Good VPS service is one of many features that can benefits traders. Here are some of the best Australian brokers with free VPS service.
VPS can go a long way as it is incredibly helpful for better execution and automated trading. In short, VPS is Virtual Private Server, one of the three types of web hosting besides shared and dedicated hosting. It can give traders the same benefit as a dedicated server where they can use their operating system.
Here are some brokers that are offering VPS:
- IC Markets: Free for clients with trading volume exceeding 15 lots (round turn)
- FBS: Free for clients who deposit and trade a specified number of lots
- FP Markets: Free for clients who trade a minimum of 10 lots on their Standard Account
- Pepperstone: Free for Pro clients
- Blueberry Markets: Free for traders who deposited a minimum of $100 or equivalent.
Each of the abovementioned brokers has different conditions regarding how a trader can get a free VPS. What are the differences between these brokers?
Where to Get VPS for Trading?
Many Australian brokers offer VPS connections because of all the benefits that come with it. Unfortunately, not all of them are free. While paying for VPS hosting can be a good investment, some traders might find it rather expensive, especially when they aren't sure if this service works for them. Luckily, several ASIC-regulated brokers are providing free VPS servers for their traders:
1. IC Markets
IC Markets is a member of the Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA) (membership number: 13527), best known for its raw spread account and CFD trading. IC Markets is probably one of the best Australian brokers to provide free VPS. IC Markets understand that having a VPS ensures traders' EAs run smoothly without additional devices.
They recommend VPS providers co-located inside Equinix data centers with direct cross-connects to the IC Markets trading servers in Equinix NY4.
There are 3 VPS servers available in IC Markets. The first one is ForexVPS which comes pre-installed in their MT4.
Second, the Beeks FX VPS with latency as low as 0.5 milliseconds. Third, the New York City Server with latency as low as 1 ms. Clients with a trading volume exceeding 15 lots (round turn) monthly will be provided with any VPS providers for free.
IC Markets is an online forex broker operating under the company of International Capital Markets Pty Ltd. Traders under the Australian jurisdiction are provided with the trading service of IC Markets AU that is headquartered in Australia and licensed by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC).
On the other hand, non-Australian traders who open an account in this broker are registered under IC Markets SEY that is based in Seychelles, and regulated under the Seychelles Financial Services Authority (SFSA). The dual operation is a result of the relatively new rules from ASIC that prohibit their regulated broker to offer trading services outside Australia.
Classified as an ECN broker, IC Markets provide clients with MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader as platform trading options. This broker also follows market trends to include Cryptocurrencies as one of its products, enriching its already wide selection of trading assets that include Currencies, Indices, Metals, Energies, Softs, Stocks, as well as Bonds.
The minimum deposit in IC Markets is in the middle range compared to other ASIC-regulated brokers, as it reaches $200 for every client. Market analysis materials are also prepared regularly for trading insights on IC Markets's official website, proving their competence to serve their traders with important contents created by market experts that work specifically for them.
For payment methods, IC Markets allows funding and withdrawal via wire transfer, credit card, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller, FasaPay, UnionPay, as well as Bitcoin via BitPay. The more interesting aspect from this broker is its multi-base currencies that include USD, AUD, EUR, GBP, SGD, NZD, JPY, CHF, HKD, and CAD.
As the trading technology in IC Markets is highly equipped with co-located servers and extremely low latency (especially on cTrader), the broker is widely known for its capability in hosting traders with the special needs for high-frequency trading as well as scalping.
To sum up, IC Markets is a fitting destination for active traders looking for a well-regulated broker. IC Markets is also flexible in terms of base currency and payment methods, signaling their commitment to welcome traders beyond their home country. As of late 2019, IC Markets provided their website in 18 international languages including English, Korean, Indonesian, French, Spanish, Italian, Malay, German, and Chinese.
2. FBS
FBS is one of the best Australian brokers that have free VPS for their clients. This broker is regulated by the Australian Securities & Investments Commission (ASIC) under AFSL number 426359. Their VPS server allows traders to set up their EA 24 hours a day, even offline.
It also allows protection from power and connection interruptions and a fast and stable connection to the trading platform. This is initially a paid service, but FBS broker is willing to provide it free of charge in case of conditions fulfillment. Traders needing free VPS must deposit and trade the specified number of lots. All of this information will be available in the trader's area.
Since 2009, the action of FBS Holding Inc. or known as FBS in the world of forex trading has been recognized by various international institutions. With clients reaching 14 million as of 2019, FBS has received the title of Most Transparent Forex Broker 2018, Best Investor Education 2017, Best Customer Service Broker Asia 2016, IB FX Program, and many others.
FBS is regulated by FSC Belize and CySEC Cyprus. This broker has been trusted by millions of traders and 370 thousand partners from various countries. Based on their data, FBS garners about 7,000 new traders and partner accounts every day. And, 80% of the clients stay in the FBS for a long time. No wonder the broker is growing rapidly due to the incredible growth in the number of clients.
