Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of FXCM 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.
When comparing FXCM and ATFX, it's important to understand how their regulatory credentials stack up. FXCM, founded in 1999, is a publicly traded online broker and boasts a strong presence with a Trust Score of 95 out of 99 from ForexBrokers.com, indicating that it is highly trusted. ATFX, founded in 2017, operates privately and carries a Trust Score of 85, which signifies that it is trusted but slightly less so than FXCM. Both brokers are not banks but have secured 4 Tier-1 licenses each, which are considered highly trusted by ForexBrokers.com, reflecting their commitment to maintaining stringent regulatory standards.
Additionally, both FXCM and ATFX hold 2 Tier-2 licenses each, reinforcing their credibility in the market. While FXCM's public trading status and higher Trust Score might appeal to those prioritizing established market confidence, ATFX’s impressive array of licenses since its recent founding in 2017 showcases that it has quickly gained a reputable standing in the competitive world of online brokerage.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1999 | 2017 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 4 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 2 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
When comparing FXCM to ATFX in terms of commissions and fees, FXCM tends to have pricing that's slightly above the industry average, especially for forex trading. The standard account spreads for FXCM averaged out to 0.78 on the EUR/USD pair in their EU, U.K., and Australia offerings, and 1.38 for their St. Vincent and the Grenadines entity, as of May 2024. Conversely, their commission-based accounts show an average spread of 0.28 pips, excluding additional commissions. FXCM also offers an Active Trader Rebate Program, which, although not available in the U.K. or EU, allows traders to receive rebates based on trading volume, potentially bringing down effective spreads significantly.
ATFX, on the other hand, does not provide average spread data, making direct fee comparisons more challenging. However, when rated by ForexBrokers.com, ATFX received a lower commission and fees rating of 3 stars out of 5, placing it 60th among 63 brokers. FXCM, in contrast, received 4 stars and was ranked 25th in the same category.
Overall, FXCM seems to appeal more to active traders with its tiered rebate program, which can lower trading costs based on volume, albeit only in specific regions. ATFX, with a lack of detail on average spreads, might not offer as clear-cut pricing benefits, according to industry ratings and rankings. This distinction puts FXCM at a moderate advantage for those particularly conscious of commissions and fees while trading forex.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | Starts from $50 | $500 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.78 | N/A |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.78 | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | 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.
When comparing FXCM and ATFX for their range of investments, both online brokers provide opportunities in forex trading, offering it as either CFDs or spot contracts. FXCM takes the lead with a broader selection of 440 tradable symbols, while ATFX provides access to 150 symbols. For those focusing on forex pairs, FXCM slightly edges out ATFX, offering 46 pairs compared to ATFX's 44. While neither broker facilitates the purchase of exchange-traded securities like stocks on U.S. or international exchanges, both cater to cryptocurrency enthusiasts by providing derivatives rather than direct ownership of cryptocurrencies. They also support copy trading, suiting those interested in following the strategies of other traders.
Both FXCM and ATFX have received a 3.5-star rating for their range of investments, highlighting a fairly balanced offering between the two. However, when ranked by ForexBrokers.com, FXCM stands at 47th place out of 63 brokers, while ATFX is positioned slightly lower at 57th. This ranking might reflect the broader range of tradeable symbols FXCM offers, though both brokers demonstrate similar strengths in their overall investment offering. For those trying to decide between these two, considering the range of symbols and forex pairs might make a difference based on personal trading preferences.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 440 | 150 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 46 | 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 FXCM and ATFX, FXCM stands out with its in-house proprietary platform while ATFX utilizes third-party platforms like MetaTrader. Both brokers offer free virtual demo accounts, Windows-based desktop downloads, and web-based trading platforms, making them accessible to a wide range of users. They each support MetaTrader 4 and offer copy trading, but FXCM also offers ZuluTrade, giving it an edge in terms of social and copy trading options. Additionally, ATFX supports MetaTrader 5 whereas FXCM does not. Yet, despite ATFX's broader platform compatibility, FXCM receives a higher rating for its trading platforms and tools at 5 stars, compared to ATFX's 3.5 stars.
