This broker review outlines key facts to help traders understand if Vantage FX is the right broker for their trading style. You may want to open the Vantage FX website in a different tab to follow each section of the review below.
Leverage up to 500:1 – regardless of where the client is based, as Vantage FX is not affected by ESMA restrictions.
Rebates for high volume traders + deposit bonus.
Fast and reliable trade execution.
Basic MT4/MT5 tutorials, market blog updated infrequently.
Vantage FX is regulated by ASIC (Australia) – a respected institution. While little is known about the company itself and its management, the fact that it is regulated in Australia and holds client funds segregated in Tier 1 banks leads to a decent trust score. The broker is also regulated by the CIMA in the Cayman Islands, which should ensure that clients will still have access to high leverage if the Australian regulator decides to implement ESMA-style restrictions.
Vantage FX was founded in 2009 in Sydney, Australia. The company is focused on the Asian-Pacific market and has no office or regulation in Europe. Nevertheless, the company has managed to build an EU client base as traders are attracted by its superior pricing, a wide range of trading instruments, and leverage up to 500:1.
Vantage FX offers the popular MetaTrader 4 platform – along with MetaTrader 5. Both platforms are available as Web, Desktop and Mobile version.
The broker also offers a MAM/PAMM solution for Money Managers. Money Managers around the world widely use Vantage FX, as it offers the popular MT4 MAM software and along with generous rebates, they also offer the option of the Money Manager charging performance/management fee and mark-ups (signed LPOA needed from the client). This means the Money Manager can agree on a flexible and fair set-up with his/her clients.
During the test period, the execution speed of Vantage FX was fast and there were no re-quotes.
Available Account Currencies: AUD, USD, GBP, EUR, SGD, JPY, NZD, CAD
Deposit Options: Debit/Credit Card, Bank Transfer, Skrill, Neteller, FasaPay
Withdrawal Options: Debit/Credit Card, Bank Transfer, Skrill, Neteller
Leverage: up to 500:1 (CIMA)
The broker has a decent range of available account currencies, although there are two popular European currencies missing (CHF and PLN). Deposits get credited quickly, and we had no issues with withdrawals. You can expect your money to arrive within 2-3 days.
Vantage offers an MT4 add-on called SmartTrader Tools, which includes:
While nothing ground-breaking, we liked the features, especially the correlation and sentiment tools.
The broker also has a solution ready for Money Managers who wish to use a MAM/PAMM account. Therefore, when it comes to social trading, traders can connect their Vantage FX accounts to ZuluTrade and MyFXBook – two of the most popular social trading tools.
The Standard Account is suitable for traders who want a simple solution that offers direct access to the market without any commissions. The minimum deposit stands at $200, and there are over 40 currency pairs available to trade.
The Raw ECN Account is intended for experienced traders who need tight spreads, also suitable for short-term traders and scalpers. The minimum deposit is $500 and there are a variety of trading instruments available.
The Pro ECN Account is designed for professional traders and money managers who trade large volumes. The minimum deposit is $20,000 and clients benefit from the lowest commission available and premium support.
Spreads on the Standard account start from 1.4 pips, which is not overly competitive. We observed the spreads for all instruments, and while the spreads for the major pairs were fairly consistent, exotic pairs tend to have frequent spread widenings. However, for Standard account holders, it is possible to receive rebates if the account balance exceeds 1000 USD.
Standard: Spreads starting from 1.4 pips (no commission)
Raw ECN: Spreads starting from 0.1 pips + $6 commission (round turn)
Pro ECN: Spreads starting from 0.0 pips + $4 commission (round turn)
The spreads on the Raw ECN are consistently low and traders with high volumes or scalpers will benefit from this. The $6 commission per lot (round turn) is competitive and Traders can reduce further when they reach significant trading volumes.
On Pro ECN accounts traders can benefit the most with spreads from 0.0 and 4$ commission per lot (round turn), however, the minimum deposit of $20,000 is prohibitive for most average traders.
EURUSD spreads offered by Vantage FX are not as competitive as those provided by other global brokers.
GBPUSD spreads are some of the most competitive in comparison to other brokers.
The Gold spread provided by Vantage FX is very competitive, although it is still not the most competitive one available.
Traders can reach The Vantage FX customer support team by live chat, email and phone. We tested the customer support through all three channels.
Live Chat: Waiting time was slightly above average; friendly and efficient staff who answer questions clearly
Email: Waiting time was above average, and unlike the Live Chat, answers were not as precise. We felt we needed to do a follow up by Chat or Phone.
Phone: Normal waiting time, friendly staff, Vantage FX resolves any issues quickly.
Vantage FX boasts highly competitive pricing and reliable execution. It is regulated in Australia and can offer traders leverage up to 500:1. While Vantage FX has a VIP solution for active traders with a 5-figure account balance, it might be more suitable for clients with smaller deposits. Furthermore, the customer support needs improvement, especially when it comes to coverage during European business hours.