Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of FP Markets vs ATFX, 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.
FP Markets and ATFX are both respected names in the world of online trading, and each has established its own niche over the years. Founded in 2005, FP Markets is an Australian online broker that is highly regarded for its regulatory adherence. It is not publicly traded, nor is it a bank, but it holds two Tier-1 licenses and one Tier-2 license. These credentials contribute to its solid Trust Score of 89 out of 99 as per ForexBrokers.com, classifying it as a trusted trading platform.
On the other hand, ATFX is a UK-based broker that began operations in 2017. Similar to FP Markets, it is not publicly traded and is not a banking institution. However, ATFX boasts of four Tier-1 licenses and two Tier-2 licenses, showcasing a strong regulatory framework. Despite this, its Trust Score is 85 out of 99, which still positions it as a trusted broker but slightly behind FP Markets in this specific metric. Both brokers provide secure options for traders seeking regulated environments.
| Feature |
FP Markets
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2005 | 2017 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 4 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 2 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
When it comes to commissions and fees, FP Markets stands out as a highly competitive choice among online brokers, particularly through its MetaTrader and cTrader platforms. It excels with its commission-based ECN account offering some of the most cost-efficient trading conditions worldwide. For these reasons, FP Markets was awarded Best in Class honors for Commissions and Fees in the 2024 Annual Awards. Offering both Standard and Raw ECN accounts, FP Markets' Raw ECN account is particularly appealing with competitive spreads averaging 0.1 pips. On the other hand, its Standard account is less competitive due to higher spreads, averaging 1.1 pips for the EUR/USD in October 2023. Additionally, its cTrader platform offers both spread-only and commission-based options, with the Raw account featuring a flat rate commission of $6 per round-trip standard lot.
The Iress suite from FP Markets provides three account tiers with various deposit requirements and perks, but it's primarily designed for active traders and those with high balances. For those seeking cost-efficiency, the Iress Investor account is available, albeit with certain limitations like the absence of streaming data and a less robust charting package. However, it attracts traders as it waives monthly fees. Though not as comprehensive as the ViewPoint account, the Investor option remains appealing for budget-conscious investors. Importantly, FP Markets is rated 5 stars for commissions and fees and ranks #6 out of 63 brokers in this category by ForexBrokers.com.
In contrast, ATFX has a less defined structure regarding average spread data, making it harder to assess its overall cost-efficiency. It receives a lower ranking and star rating compared to FP Markets, being rated 3 stars for commissions and fees and ranking #60 out of 63 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com. Overall, while FP Markets offers a compelling range of account options catering to varying trader needs, ATFX may not provide the same level of cost competitiveness or transparency in its fee structure.
| Feature |
FP Markets
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 AUD | $500 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.2 | N/A |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.7 | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | No |
| 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.
FP Markets and ATFX both offer forex trading through CFDs and spot contracts, catering to investors looking to engage in currency trading. However, FP Markets distinguishes itself by offering a broader range of tradeable symbols, boasting a whopping 10,000 compared to ATFX’s 150. In the realm of forex pairs, FP Markets provides 71, while ATFX offers 44. Neither brokerage allows clients to buy exchange-traded securities on U.S. or international exchanges directly, meaning investments such as Apple or Vodafone shares are not available outside of CFDs. Both brokers support copy trading, providing investors the opportunity to mirror the trades of experienced traders, yet they refrain from offering the ability to buy actual cryptocurrencies, focusing instead on cryptocurrency derivatives.
When it comes to ratings for the range of investments, FP Markets receives a commendable 4.5 stars, placing it at 18th out of 63 brokers as ranked by ForexBrokers.com. On the other hand, ATFX garners a 3.5-star rating, which sees it positioned at 57th in the same category. For investors seeking a diverse array of trading opportunities, FP Markets seems to take the lead with its extensive list of symbols and strong industry ranking, whereas ATFX offers a more limited selection.
| Feature |
FP Markets
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 10000 | 150 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 71 | 44 |
| 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 the trading platforms and tools of FP Markets and ATFX, both brokers offer virtual demo accounts, allowing traders to practice their strategies without financial risk. FP Markets provides a unique edge with their proprietary platform, offering a distinct in-house trading experience, whereas ATFX does not have a proprietary platform. Both brokers extend their services through Windows-based desktop platforms and web-based browser platforms, and they support popular platforms like MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5). Additionally, both FP Markets and ATFX offer copy trading, though neither offers DupliTrade or ZuluTrade. For charting capabilities, FP Markets provides 17 drawing tools, slightly more than ATFX's 15, and both support trading directly from stock charts.
