Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Interactive Brokers 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 the online brokers Interactive Brokers and ATFX, there are notable differences in their trust scores and regulatory licenses. Interactive Brokers, established in 1977 and publicly traded, holds a perfect ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 99. This reflects its high level of trust among traders and is reinforced by its 9 Tier-1 and 2 Tier-2 licenses, indicating robust regulatory compliance. Despite not being a bank, its long-standing presence and recognition in the industry contribute to its solid reputation.
ATFX, on the other hand, was founded in 2017 and is not publicly traded. It maintains a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 85, marking it as a trusted entity in the market. ATFX holds 4 Tier-1 and 2 Tier-2 licenses, showcasing its commitment to regulation and security. While its Trust Score is lower than that of Interactive Brokers, ATFX still offers a reliable option for those seeking a newer trading platform with strong regulatory backing.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1977 | 2017 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 9 | 4 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 2 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
Interactive Brokers and ATFX offer different pricing structures for forex trading, impacting their overall cost-effectiveness. Interactive Brokers is known for its competitive pricing, charging commissions based on the U.S. dollar trade value. Their fees start at 0.2 basis points, with a minimum commission of $2 per side, or $4 per round turn. For exceptionally active traders, fees can be as low as 0.08 basis points. Interactive Brokers charges a commission per trade ranging from $16 to $40 per million in trades, depending on volume, which is particularly favorable for active traders. This fee model provides transparency and potentially lower costs compared to brokers that mark up spreads.
In contrast, specific average spread data for ATFX is not available, which makes direct cost comparisons challenging. However, according to ForexBrokers.com, Interactive Brokers receives a superior rating of 5 stars for its commissions and fees, ranking it 2nd out of 63 brokers, showcasing its cost competitiveness. Meanwhile, ATFX is rated lower, with 3 stars, placing it 60th in the same ranking category, indicating less favorable pricing for traders.
These ratings and rankings suggest that Interactive Brokers offers a more cost-effective solution for forex traders, especially those who engage in high-volume trading. Whether it's the structured commission discounts for active trading or the transparency of costs, Interactive Brokers emerges as the more favorable option in terms of commissions and fees, providing a high rating and ranking that affirm its value among traders.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $500 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.59 | N/A |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.59 | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | No | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
Interactive Brokers impresses with a variety of investment options, boasting a selection of 8,500 tradeable symbols, including 90 forex pairs. Not only can traders engage in forex trading through CFDs or spot contracts, but they also have the opportunity to purchase exchange-traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges. This includes renowned U.S. companies like Apple and global entities like Vodafone. Moreover, Interactive Brokers allows clients to trade actual cryptocurrencies as well as cryptocurrency derivatives. Rated 5 stars for its range of investments, Interactive Brokers stands as the top contender among 63 brokers in the investment category, showcasing unparalleled diversity and opportunity for traders.
ATFX, on the other hand, presents a narrower range of investments, offering 150 tradeable symbols and 44 forex pairs. While it does provide forex trading via CFDs or spot contracts and cryptocurrency derivatives, it doesn’t support the purchase of actual cryptocurrencies or exchange-traded securities on U.S. or international markets. However, ATFX differentiates itself by offering copy trading, catering to a segment of traders interested in mirroring market strategies. With a rating of 3.5 stars and a rank of 57 out of 63 brokers for its range of investments, ATFX might suit traders looking for simpler trading options and those interested in social trading aspects.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 8500 | 150 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 90 | 44 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | Yes | 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.
Interactive Brokers and ATFX both provide traders with virtual demo accounts, allowing users to practice their strategies without financial risk. Interactive Brokers stands out with its in-house developed platform, offering a Windows desktop application and a web-based platform. While the broker does not support MetaTrader 4 or 5, it excels with features like 85 different drawing tools and allows trading directly from stock charts. The platform also boasts an impressive 659 customizable fields for watch lists, earning it a 5-star rating for trading platforms and tools, placing it at the third position among 63 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com.
In contrast, ATFX does not have its proprietary trading platform but offers flexibility with MetaTrader 4 and 5 support. It also includes a Windows desktop application and a web-based platform. Although ATFX shines with copy trading, it has fewer charting tools and indicators compared to Interactive Brokers, offering only 15 drawing tools. The watch list customization is also limited with just 7 fields. Despite the availability of both demo accounts and copy trading, ATFX receives a 3.5-star rating and ranks significantly lower at 62nd place in the ForexBrokers.com trading platforms and tools category.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | No |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | 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) | 155 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 85 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 659 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
When it comes to mobile trading apps, both Interactive Brokers and ATFX provide a comprehensive experience for iPhone and Android users. They each offer essential features like price alerts and real-time watchlists. However, Interactive Brokers stands out with the ability to sync watchlist symbols across devices, whereas ATFX does not. For traders who value detailed technical analysis, Interactive Brokers offers a substantial 97 technical studies, compared to ATFX's 7. Both platforms allow for trendline drawing and viewing charts across multiple time frames.
