B

OptionWeb

6.4/10

Virtual Brokers

6.4/10
7/10RegulationTied7/10
8/10WinnerFees0/10
7/10PlatformsWinner9/10
4/10Education & ResearchWinner10/10
4/10Deposits & WithdrawalsTied4/10
10/10SupportTied10/10

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Overview

OptionWeb was founded in 2012 and is headquartered in Cyprus, while Virtual Brokers was established in 2008 and is based in Canada. OptionWeb holds licences including Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC), while Virtual Brokers is regulated by The Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC) among others. OptionWeb serves 10,000+ clients worldwide; Virtual Brokers has 10,000+. The minimum deposit is $200 at OptionWeb and $1000 at Virtual Brokers.

Tied
FeatureOptionWebVirtual Brokers
Min. Deposit$200$1000
RegulationCyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC)The Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC), Canadian Investor Protection Fund (CIPF)
Founded20122008
CountryCyprusCanada
Clients10,000+10,000+

Fees

Fees are a critical factor when choosing between OptionWeb 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 $200 at OptionWeb). Virtual Brokers charges withdrawal fees while OptionWeb does not, giving OptionWeb an edge for frequent withdrawers. Virtual Brokers charges deposit fees; OptionWeb does not. Overall, OptionWeb scores higher on fees in our assessment.

OptionWeb wins this category
FeatureOptionWebVirtual Brokers
Min. Deposit$200$1000
Withdrawal FeesNoYes
Inactivity FeesNoNo
Deposit FeesNoYes
CFD FeesNoNo

Platforms

OptionWeb offers 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 OptionWeb does not offer. Virtual Brokers edges ahead on platform breadth and functionality in our scoring.

Virtual Brokers wins this category
FeatureOptionWebVirtual Brokers
MT4NoYes
MT5YesYes
cTraderYesYes
Windows AppYesYes
iOS AppYesYes
Android AppYesYes
Trading PlatformsBinary, Tablet & Mobile appsMT4,Desktop,iPhone/iOS

Education & Research

Education and research tools help traders at every level make more informed decisions, and here's how OptionWeb and Virtual Brokers compare. Virtual Brokers runs regular live webinars; OptionWeb does not. Both provide video tutorials. Virtual Brokers publishes daily market commentary; OptionWeb does not. Both integrate third-party research tools. Virtual Brokers maintains an archive of past webinars for on-demand viewing. Virtual Brokers scores higher overall in education and research.

Virtual Brokers wins this category
FeatureOptionWebVirtual Brokers
Forex EducationYesYes
CFD EducationNoYes
Weekly WebinarsNoYes
Daily CommentaryNoYes
Trading CentralNoYes
AutochartistYesYes

Deposits & Withdrawals

Convenient deposit and withdrawal options reduce friction for traders, especially important when managing positions across time zones. OptionWeb accepts 2 of the tracked payment methods (bank transfer, credit/debit card), while Virtual Brokers supports 2 (bank transfer, credit/debit card). Both brokers support the same set of payment methods.

Tied
FeatureOptionWebVirtual Brokers
Bank TransferYesYes
Credit CardYesYes
PayPalNoNo
SkrillNoNo
NetellerNoNo

Support

Responsive customer support matters most when you're locked out of your account or need urgent help with a trade. Both OptionWeb and Virtual Brokers offer live chat support. Both provide phone support. Email support is available at both brokers. Both brokers offer support in 2 languages. Both brokers are comparable on support quality.

Tied
FeatureOptionWebVirtual Brokers
Live ChatYesYes
Phone SupportYesYes
Email SupportYesYes
LanguagesEnglish, and ChineseEnglish, and Chinese