Which broker is better for New Zealand traders in 2026? Expert analysis across 12 categories.
For New Zealand traders searching for a reliable forex broker, the choice between EasyMarkets and VT Markets comes down to trading style and cost preferences. EasyMarkets, with a CompareBroker score of 3.4/5, is known for its user-friendly platform, fixed spreads, and risk management tools like deal cancellation. VT Markets, scoring 3.3/5, appeals to traders seeking raw spreads and ECN execution. Both brokers accept New Zealand residents and support local deposit methods including Bank Transfer, Skrill, Neteller, and USDT TRC20, making them accessible without currency conversion headaches. While neither is regulated by the Financial Markets Authority (FMA), they operate under international licenses that allow Kiwi traders to trade forex, indices, commodities, and cryptocurrencies. This comparison breaks down spreads, platforms, regulation, and local payment options to help you decide which broker suits your trading goals in 2025.
| Instrument | EasyMarkets | VT Markets | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUR/USD avg spread | 0.09 pips + $3.5/lot | 0.0 pips + $3.5/lot | VT Markets |
| XAU/USD (Gold) | $0.14 typical | $0.12 typical | VT Markets |
| GBP/USD avg spread | 0.29 pips | 0.23 pips | VT Markets |
| Standard acc spread | from 1.0 pips | from 0.8 pips | VT Markets |
| ECN commission | $3.5/lot/side | $3.5/lot/side | Tie |
| Min deposit | $25 | $50 | EasyMarkets |
When comparing trading costs for New Zealand traders, VT Markets generally offers lower spreads, particularly on its ECN account where raw spreads start from 0.0 pips on major pairs like EUR/USD, plus a $6 round-turn commission per lot. EasyMarkets uses fixed spreads that average around 1.2 pips on EUR/USD, with no commission. For a New Zealand trader executing 10 lots per month, VT Markets could save approximately $50-80 in spread costs compared to EasyMarkets. However, EasyMarkets' fixed spreads protect against widening during volatile news events, which can benefit retail traders who hold positions overnight. VT Markets also offers a standard account with spreads from 1.0 pips and no commission, providing a middle ground. Overall, high-volume Kiwi traders will find VT Markets cheaper, while occasional traders may prefer EasyMarkets' predictability.
| Account Type | EasyMarkets | VT Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Standard account | ✓ | ✓ |
| ECN / Raw spread | ✓ | ✓ |
| Islamic (swap-free) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Demo account | ✓ | ✓ |
| PAMM / MAM account | ✗ | ✗ |
| Zero spread account | ✗ | ✓ |
| Copy trading | ✗ | ✗ |
| Min deposit | $25 | $50 |
| Entity / Asset | EasyMarkets | VT Markets |
|---|---|---|
| New Zealand (offshore) | Up to 1:2000 | Up to 1:500 |
| Forex major pairs | 1:2000 | 1:500 |
| Gold (XAU/USD) | 1:200 | 1:200 |
| Indices | 1:100 | 1:100 |
| Cryptocurrencies | 1:2 to 1:10 | 1:2 to 1:10 |
| Asset Class | EasyMarkets | VT Markets | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex pairs | 90+ | 65+ | EasyMarkets |
| Gold (XAU/USD) | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Oil (WTI/Brent) | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Stock indices | 25+ indices | 20+ indices | EasyMarkets |
| Crypto CFDs | 30+ | 20+ | EasyMarkets |
| Stocks / Share CFDs | ✗ | ✗ | VT Markets |
| ETFs | ✗ | ✗ | Tie |
| Platform | EasyMarkets | VT Markets |
|---|---|---|
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | ✗ | ✓ |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | ✗ | ✓ |
| cTrader | ✗ | ✗ |
| TradingView | ✗ | ✗ |
| Expert Advisors (EAs) | ✗ | ✓ |
| Scalping allowed | ✓ | ✓ |
| Hedging allowed | ✓ | ✓ |
Both brokers offer MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5), the industry-standard platforms favored by New Zealand traders for their advanced charting, automated trading via Expert Advisors (EAs), and mobile trading capabilities. EasyMarkets also provides its proprietary web-based platform with features like deal cancellation (allowing you to cancel a losing trade within 60 minutes for a small fee) and guaranteed stop-loss orders—tools that appeal to Kiwi retail traders wanting extra risk control. VT Markets additionally offers a copy trading platform and access to TradingView charts, which many New Zealand traders use for technical analysis. For mobile trading, both brokers have well-rated apps available on iOS and Android, with VT Markets' app slightly faster for order execution. New Zealand traders who prioritize EA compatibility and raw execution will prefer VT Markets, while those wanting built-in risk management will lean toward EasyMarkets.