In terms of user experience, Interactive Brokers receives a higher user satisfaction rating with 5 out of 5 stars, while ATFX is rated at 3.5 stars. Despite the fact that Interactive Brokers does not auto-save chart drawings, its advanced features nonetheless contribute to its high ranking of #4 out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com for mobile trading apps, far surpassing ATFX, which is ranked at #63. Users seeking a more feature-rich and highly rated mobile trading experience might prefer Interactive Brokers. Meanwhile, traders new to mobile trading or those seeking a simpler interface might consider ATFX's offerings.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 97 | 7 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | No | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When it comes to market research, Interactive Brokers holds a significant edge over ATFX. Both platforms provide daily market commentary, but Interactive Brokers extends its offerings with forex news from premium sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, unlike ATFX. While neither broker provides tools from Autochartist, they both leverage resources from Trading Central for added insights. However, Interactive Brokers offers an array of additional research tools, including sentiment-based trading tools and market insights from TipRanks and Acuity Trading, all of which ATFX lacks.
Further setting Interactive Brokers apart, they ensure traders are well-equipped with a comprehensive economic calendar, a feature shared with ATFX. However, Interactive Brokers' superior performance is reflected in earning a full 5-star rating for research, ranking third among 63 brokers assessed by ForexBrokers.com. In contrast, ATFX garners a modest 3-star rating and is placed 54th in the same category. This stark difference underscores Interactive Brokers' capacity to provide more comprehensive and valuable market research tools for its users.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
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 | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | Yes | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When comparing the educational resources available for beginners between Interactive Brokers and ATFX, both platforms offer a wealth of materials focused on forex and CFDs. Each provides at least ten educational pieces such as articles, videos, and archived webinars to help get new traders started. However, Interactive Brokers sets itself apart by hosting regular online webinars, at least one per month, to further aid clients in their learning journey, while ATFX does not offer this service. Moreover, both brokers maintain searchable archives of recorded webinars, allowing users to access previous sessions for continued education.
In terms of video content, Interactive Brokers and ATFX both deliver a collection of beginner-focused trading videos, ensuring learners have ample resources at their disposal. However, Interactive Brokers goes a step beyond with a series of advanced trading videos specifically crafted for experienced traders, an offering not mirrored by ATFX. Both brokers provide an investor dictionary with comprehensive definitions for over 50 investing terms, aiding in the understanding of complex financial language. Overall, Interactive Brokers holds a distinct advantage with a 5-star education rating and ranks third among 63 brokers in this category, compared to ATFX's 3-star rating and 28th place ranking.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
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 Interactive Brokers is better than ATFX. Interactive Brokers finished with an overall rank of #2, while ATFX finished with an overall rank of #51.
Interactive Brokers is a highly trusted multi-asset broker with an extensive offering of tradeable global markets. It delivers competitive fees and high-quality research and education, as well as a modern, institutional-grade trading platform suite.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
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ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
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| Trust Score | 99 | 85 |
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Interactive Brokers allows clients to purchase actual cryptocurrency and also offers cryptocurrency derivatives, whereas ATFX provides access only to cryptocurrency derivatives without the option to buy actual delivered cryptocurrency.
Comparing online brokers, Interactive Brokers supports ACH or SEPA transfers and bank wires for deposits and withdrawals, but not PayPal, Skrill, or credit card options like Visa or Mastercard, while ATFX lacks ACH/SEPA and PayPal capabilities but offers funding via Skrill, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wires.
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 | Interactive Brokers | ATFX | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Interactive Brokers Review |
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| Regulation | Interactive Brokers | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 85 | |
| Year Founded | 1977 | 2017 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 9 | 4 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 2 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Interactive Brokers | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | Yes | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Interactive Brokers | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | Interactive Brokers | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 8500 | 150 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 90 | 44 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | Yes | 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 | Interactive Brokers | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.59 | N/A | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.59 | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | No | Yes |
| Funding | Interactive Brokers | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $500 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | No | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | Interactive Brokers | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | No | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | 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 | Interactive Brokers | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 659 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 155 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 85 | 15 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Interactive Brokers | 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 | 97 | 7 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Interactive Brokers | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | No | Yes | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | Yes | |
| TipRanks | Yes | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Interactive Brokers | 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 | Interactive Brokers | 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 | Interactive Brokers Review |
| Overall | Interactive Brokers | ATFX | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Interactive Brokers Review |
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