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 stands out with competitive forex pricing, even though it does not publicly share its average forex spreads. During the third quarter of 2024, the EUR/USD spread at Interactive Brokers was 0.19 pips, culminating in an all-in spread of 0.59 pips once commissions are factored in. The broker's commissions for forex start at 0.00002 (0.2 basis points) of the U.S. dollar trade value, with a minimum fee of $2 per transaction. This means a round turn cost is typically $4, with lower rates available for very active traders. When trading $100,000 worth of EUR/USD, the commission is equivalent to about 0.40 pips over the prevailing spread, illustrating its cost-efficiency for forex activities. Interactive Brokers is rated 5 stars and is ranked 2nd out of 62 brokers for commissions and fees by ForexBrokers.com.
In contrast, ATFX provides basic information on fees without specific spread data, complicating direct cost comparisons. Despite this, their overall rating for commissions and fees is 3 stars, which indicates a less competitive standing relative to Interactive Brokers. With fewer disclosed details on fee structure and spreads, potential traders might find it challenging to gauge the exact cost of transactions with ATFX. It ranks significantly lower, at 59th out of 62 brokers in the Commissions and Fees category according to ForexBrokers.com.
| 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 and ATFX both provide forex trading options, but they cater to different investor needs. Interactive Brokers stands out with an impressive 8,500 tradeable symbols and 90 forex pairs, allowing a wide exploration of market opportunities. In contrast, ATFX offers 150 tradeable symbols and 44 forex pairs, which might be limiting for those who seek broad exposure. When it comes to trading on U.S. and international exchanges, Interactive Brokers offers the ability to buy actual shares, like Apple and Vodafone, whereas ATFX does not provide this option, instead focusing on trading CFDs. Additionally, Interactive Brokers supports buying actual cryptocurrencies, along with cryptocurrency derivatives, offering flexibility for crypto enthusiasts, while ATFX only provides cryptocurrency derivatives.
For investors interested in copy trading, ATFX offers this feature, making it appealing to those who prefer following successful strategies from other traders. Interactive Brokers, however, does not include copy trading in its offerings. Given these factors, Interactive Brokers has a 5-star rating for its range of investments and is ranked #1 out of 62 brokers for this category by ForexBrokers.com. Meanwhile, ATFX holds a 3.5-star rating and is ranked #57, indicating a more limited selection of investment options compared to Interactive Brokers.
| 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 powerful trading platforms, each featuring their own unique set of tools. When it comes to simulated trading, both brokers offer free virtual demo accounts to help users familiarize themselves with the platforms. Interactive Brokers highlights its proprietary trading platform developed in-house, available for Windows desktop and browsers, but does not support popular platforms like MetaTrader 4 (MT4) or MetaTrader 5 (MT5). On the other hand, ATFX does not have a proprietary platform; however, it does support MT4 and MT5, offering users a more familiar trading interface. ATFX also supports copy trading, an option not available with Interactive Brokers.
When it comes to charting tools, Interactive Brokers stands out with an impressive 85 drawing tools and the ability to trade directly from stock charts, compared to ATFX's 15 drawing tools, though both allow trading directly from charts. Additionally, Interactive Brokers offers an extensive selection with 659 columns for watch lists, vastly surpassing ATFX's 7 columns. In terms of overall platform ratings, Interactive Brokers is rated at the forefront with five stars, ranking third out of 62 brokers in the Trading Platforms and Tools category. Conversely, ATFX holds a 3.5-star rating, placing it at 61st in the same category. This clearly indicates that Interactive Brokers offers a more feature-rich experience for users looking for advanced trading tools and capabilities.
| 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.
Interactive Brokers and ATFX both offer mobile trading apps compatible with iPhone and Android devices. When it comes to sending stock or forex price alerts, both platforms have you covered. However, a key difference to consider is how their watchlists function. Interactive Brokers allows watchlist symbol syncing with your online account, so changes are seamless across platforms, while ATFX does not offer this feature. For those who rely on technical analysis, Interactive Brokers stands out with 97 technical studies available in its mobile app, compared to ATFX's 7, giving traders a wider range of insights for decision-making.
Both brokers support drawing trendlines and viewing charts in different time frames, such as daily, weekly, or intraday. Notably, ATFX has the advantage of auto-saving your chart drawings, a feature Interactive Brokers lacks. Real-time quotes for watchlists are available on both apps, ensuring you can stay updated with market shifts. In terms of ratings, Interactive Brokers shines with a 5-star rating, ranked 4th out of 62 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, while ATFX holds a 3.5-star rating, positioned at the bottom of the list. This could be a deciding factor for those who prioritize app performance and recognition.
| 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 comparing Interactive Brokers to ATFX for market research, it's clear that Interactive Brokers has a more comprehensive offering. Both brokers provide daily market commentary and an economic calendar to keep investors informed about global news events. However, Interactive Brokers stands out by providing forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones, which ATFX does not offer. Additionally, Interactive Brokers supports various research tools such as those from Trading Central and Acuity Trading, as well as a sentiment-based trading tool displaying market positions. In contrast, ATFX only features tools from Autochartist and Trading Central.
Furthermore, Interactive Brokers incorporates market research from TipRanks, enriching their analytical tools, a feature absent in ATFX. This extensive suite of resources earns Interactive Brokers a 5-star rating for research, placing it 3rd out of 62 brokers, as reviewed by ForexBrokers.com. ATFX, with fewer resources and offerings, receives a 3-star rating, ranking 54th. This comparison highlights Interactive Brokers as a stronger choice for those seeking in-depth market insights and a variety of research tools.
| 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 to beginners, Interactive Brokers and ATFX both provide foundational materials for learning about forex and CFDs, including at least 10 educational articles, videos, or webinars. However, if you like to participate in live learning sessions, only Interactive Brokers offers monthly online educational client webinars, while ATFX does not. Both platforms maintain searchable archives of previously recorded webinars, so you can learn from past sessions at your convenience.
For visual learners, both brokers present beginner-friendly educational videos. However, Interactive Brokers goes a step further by also offering advanced materials for more experienced traders. Both platforms include an investor dictionary with over 50 investing terms to help demystify complex jargon. Overall, Interactive Brokers is highly rated with 5 stars for education and ranks #3 in the education category by ForexBrokers.com, whereas ATFX holds 3 stars and is ranked #28, making Interactive Brokers a stronger choice for in-depth educational resources.
| 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 62 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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