Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Trading 212 vs Eightcap, 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.
Trading 212 and Eightcap are two established online brokers, with Trading 212 founded in 2004 and Eightcap making its debut in 2009. Both companies are privately held and do not operate as banks. When it comes to regulatory credentials, each broker holds three Tier-1 licenses, which are highly trusted according to ForexBrokers.com. However, neither broker holds any Tier-2 licenses. These regulatory clearances ensure that both platforms comply with stringent financial regulations, providing users with a trusted trading environment.
In terms of trustworthiness as assessed by ForexBrokers.com, Trading 212 receives a Trust Score of 80, categorizing it as a trusted broker. On the other hand, Eightcap scores slightly higher, with a Trust Score of 85, placing it firmly in the trusted category as well. While both brokers offer credible and secure options for online trading, Eightcap's slightly superior Trust Score might appeal more to those emphasizing regulatory trust and oversight in their trading experience.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
Eightcap
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2004 | 2009 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 3 | 3 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
When comparing online brokers Trading 212 and Eightcap on commissions and fees, certain differences become apparent. Trading 212 offers two types of accounts: Invest for share trading and CFD for trading CFDs, with the latter requiring a minimum deposit of 10 euros. Despite promoting zero-commission trading, Trading 212 charges spreads on CFD and forex trades. Their published average spread for the EUR/USD pair in April stood at 2.7 pips, which is notably higher than the industry average, making it less competitive. Trading 212 holds a 4-star rating for commissions and fees and ranks #49 out of 63 brokers in this category according to ForexBrokers.com.
In contrast, Eightcap provides two account types: the Raw account, which is commission-based, and the Standard account, which operates on a spread-only basis. While the Raw account advertises an average spread of 0.06 pips, adding the per-side commission of $3.50 results in an overall cost of approximately 0.76 pips. This rate is slightly lower than the industry average of 0.8 pips, although Eightcap remains pricier than the lowest-cost forex brokers available. Eightcap earns a 4-star rating for its commissions and fees, ranking at a significantly better #26 out of 63 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com.
Ultimately, while both Trading 212 and Eightcap offer competitive offerings in their own right, they differ notably in their pricing structure. Traders who prioritize lower spreads might lean towards Eightcap, despite the additional commission, while others might prefer Trading 212’s straightforward approach despite the higher average spreads. Both brokers maintain a 4-star rating for their commissions and fees, offering good but distinct options for traders.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
Eightcap
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | €1 | $100 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 2.7 | 1.0 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 2.7 | 0.76 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | No |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
When comparing the investment options at Trading 212 and Eightcap, it's evident that Trading 212 offers a more extensive range. Trading 212 provides access to 7,868 tradeable symbols, dwarfing Eightcap's 800 offerings. In terms of forex pairs, Trading 212 also leads with 146 available options, compared to Eightcap's 56. Furthermore, Trading 212 allows clients to buy exchange-traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges, providing a notable advantage for those interested in direct stock purchases like Apple or Vodafone. While neither platform offers the ability to buy actual cryptocurrencies, both facilitate cryptocurrency derivatives trading.
Eightcap, however, stands out in the area of copy trading, which Trading 212 does not offer. Despite this feature, Trading 212 still holds a higher rating for the range of investments, earning 5 stars compared to Eightcap's 3.5 stars. According to ForexBrokers.com, Trading 212 ranks 15th among 63 brokers for investment offerings, while Eightcap ranks 40th. For investors seeking a broad array of trading opportunities and direct access to global securities, Trading 212 presents a compelling choice.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
Eightcap
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 7868 | 800 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 146 | 56 |
| 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.
Both Trading 212 and Eightcap offer free virtual demo accounts, allowing users to practice trading without any financial risk. Trading 212 has its own platform developed in-house, which is available as a web-based application, whereas Eightcap utilizes third-party platforms, providing MT4 and MT5 for Windows users. Both brokers enable users to trade directly from stock charts, enhancing ease of operation. Trading 212 boasts 20 drawing tools for charting, compared to Eightcap's 15, but Eightcap compensates with features like copy trading and a more extensive range of trading platform options.
In terms of customization, Trading 212 allows up to five columns for watch lists, whereas Eightcap offers seven, catering to users who seek detailed market overviews. Despite these differences, both brokers receive a solid four out of five stars for their trading platforms and tools. However, based on ForexBrokers.com's ranking, Trading 212 holds a superior position at #20 out of 63 brokers, compared to Eightcap's ranking at #38, possibly reflecting a stronger overall user experience in this category.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
Eightcap
|
|---|---|---|
| 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.
