Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Trading 212 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.
Comparing online brokers Trading 212 and ACY Securities, it's clear that both companies offer their own advantages. Trading 212, established in 2004, holds a Trust Score of 80, making it a trusted choice according to ForexBrokers.com. It also boasts three Tier-1 licenses, emphasizing its credibility in the financial world. Although not listed on a stock exchange or functioning as a bank, Trading 212 has secured its position as a reliable broker with a long-standing history in the industry.
On the other hand, ACY Securities, founded in 2011, holds a Trust Score of 75, indicating an average risk level. Despite having a shorter history, ACY Securities operates with one Tier-1 license, which reflects a reasonable degree of trustworthiness. Similar to Trading 212, it is not publicly traded or a bank. Both brokers offer distinct advantages for investors, but their trust scores and licensing highlight key differences in perceived security and reliability.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
ACY Securities
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2004 | 2011 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 3 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
When it comes to commissions and fees, Trading 212 and ACY Securities cater to different trading needs, each offering unique advantages. Trading 212 offers two account types: the Invest account for shares and the CFD account for trading CFDs. With a minimum deposit of 10 euros for the CFD account, Trading 212 promises zero-commission trading. However, traders still encounter costs through spreads, with average spreads for the EUR/USD pair at 2.7 pips in April 2025, noticeably higher than the industry average. Trading 212 is rated 4 out of 5 stars for its commissions and fees, yet its ranking stands at #49 out of 63 brokers, highlighting room for improvement in this domain.
ACY Securities appeals to a wide range of traders with its varied account options, including low-deposit and commission-based choices. It boasts three account types, each with distinct minimum deposits, spreads, and commissions. While its commission-free Standard account has spreads averaging 1.2 pips for the EUR/USD, the ProZero and Bespoke accounts offer tighter spreads, starting at 0.25 pips and requiring larger deposits. The ProZero account charges a $6 commission per round turn, dropping to $3 for Australian residents, making its effective spreads competitive with top brokers like Tickmill. ACY Securities earns a 4.5-star rating and is ranked #21 out of 63 brokers for commissions and fees, reflecting its favorable pricing structure and transparency.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
ACY Securities
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | €1 | $50 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 2.7 | 1.2 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 2.7 | 0.85 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | Yes |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | Yes |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
When comparing Trading 212 and ACY Securities, both platforms cater to forex traders, offering this type of trading as a CFD or spot contract. Trading 212 stands out with an impressive 7,868 tradeable symbols and 146 forex pairs, while ACY Securities provides access to 2,200 symbols and 66 forex pairs. For those interested in direct investments in U.S. and international stocks, Trading 212 is the go-to option, enabling clients to trade shares like Apple and Vodafone. In contrast, ACY Securities focuses more on CFDs and lacks the capability to offer non-CFD shares from these markets. While both platforms offer cryptocurrency derivatives, neither allows for the purchase of actual cryptocurrencies.
One area where ACY Securities takes the lead is in copy trading, a feature not available on Trading 212. This difference highlights ACY Securities' appeal to traders who appreciate social trading elements. Despite this, Trading 212 garners a top-tier 5-star rating for its range of investments, ranking it 15th among 63 brokers in this category. ACY Securities offers a competitive investment range, earning a respectable 4-star rating and a 30th place ranking. Ultimately, the choice between these platforms depends on whether you prioritize a broader range of direct investment options or value the social trading features that ACY Securities offers.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
ACY Securities
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 7868 | 2200 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 146 | 66 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | 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.
Trading 212 and ACY Securities each provide valuable offerings for traders, but their platforms and tools have distinct differences. Both brokers feature proprietary trading platforms, allowing users to experience tools developed in-house. They also provide free virtual demo accounts, which are useful for beginners to practice trading with simulated funds. While Trading 212 caters more to web-based trading, ACY Securities offers both web and Windows-based desktop platforms, offering more flexibility for those who prefer a desktop experience. ACY Securities distinguishes itself by supporting copy trading and popular trading platforms like MetaTrader 4 and 5, unlike Trading 212, which does not offer these features.
In terms of charting tools, Trading 212 provides 20 drawing tools, while ACY Securities offers 15, giving Trading 212 a slight edge in this area. Both brokers enable trading directly from stock charts, adding convenience for users. With regard to watch lists, ACY Securities comes out on top with seven columns for fields, compared to Trading 212's five. Despite these differences, both brokers receive a similar rating of four out of five stars for their trading platforms and tools. However, Trading 212 is ranked higher at 20th by ForexBrokers.com, compared to ACY Securities' 41st place, indicating a slight preference for Trading 212 in this category.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
ACY Securities
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | No | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 54 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 20 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 5 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
When it comes to mobile trading apps, both Trading 212 and ACY Securities have established themselves as solid choices for users. They both offer iPhone and Android apps, allowing traders to stay connected on the go. Both platforms provide stock or forex price alerts and have the functionality to draw trendlines on charts. Users can also create watchlists with real-time quotes and access multiple time frames for comprehensive analysis. One edge that Trading 212 has over ACY Securities is its feature for watchlist symbol syncing, which ACY Securities lacks. This means Trading 212 users can enjoy seamless syncing of their watchlists between the app and their online accounts, ensuring consistency and convenience no matter where they access them.
