Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Trading 212 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 Trading 212 and ATFX, both online brokers offer secure trading experiences, but they differ in some regulatory aspects. Trading 212, established in 2004, holds 3 Tier-1 licenses, reflecting a high level of trust, although it doesn't hold any Tier-2 licenses. Trading 212 is not listed on any stock exchange and is not a bank. It carries a Trust Score rating of 80 according to ForexBrokers.com, categorizing it as a trusted broker with some level of confidence for users.
On the other hand, ATFX, founded in 2017, garners a slightly higher Trust Score of 85, indicating a trusted status. It boasts 4 Tier-1 licenses and 2 Tier-2 licenses, offering a wider range of regulatory approvals. Like Trading 212, ATFX is neither publicly traded nor a bank, but its acquired licenses contribute to building trust among its clientele. Overall, both brokers present viable options, with ATFX holding a slight edge in terms of regulatory confidence due to its additional licenses.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2004 | 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 | 0 | 1 |
Comparing commissions and fees, Trading 212 edges ATFX on transparency and overall score. Trading 212 is rated 4/5 stars and ranks #50 out of 63 brokers for Commissions and Fees, while ATFX is rated 3/5 stars and ranks #61 out of 63.
Trading 212 offers two accounts: Invest (shares) with a 1 euro minimum deposit and CFD with a 10 euro minimum. Its CFD and forex trades are advertised as zero-commission, but you still pay the spread. Trading 212 now publishes average spread data; in April 2025 its EUR/USD average was 2.7 pips, which is higher than the industry average and makes it less competitive than top low-cost CFD and forex brokers.
ATFX does not have average spread data available here, making its typical trading costs harder to evaluate side by side. Given its 3/5 star rating and #61 ranking for Commissions and Fees, cost-focused traders may want to check live spreads and any other charges directly before deciding.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | €1 | $500 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 2.7 | N/A |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 2.7 | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | No |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
Trading 212 vs ATFX: both support forex trading (CFD or spot) and let you trade crypto derivatives, though neither lets you buy actual crypto. The big difference is breadth. Trading 212 offers 7,868 tradeable symbols and 146 forex pairs, plus real, exchange-traded shares on both U.S. and international exchanges (not CFDs). ATFX lists 150 symbols and 44 forex pairs, and it does not offer direct share dealing on U.S. or international exchanges.
Feature-wise, ATFX includes copy trading while Trading 212 does not. For Range of Investments, ForexBrokers.com rates Trading 212 at 5 stars (ranked #16 of 63) and ATFX at 3.5 stars (ranked #58 of 63), underscoring Trading 212’s wider market access, while ATFX may appeal if you want copy trading alongside a smaller selection.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 7868 | 150 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 146 | 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) | 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.
In a Trading 212 vs ATFX platform comparison, both brokers offer free demo (paper) accounts and web-based trading. Trading 212 provides its own proprietary platform but does not offer a Windows desktop download, nor does it support MetaTrader 4 or MetaTrader 5. ATFX takes the opposite route: it has no in-house platform, but it supports MT4 and MT5 and offers a Windows desktop platform alongside a browser platform. Copy trading is available at ATFX but not at Trading 212. Both brokers let you place trades directly from charts, and neither integrates DupliTrade or ZuluTrade.
For charting tools, Trading 212 lists 20 drawing tools versus 15 at ATFX; indicator counts weren’t provided for either. Watchlists are a bit more flexible at ATFX (seven columns) than at Trading 212 (five columns). Based on platform and tool quality, Trading 212 is rated 4 stars and ranked #20 out of 63 brokers, while ATFX is rated 3.5 stars and ranked #63 out of 63.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | No |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | No | 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) | 54 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 20 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 5 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Both Trading 212 and ATFX offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, complete with real-time watchlists and price alerts. Where they begin to differ is convenience and recognition: Trading 212 syncs your watchlists between mobile and web, while ATFX does not. Reflecting overall user experience, Trading 212 earns 4 stars for its mobile app compared with ATFX’s 3.5 stars. According to ForexBrokers.com, Trading 212 ranks 17th in the Mobile Trading Apps category, whereas ATFX sits at 64th.
