AMarkets and Vanguard face off on structure, regulation, and product scope. The axis: offshore CFD trading versus regulated long-term investing.
Find out which stock broker best suits your investing profile.
Choose if…
Choose AMarkets if you want stock CFDs with ECN pricing and leverage up to 3000:1. MT4/MT5 with copy trading and offshore SVG/FSA regulation round out the platform and product mix.
Choose if…
Choose Vanguard if you want FCA regulation with FSCS protection and long-term investing through ISA or SIPP. You pay a capped annual platform fee and invest only in Vanguard funds and ETFs with no external share trading.
Which broker wins for each type of stock trader, based on costs, safety, features, and editorial scoring.
| Editorial score | 3.2/ 5 | 4.1/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Min deposit | $100 | $100 |
| Spreads from | 0 pips | N/A |
| Commission / lot | $6/lot | N/A |
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
| Criteria | AMarkets | Vanguard |
|---|---|---|
| Trust & Regulation | ||
| Top-tier regulator (FCA, ASIC, SEC, etc.) | Fail | Pass |
| Segregated client funds | Pass | Pass |
| Negative balance protection | Fail | Fail |
| Compensation scheme (e.g. FSCS, SIPC) | Fail | Pass |
| Costs | ||
| Commission-free trading | Fail | Fail |
| No deposit fee | — | Pass |
| Features | ||
| Fractional shares | Fail | Fail |
| Dividend reinvestment (DRIP) | Fail | Pass |
| Extended hours trading | Fail | Fail |
| IPO access | Fail | Fail |
| Short selling | Pass | Fail |
| Stock screener tool | Fail | Fail |
| Support | ||
| Mobile app | Pass | Pass |
| Advanced charting tools | Pass | Fail |
| 24/5 live chat | Pass | Fail |
| Phone support | Pass | Pass |
Vanguard rates 4.1/5 versus 3.2/5 for AMarkets. Vanguard edges ahead on our composite score, though both brokers meet a reasonable standard for most traders.
AMarkets starts from 0. Current spread data is not available for Vanguard. Check both brokers' websites for up-to-date spread and commission pricing.
Both AMarkets and Vanguard require a minimum deposit of $100 to open a live trading account.
Vanguard holds top-tier regulation (FCA), providing stronger investor protections. AMarkets may be regulated but does not hold top-tier status in our data. Verify regulatory status on each regulator's public register before depositing funds.
Minimum deposit and negative balance protection data are not confirmed for this pair. Vanguard holds top-tier regulatory status, which provides a stronger safety baseline for newer traders. Also compare demo account availability and educational resources on each broker's site.
AMarkets lists maximum leverage of 3000:1, while Vanguard lists up to 1:1. Available leverage depends on your jurisdiction. EU retail clients under ESMA rules are capped at 1:30 on major forex pairs.
AMarkets charges $6 per trade on commission-based accounts. Commission details for Vanguard are not currently available. Check their website for up-to-date pricing. Stock commissions may be charged as a flat rate per trade or per share; confirm the exact structure on each broker's website.
AMarkets supports cTrader, MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, while Vanguard supports Proprietary Web/Mobile. AMarkets has exclusive access to cTrader and MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5. Vanguard has exclusive access to Proprietary Web/Mobile.
Neither AMarkets nor Vanguard is listed as offering commission-free trading in our data. Compare each broker's commission schedule directly, as fees vary by account type and the markets you trade.
Vanguard scores higher on investor protection criteria, with compensation scheme coverage and segregated client funds. For stock investors, confirming compensation scheme coverage ensures your assets are protected up to a defined limit if the broker becomes insolvent.
Vanguard wins for safety and regulation due to FCA oversight and FSCS protection.
Vanguard wins for long-term investing via ISA/SIPP with drawdown capability.
AMarkets wins for active traders with MT4/MT5 and copy trading.
Vanguard wins for beginners due to simple platform and low ongoing costs.
AMarkets wins for global market access with four exchanges.
Vanguard wins due to capped platform fee and low fund expense ratios.
| 0.6 pips |
| N/A |
| Inactivity fee | None | None |
|---|
| Deposit fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Deposit methods | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardSkrillNetellerWebMoneyCrypto | Bank transferDebit card |
|---|
| Withdrawal methods | Bank transferCredit cardSkrillNetellerWebMoneyCrypto | Bank transfer |
|---|
| Withdrawal fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Commission-free | No | No |
|---|
| Fractional shares | No | No |
|---|
| Dividend reinvestment | No | Yes |
|---|
| Extended hours | No | No |
|---|
| IPO access | No | No |
|---|
| Short selling | Yes | No |
|---|
| Regulators | SVGFSA | FCA |
|---|
| Platforms | cTrader MetaTrader 4 MetaTrader 5 | Proprietary Web/Mobile |
|---|
| Active bonuses | None | 2 offers |
|---|
Vanguard is the overall winner by editorial score, reflecting stronger regulation and long-term investing options. AMarkets remains a more aggressive CFD-focused choice with offshore regulation and high leverage.
Dig deeper into each broker’s features, fees, and regulation.
Score 3.2 / 5
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