VT Markets or Interactive Brokers – which is better for UK traders 2025? Compare VT Markets and Interactive Brokers in this detailed breakdown of their platforms, features and fees.
VT Markets vs Interactive Brokers Comparison Table 2025
Founded in 2015, VT Markets maintains its position as a top Australian multi-asset CFD broker. With 1000+ tradeable instruments and support for the MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 platforms, this broker delivers a wide range of trading opportunities to over 200,000 clients worldwide. VT Markets is regulated by the ASIC, FSCA, and FSC.
Interactive Brokers (IBKR) is a premier brokerage, providing access to 150 markets in 33 countries, along with a suite of comprehensive investment services. With over 40 years of experience, this Nasdaq-listed firm adheres to stringent regulations by the SEC, FCA, CIRO, and SFC, amongst others, and is one of the most trusted brokers for trading around the globe.
Pros
Traders can access a range of analysis tools supplied by reputable providers, including Trading Central’s Market Buzz AI tool and a customizable economic calendar
Market-leading MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 charting platforms are offered, with advanced technical capabilities and access to Expert Advisors (EAs)
Spreads are competitive based on tests, coming in at 0.2 pips for EUR/USD in the ECN account, aligning with top brands like Pepperstone
There’s a strong range of payment methods, including bank wire, credit cards and e-wallets, plus 5 base currencies to choose from
VT Markets offers free 90-day demo accounts allowing traders to thoroughly test their short-term strategies
A proprietary copy trading service, VTrade, is available on two platforms, with access to 100+ providers
IBKR is one of the most respected and trusted brokerages and is regulated by top-tier authorities, so you can have confidence in the integrity and security of your trading account.
The TWS platform has clearly been built for intermediate and advanced traders and comes with over 100 order types and a reliable real-time market data feed that rarely goes offline.
Interactive Brokers has been named Best US Broker for 2025 by DayTrading.com, recognizing its long-standing commitment to US traders, ultra-low margin rates, and global market access at minimal cost.
The new IBKR Desktop platform takes the best of TWS while adding bespoke tools like Option Lattice and Screeners with MultiSort to create a genuinely impressive trading experience for traders at every level.
There's a vast library of free or paid third-party research subscriptions catering to all types of traders, plus you can enjoy commission reimbursements from IBKR if you subscribe to Toggle AI.
IBKR continues to deliver unmatched access to global stocks with tens of thousands of equities available from 100+ market centres in 24 countries, most recently the Saudi Stock Exchange.
While primarily geared towards experienced traders, IBKR has made moves to broaden its appeal in recent years, reducing its minimum deposit from $10,000 to $0.
With low commissions, tight spreads and a transparent fee structure, IBKR delivers a cost-effective environment for short-term traders.
Cons
The broker’s bonus schemes have stringent terms and conditions, including restrictions on minimum deposits and payment methods used
Unlike similar brands like Fusion Markets, VT Markets does not offer crypto trading
TWS’s learning curve is steep, and beginners may find it challenging to navigate the platform and understand all the features. Plus500's web platform is much better suited to new traders.
IBKR provides a wide range of research tools, but their distribution across trading platforms and the web-based 'Account Management' page lacks consistency, leading to a confusing user experience.
Support can be slow and frustrating based on tests, so you might find it challenging to reach customer service representatives promptly or encounter delays in resolving issues.
You can only have one active session per account, so you can’t have your desktop program and mobile app running simultaneously, making for a sometimes frustrating trading experience.
Awards
Most Accessible Trading Brokerage 2024, Acquisition International
Fastest Growing Multi Asset Broker Europe 2024, Cosmopolitan The Daily Business Awards
Best Online Trading Services 2024, ADVFN International Financial Awards
Best Forex CFD Broker UAE 2024, Global Business Magazine
Best Multi-Asset Broker MENA 2024, Global Business Review Award Magazine
Fastest Growing Broker Europe 2024, Global Business Review Award Magazine
Most Transparent Forex Broker LATAM 2024, Global Business Review Award Magazine
Best Forex Demo Account UAE 2024, World Business Outlook Magazine
Best Forex Customer Service Broker UAE 2024, World Business Outlook Magazine
Most Reliable Trading Platform MENA 2024, Brands Review Magazine
VT Markets offers a bespoke app with 230+ assets including forex. Traders benefit from 24/5 customer support, a welcome deposit bonus, real-time market news, and hassle-free account management. The app is available to download to Android and Apple devices.
