B

Virtual Brokers

6.4/10
Westpac logo

Westpac

8.8/10
7/10RegulationWinner9/10
0/10FeesWinner10/10
9/10PlatformsTied9/10
10/10Education & ResearchTied10/10
4/10Deposits & WithdrawalsTied4/10
10/10SupportTied10/10

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Overview

Virtual Brokers was founded in 2008 and is headquartered in Canada, while Westpac was established in 2008 and is based in Austrailia. Virtual Brokers holds licences including The Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC), while Westpac is regulated by Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) among others. Virtual Brokers serves 10,000+ clients worldwide; Westpac has 10,000+. The minimum deposit is $1000 at Virtual Brokers and $50 at Westpac.

Westpac wins this category
FeatureVirtual BrokersWestpac
Min. Deposit$1000$50
RegulationThe Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC), Canadian Investor Protection Fund (CIPF)Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA)
Founded20082008
CountryCanadaAustrailia
Clients10,000+10,000+

Fees

Fees are a critical factor when choosing between Virtual Brokers and Westpac, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. Virtual Brokers has a lower barrier to entry with a minimum deposit of $1000 (vs $50 at Westpac). Virtual Brokers charges withdrawal fees while Westpac does not, a notable advantage for frequent withdrawers. Virtual Brokers charges deposit fees; Westpac does not. Overall, Westpac scores higher on fees in our assessment.

Westpac wins this category
FeatureVirtual BrokersWestpac
Min. Deposit$1000$50
Withdrawal FeesYesNo
Inactivity FeesNoNo
Deposit FeesYesYes
CFD FeesNoNo

Platforms

Virtual Brokers offers MT4, MT5, cTrader, while Westpac supports MT4, MT5, cTrader. Both brokers provide mobile trading apps for iOS and Android. Both brokers support copy or social trading, catering to less hands-on investors. The two brokers are closely matched on platform offering.

Tied
FeatureVirtual BrokersWestpac
MT4YesYes
MT5YesYes
cTraderYesYes
Windows AppYesYes
iOS AppYesYes
Android AppYesYes
Trading PlatformsMT4,Desktop,iPhone/iOSDesktop,Mac,iPhone,Android,WEB

Education & Research

Education and research tools help traders at every level make more informed decisions, and here's how Virtual Brokers and Westpac 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. The two brokers are evenly matched on educational content.

Tied
FeatureVirtual BrokersWestpac
Forex EducationYesYes
CFD EducationYesYes
Weekly WebinarsYesYes
Daily CommentaryYesYes
Trading CentralYesYes
AutochartistYesYes

Deposits & Withdrawals

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

Tied
FeatureVirtual BrokersWestpac
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 Virtual Brokers and Westpac 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
FeatureVirtual BrokersWestpac
Live ChatYesYes
Phone SupportYesYes
Email SupportYesYes
LanguagesEnglish, and ChineseEnglish, and Chinese