In terms of technical capabilities, Trading 212 significantly surpasses ACY Securities by offering 104 technical studies within its mobile app compared to ACY’s 30. Both apps have the ability to auto-save chart drawings, which is a beneficial feature for traders who frequently update their chart analyses. While both trading apps have a commendable four-star rating, Trading 212 holds a stronger position, ranked #17 in the Mobile Trading Apps category by ForexBrokers.com, compared to ACY Securities, which is ranked #40. These rankings reflect Trading 212’s slightly superior offering in areas like technical studies and syncing capabilities, making it a more integrated choice for active traders.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
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 | 104 | 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 Trading 212 and ACY Securities in terms of market research, each platform has its own strengths. Trading 212 offers forex news from leading sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, ensuring users have access to top-tier financial updates. It also provides a valuable sentiment-based trading tool that reveals the ratio of long or short positions across various instruments. Furthermore, Trading 212 equips traders with an economic calendar to keep them informed about global economic events. However, it does not provide daily market commentary or tools from companies like Autochartist and Trading Central.
ACY Securities, on the other hand, stands out by delivering daily market commentaries, offering timely insights for traders seeking regular updates. Despite this, it lacks the forex news from esteemed sources that Trading 212 provides and does not feature sentiment-based trading tools. Like Trading 212, ACY Securities includes an economic calendar, helping users track significant market events worldwide. While both brokers share a similar research rating of 3.5 stars, Trading 212 is ranked marginally higher at 44th compared to ACY Securities' 45th position among 63 brokers, according to ForexBrokers.com.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
ACY Securities
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | No | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | 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 beginners, Trading 212 and ACY Securities both provide a solid foundation with at least 10 educational materials focused on forex or CFDs. Trading 212 stands out by offering a searchable archive of previously recorded webinars and a robust library that includes over 10 beginner-specific and advanced trading videos. They also offer an investor dictionary with definitions for more than 50 investing terms, making it easier for novices to get up to speed with the language of trading. However, Trading 212 lacks monthly live webinars, which could be a drawback for those looking for interactive learning sessions. With a rating of 3.5 stars for education, Trading 212 ranks 20th out of 63 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com, indicating a strong performance in the education category.
On the other hand, ACY Securities also provides at least 10 beginner educational videos and a collection of forex and CFDs educational materials, matching Trading 212 in these areas. ACY Securities excels by offering monthly online educational client webinars and a searchable archive of these webinars, which can be advantageous for beginners seeking real-time learning experiences. However, they do not offer a dictionary of investing terms or a comprehensive set of advanced trading videos, which might limit some learning opportunities for more experienced traders. With the same 3.5-star education rating as Trading 212, ACY Securities ranks 43rd out of 63 brokers, suggesting room for improvement compared to its competitors.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
ACY Securities
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | No | 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 Trading 212 is better than ACY Securities. Trading 212 finished with an overall rank of #31, while ACY Securities finished with an overall rank of #41.
Best known for its mobile trading app, Trading 212 offers an easy-to-use trading platform suite for CFD and share trading, as well as a large variety of forex pairs. However, despite its well-designed platform and wide range of symbols, its lack of advanced trading tools and flat research offerings hamper Trading 212’s bid to be considered a top broker.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
ACY Securities
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 80 | 75 |
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While neither Trading 212 nor ACY Securities offers the ability to purchase actual cryptocurrency, both platforms provide options for trading cryptocurrency derivatives, allowing investors to speculate on digital asset price movements without owning the underlying coins.
Both Trading 212 and ACY Securities support ACH and SEPA transfers, Visa or Mastercard, and bank wires for depositing or withdrawing account funds; however, Trading 212 uniquely offers PayPal, while ACY Securities offers Skrill instead.
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 | Trading 212 | ACY Securities | |
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| Trust Score | 80 | 75 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Trading 212 Review | ACY Securities Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Trading 212 | ACY Securities | |
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| Regulation | Trading 212 | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 80 | 75 | |
| Year Founded | 2004 | 2011 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 3 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Trading 212 | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | No | 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) | 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) | Trading 212 | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Trading 212 | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 7868 | 2200 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 146 | 66 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | 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 | Trading 212 | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 2.7 | 1.2 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 2.7 | 0.85 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | No |
| Funding | Trading 212 | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | €1 | $50 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | Trading 212 | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | No | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Trading 212 | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 5 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 54 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 20 | 15 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Trading 212 | 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 | 104 | 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 | Trading 212 | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | No | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Trading 212 | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | No | 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 | Trading 212 | 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 | Trading 212 Review | ACY Securities Review |
| Overall | Trading 212 | ACY Securities | |
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| Trust Score | 80 | 75 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Trading 212 Review | ACY Securities Review |
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