Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of IronFX 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.
IronFX and ATFX are two online brokers that cater to traders seeking a reliable platform. Founded in 2010, IronFX is not publicly traded and holds 3 Tier-1 licenses, signaling a high level of trust according to ForexBrokers.com. Despite being established seven years later in 2017, ATFX also isn't listed on any stock exchange. However, ATFX holds 4 Tier-1 licenses, demonstrating a firmer trust proposition for traders. Both brokers are not banks, which means they focus solely on brokerage services.
When it comes to licensing, IronFX has no Tier-2 licenses, whereas ATFX secures added stability with 2 Tier-2 licenses. According to ForexBrokers.com, IronFX has a Trust Score of 83, placing it well within the "trusted" range. Meanwhile, ATFX edges slightly higher in trust with a score of 85, suggesting a slightly more favorable reputation. Both brokers offer a trustworthy experience; however, ATFX may provide a more appealing choice for those weighing regulatory strength closely.
| Feature |
IronFX
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2010 | 2017 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 3 | 4 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 2 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
IronFX’s commissions and fees lean higher than the industry average based on its published spreads. The broker lists a typical 1.8‑pip spread for its Standard variable account (no date range provided, and pricing varies by account and market conditions). IronFX also offers a zero fixed-spread account that can start at 0 pips, but it adds a $18 per-lot commission and widens spreads to 3 pips overnight. Overall, IronFX earns 4 out of 5 stars for commissions and fees and ranks #47 of 63 brokers in this category on ForexBrokers.com.
ATFX does not provide average spread data, making direct fee comparisons harder. Its lower category results hint at less competitive pricing relative to peers: ATFX holds a 3 out of 5 star rating for commissions and fees and is ranked #61 of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com. Traders considering ATFX should review live quotes, account types, and any commission or overnight spread policies before deciding.
| Feature |
IronFX
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $50 | $500 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.2 | N/A |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | 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.
Comparing the range of investments at IronFX vs ATFX, IronFX offers a wider selection overall. IronFX lists 340 tradeable symbols and 83 forex pairs, while ATFX provides 150 symbols and 44 pairs. Both brokers support forex trading as CFDs or spot (availability can depend on region and account type), and both offer copy trading.
Neither broker lets you buy exchange-traded stocks directly on U.S. or international exchanges, and neither supports buying actual cryptocurrency. However, both provide access to cryptocurrency derivatives. For Range of Investments, both are rated 3.5 out of 5 stars by ForexBrokers.com, with IronFX ranked #52 of 63 brokers and ATFX ranked #58. In short, IronFX has the broader lineup, while ATFX delivers a more streamlined list of markets.
| Feature |
IronFX
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 340 | 150 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 83 | 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.
IronFX and ATFX both deliver familiar MetaTrader-based trading platforms and tools. Each broker offers a free demo account for practice, a Windows desktop download and a web-based platform, and no proprietary platform. Copy trading is available at both, and you can place trades straight from charts. Charting is comparable, with 15 drawing tools at each broker and 7 watchlist columns. The number of built-in technical indicators wasn’t specified, and neither broker connects to DupliTrade or ZuluTrade.
The key difference is platform choice: IronFX supports MetaTrader 4 (MT4) only, while ATFX supports both MT4 and MetaTrader 5 (MT5), which many traders prefer for its added features. In ForexBrokers.com’s Trading Platforms and Tools category, both earned 3.5 out of 5 stars, with IronFX ranked 62nd of 63 brokers and ATFX 63rd. If you want MT5, ATFX stands out; if MT4 is all you need, the two are closely matched in platform features.
| Feature |
IronFX
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | No | 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 | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 15 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
IronFX and ATFX each offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android. Both apps include price alerts, real-time quote watchlists, drawing tools like trendlines, multiple time frames, and automatic saving of chart annotations. One notable omission for both is watchlist syncing with the web platform, so changes you make on mobile won’t carry over to your online account.
For charting depth, IronFX stands out with 30 built-in technical studies compared with ATFX’s 7. Despite that difference, both apps hold the same user rating of 3.5 stars. In industry comparisons, ForexBrokers.com ranks IronFX 63rd and ATFX 64th in its Mobile Trading Apps category. If you value a wider set of indicators, IronFX has the edge; if you only need essentials and alerts, ATFX covers the basics just as well.
| Feature |
IronFX
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 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.
Comparing IronFX vs ATFX for market research: both brokers provide daily market commentary and an economic calendar to track key events. IronFX stands out by offering forex news from top-tier sources such as Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones, while ATFX does not. Both include Trading Central for technical analysis; ATFX also offers Autochartist, which IronFX lacks. Neither broker lists a sentiment-based positioning tool. Availability of TipRanks or Acuity Trading (e.g., Signal Centre) is not specified for either broker.
In independent reviews, IronFX earns 4 out of 5 stars for Research and ranks #29 out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, whereas ATFX scores 3 out of 5 stars and ranks #55. Choose IronFX if premium live news is important to your trading, or consider ATFX if you want Autochartist’s pattern and signal scanning. Both are solid picks for daily insights and calendar-driven trading.
| Feature |
IronFX
|
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 | No | No |
| TipRanks | ||
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | ||
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When comparing the educational resources for beginners between IronFX and ATFX, both brokers provide a range of materials such as articles, videos, and archived webinars focused on forex and CFDs. Each offers a minimum of 10 beginner-friendly educational videos that can aid new traders in understanding the basics of trading. Additionally, both IronFX and ATFX host searchable archives of previously recorded client webinars, which can be useful for learners who want to revisit specific topics at their own pace.
However, there are areas where these brokers differ. IronFX includes an investor dictionary that defines over 50 investing terms, a feature shared by ATFX as well. Although neither broker hosts live educational webinars, ATFX's educational offerings have received a slightly lower rating of 3 stars compared to IronFX's 4 stars. Despite this, ATFX holds a higher education ranking at #28 among 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, while IronFX is placed at #44. Each broker provides valuable learning tools, yet the differences in ratings and ranking might guide beginners to select the platform that better aligns with their learning preferences.
| Feature |
IronFX
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | No | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | No | 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 IronFX is better than ATFX. IronFX finished with an overall rank of #48, while ATFX finished with an overall rank of #51.
IronFX has come a long way to rebuild its brand, acquiring multiple regulatory licenses to improve its Trust Score, and creating balanced educational material. That said, pricing is an area where IronFX has room to further improve as spreads appeared higher than the industry average.
| Feature |
IronFX
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 83 | 85 |
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Both IronFX and ATFX do not offer the ability to buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrencies, but they do provide options for trading cryptocurrency derivatives.
Both IronFX and ATFX provide various deposit and withdrawal options, including Skrill, Visa or Mastercard, and bank wires, but neither offers ACH, SEPA transfers, or PayPal as available methods.
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 | IronFX | ATFX | |
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| Trust Score | 83 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
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| Broker Screenshots | IronFX | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
| Regulation | IronFX | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 83 | 85 | |
| Year Founded | 2010 | 2017 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 3 | 4 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 2 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | IronFX | 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) | |||
| 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) | IronFX | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No |
| Investments | IronFX | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 340 | 150 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 83 | 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 | IronFX | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.2 | N/A | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | IronFX | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $50 | $500 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | 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 | IronFX | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | No | 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 | No | No |
| Trading Tools | IronFX | 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) | 15 | 15 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | IronFX | 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 | 30 | 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 | IronFX | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | No | Yes | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | Yes | |
| TipRanks | |||
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | No | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | IronFX | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | No | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | No | No | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | IronFX | 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 |
| Overall | IronFX | ATFX | |
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| Trust Score | 83 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
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