afx group
Virtual Brokers
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Overview
afx group was founded in 2013 and is headquartered in Geneva, while Virtual Brokers was established in 2008 and is based in Canada. afx group holds licences including Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), while Virtual Brokers is regulated by The Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC) among others. afx group serves 14,000,000+ clients worldwide; Virtual Brokers has 10,000+. The minimum deposit is $250 at afx group and $1000 at Virtual Brokers.
| Feature | afx group | Virtual Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $250 | $1000 |
| Regulation | Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC), Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA), Pepperstone Markets Limited is incorporated in The Bahamas (number 177174 B), Licensed by the Securities Commission of The Bahamas (SCB) number SIA-F220 | The Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC), Canadian Investor Protection Fund (CIPF) |
| Founded | 2013 | 2008 |
| Country | Geneva | Canada |
| Clients | 14,000,000+ | 10,000+ |
Fees
Fees are a critical factor when choosing between afx group and Virtual Brokers, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. Virtual Brokers has a lower barrier to entry with a minimum deposit of $1000 (vs $250 at afx group). Virtual Brokers charges withdrawal fees while afx group does not, giving afx group an edge for frequent withdrawers. Virtual Brokers charges deposit fees; afx group does not. Overall, afx group scores higher on fees in our assessment.
| Feature | afx group | Virtual Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $250 | $1000 |
| Withdrawal Fees | No | Yes |
| Inactivity Fees | No | No |
| Deposit Fees | No | Yes |
| CFD Fees | Yes | No |
Platforms
afx group offers MT4, MT5, cTrader, while Virtual Brokers supports MT4, MT5, cTrader. Both brokers provide mobile trading apps for iOS and Android. Virtual Brokers supports social and copy trading features, which afx group does not offer. The two brokers are closely matched on platform offering.
| Feature | afx group | Virtual Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| MT4 | Yes | Yes |
| MT5 | Yes | Yes |
| cTrader | Yes | Yes |
| Windows App | Yes | Yes |
| iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | MT4, MT5, Mac, ZuluTrade, Web Trader, cTrader, Tablet & Mobile apps | MT4,Desktop,iPhone/iOS |
Education & Research
Education and research tools help traders at every level make more informed decisions, and here's how afx group and Virtual Brokers compare. Both brokers run regular live webinars. Both provide video tutorials, including advanced content. Daily market commentary is available from both brokers. Both integrate third-party research tools including Trading Central. Archived webinars are available at both brokers for self-paced learning. Virtual Brokers scores higher overall in education and research.
| Feature | afx group | Virtual Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| Forex Education | No | Yes |
| CFD Education | Yes | Yes |
| Weekly Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Daily Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Central | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | Yes |
Deposits & Withdrawals
Convenient deposit and withdrawal options reduce friction for traders, especially important when managing positions across time zones. afx group accepts 5 of the tracked payment methods (bank transfer, credit/debit card, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller), while Virtual Brokers supports 2 (bank transfer, credit/debit card). afx group uniquely supports PayPal and Skrill and Neteller among the two brokers. afx group scores higher on deposit and withdrawal flexibility.
| Feature | afx group | Virtual Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| Bank Transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Credit Card | Yes | Yes |
| PayPal | Yes | No |
| Skrill | Yes | No |
| Neteller | Yes | No |
Support
Responsive customer support matters most when you're locked out of your account or need urgent help with a trade. Both afx group and Virtual Brokers offer live chat support. Both provide phone support. Email support is available at both brokers. afx group supports 8 languages and Virtual Brokers supports 2, giving afx group broader global reach. Both brokers are comparable on support quality.
| Feature | afx group | Virtual Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| Live Chat | Yes | Yes |
| Phone Support | Yes | Yes |
| Email Support | Yes | Yes |
| Languages | English, Spanish, Polish, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, and Arabic | English, and Chinese |