behind CFI at $0 and XTB at €0.
- Retail accounts that lose money run 74% to 89%, a wider band than the site median of 70.15%.
- Vantage is listed under low fees, while 69.8% of the brands compared run on a commission-free model, so frequent traders can find cheaper pricing elsewhere.
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
Who it suits
- Traders who want forex, CFDs, shares, ETFs, crypto and metals held in one account, listed in forex, cfds and stocks.
- Anyone likely to leave money parked for a while, since the inactivity fee is $0.
- Copy traders and mobile traders, with a demo account, a mobile app and copy trading included in demo account, mobile app and copy trading.
Who should look elsewhere
- eToro, if futures matter, since they are part of stocks, etfs and forex but not of forex, cfds and stocks.
- CFI or XTB, if the opening balance is the deciding factor and a minimum deposit of $0 or €0 suits better than $5.
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
What is the minimum deposit at Vantage?+
You need $5 to open an account, a little above the site median of €4.64 though well under the highest minimum deposit of €26,308.87 in the comparison. In practice the balance is small enough to fund from everyday money and top up later rather than committing a large sum on day one.
Does Vantage charge an account fee or an inactivity fee?+
Neither applies. The account fee is $0 and the inactivity fee is $0, so holding the account open or leaving it untouched carries no standing charge. For readers weighing costs, those two lines matter more over time than the entry point, because they are the fees most often buried in small print elsewhere.