Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of FXCM vs ACY Securities, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Between 51% and 89% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
FXCM, established in 1999, and ACY Securities, founded in 2011, both serve as online brokers catering to traders with differing regulatory standings. FXCM is publicly traded, while ACY Securities is not. Neither of the companies operates as a bank. In terms of regulation, FXCM shines with 4 Tier-1 licenses, a benchmark for high trust, and 2 Tier-2 licenses. In comparison, ACY Securities holds 1 Tier-1 license and no Tier-2 licenses, indicating a lower level of existing regulatory trust than FXCM.
When it comes to trustworthiness as assessed by ForexBrokers.com, FXCM boasts a high Trust Score of 95 out of 99, hinting at its strong market reputation and reliability. On the other hand, ACY Securities has a Trust Score of 75, which places it in the average risk category. This distinction suggests that FXCM might offer more confidence to cautious investors seeking a strongly regulated trading environment.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
ACY Securities
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1999 | 2011 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
When comparing FXCM and ACY Securities, both brokers offer different approaches to commissions and fees that cater to various trading needs. FXCM’s pricing for forex trading is slightly higher than the industry average, with standard account spreads on the EUR/USD averaging 0.78 pips in May 2024 for their offerings in the EU, U.K., and Australia. However, for their entity in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, spreads averaged 1.38 pips, which is higher than the market standard. FXCM's commission-based accounts offer lower average spreads of 0.28 pips, excluding commissions. They also provide an Active Trader Rebate Program, which, although unavailable in the U.K. or EU, offers rebates ranging from $5 to $25 per million traded depending on your tier, given that you trade at least $10 million in volume per month. FXCM is rated 4 stars out of 5 for commissions and fees and is ranked #24 out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com in this category.
On the other hand, ACY Securities offers a more flexible fee structure, appealing to a wider range of traders. Their Standard account, which requires just a $50 deposit, offers commission-free trading with averages of 1.2 pips on the EUR/USD as of September 2021, though this is slightly above the industry average. For traders seeking tighter spreads, the ProZero and Bespoke accounts provide a more attractive option, with spreads averaging 0.25 pips. These commission-based accounts come with larger deposit requirements, starting at $200 for ProZero and $10,000 for Bespoke. Discounts are available for Australian residents, lowering the ProZero account commission from $6 to $3 per round turn, resulting in effective spreads of 0.55 pips. This competitive pricing helps ACY earn a 4.5-star rating and a #21 ranking in the Commissions and Fees category by ForexBrokers.com.
Overall, while both brokers offer various pricing benefits, ACY Securities provides slightly more competitive rates and a higher satisfaction rating. Whether you're looking for discounted spreads through an active trader program or low-entry cost options with wider spreads, your choice depends on which fee structure aligns best with your trading strategy and volume.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
ACY Securities
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | Starts from $50 | $50 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.78 | 1.2 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.78 | 0.85 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | Yes |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
Both FXCM and ACY Securities provide forex trading either as a CFD or spot contract option, catering to traders who are interested in the dynamic forex market. When it comes to the variety of tradeable symbols, ACY Securities leads the charge with an impressive 2200 options compared to FXCM's 440. In terms of forex pairs, ACY Securities again offers a wider range, with 66 pairs, as opposed to FXCM’s offering of 43. However, neither of the brokers provide options for trading exchange-traded securities on U.S. or international exchanges, such as buying shares of Apple or Vodafone directly. However, if you’re interested in copy trading services, both brokers have you covered.
When it comes to cryptocurrency options, traders at both FXCM and ACY Securities can engage with cryptocurrency derivatives but cannot purchase the actual cryptocurrencies. In terms of rankings, ACY Securities holds a higher position in the Range of Investments category, being ranked 30th out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, while FXCM is ranked at 47. With a rating of 4 stars for its range of investments, ACY Securities is slightly ahead of FXCM, which has a rating of 3.5 stars. These insights can guide traders seeking a broker with a diverse portfolio of trading instruments.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
ACY Securities
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 440 | 2200 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 43 | 66 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | No | No |
| Cryptocurrency (Derivative) | Yes | Yes |
| Disclaimers | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). |
Dive deeper: Best Copy Trading Platforms.
When comparing FXCM and ACY Securities in terms of trading platforms and tools, both brokers offer a compelling suite of features that cater to different trading needs. Both FXCM and ACY Securities provide free virtual demo accounts for simulated trading, allowing traders to practice strategies without financial risk. Each broker has developed their own proprietary platforms and also supports web-based platforms and Windows downloads, ensuring flexibility for traders who prefer specific interfaces. Notably, both offer MetaTrader 4 (MT4), although only ACY Securities also supports the updated MetaTrader 5 (MT5). For traders interested in copy trading, both brokers offer options; however, ZuluTrade is exclusive to FXCM, while neither supports DupliTrade.
FXCM stands out in its rating with five stars for trading platforms and tools compared to ACY Securities' four stars. This is further emphasized by ForexBrokers.com, which ranks FXCM as number six out of 63 brokers, significantly higher than ACY Securities, which sits at number 41. Both brokers allow direct trading from stock charts, yet ACY Securities offers more drawing tools for charting with 15, compared to FXCM's 10. FXCM, however, excels with its 13 watch list columns, providing more detailed data than ACY Securities' seven. Overall, while both brokers provide comprehensive trading solutions, FXCM edges ahead slightly in overall platform functionality and recognition in the industry.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
ACY Securities
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | Yes | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 115 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 10 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 13 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
When it comes to mobile trading apps, both FXCM and ACY Securities offer compatibility with iPhone and Android devices, ensuring accessibility for traders on the go. Both platforms provide stock or forex price alerts and allow users to draw trendlines on their charts. FXCM stands out with watchlist symbol syncing between its mobile app and online accounts, a feature not available with ACY Securities. Additionally, FXCM offers a more extensive selection of 59 technical studies for charting, compared to ACY Securities' 30.
