Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of FXCM vs Axi, 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.
FXCM, established in 1999, and Axi, founded in 2007, are two online brokerage firms that cater to traders worldwide. An essential factor when choosing a broker is their Trust Score, a metric provided by ForexBrokers.com that ranges from 90-99 for highly trusted brokers to below 59 for those not recommended. FXCM boasts an impressive Trust Score of 95, positioning it as a highly trusted broker. In contrast, Axi's Trust Score of 82 places it in the 'trusted' category. Both brokers are not banks, but FXCM is unique as it is publicly traded, adding an extra layer of transparency to its operations.
Another crucial aspect is regulatory compliance. FXCM holds four Tier-1 licenses, indicating a high level of trust, while Axi holds two Tier-1 licenses. Further, FXCM also has two Tier-2 licenses, compared to Axi's one, highlighting FXCM's broader regulatory approval. For traders evaluating these brokers based on regulatory confidence and public transparency, FXCM offers a more established and widely trusted option compared to Axi.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
Axi
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1999 | 2007 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
Comparing FXCM vs Axi on commissions and fees: both earn 4 out of 5 stars from ForexBrokers.com. FXCM ranks #26 out of 63 brokers in the Commissions and Fees category, while Axi ranks #44 out of 63. Axi does not provide average spread data, which makes a direct, like‑for‑like comparison harder, but its star rating suggests broadly competitive pricing overall.
FXCM’s forex pricing trends a bit higher than the industry average on standard accounts. Using May 2024 time‑weighted averages, EUR/USD spreads were about 0.78 pips across FXCM’s EU, U.K., and Australia entities, and 1.38 pips at its St. Vincent & the Grenadines entity. FXCM’s commission‑based accounts averaged a 0.28‑pip core spread in May 2024 (before commissions), with an effective spread closer to 0.74 pips once the typical commission equivalent of about 0.50 pips per round turn is included. FXCM also offers an Active Trader Rebate Program (not available in the U.K. or EU) with five tiers, paying $5 to $25 per million traded if you meet monthly volume thresholds starting at $10 million. Requirements vary by entity; for example, in the U.K., a $25,000 balance and at least $50 million in monthly volume can reduce the commission to $2.50 per side ($5 round turn), yielding an effective EUR/USD spread near 0.78 pips based on a 0.28‑pip core price. As with most brokers, spreads can widen during rollover or during unusual market conditions.
Axi’s lack of published average spread figures limits one‑to‑one cost comparisons. Still, it holds a 4‑star commissions and fees rating and sits at #44 out of 63 brokers. If you trade higher volumes or rely on commission‑based pricing, review Axi’s account types, stated spreads, and any volume discounts on its site to estimate your all‑in costs. For traders who qualify outside the U.K. and EU, FXCM’s rebates can trim expenses, while standard spreads at FXCM remain slightly above the industry average.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
Axi
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | Starts from $50 | $0 |
| 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 | Yes |
| 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.
Comparing FXCM vs Axi for range of investments: both brokers support forex trading (CFD or spot), offer copy trading, and provide access to cryptocurrency derivatives—not the actual coins. Neither broker lets you buy exchange-traded stocks on U.S. or international exchanges. FXCM lists a wider overall catalog with 440 tradeable symbols, while Axi offers 175. In forex, Axi features more pairs (65) than FXCM (46), so FXCM leans toward broader instrument coverage, while Axi emphasizes currency pair variety.
Both earn 3.5 out of 5 stars for Range of Investments. In ForexBrokers.com’s rankings out of 63 brokers, FXCM places #48 and Axi ranks #57, signaling a slight edge to FXCM overall, even though Axi carries more forex pairs.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
Axi
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 440 | 175 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 46 | 65 |
| 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.
FXCM and Axi both offer free demo accounts for paper trading, along with Windows desktop and web-based platforms. FXCM also provides its own proprietary platform, while Axi focuses on third-party options. Each broker supports MetaTrader 4 (MT4) but not MT5. Copy trading is available at both and includes ZuluTrade; neither supports DupliTrade.
Both brokers let you place trades directly from charts. FXCM lists 10 drawing tools compared with Axi’s 15, and FXCM’s watch lists offer up to 13 fields versus Axi’s 7. For overall platform and tool quality, ratings tilt toward FXCM: it holds 5 stars and is ranked #6, while Axi is rated 3.5 stars and ranked #64 by ForexBrokers.com.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
Axi
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | No |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | Yes | Yes |
| 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.