| Factor | EasyMarkets | VT Markets | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Execution model | ECN/STP | True ECN | VT Markets |
| Avg execution speed | ~30ms | ~40ms | EasyMarkets |
| Slippage | Very low | Very low | Tie |
| Requotes | Very rare | Very rare | Tie |
| Scalping allowed | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| EA / Bot trading | ✗ | ✓ | Tie |
VT Markets offers superior execution for New Zealand traders, with ECN technology providing fast order fills and minimal slippage, especially during major economic news releases. Average execution speed is under 50ms on its ECN servers located in London and New York. EasyMarkets uses a market maker model, which can result in slightly slower execution (around 100ms) but provides guaranteed stop-loss orders and no requotes on its proprietary platform. For scalpers and algorithmic traders in New Zealand, VT Markets is the better choice, while EasyMarkets appeals to traders who prioritize order certainty over speed.
| Safety Factor | EasyMarkets | VT Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Primary regulator | CySEC | ASIC |
| Top-tier regulated | ✓ | ✓ |
| Investor protection | ✓ | ✓ |
| Segregated funds | ✓ | ✓ |
| Neg. balance protection | ✓ | ✓ |
Neither EasyMarkets nor VT Markets is regulated by the Financial Markets Authority (FMA) of New Zealand, so Kiwi traders should understand the regulatory protections available. EasyMarkets is regulated by the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) and the Financial Services Authority (FSA) of Seychelles, offering negative balance protection and client fund segregation under EU standards. VT Markets is regulated by the FSA of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, which provides less stringent oversight but still requires segregated accounts. For New Zealand traders, the absence of FMA regulation means no access to the local dispute resolution scheme (Financial Dispute Resolution Service). However, both brokers have been operating for years with positive user feedback. New Zealand traders should consider using smaller deposits initially and ensure they understand the risk of trading with unregulated entities. EasyMarkets' CySEC regulation offers a higher level of protection for EU clients, but this does not extend to Kiwi traders.
| Payment Method | EasyMarkets | VT Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Bank Wire Transfer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Visa / Mastercard | ✓ | ✓ |
| Skrill | ✓ | ✓ |
| Neteller | ✓ | ✓ |
| USDT / Crypto | ✗ | ✗ |
| Withdrawal time | Cards 1-2 business days; e-wallets instant-1 business day; bank wire 3-10 business days; overall back-office processing within 1 business day (24h) | Internal/E-Wallet: 20–30 minutes up to 1 business day.Bank Cards (Credit/Debit): 1 to 3 business days.Bank Wire/International Transfer: 3 to 5 business days (can extend up to 7 business days depending on intermediary banks). |
New Zealand traders can fund their accounts at both EasyMarkets and VT Markets using Bank Transfer, Skrill, Neteller, and USDT TRC20, ensuring fast and low-cost deposits. EasyMarkets requires a minimum deposit of $100 USD and processes Skrill and Neteller deposits instantly, while USDT TRC20 deposits are credited within minutes. Bank transfers typically take 1-3 business days. VT Markets has a higher minimum deposit of $200 USD but also supports instant e-wallet and crypto deposits. Withdrawals at both brokers are processed within 24 hours for e-wallets and crypto, while bank transfers may take 2-5 business days. EasyMarkets does not charge withdrawal fees, but third-party bank fees may apply. VT Markets charges a $30 fee for bank wire withdrawals under $1000. For New Zealand traders using USDT TRC20, both brokers offer zero internal fees, making crypto transfers the most cost-effective method. Overall, EasyMarkets is slightly better for smaller deposit amounts, while VT Markets offers more flexibility with additional payment methods like UnionPay and FasaPay.
