VT Markets is an online CFD broker with a global reach, based in Sydney, Australia, with offices in the Cayman Islands and Taiwan. Founded in 2017, the firm is a subsidiary of Vantage International Group Ltd, and is regulated by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) and the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority (CIMA). The broker provides its clients with a variety of products and services, including trading in forex, indices, energy, precious metals and soft commodities. You can also trade US and HK shares as CFDs with this broker. VT Markets offers numerous client protections, including holding client funds in segregated accounts with the National Australia Bank, which consistently ranks as one of the top 20 safest banks worldwide.
Opening an account is a fast and easy process that can be carried out entirely online, and there is a risk-free demo account for new customers. Clients can make their trades using the ever-popular MetaTrader 4 (MT4) platform, which provides a range of trading tools, and a true ECN account is offered with spreads as low as 0 pips. VT Markets is an award-winning broker with a powerful client portal, a good range of products, and generous leverage for trading CFDs. Broker comparison sites that have gone on to review VT Markets have found it to be reliable, convenient to use, and competitive on pricing.
What can you trade?
Forex
| Min Deposit | App Support | Max Leverage | Trading Fees |
| $100 | Good | 1:500 | Mid |
When researching our review, we discovered that it is convenient and easy to open a forex trading account, and there are more than 40 currency pairs, which include majors, minors and exotics. There are two accounts available, so you can choose either a standard STP account or a RAW ECN account. The broker offers trading with spreads from 0.0 pips with its ECN account. VT Markets offers access to global forex markets 24 hours a day, five days a week.
CFD
| Min Deposit | App Support | Max Leverage | Trading Fees |
| $100 | Good | 1:500 | Low |
VT Markets offers its clients the opportunity to trade contracts for difference (CFDs). CFD trading is a method of derivative trading that allows traders to speculate on an asset’s price movement, without owning the underlying asset.
With VT Markets, you can trade various assets as CFDs, including forex and shares, with generous leverage. US and HK shares are available to trade as CFDs, and there is access to 50 of the largest US blue chip companies and low commissions. It’s worth being aware that leverage can vary between instruments. As an example, this VT Markets broker CFD review found the maximum available on shares is 20:1.
Stocks
| Min Deposit | App Support | Max Leverage | Trading Fees |
| $100 | Good | 1:20 | Low |
At VT Markets, it’s possible to trade US and HK stocks as CFDs. Leverage of up to 20:1 allows traders to get started with a relatively small initial margin. The broker provides access to global stock markets and allows traders to trade in some of the best-known blue chip companies globally. Offering low commissions of just $6 per trade, with a 5% margin requirement, trading stocks with VT Markets is highly competitive.
VT Markets Social Trading
VT Markets has not created its own social trading platform or application, but the broker offers the innovative MT4 platform, which comes with the built-in function to partner with third-party services, meaning that social trading applications are easily accessible.
Traders with VT Markets can use the range of third-party customisations and plugins that are available through MetaTrader – these include ZuluTrade and Trading Signals in order to incorporate social trading into its online trading offerings.
What did our traders think after reviewing the key criteria?
VT Markets Fees
VT Markets’ trading fees are competitive, combining tight spreads and low commissions. The RAW ECN account offers spreads with pips from 0.0 pips when trading EUR/USD. Spreads on trading AUD/USD start from 0.4 pips, and for trading GBP/USD, the minimum spread will be 0.6 pips. Commissions on this account are very competitive, at around $3 USD per lot. With the standard STP account, spreads are from 1.3 pips for EUR/USD, from 1.6 pips on AUD/USD, and from 1.8 pips on GBP/USD.
With floating spreads such as these, it is always important to keep an eye on fluctuations when trading, and to be aware of slippage. To check live spreads on the VT Markets MT4 platform, open the Market Watch function and right click, and then click on ‘Spreads’. This will generate a column displaying the current spread for each forex pair, or other instruments. For share CFDs, VT Markets offers some of the lowest trading commissions in the industry, with trading costs at just $6 (USD) per trade, or the equivalent in your primary account currency.
As with any broker, there are various other fees that may be levied – these are displayed on the broker website. There are no broker-levied deposit or withdrawal fees on most transactions. However, it is important to highlight that a number of payment providers will charge deposit fees and fees on withdrawals. It is possible that there could be an exchange fee for the purpose of transferring funds to other currencies – whether as part of the process of depositing or withdrawing.
There are zero commissions charged on the standard STP account, with profits taken exclusively from the spreads. The ECN account charges a commission due to offering even lower spreads. Remember that it is possible for fees to change without notice, and there could be fees that are not mentioned in this VT Markets broker review that could apply to your account.
Account Types
When compiling our review, VT Markets was found to offer two account types to fit the needs of different trader types. The standard STP account is ideal for newer traders and offers direct access to institutional-grade spreads, with no commissions, consistent pricing transparency, fast execution and very quick and easy account opening.
There is no dealing desk, and there are over 30 liquidity providers when trading with this account. The account is run via the Equinix Fibre Optic Network, which offers extremely fast execution of trades. Leverage of up to 500:1 is available through the STP account, depending on the instruments being traded and various other factors. Spreads start at just 1.3 pips (for trading EUR/USD).
The broker also offers a RAW ECN account, which offers a highly competitive trading environment. With low commissions and spreads starting from 0.0 pips when trading EUR/USD, this is the choice of many more experienced traders. Commissions start from just $6.00 per standard lot, and the broker claims to provide clients with some of the lowest trading costs available across the industry.
This account gives clients access to more than 100 tradeable assets, with flexible leverage options, all accessed via the powerful MT4 trading platform. The minimum deposit for this account is $200. VT Markets also offers demo accounts for clients who want to try the platform risk-free.
