Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of ACY Securities vs IronFX, 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.
ACY Securities, established in 2011, and IronFX, founded in 2010, are notable names in the online brokerage world. Neither broker is publicly traded or operates as a bank. While ACY Securities holds one Tier-1 license, IronFX boasts three, which are classified as highly trusted by ForexBrokers.com. This indicates a stronger regulatory footing for IronFX concerning Tier-1 licenses, a critical aspect for online brokers.
When assessing their trustworthiness, ACY Securities holds a Trust Score of 75, indicating an average risk level according to ForexBrokers.com. By comparison, IronFX has a Trust Score of 83, placing it in the trusted category. Both brokers have no Tier-2 licenses, but IronFX's higher score and additional Tier-1 licenses provide it with a more reliable standing in terms of regulatory assurance versus ACY Securities.
| Feature |
ACY Securities
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2011 | 2010 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 1 | 3 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
When comparing ACY Securities and IronFX, the costs associated with trading can significantly impact the choice of broker. ACY Securities is designed to appeal to a broad range of traders by providing both low-deposit and commission-based account options. The Standard account, while commission-free, does have spreads slightly higher than the industry average at 1.2 pips on EUR/USD. However, their ProZero account offers more competitive pricing with effective spreads at 0.25 pips. Additionally, residents in Australia benefit from an even lower all-in cost. ACY's commission rate for ProZero and Bespoke accounts starts at $5 per round turn for the Bespoke account, while Australian residents enjoy commissions as low as $3 per round turn on the ProZero account, making the total cost highly competitive with top-tier brokers.
IronFX, by contrast, seems to have higher spreads overall, with the Standard variable spread account typically listing at 1.8 pips, which is above the industry average. Though specific dates aren't provided, these spreads fluctuate across different account types, with the zero fixed-spread account starting at zero but incurring a $18 commission per lot, with overnight spreads expanding to 3 pips. This suggests that IronFX may not offer the same cost-effectiveness as ACY Securities, particularly for high-frequency traders or those using higher-volume strategies.
Overall, ACY Securities earns a commendable 4.5-star rating for commissions and fees, ranking 21st out of 62 brokers. This suggests a more favorable structure for traders who are mindful of transaction costs. On the other hand, IronFX receives a 4-star rating, ranking 47th in the same category. These ratings reflect the comparative positioning of the two brokers within the market, with ACY Securities standing out as a more cost-effective option.
| Feature |
ACY Securities
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $50 | $50 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.2 | 1.2 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.85 | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | 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.
ACY Securities and IronFX both cater to forex traders by offering forex trading as a CFD or spot contract. Where they differ significantly is in the number of tradeable symbols available; ACY Securities offers a much broader selection with 2200 symbols compared to IronFX's 340. However, when it comes to tradeable forex pairs, IronFX slightly edges out ACY Securities by providing 83 pairs, while ACY Securities lists 66. Neither broker provides the option to buy exchange-traded securities on U.S. or international exchanges, such as Apple or Vodafone shares. Both platforms do cater to cryptocurrency enthusiasts, although only through derivatives, not actual digital tokens.
Both ACY Securities and IronFX offer copy trading, enhancing their appeal to those interested in following experienced traders. As for their overall range of investments, ACY Securities is rated 4 stars, while IronFX is rated at 3.5 stars. According to ForexBrokers.com, ACY Securities ranks 30th out of 62 brokers for the range of investments category, whereas IronFX holds the 51st spot. These details position ACY Securities as the more versatile choice, appealing to traders seeking extensive investment options, while IronFX may attract those who prioritize forex trading with a wider selection of forex pairs.
| Feature |
ACY Securities
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 2200 | 340 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 66 | 83 |
| 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 it comes to trading platforms and tools, ACY Securities and IronFX both provide useful features for traders. Both brokers offer free virtual demo accounts, giving new traders the chance to practice without risk. While ACY Securities has developed its own platform, IronFX relies on third-party software. Both brokers offer Windows-based and web-based platforms, allowing flexibility in how traders access the market. Additionally, both provide MetaTrader 4, though only ACY Securities extends support to MetaTrader 5. Platform ranking shows ACY Securities ahead, rated at 4 stars, while IronFX comes in slightly lower at 3.5 stars.