When it comes to mobile trading, both Trading 212 and Eightcap have developed versatile apps available for iPhone and Android users. Both platforms support stock and forex price alerts, watchlist syncing with online accounts, and allow users to draw trendlines on charts. Additionally, all changes made to watchlists are seamlessly synced across devices, providing a hassle-free experience for tracking your preferred stocks or forex trades in real time. Both apps also back multiple time frames and automatically save chart drawings for easy continuity.
Where Trading 212 stands out is in its charting features, offering 104 technical studies in its mobile app compared to Eightcap's 30. This more extensive set of tools gives traders a wider array of options for technical analysis. Despite these differences, both apps perform well in ratings, each scoring four out of five stars for mobile trading. However, Trading 212 enjoys a higher ranking, placed at #17 out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, while Eightcap holds the #38 spot. This ranks Trading 212 as a more popular choice among traders seeking comprehensive charting capabilities and a highly rated mobile trading experience.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
Eightcap
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 104 | 30 |
| 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 the market research offerings of Trading 212 and Eightcap reveals their distinct approaches to serving traders. Trading 212 provides forex news from leading sources such as Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones, ensuring traders are equipped with top-tier information. In contrast, Eightcap offers daily market commentary, helping users stay updated with ongoing market developments. Both brokers deliver sentiment-based trading tools, allowing traders to gauge the ratio of long and short positions across various instruments. They also provide an economic calendar to track vital global news events, ensuring traders remain informed about key economic developments worldwide.
Neither Trading 212 nor Eightcap offers research tools from companies like Autochartist, Trading Central, TipRanks, or Acuity Trading, indicating room for improvement in their market research tools. Both brokers are evenly matched with a research rating of 3.5 stars. However, Eightcap holds a slightly better position in ForexBrokers.com's rankings, landing at #39, compared to Trading 212's rank at #44 among 63 brokers. This comparison highlights each platform's unique strengths, helping traders make informed decisions based on their specific needs.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
Eightcap
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | No | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When comparing educational resources for beginners, both Trading 212 and Eightcap offer comprehensive learning materials for forex and CFD trading. Each platform provides at least ten educational pieces, including articles, videos, and archived webinars, focusing on these topics. However, neither broker provides monthly webinars for ongoing education. Both Trading 212 and Eightcap maintain searchable archives of past webinars, making it easy for users to go back and learn at their own pace.
For beginner traders, both platforms offer a substantial collection of videos specifically tailored to those new to trading. While Trading 212 extends its offerings to include advanced educational videos, helping more experienced traders deepen their understanding, Eightcap falls short in this area. Both brokers provide an investor dictionary rich with over 50 terms, which is a useful tool for those still getting acquainted with trading jargon. With a 3.5-star rating for education, Trading 212 is ranked higher at #20, compared to Eightcap's #40 ranking by ForexBrokers.com, reflecting some of these differences in their educational services.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
Eightcap
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 Eightcap. Trading 212 finished with an overall rank of #31, while Eightcap finished with an overall rank of #38.
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
|
Eightcap
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
|
| Trust Score | 80 | 85 |
| Range of Investments |
|
|
| Commissions & Fees |
|
|
| Platforms & Tools |
|
|
| Research |
|
|
| Mobile Trading |
|
|
| Education |
|
|
Both Trading 212 and Eightcap provide the ability to trade cryptocurrency derivatives, although neither platform offers the option to purchase actual, delivered cryptocurrencies.
Trading 212 and Eightcap offer various deposit and withdrawal methods, with Trading 212 supporting ACH and SEPA transfers, unlike Eightcap; both brokers accept PayPal and card payments via Visa or Mastercard, while Eightcap uniquely provides options for Skrill, and both allow bank wire transactions.
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.
Select Brokers
↓×Compare
0 of 5| Overall Rating | Trading 212 | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Commissions & Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Platforms & Tools |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 80 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Trading 212 Review | Eightcap Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Trading 212 | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trading Platforms Gallery (click to expand) |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading Gallery (click to expand) |
|
| |
| Research Gallery (click to expand) |
|
| |
| Education Gallery (click to expand) |
|
|
| Regulation | Trading 212 | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 80 | 85 | |
| Year Founded | 2004 | 2009 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 3 | 3 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Trading 212 | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | No | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| 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 | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | No | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | No | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | Trading 212 | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 7868 | 800 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 146 | 56 | |
| 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 | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 2.7 | 1.0 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 2.7 | 0.76 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Trading 212 | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | €1 | $100 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| 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 | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 104 | 30 | |
| 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 | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | No | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Trading 212 | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Eightcap Review |
| Overall | Trading 212 | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Commissions & Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Platforms & Tools |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 80 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Trading 212 Review | Eightcap Review |
IG
CMC Markets
FOREX.com
XTB
eToro
AvaTrade
Plus500
Pepperstone
FP Markets
Tickmill