The IBKR Mobile app, available on both iOS and Android devices, makes your phone a powerful gateway to your IBKR accounts, offering you the freedom to keep an eye on portfolios, initiate trades, and dive into real-time quotes and charts, all while managing your account activities on the fly. This app stands out for its intuitive design, making it especially welcoming for those just starting their trading journey, providing a smoother and more accessible experience than the more complex TWS platform.
iOS App Rating
4.6
4.3
Android App Rating
4.3
4.5
Margin Trading
Yes
Yes
Margin Rate
1.55 - 2.59%
MetaTrader 4
Yes
No
MetaTrader 5
Yes
No
cTrader
No
No
AlgoTrader
No
Yes
OmniTrader
No
Yes
TradingView
No
Yes
Autochartist
No
No
eSignal
No
Yes
Trading Central
Yes
Yes
STP Account
Yes
Yes
ECN Account
Yes
No
DMA Account
Yes
Yes
MAM Account
Yes
Yes
PAMM Account
Yes
No
LAMM Account
No
No
Demat Account
No
No
AI / Machine Learning
No
Yes
Robo Advisor
No
Yes
Negative Balance Protection
Yes
Yes
Market Maker
No
No
P2P Trading
No
No
Spot Trading
Yes
Yes
Auto Trading
Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader
Capitalise.ai & TWS API
Copy Trading
Yes
No
Copy Trading Platform
VT Markets continues to offer copy trading via its proprietary service, VTrade. Followers can choose from 100+ strategy providers through a user-friendly platform, whilst providers can boost their earnings through the rebate scheme.
Social Trading
Yes
No
Trade Signals
Yes
VPS Hosting
No
No
Tournaments
No
No
Demo Competitions
No
No
Ethical Investing
No
Yes
Custodial Account
No
No
Guaranteed Stop Loss
No
No
Inactivity Fee
$0
$0
Islamic Account
Yes
No
Account Currencies
USD
EUR
GBP
CAD
AUD
USD
EUR
GBP
CAD
AUD
INR
JPY
SEK
NOK
DKK
CHF
AED
HUF
Commodities
Silver
Gold
Natural Gas
Oil
Copper
Cocoa
Coffee
Cotton
Sugar
Orange Juice
Gold
Zinc
Aluminium
Natural Gas
Soybeans
Lead
Precious Metals
Lean Hogs
CFD
VT Markets offers over 1000+ CFDs spanning currencies, stocks, indices, ETFs and commodities. The MetaTrader charting platforms provide dozens of technical tools alongside integrated market analysis resources and zero restrictions on short-term trading strategies.
Over 8,000 CFDs are offered on a vast array of instruments, encompassing stocks, indices, forex, and commodities. Moreover, the TWS platform lends itself to seasoned traders, offering a comprehensive selection of over 100 order types and algorithms, alongside premium market data sourced from reputable sources such as Reuters and Dow Jones.
Leverage
1:500
1:50
FTSE Spread
From 40
0.005% (£1 Min)
GBPUSD Spread<
0.4 pips
0.08-0.20 bps x trade value
Oil Spread
From 16
0.25-0.85
Stocks Spread
Variable
0.003
Forex
VT Markets offers an average selection of 40+ forex pairs with up to 1:500 leverage. Forex spreads in the ECN account are highly competitive, starting from 0.0 pips, although the 1.2-pip minimum quotes in the Standard account are a little higher than the likes of Pepperstone or IC Markets.
IBKR presents an extensive range of over 100 major, minor, and exotic forex pairs, surpassing the offerings of nearly all leading alternatives, though not CMC Markets. Forex trading occurs over multiple platforms and boasts institutional-grade spreads starting from 0.1 pips and 20 complex order types, including brackets, scale, and one-cancels-all (OCA) orders.
Assets
40+
100+
GBPUSD Spread
0.4 pips
0.08-0.20 bps x trade value
EURUSD Spread
0.4 pips
0.08-0.20 bps x trade value
EURGBP Spread
1.4 pips
0.08-0.20 bps x trade value
Cryptocurrency
IBKR lets you purchase and hold Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Ethereum, and Litecoin at competitive commission rates and without needing a crypto wallet. Additionally, there is a range of other diverse assets to explore, such as crypto indices like the NYSE Bitcoin Index, as well as futures contracts like the BAKKT Bitcoin Futures.