Platforms
Both account types have access to the MT4 platform in its various forms and versions. MT4 is one of the most popular trading platforms available across the world. It offers traders at all levels an impressive range of trading tools, along with multiple possibilities in customisation, and great compatibility, with many third-party plugins and tools.
MT4 provides Expert Advisors to monitor the markets and automate users’ trading activity, alongside Autochartist – a trading tool used to identify trades with high probabilities. VT Markets also offers mobile trading apps for iPhone, iPad and Android phones and tablets, making trading on the go a viable option for all account holders.
VT Markets’ MT4 trading allows clients to view up to nine timeframes and three chart types, and provides a variety of technical indicators and other tools, with a highly intuitive design that appeals to both new and more experienced traders. The broker also provides MT4 via a cloud-based WebTrader platform, allowing easy access to your account from a web browser, for extra flexibility, with no download needed. WebTrader is compatible with all major browsers, including Chrome, Firefox and Safari, and works for both Mac and PC.
Usability
Most VT Markets traders will agree that the website, platforms and mobile apps are all highly intuitive and easy to navigate, offering an excellent user experience. The website is simple, clean and uncluttered, making it very easy to find any information you may need as a new or potential customer. The top-bar navigation menu clearly displays the main webpages, such as trading information, platforms and education, with drop-down menus that allow you to quickly navigate to the pages you require.
There is a further menu in the footer of the website that includes legal documents, terms of use, a site map, and contact information. MT4 traders will find the platform familiar, and new traders will generally find their way around very quickly. Remember that risk-free demo accounts are available, and are an excellent way to discover all the features and functions of the platform before committing to opening a live account.
Customer Support
VT Markets offers various customer support channels to suit the needs of potential and existing customers. At the top left-hand side of the website homepage, you will see a ‘Contact Us’ button and a ‘Live Chat’ button. Contact details, including physical addresses, phone number and email address, can also be found in the footer of most website pages. Support can be accessed via phone, email and a very convenient live chat option.
VT Markets also provides the option for its customers to follow it on the social media channel of their choice, with active accounts on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube. Support staff seem well-trained, polite and helpful, and email responses are quick. You can also request a member of staff to call you at your convenience by quickly filling in a simple form on the website. Go to the footer of the website and you will see a link to ‘Request a call back’, which will take you to the web form.
VT Markets’ customer support is backed up by a comprehensive FAQ page, which answers questions about the company, the accounts available and the platform. This is a good first stop if you have general questions you need answering. It is not as obvious as it should be, however. You will need to click on ‘Clients’ in the top bar menu, select ‘Support’, and then select ‘FAQ’. VT Markets also supports customers with a detailed daily analysis, which can be found under ‘Education’ in the top bar menu.
Payment Methods
VT Markets offers a range of payment options, so customers should have no problem finding one that is convenient for them. Accounts can be funded in any one of four currencies: AUD, USD, EUR or GBP.
- Card payments – Card payments are possible with either Visa or Mastercard. Debit and credit cards can be used. Card payments can be made in any of the accepted currencies, and making use of these payment methods usually means that the payment will be made instantly. There is no broker-levied fee for making a card payment, though your card provider may levy a transaction charge.
- Bank wire transfer – Wire transfers are accepted, both from within Australia and internationally. Using this method means that it may take two to five business days for funds to appear in your VT Markets account. Again, deposits can be made in any accepted currency, and there is no broker-levied deposit fee. Check with your bank though, as it may charge you a transfer fee, especially for international deposits.
- E-wallets – VT Markets allows payments using a range of e-wallets and third-party methods. Customers have the option of funding their accounts via Neteller, Skrill or FasaPay. POLi and BPAY are also available within Australia but can only be used to deposit AUD. China Union Pay can be used to deposit USD. Some of these providers charge fees on transactions, including the depositing of funds, but once again, there are no broker-levied fees on deposits. Some payment methods might not be made available in your geographical location.
Best Offers
Traders at all levels will find that VT Markets offers a significant variety of trading tools to assist them with their trading activity. The MT4 platform comes with trading tools built-in, technical indicators, charts and Expert Advisors. There is a useful Daily Market Analysis section on the site, which includes market news and analysis. VT Markets does not, however, provide much in the way of ongoing education and training for online traders.
VT Markets offers high-performance multi account manager solutions that can be customised to your trading needs. There is also a personally tailored Introducing Broker (IB) programme available to individuals and corporate clients across the globe, allowing them to earn commissions for introducing new business.
In addition, an affiliate programme allows individuals to earn by introducing new clients to the brokerage. VT Markets also currently offers a welcome bonus to all new account holders. You can claim your bonus by simply opening an account and filling in an opt-in form on the website.
Regulation and Deposit Protection
VT Markets is headquartered in Australia. It holds regulation by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC). With an office in the Cayman Islands, the broker is also regulated by the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority (CIMA). The broker follows the best practices to be expected of a reputable international brokerage. Client funds are stored in segregated accounts with National Australia Bank, which consistently ranks as one of the top 20 safest banks worldwide. This means that client funds are stored separately from the operating funds of the company. Though unlikely, if the broker becomes insolvent, it is not possible for these to be treated as recoverable assets.
Awards
VT Markets uses award-winning tools, platforms and software partners. The MT4 platform, along with other MetaTrader software, has won awards such as ‘Best FX Trading Platform’ and ‘Best Multi-Asset Trading Platform’ on a number of occasions. VT Markets also partners with oneZero Financial Systems, which empowers the platform with the trading technology required to compete effectively in global markets. For two years running, in 2018 and 2019, oneZero won ‘Best Connectivity Provider’ at the London Summit Awards.