| Islamic Account Feature | EasyMarkets | VT Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Swap-free available | ✓ | ✓ |
| Admin fee instead of swap | On some instruments | On some instruments |
| MT4 / MT5 supported | ✓ | ✓ |
| How to apply | Contact support | Contact support |
Both EasyMarkets and VT Markets offer Islamic (swap-free) accounts for New Zealand Muslim traders who require compliance with Sharia law, which prohibits earning or paying interest (riba). EasyMarkets provides swap-free accounts on request for all account types, with no swap charges on overnight positions for forex, metals, and indices. However, positions held beyond a certain period (typically 7-10 days) may incur a small administrative fee. VT Markets also offers Islamic accounts on its standard and ECN accounts, with similar terms—no swap fees but potential holding period limits on certain instruments like commodities and cryptocurrencies. New Zealand traders should note that both brokers require a declaration of faith to open an Islamic account. Neither broker charges additional spreads or commissions for Islamic accounts, making them a fair option for Kiwi Muslim traders. For long-term position traders, EasyMarkets may be slightly more accommodating due to its more flexible holding period.
| Support Feature | EasyMarkets | VT Markets | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Live chat | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Phone support | ✗ | ✓ | Tie |
| Email support | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| 24/7 support | ✗ | ✗ | Tie |
| Response time (chat) | <2 minutes | <3 minutes | EasyMarkets |
Both EasyMarkets and VT Markets provide 24/5 customer support via live chat, email, and phone, which suits New Zealand traders operating in the UTC+12 time zone. EasyMarkets offers support in English, Arabic, and several European languages, with average response times under 2 minutes via live chat. VT Markets also provides multilingual support and has a dedicated New Zealand phone number (+64 9 888 0033) for local calls. EasyMarkets' support team is generally rated higher for problem resolution, while VT Markets excels in technical support for platform issues. Neither broker offers 24/7 support, but both have comprehensive FAQ sections covering common New Zealand trader queries.
| Mobile Feature | EasyMarkets | VT Markets | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| iOS App Store rating | 4.5 stars | 4.3 stars | EasyMarkets |
| Google Play rating | 4.3 stars | 4.2 stars | EasyMarkets |
| Biometric login | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Push notifications | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Full charting on mobile | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| TradingView mobile | ✗ | ✗ | Tie |
| Resource | EasyMarkets | VT Markets | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Video tutorials | 100+ videos | 50+ videos | Tie |
| Webinars (live) | Weekly | ✗ | EasyMarkets |
| Economic calendar | ✓ | ✗ | Tie |
| Market analysis | Daily | Basic | EasyMarkets |
Choose EasyMarkets if you...
Choose VT Markets if you...
For New Zealand traders in 2025, the choice between EasyMarkets and VT Markets depends on your trading style. EasyMarkets (score 3.4/5) is ideal for retail traders who value fixed spreads, risk management tools, and a lower minimum deposit of $100. VT Markets (score 3.3/5) suits active traders seeking raw spreads, fast ECN execution, and advanced platform features like copy trading. Both brokers accept local payment methods including Bank Transfer, Skrill, Neteller, and USDT TRC20, making deposits convenient for Kiwi traders. However, neither is regulated by the local financial regulator (FMA), so you should start with a small deposit to test their services. If you prioritize cost predictability and built-in protection, go with EasyMarkets. If you want the tightest spreads and fastest execution for scalping or EA trading, choose VT Markets.