Both brokers enable viewing of multiple time frames and support creating watchlists with real-time quotes. They also autosave chart drawings for user convenience. In terms of user ratings, FXCM's mobile app receives a higher score of 4.5 stars, surpassing ACY Securities' 4-star rating. Ranking wise, FXCM holds the 16th position out of 63 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com, while ACY Securities ranks at 40th. These distinctions highlight FXCM's slightly more favorable standing in mobile trading app offerings.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
ACY Securities
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 59 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When it comes to market research, both FXCM and ACY Securities provide daily market commentary and access to an economic calendar that displays global news events. However, FXCM distinguishes itself by offering a richer assortment of research tools. FXCM covers forex news from top-tier sources such as Bloomberg and Reuters, providing a robust information base for traders. In terms of advanced tools, FXCM integrates Trading Central's Technical Analytics and includes sentiment-based trading tools that reveal long or short positions across various instruments. Furthermore, it taps into market research from TipRanks, enhancing its comprehensive advisory offerings. In contrast, ACY Securities lacks these specific features, potentially limiting traders seeking in-depth analysis tools and news coverage.
Overall, FXCM outshines ACY Securities in the research category, receiving a rating of 4.5 stars compared to ACY's 3.5 stars. This difference in ratings is reflected in their rankings by ForexBrokers.com, where FXCM comes in at number 11, making it one of the top performers out of 63 evaluated brokers, while ACY Securities is placed at number 45. For traders prioritizing detailed market research and real-time data from leading information providers, FXCM appears to offer a more comprehensive set of resources. Yet, both brokers can fit different trading styles, depending on the specific needs and tools desired by individual traders.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
ACY Securities
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | No |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No |
| TipRanks | Yes | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When it comes to educational resources for new traders, both FXCM and ACY Securities make a strong effort to provide comprehensive materials. Each broker offers a wealth of knowledge, ensuring that their clients have access to at least ten educational pieces focused on forex or CFDs, whether through articles, videos, or archived webinars. Moreover, both brokers host monthly online webinars and maintain a searchable archive of past sessions, making it convenient for learners to access valuable content at any time. For beginners, both companies provide ten or more educational videos that break down complex trading topics into digestible information.
However, FXCM does stand out in a couple of key areas. Beyond beginner-level content, FXCM offers over ten advanced educational videos, which is something ACY Securities does not match. Additionally, FXCM provides an investor dictionary with definitions of more than 50 investing terms, a resource ACY Securities does not offer. These added resources contribute to FXCM's higher education rating of 4.5 stars compared to ACY Securities' 3.5 stars, as well as its superior rank of #14 in the education category by ForexBrokers.com, contrasting with ACY Securities' #43 ranking. Overall, FXCM offers a more extensive educational experience, especially for those ready to delve deeper into trading complexities.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
ACY Securities
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 63 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that FXCM is better than ACY Securities. FXCM finished with an overall rank of #15, while ACY Securities finished with an overall rank of #41.
For traders who appreciate advanced trading tools and quality market research, FXCM is a winner, especially for algorithmic trading. Its range of tradeable markets is fairly narrow, however, and the pricing at FXCM is just average.
| Feature |
FXCM
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ACY Securities
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| Trust Score | 95 | 75 |
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Both FXCM and ACY Securities do not provide options for purchasing actual (delivered) cryptocurrency, but they both allow trading in cryptocurrency derivatives.
FXCM and ACY Securities both support ACH or SEPA transfers, Skrill, Visa or Mastercard, and bank wires for funding and withdrawals, but only FXCM offers PayPal as a payment option.
Please note:
We review each broker’s overall global offering – a “Yes” checkmark in our Compare Tool does not guarantee the availability of any specific features in your country of residence. To verify the availability of any features within your country of residence, please contact the broker directly.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | FXCM | ACY Securities | |
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| Trust Score | 95 | 75 | |
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| Review | FXCM Review | ACY Securities Review |
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| Regulation | FXCM | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 95 | 75 | |
| Year Founded | 1999 | 2011 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | FXCM | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | No | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | No | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | FXCM | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | No | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | FXCM | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 440 | 2200 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 43 | 66 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | No | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (Derivative) | Yes | Yes | |
| Disclaimers | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). |
| Cost | FXCM | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.78 | 1.2 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.78 | 0.85 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | No |
| Funding | FXCM | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | Starts from $50 | $50 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | FXCM | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | Yes | No |
| Trading Tools | FXCM | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 13 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 115 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 10 | 15 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | FXCM | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 59 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | No |
| Research | FXCM | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | Yes | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | FXCM | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | FXCM | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/JPY | Yes | Yes | |
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CAD | Yes | Yes | |
| NZD/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| AUD/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| Review | FXCM Review | ACY Securities Review |
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| Trust Score | 95 | 75 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | FXCM Review | ACY Securities Review |
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