For traders focused on curating watch lists, both FP Markets and ATFX allow seven columns for customization. However, FP Markets edges out ATFX in terms of overall platform rating, securing a commendable 4 stars compared to ATFX's 3.5. These differences are reflected in their rankings by ForexBrokers.com, where FP Markets is positioned at #23 out of 63 brokers for platform and tool offerings, notably outperforming ATFX, which is ranked at #62. These distinctions highlight FP Markets as a slightly more refined choice for traders who prioritize advanced trading platforms and tools.
| Feature |
FP Markets
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 17 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
When comparing the mobile trading apps of FP Markets and ATFX, both brokers offer apps for iPhone and Android devices, along with features like stock and forex price alerts and the ability to draw trendlines on charts. Both platforms also support viewing multiple time frames and auto-saving drawings. Additionally, users can create watchlists with real-time quotes. However, neither offers watchlist symbol syncing between the mobile app and online account.
In terms of charting tools, FP Markets utilizes MetaTrader's default options, while ATFX provides seven technical studies. Despite these similarities, FP Markets takes a slight lead in user satisfaction, receiving a four-star rating compared to ATFX’s 3.5 stars. Moreover, according to ForexBrokers.com rankings, FP Markets is positioned at #18 for mobile trading apps out of 63 brokers, significantly higher than ATFX's ranking at #63. This suggests that users might find FP Markets’ mobile app to deliver a more comprehensive trading experience.
| Feature |
FP Markets
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | MetaTrader (Default) | 7 |
| 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 the market research offerings of FP Markets and ATFX, both brokers provide daily market commentary and comprehensive technical and fundamental analysis tools such as Autochartist and Trading Central. However, FP Markets sets itself apart by offering forex news from leading sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, a feature not available with ATFX. Additionally, FP Markets provides a sentiment-based trading tool, enhancing a trader's ability to gauge market trends, whereas ATFX does not offer this feature.
Both brokers supply an economic calendar for tracking global economic events, but their overall research ratings differ. FP Markets garners a 4-star research rating, higher than ATFX's 3-star rating. In the ForexBrokers.com Research category, FP Markets is ranked #25 out of 63 brokers, significantly ahead of ATFX, which stands at rank #54. This data underscores that FP Markets offers a more comprehensive research package, providing traders with better tools for informed decision-making.
| Feature |
FP Markets
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | Yes |
| 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 comparing the educational resources available for beginners at FP Markets and ATFX, both brokers provide robust educational content with over 10 pieces, including articles, videos, and webinars focused on forex and CFDs. This foundation ensures that new traders have access to a wealth of information to kickstart their trading journey. However, FP Markets stands out by offering monthly live educational webinars, which are not available at ATFX. Additionally, both brokers maintain a searchable archive of their recorded video content, making it easier for beginners to access previously held webinars at their convenience.
FP Markets further differentiates itself with an impressive array of advanced educational videos, catering both to beginners and seasoned traders, whereas ATFX does not extend similar advanced content. For those looking to expand their trading vocabulary, both brokers provide a comprehensive investor dictionary featuring over 50 investing terms. When assessing their educational standings, FP Markets is rated at 4 stars and is ranked 23rd among 63 brokers for educational resources by ForexBrokers.com, while ATFX, with its rating of 3 stars, holds the 28th position. This comparison highlights FP Markets as a more dynamic choice for beginners seeking a broader array of educational tools and resources.
| Feature |
FP Markets
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes | No |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 63 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that FP Markets is better than ATFX. FP Markets finished with an overall rank of #19, while ATFX finished with an overall rank of #51.
FP Markets shines as a low-cost broker for trading forex and CFDs – as long as you use the MetaTrader platform. The Iress platform suite offers well over 9,000 tradeable symbols, but it’s mostly a share trading platform – and is generally a much pricier option.
| Feature |
FP Markets
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 89 | 85 |
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Both FP Markets and ATFX do not allow the purchase of actual (delivered) cryptocurrency, but they both offer the ability to buy cryptocurrency derivatives.
When comparing the online brokers FP Markets and ATFX in terms of deposit and withdrawal options, both do not offer ACH or SEPA transfers, FP Markets supports PayPal unlike ATFX, while both platforms offer Skrill, Visa or Mastercard, and bank wire transfers as available options.
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 | FP Markets | ATFX | |
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| Trust Score | 89 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | FP Markets Review |
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| Regulation | FP Markets | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 89 | 85 | |
| Year Founded | 2005 | 2017 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 4 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 2 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | FP Markets | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| 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). | Yes | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | FP Markets | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | No | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | FP Markets | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 10000 | 150 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 71 | 44 | |
| 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 | FP Markets | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.2 | N/A | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.7 | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | FP Markets | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 AUD | $500 | |
| 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 | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | FP Markets | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes | |
| cTrader | Yes | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | FP Markets | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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) | 17 | 15 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | FP Markets | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | MetaTrader (Default) | 7 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | FP Markets | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | FP Markets | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes | No | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | FP Markets | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | FP Markets Review |
| Overall | FP Markets | ATFX | |
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| Trust Score | 89 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | FP Markets Review |
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