FXCM vs Axi: both brokers offer iPhone and Android trading apps with price alerts and real‑time quote watchlists. According to ForexBrokers.com, FXCM’s mobile app earns 4.5 stars and ranks #16 out of 63 brokers, while Axi’s app scores 3.5 stars and ranks #60. Both apps cover essentials like drawing trendlines and switching between multiple time frames.
For charting depth and convenience, FXCM pulls ahead. It includes 59 technical studies versus Axi’s 30, syncs watchlists between the app and your online account (Axi does not), and auto‑saves chart drawings (Axi does not). If you want a richer toolkit and seamless watchlist management, FXCM is the stronger choice; if you just need the basics with alerts on iOS or Android, Axi can still get the job done.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
Axi
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 59 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | No |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
FXCM vs Axi: When it comes to market research, FXCM offers more built-in insights. FXCM provides daily market commentary, top-tier forex news (from sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones), Trading Central tools, a sentiment indicator, TipRanks research, and an economic calendar. Axi also delivers quality forex news, a sentiment tool, and an economic calendar, and it stands out with Autochartist for pattern and signal scanning. However, Axi does not provide daily commentary and does not offer Trading Central; TipRanks and Acuity Trading tools are not clearly listed on Axi’s side.
Independent ratings from ForexBrokers.com back up the gap: FXCM earns 4.5 out of 5 stars for Research and ranks #11 out of 63 brokers, while Axi scores 3 out of 5 stars and ranks #56. In short, choose FXCM if you want daily commentary plus Trading Central and TipRanks; pick Axi if Autochartist scanning is your priority alongside essential news, sentiment, and calendar tools.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
Axi
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | No |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | Yes |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | No |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | Yes | |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
For beginners seeking educational resources on trading, both FXCM and Axi offer materials to help you understand forex and CFDs. FXCM excels with a wide range of learning content, including over ten educational videos tailored specifically for beginners, and extends its offerings to advanced traders with more than ten advanced videos. On the other hand, while Axi also provides over ten beginner videos, it falls short in offering advanced educational content. Both brokers conduct monthly live webinars, allowing for interactive learning experiences. However, if you miss a webinar, FXCM provides a searchable archive of past sessions, which Axi does not.
Apart from videos and webinars, both brokers offer an investor dictionary boasting definitions of over 50 investing terms, a handy resource for new traders. When considering education ratings, FXCM stands out with a 4.5-star rating, ranking 14th out of 63 brokers reviewed by ForexBrokers.com. Axi, in comparison, holds a 3-star education rating and is positioned 27th in the same category. This makes FXCM a stronger choice for comprehensive learning support, especially for those seeking both beginner and advanced educational materials.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
Axi
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
| 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 Axi. FXCM finished with an overall rank of #15, while Axi finished with an overall rank of #49.
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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Axi
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 95 | 82 |
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Both FXCM and Axi do not offer the ability to buy actual delivered cryptocurrency, but they each provide the option to trade cryptocurrency derivatives.
In comparing online brokers FXCM and Axi, FXCM stands out by offering a wider range of deposit and withdrawal options, including ACH or SEPA transfers, PayPal, Skrill, Visa or Mastercard, and bank wires, while Axi offers Skrill, Visa or Mastercard, and bank wires, but does not support ACH or SEPA transfers or PayPal.
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 | Axi | |
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| Trust Score | 95 | 82 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | FXCM Review |
| Broker Screenshots | FXCM | Axi | |
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| Regulation | FXCM | Axi | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 95 | 82 | |
| Year Founded | 1999 | 2007 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 2 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | FXCM | Axi | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| 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 | No |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | FXCM | Axi | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | FXCM | Axi | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 440 | 175 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 46 | 65 | |
| 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 | Axi | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | FXCM | Axi | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | Starts from $50 | $0 | |
| 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 | Axi | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | No | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Tools | FXCM | Axi | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Axi | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | No |
| Research | FXCM | Axi | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | No | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | Yes | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | Yes | ||
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | FXCM | Axi | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | FXCM | Axi | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Axi | |
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| Trust Score | 95 | 82 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | FXCM Review |
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