Charting capabilities between ACY Securities and IronFX are closely matched, with each offering 15 drawing tools and enabling trades directly from stock charts. Watch list features are also evenly aligned, presenting traders with 7 fields for customization. Despite these similarities, ACY Securities is ranked 41st out of 62 brokers for trading platforms and tools, significantly higher than IronFX's rank at 60th. This suggests that while both brokers offer solid trading platforms, ACY Securities may have a slight edge in functionality and user satisfaction according to ForexBrokers.com rankings.
| Feature |
ACY Securities
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | No |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 15 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
ACY Securities and IronFX both offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android devices, allowing traders to stay connected on the go. Both platforms provide essential features such as stock and forex price alerts, the ability to draw trend lines on charts, and the option to view multiple time frames like daily or intraday. Each app allows users to create watchlists with real-time quotes, enhancing the trading experience by keeping users updated with market movements.
While both ACY Securities and IronFX offer 30 technical studies within their mobile apps, ACY Securities is rated slightly higher with 4 stars compared to IronFX's 3.5 stars. Despite their features, neither app supports watchlist symbol syncing, which could be a consideration for traders seeking seamless integration across devices. In the Mobile Trading Apps category, ACY Securities ranks #40 out of 62 brokers, ahead of IronFX, which is positioned at #61. This higher ranking might reflect a stronger user preference for ACY Securities’ mobile trading capabilities.
| Feature |
ACY Securities
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 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 comparing ACY Securities and IronFX in terms of market research, both platforms offer daily market commentary and provide users with an economic calendar to track global news events. However, where IronFX stands out is its inclusion of forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, which ACY Securities lacks. IronFX also gains an edge by providing technical analysis tools through Trading Central, a feature ACY Securities does not offer. While neither broker provides sentiment-based trading tools or research from Acuity Trading and TipRanks, these differences significantly impact their overall research ratings.
In terms of overall research quality, IronFX is rated 4 stars out of 5, placing it at the 28th position among 62 brokers, according to ForexBrokers.com. On the other hand, ACY Securities is rated 3.5 stars, ranking it lower at the 44th position. These rankings highlight IronFX as the stronger choice for individuals who value comprehensive market research, while ACY Securities offers a more basic selection of tools and insights.
| Feature |
ACY Securities
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | Yes |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | No | No |
| TipRanks | No | 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 beginner traders, ACY Securities and IronFX both provide a strong base with a variety of educational materials to help newcomers understand forex and CFDs trading. Both brokers meet the standard of offering at least ten educational pieces such as articles, videos, and archived webinars. However, ACY Securities goes a step further by hosting monthly online webinars, which is a service that IronFX does not provide. Both platforms offer access to a searchable archive of recorded webinars and over ten beginner-level trading videos, ensuring that users have a wealth of information at their fingertips.
Despite their offerings, neither broker provides advanced educational videos for seasoned traders, and while IronFX includes an investor dictionary with definitions for over 50 investing terms, ACY Securities lacks this feature. When it comes to ratings, IronFX edges out with a 4-star educational rating compared to ACY Securities' 3.5 stars. Interestingly, according to ForexBrokers.com rankings, ACY Securities holds the 43rd position, narrowly surpassing IronFX, which sits at 44th place. This highlights the competitive nature of both brokers and underscores their dedication to fostering a learning environment for beginners.
| Feature |
ACY Securities
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | No | No |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | No | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 62 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that ACY Securities is better than IronFX. ACY Securities finished with an overall rank of #41, while IronFX finished with an overall rank of #48.
ACY Securities is a MetaTrader-only broker with a reasonable range of markets and a balanced account offering. The broker’s research and educational content, however, could be greatly improved upon.
| Feature |
ACY Securities
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 75 | 83 |
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ACY Securities and IronFX do not provide the option to buy actual delivered cryptocurrency but both offer the ability to trade cryptocurrency derivatives.
When comparing online brokers ACY Securities and IronFX, both offer Skrill, Visa/Mastercard, and bank wire options for deposits and withdrawals, but only ACY Securities supports ACH or SEPA transfers, while neither broker provides PayPal as a payment method.
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 | ACY Securities | IronFX | |
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| Trust Score | 75 | 83 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | ACY Securities Review |
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| Regulation | ACY Securities | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 75 | 83 | |
| Year Founded | 2011 | 2010 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | No | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 1 | 3 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | ACY Securities | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | 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) | No | Yes | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | No | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | No | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | ACY Securities | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | No | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | No | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | ACY Securities | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 2200 | 340 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 66 | 83 | |
| 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 | ACY Securities | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.2 | 1.2 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.85 | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | No | Yes |
| Funding | ACY Securities | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $50 | $50 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | ACY Securities | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | No | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | ACY Securities | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 15 | 15 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | ACY Securities | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | No | Yes |
| Research | ACY Securities | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | No | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | ACY Securities | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | No | No | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | No | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | ACY Securities | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | ACY Securities Review |
| Overall | ACY Securities | IronFX | |
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| Trust Score | 75 | 83 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | ACY Securities Review |
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