Trading products offered by FBS range from forex, CFD, precious metal, and stock. For forex trading, CySEC-regulated FBS offers leverage up to 1:30 on Cent and Standard Accounts. Clients who want to try higher leverage than that can alternatively register an account under FBS Belize.
FBS spread begins from 0.5 pips for Pro account type and from 0.7 pips for Standard and Cent accounts. On a standard account, volume orders can be made from 0.01 to 500 lots. Therefore, this account is recommended for experienced traders.
Whereas on Cent Accounts, volume orders can be carried out with a maximum of 500 cent lots or the equivalent of 5 standard lots. Cent Accounts involve a different level of risk. FBS recommends Cent Accounts for beginner traders. All account types support the following trading instruments: 36 Forex pairs, 8 metals, 3 energies, 11 indices, 127 stocks, 5 crypto pairs.
Before plunging into the real forex market, traders can practice with FBS Demo Account which consists of two types, i.e Standard and Cent.
FBS uses the MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 platforms. They offer them on Windows and Mac as well as Android and iOS mobile. These platforms provide a trading experience at traders' fingertips, allowing traders to progress as a trader anywhere at any time.
MetaTrader platforms also have a variety of mainstay features, including the possibility to create, buy, and use expert advisors (EA) and scripts, One-click trading and embedded news, technical analysis tools, the possibility to copy deals from other traders, hedging positions, and VPS service support.
Another advantage provided by FBS is a deposit bonus of 100% for clients who fulfill certain requirements. The process of FSCing and withdrawing funds can be run easily and quickly. Based on clients' testimonies, each process usually takes no more than 3-4 hours, except on holidays.
Traders also have the opportunity to develop a side business when trading with FBS, namely as an Introducing Broker (IB) or Affiliate. The FBS partnership system provides partner commissions that are already in 3 level positions. Only by introducing new clients to FBS according to certain procedures, traders can earn extra income.
Traders will also get trading education experience at FBS. They have prepared a comprehensive forex course. The course consists of 4 levels: beginner, elementary, intermediate, and experienced. Traders can take courses that will turn them from newbies to professionals. All materials are well-structured. Besides, FBS provides various forex analyzes, webinars, forex news, and daily market analysis that can be accessed easily on their site.
Traders can access the FBS website with many language choices. Of course, this will increasingly provide comfort for traders. Available languages include English, Italian, French, Portuguese, Indonesian, Spanish, and others. Live chat support is also provided 24 hours 7 days a week.
In conclusion, FBS is a widely known broker among retail traders around the world. It continually grows to become a preferred broker because of flexible trading conditions that enable its clients to trade with various instruments, low deposit, and other trading advantages.
3. FP Markets
As one of the best Australian brokers with ASIC AFS License No: 286354, FP Markets as a broker provides useful features for their traders. One of the best examples is their free VPS. This broker teamed up with Liquidity Connect, a leading global technology provider of VPS with dedicated servers and low latency connectivity.
Traders can enjoy free VPS as long as they trade a minimum of 10 lots on their Standard Account, or 20 lots on their Raw Account per month. For free VPS, traders must sign up and reach the FP Markets support team for assistance.
Keeping positions open overnight won't result in the overnight/rollover fee reducing your earnings, so you don't have to worry about it. FP Markets offers the most competitive swap rates in the industry by introducing Swaps Points in the form of a live swap rates list on the MT4 and MT5 platforms. Here are some examples:
- ACWI: -5.00 for long positions and -2.50 for short positions.
- ADAUSD: -20.00 for long positions and -20.00 for short positions.
- AGG: -5.00 for long positions and -2.50 for short positions.
4. Pepperstone
Pepperstone is a registered ASIC broker with the number 147 055 703. This broker is another Australian-based broker offering free VPS service. Of course, like many other brokers, there is a requirement that traders need to fill in to get a free VPS.
All there is to do is apply to be a Pro Client and trade the required trading volume before applying for the free service. The required volume will be decided according to which VPS tier plan the traders want.
Pepperstone was founded in 2010 by a team of experienced traders with a shared commitment to improve the world of online trading. Based in Melbourne, Australia, they grew to become one of the largest forex brokers in the world. If traders want to find a broker that provides low spreads, fast execution, and award-winning support, then the answer is Pepperstone.
Pepperstone has a strong legality guarantee because it has been licensed by the Australian regulator ASIC and FCA. Traders' funds can be deposited in segregated accounts at top Australian banks, one of which is the National Australia Bank (NAB). Therefore, the safety of funds is not a concern if a trader chooses to open an account in Pepperstone.
They succeeded in collaborating with 23 top banks to bring Bid to investors instantly via optical fiber. This allows all orders to be executed 100 percent automatically with low latency up to 0.05 milliseconds, without dealing desk intervention and requotes, as well as with super low trading costs.
Trusted by over 73,000 traders around the world, Pepperstone processes an average of USD12.55 billion of trading volumes every day. Because of that, they have many awards such as:
- The Best Global Forex ECN Broker 2019 and Best Forex Trading Support-Europe
- Best Australian Broker and Best Trading Platform 2018 by Compareforexbrokers.com
- Best Forex ECN Broker, Best Forex Trading Support, and Best Forex Trading Conditions by UK Forex Awards 2018
With the many rewards gained, Pepperstone hopes to attract more and more traders from all over the world. The rising performance of Pepperstone is not only due to the super-tight spreads and fast execution that it provides, but also because many traders are interested in trading with deposits in currencies other than US Dollars.