For charting, Trading 212 stands out with 104 technical indicators versus just 7 on ATFX. Both apps let you draw trendlines, switch among multiple time frames (intraday to weekly), and auto-save your drawings, so your chart work stays put. If you value deeper analysis tools and seamless syncing across devices, Trading 212 has the edge; if basic charting and alerts cover your needs, ATFX can still get the job done.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 104 | 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 Trading 212 vs ATFX for market research, the two brokers take different approaches. ATFX provides daily market commentary, which can help you stay on top of trends, while Trading 212 does not. On the other hand, Trading 212 includes forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones, whereas ATFX does not. Both brokers offer an economic calendar to track key events around the world.
In terms of tools, ATFX supports Autochartist and Trading Central for technical and fundamental insights, which Trading 212 does not. Trading 212 counters with a sentiment tool showing the ratio of long and short positions; ATFX does not offer this feature. Trading 212 does not include TipRanks or Acuity Trading tools, and availability for these at ATFX is not specified. Overall, Trading 212 is rated 3.5 out of 5 stars for Research and ranks 45th out of 63 brokers, while ATFX earns 3 out of 5 stars and ranks 55th.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | No | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | No | Yes |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | Yes |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No |
| TipRanks | No | |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
Comparing Trading 212 vs ATFX for beginner education, both brokers check the key boxes. Each offers a dedicated forex and CFD education section with at least 10 pieces of content, plus 10+ beginner-friendly videos that explain core trading topics in plain terms. Both also provide a searchable archive of past webinars for on-demand learning and an investor dictionary with 50+ terms to help you understand market jargon. One limitation is that neither broker hosts ongoing monthly live educational webinars.
The main difference shows up as you progress: Trading 212 includes at least 10 advanced videos for experienced traders, while ATFX does not. That extra depth helps Trading 212 edge ahead with a 3.5-star Education rating and a #21 ranking out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, compared with ATFX’s 3-star rating and #28 ranking. If you expect to move beyond the basics, Trading 212 offers a clearer path; if you’re focused on getting started, both platforms provide a solid foundation.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
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 | 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 Trading 212 is better than ATFX. Trading 212 finished with an overall rank of #31, while ATFX finished with an overall rank of #51.
Best known for its mobile trading app, Trading 212 offers an easy-to-use trading platform suite for CFD and share trading, as well as a large variety of forex pairs. However, despite its well-designed platform and wide range of symbols, its lack of advanced trading tools and flat research offerings hamper Trading 212’s bid to be considered a top broker.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 80 | 85 |
| Range of Investments |
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Both Trading 212 and ATFX do not offer the option to buy actual delivered cryptocurrencies, but they do provide the ability to trade cryptocurrency derivatives, allowing investors to engage in crypto trading without owning the underlying assets.
When comparing online brokers, Trading 212 offers versatile account funding options via ACH, SEPA transfers, PayPal, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wires, whereas ATFX supports deposits and withdrawals via Skrill, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wires, lacking both ACH, SEPA transfers and PayPal, which makes Trading 212 more accessible for users seeking diverse payment 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 | Trading 212 | ATFX | |
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| Trust Score | 80 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Trading 212 Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Trading 212 | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Regulation | Trading 212 | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 80 | 85 | |
| Year Founded | 2004 | 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 | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Trading 212 | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | No | 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) | Trading 212 | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | No | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No |
| Investments | Trading 212 | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 7868 | 150 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 146 | 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) | 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 | Trading 212 | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 2.7 | N/A | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 2.7 | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Trading 212 | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | €1 | $500 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | Trading 212 | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | No | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | No | 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 | Trading 212 | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 5 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 54 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 20 | 15 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Trading 212 | 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 | 104 | 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 | Trading 212 | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | No | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | No | Yes | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | ||
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Trading 212 | 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 | Yes | No | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Trading 212 | 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 | Trading 212 Review |
| Overall | Trading 212 | ATFX | |
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| Trust Score | 80 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Trading 212 Review |
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