Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
IC Markets vs VT Markets
What sets them apart
| Compare | IC Markets ReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |  VT Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $200 | $100Lower |
| Markets | Stocks, Forex, CFDs, Futures, Crypto, Bonds | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, CFDs, Crypto |
| Regulators | SIPC | ASIC, FSCA, SIPCCovers more |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | No internal deposit fees | zero fees on deposits and withdrawals |
| Platforms | MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, CTrader, TradingView, WebTrader, IC Social | MT4, MT5, TradingView, VT Markets App |
| Inactivity fee | $0 | Not confirmed |
| Retail accounts that lose money | Not confirmed | 74% to 89% |
| Maximum retail leverage | Not confirmed | 1:500 |
Same on both: Investor protection (SIPC up to USD 500,000).
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Key differences
- Regulators: only VT Markets offers ASIC, FSCA.
- VT Markets is licensed in 2 more countries.
- Minimum deposit is lower at VT Markets: $100 vs $200.
- Markets: only IC Markets offers Futures, Bonds.
- Markets: only VT Markets offers ETFs.
- Platforms: only IC Markets offers MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, CTrader.
- Platforms: only VT Markets offers MT4, MT5, VT Markets App.
- Features: only VT Markets offers Crypto.
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.
VT Markets
VT Markets suits traders who want a single account across stocks, etfs and forex, with zero fees on deposits and withdrawals, regulation by ASIC, FSCA and SIPC and a demo account, copy trading and a mobile app. The catch: the minimum deposit is $100, and retail accounts that lose money run 74% to 89% here.
Score breakdown
| Area | IC Markets | VT Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.9HigherMinimum deposit of $200 sits above the site median of €4.64, while the inactivity fee is $0. | 8.5 |
| Offer | 9.8Higher | 9.6 |
| Trust | 8.6 | 9.2Higher |
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | IC Markets | VT Markets |
|---|---|---|
| United States | SIPC SIPC member 71021 | SIPC SIPC member 71021 |
| Australia | Not confirmed | ASIC 428901 |
| South Africa | Not confirmed | FSCA 50865 |
Pick IC Markets if, pick VT Markets if
Pick IC Markets if cost matter most.
Pick VT Markets if trust, minimum deposit, and regulators matter most.
How they place
| Ranking | IC Markets | VT Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 132 of 490 | 145 of 490 |
| Forex brokers | 57 of 147 | 64 of 147 |
| Low-spread forex brokers | 55 of 145 | 62 of 145 |
| CFD brokers | 48 of 122 | 54 of 122 |
| Copy trading platforms | 13 of 37 | 15 of 37 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | IC Markets | VT Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Demo account, Copy trading, Mobile app | Demo account, Copy trading, Mobile app, CryptoCovers more |
| Pricing model | Low fees | Not confirmed |
| Audience | Experienced, Day traders | Not confirmed |
| Legal entity | RB INTERNATIONAL MARKETS (USA) LLC | RB INTERNATIONAL MARKETS (USA) LLC |
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | Australia |
| Founded | Not confirmed | 2015 |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | IC Markets | VT Markets | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $200highest quarter | $100above the median | $10 |
| Inactivity fee | $0at the median | Not confirmed | $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.
VT Markets
Pros
- Deposits and withdrawals carry zero fees on deposits and withdrawals.
- A single account covers stocks, etfs and forex, so forex, CFDs, equities and crypto share one login.
- Regulation by ASIC, FSCA and SIPC, with investor protection stated as SIPC up to USD 500,000.
Cons
- The minimum deposit of $100 sits above the site median of €4.64, ranking 148 of 213 on that measure.
- Retail accounts that lose money run 74% to 89%, above the site median of 70.15%.
- Retail leverage of 1:500 magnifies losses as readily as gains, so position sizing matters more here than 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
VT Markets
Who it suits
- Traders holding several asset classes who want forex, CFDs, equities and crypto under a single login.
- Anyone who puts a regulated broker and a stated protection scheme above a low headline deposit.
- Copy traders and app traders, since demo account, copy trading and mobile app and MT4, MT5 and TradingView are both offered.
Who should look elsewhere
- CFI, whose minimum deposit is $0, if you want to start with a small balance.
- Vantage, asking $5 to open an account, suits a lighter starting balance.
- eToro, whose markets list of stocks, etfs and forex adds futures to the range offered 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.
VT Markets
What is the minimum deposit at VT Markets?+
The listed minimum is $100. That is well above the site median of €4.64, and it leaves the broker ranked 148 of 213 on this measure. CFI opens at $0 and Vantage at $5, so smaller balances point elsewhere.
What do deposits and withdrawals cost?+
Deposits and withdrawals carry zero fees on deposits and withdrawals. That removes a steady drip of small charges from the account, which matters more over time than a single low trade price. It applies to the account rather than to a particular payment method.