FXCM provides a more comprehensive charting experience with 13 fields for watch lists compared to ATFX's 7, and while ATFX offers more drawing tools (15 compared to FXCM's 10), FXCM's ability to trade directly from stock charts is also available at ATFX. These features, along with FXCM's higher ranking of 6th out of 63 brokers in the Trading Platforms and Tools category by ForexBrokers.com, contrast sharply with ATFX's ranking at 62nd. This suggests that users interested in a richer, more integrated trading experience might find FXCM to be a more suitable choice. Overall, despite each broker's strengths, FXCM's offerings in platform diversity and additional tools make it a more appealing option for traders seeking versatility and advanced trading capabilities.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
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) | 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 comparing the mobile trading apps of FXCM and ATFX, both brokers offer apps for iPhone and Android users, complete with features like stock and forex price alerts. However, FXCM outshines ATFX in several areas. For instance, FXCM supports watchlist symbol syncing, allowing seamless transitions between mobile and web platforms—a feature not available with ATFX. In terms of technical capabilities, FXCM's app boasts an impressive 59 technical studies for charting, compared to ATFX's modest offering of just 7. Both platforms allow drawing trendlines and viewing multiple time frames on charts, with auto-saving capabilities for any drawing adjustments.
When it comes to creating watchlists with real-time quotes, both FXCM and ATFX perform well. However, FXCM's mobile trading app is rated higher, receiving 4.5 out of 5 stars, compared to ATFX's 3.5 stars. This is reflected in their rankings by ForexBrokers.com, where FXCM stands at #16 out of 63 brokers for mobile trading apps, while ATFX lags behind at #63. Overall, FXCM provides a more comprehensive and user-friendly mobile trading experience compared to ATFX.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 59 | 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.
FXCM and ATFX both provide daily market commentary and economic calendars, vital for staying updated on global financial news. While both brokers offer tools from Trading Central, which supports technical analysis, FXCM stands out with additional features. It provides forex news from high-quality sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, a sentiment-based trading tool, and research from TipRanks. These offerings contribute to FXCM's higher rating of 4.5 stars for research, reflecting its comprehensive market insight.
ATFX, although offering technical tools from Autochartist and an economic calendar, does not match FXCM in terms of breadth of information sources. It lacks top-tier forex news coverage and sentiment analysis tools. Consequently, ATFX scores 3 stars in research. In rankings by ForexBrokers.com, FXCM is positioned at #11 among 63 brokers, significantly ahead of ATFX, which stands at #54. This highlights FXCM's stronger emphasis on delivering diverse and top-quality market research.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | No | Yes |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | Yes |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No |
| TipRanks | Yes | |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When it comes to educational resources for beginners, both FXCM and ATFX provide a valuable foundation for forex and CFDs trading. If you are new to trading, you will find that both platforms offer more than 10 educational pieces including articles, videos, and archived webinars specifically focused on forex and CFDs. However, FXCM takes a step further with its commitment to ongoing learning through monthly online educational webinars which ATFX does not offer. Both brokers do provide a searchable archive of past webinars, giving you the chance to revisit and learn at your own pace.
FXCM caters to traders at all skill levels by offering an array of educational videos with at least 10 dedicated solely to beginners and another 10 tailored for advanced traders. On the other hand, ATFX meets the fundamental needs of beginner traders with its video content but falls short for advanced traders. Both platforms feature an investor dictionary with over 50 terms to aid your learning journey. In terms of user ratings, FXCM shines with a 4.5-star rating for its educational services, ranking 14th among 63 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com, whereas ATFX has a 3-star rating and is ranked 28th in the same category. These distinctions highlight FXCM as a more comprehensive choice for those keen on diving deeper into trading education.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
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 FXCM is better than ATFX. FXCM finished with an overall rank of #15, while ATFX finished with an overall rank of #51.
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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ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 95 | 85 |
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Both FXCM and ATFX do not provide options for purchasing actual delivered cryptocurrency; however, they each offer the ability to trade cryptocurrency derivatives instead of the underlying asset.
FXCM provides a wide array of transaction options, including ACH, SEPA, PayPal, Skrill, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wires, whereas ATFX supports Skrill, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wires, but lacks ACH, SEPA, and PayPal facilities.
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 | ATFX | |
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| Trust Score | 95 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | FXCM Review |
| Broker Screenshots | FXCM | ATFX | |
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| Regulation | FXCM | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 95 | 85 | |
| Year Founded | 1999 | 2017 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 4 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 2 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | FXCM | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | No | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | |||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | 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) | FXCM | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | No | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No |
| Investments | FXCM | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 440 | 150 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 46 | 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 | FXCM | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.78 | N/A | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.78 | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | FXCM | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | Starts from $50 | $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 | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | FXCM | 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) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | Yes | No |
| Trading Tools | FXCM | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 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 | FXCM | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | No | Yes | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | Yes | |
| TipRanks | Yes | ||
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | FXCM | 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 | FXCM | 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 | FXCM Review |
| Overall | FXCM | ATFX | |
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| Trust Score | 95 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | FXCM Review |
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