For this reason, Pepperstone is one of the most market-responsive brokers because it is willing to accept deposits in 10 currencies, which include AUD, USD, EUR, CAD, GBP, CHF, JPY, NZD, SGD, and HKD.
Trading in Pepperstone would allow traders to choose between 11 trading platforms: MT4 for desktop, MT4 Mac, MT4 iPhone, MT4 Android, MT4 iPad/Tablet, MT5, WebTrader, cTrader WebTrader, cTrader cAlgo, and cTrader Mobile. The choice of trading platforms may seem confusing to novice traders, but actually, it is very useful because it has fast execution.
When trading forex, traders can enjoy raw spreads from 0.0 pips on Razor accounts, over 61 currency pairs, and commission-free account funding on a wide range of deposit options. In addition to currency pairs, Pepperstone provides many types of trading instruments, including CFDs for indices and shares, commodities, and cryptocurrencies.
Instruments in commodity trading are pretty much diversified. Not only metal, gold, and silver, but traders can also trade with soft commodities such as cotton, sugar, coffee, cocoa, and orange juice. Pepperstone also provides trading on energy (oil and gas).
There are two types of accounts provided by Pepperstone, namely Razor accounts, and Standard accounts. If you area beginner, it is recommended to choose a Standard account with an average EUR/USD spread of 1.0-1.3 pips and free commission.
Those with particular trading styles such as scalpers and algorithmic traders may enjoy the lower cost setup traditionally seen in a Razor account, with a commission from AUD7 round turn of 100k traded. You can start trading with a minimum lot of 0.01 (micro) and 1:400 leverage.
As a Pepperstone client, a trader can fund and withdraw with alternative methods including Visa, Mastercard, POLi internet banking, bank transfer, BPay, PayPal, Neteller, Skrill, and Union Pay.
If you are new to trading or looking to practice your trading strategies in a risk-free environment, you can create Demo Account in Pepperstone. But if you are an experienced trader or prefer to learn by doing, Pepperstone provides a Live Account that allows you to trade with live executions and pricing.
Traders can also follow and copy strategies from popular traders using third-party services while learning how to improve their trading abilities. Pepperstone has partnered with a range of social trading platforms that traders can choose from, such as Myfxbook, ZuluTrade, Mirror Trader, MetaTrader signals, and Duplitrade.
5. Blueberry Markets
This broker is regulated by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (AFSL 391441). Blueberry Markets VPS allows traders to execute trades with reliable speed and accuracy. Their external server allows better trading connectivity as the system will be hosted in a data center close to Blueberry Markets' main trading servers.
In other words, all orders supported by VPS will always be filled before the rest. To enjoy this service, traders should deposit a minimum of $100 or equivalent currency. Also, a minimum trading volume requirement will be determined based on the VPS tier.
www.blueberrymarkets.com
1:500
$100
2016
Why is VPS Beneficial for Trading?
VPS is a cloud-based computer desktop located in a data center worldwide. It can give traders super quick executions for better trading results, so this feature is great for Australian traders whose strategy consists of entering and exiting positions quickly.
Furthermore, a good VPS service can give traders low latency for their trading activity. Latency is the time interval between any two points of the trading infrastructure. Most of the time, it usually refers to the trader's platform and the broker's server.
A trader would be advised to find a VPS server close to the broker's server to reduce the latency and allow them to make faster trade executions and reduce slippage.
Besides the market itself, many factors can potentially endanger traders' positions. Some of the best examples are power cuts, computer viruses, and connection failures. The last one can be particularly frustrating during a period of high volatility.
VPS allows a trader's account to be permanently connected to the internet, so all the risks from technical problems related to trading devices can be mitigated.
VPS works great for traders who automate their trading, including EA users. This is because the standard trading setup in most platforms is connected to the internet. Since VPS allows traders to reduce potential connection issues, EA (or other automated trading devices) can still run even when the traders are not actively monitoring the charts.
Last, traders can hold several accounts within one broker for strategic purposes. This can put huge pressure on their devices and lead to many technical issues. However, VPS can greatly remove the chance of overloading the local system. That way, traders can actively trade in multiple accounts without worrying about errors due to system overload.
Bottom Line
There are many reasons why some of the best Australian brokers teamed up with VPS service providers. It has been proven that VPS can reduce trading risks related to market volatility and technical problems. But since most VPS services aren't free, this can be an issue for traders with a limited budget.
Free VPS service brokers can be a good solution, but this has some downsides. One is that traders must fulfill some requirements that must be maintained continuously. In the end, traders can pay in advance and trade as much as they need, or trade a certain amount and get the service for free.
Australian brokers are not the only ones offering free VPS service. To get more options in this matter, please check this List of Brokers Offering Free Forex VPS.