Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of FOREX.com vs Trading 212, 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.
FOREX.com (founded 1999) and Trading 212 (founded 2004) are online brokers with different profiles. FOREX.com is publicly traded, while Trading 212 is privately held; neither is a bank.
On regulation and trust, ForexBrokers.com rates FOREX.com at 99/99 (highly trusted, as 90–99 qualifies) with 7 Tier-1 and 1 Tier-2 license. Trading 212 scores 82/99 (trusted, as 80–89 qualifies) with 3 Tier-1 licenses and no Tier-2 licenses. For context, ForexBrokers.com classifies 70–79 as average risk, 60–69 as high risk, and below 59 as not trusted.
| Feature |
FOREX.com
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1999 | 2004 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 3 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
Comparing commissions and fees, FOREX.com generally offers lower trading costs than Trading 212, especially on its commission-based RAW account. On EUR/USD, FOREX.com’s RAW pricing shows typical spreads of 0.13 pips plus a $7 commission per standard lot (about 0.7 pips), bringing the all-in cost to roughly 0.83 pips for many traders. Trading 212, while advertising zero-commission CFD trading, reports an average EUR/USD spread of 2.7 pips (April 2025), which is much higher. Even FOREX.com’s Standard account averages 1.4 pips in the U.S. (July 2023) and about 0.74 pips outside the U.S., both tighter than Trading 212’s published figure.
FOREX.com’s Standard account (the only option for MetaTrader) charges via the spread, suiting traders who don’t mind paying a higher spread for market‑maker execution. The newer RAW account is commission-based and available in the U.S., Canada, and the EU, with six volume tiers that rebate $2–$9 per million. At the base tier, the $7 per-lot commission adds about 0.7 pips to the 0.13‑pip spread. Unless you trade more than $50 million per month, FOREX.com notes the all-in cost of the Commission/RAW setup is practically the same as the Standard account for U.S. residents.
Trading 212 offers Invest and CFD accounts; for CFDs and forex, you pay the spread despite the “zero‑commission” label. Its reported average EUR/USD spread of 2.7 pips (April 2025) is well above the industry average and higher than FOREX.com’s typical pricing. Ratings and rankings: FOREX.com earns 4.5/5 stars for commissions and fees and ranks #15 out of 63; Trading 212 earns 4/5 stars and ranks #27 out of 63.
| Feature |
FOREX.com
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | €1 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.00 | 2.7 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.13 | 2.7 |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | Yes |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
Looking at range of investments, Trading 212 lists more total choices with 7,868 tradeable symbols, compared with 5,500 at FOREX.com. Trading 212 also offers more currency pairs (146 vs. 80). Both platforms let you trade forex either as CFDs or as spot contracts, depending on what’s available in your location.
Beyond forex, both brokers let clients buy exchange-traded securities (not CFDs) on U.S. and international stock exchanges, so you can own shares such as Apple or Vodafone. Neither offers delivered cryptocurrency, but both provide cryptocurrency CFDs. Copy trading isn’t available on either platform. For this category, both earn 5 out of 5 stars, with FOREX.com ranked #6 and Trading 212 ranked #15 out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com.
| Feature |
FOREX.com
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 5500 | 7868 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 80 | 146 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | Yes |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | No |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | No |
| Cryptocurrency (CFDs) | 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.
FOREX.com vs Trading 212: Both brokers offer free demo (paper) accounts and easy web-based platforms built in-house. FOREX.com also provides a Windows desktop platform and supports MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5), while Trading 212 does not offer a downloadable Windows platform and does not support MT4 or MT5. Both let you place trades directly from charts, and neither offers copy trading.
For trading platforms and tools, ForexBrokers.com rates FOREX.com at 5 stars and ranks it #5 out of 63 brokers, while Trading 212 earns 4 stars and ranks #19. Choose FOREX.com if you want desktop software or MetaTrader access; pick Trading 212 if you prefer a streamlined browser experience with an in-house platform and paper trading to practice.
| Feature |
FOREX.com
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | No |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | No |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | No |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 90 | 54 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Both FOREX.com and Trading 212 offer full-featured mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android. Each app supports price alerts, watchlist syncing between mobile and web, the ability to draw trendlines on charts, and automatic saving of your drawings—handy for staying organized across devices.
For charting tools, Trading 212 lists 104 technical studies, while FOREX.com includes 90. Despite the smaller indicator count, FOREX.com earned a higher Mobile Trading Apps rating (5 stars vs. 4 stars) and a stronger placement in ForexBrokers.com’s ranking (#2 vs. #17 out of 63 brokers). If you value a larger indicator library, Trading 212 has the edge; if overall app quality and recognition matter more, FOREX.com is the stronger pick.
| Feature |
FOREX.com
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 90 | 104 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
In the FOREX.com vs Trading 212 market research comparison, FOREX.com stands out by offering daily market commentary and access to Trading Central tools, while Trading 212 does not provide daily commentary or Trading Central. Both brokers deliver forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones, along with an economic calendar and a sentiment-based tool that shows long/short positioning. Neither broker integrates Autochartist, TipRanks, or Acuity Trading.
These differences help explain the scores: FOREX.com earns 5 stars for research and ranks #7 out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, whereas Trading 212 receives 3.5 stars and ranks #32. If you want frequent commentary and analyst-grade tools, FOREX.com is the stronger fit; if you mainly need quality news, a calendar, and sentiment data, Trading 212 covers those essentials.
| Feature |
FOREX.com
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | No |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central | Yes | No |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
Comparing beginner education at FOREX.com vs Trading 212: both brokers offer plenty of on-demand learning, including at least 10 beginner videos and at least 10 advanced videos that explain trading concepts step by step. The key difference is live learning. FOREX.com runs online client webinars at least once a month, giving newcomers a chance to ask questions in real time. Trading 212 does not offer monthly educational webinars.
Quality scores reflect this gap. FOREX.com earns 5 stars for Education and ranks #4 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com. Trading 212 holds 3.5 stars and ranks #20. If you want a more guided path with live sessions plus a large video library, FOREX.com is the stronger pick. If you prefer to learn at your own pace with videos only, Trading 212 can still work well.
| Feature |
FOREX.com
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 63 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that FOREX.com is better than Trading 212. FOREX.com finished with an overall rank of #4, while Trading 212 finished with an overall rank of #25.
FOREX.com is a trusted brand that delivers an excellent trading experience for forex and CFDs traders across the globe. It offers a wide range of markets and provides an impressive suite of proprietary platforms – alongside limited access to MetaTrader.
| Feature |
FOREX.com
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 82 |
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In the FOREX.com vs Trading 212 comparison for crypto trading, neither online broker offers buying actual (delivered) cryptocurrencies, but both support cryptocurrency CFDs.
FOREX.com vs Trading 212: both brokers support ACH/SEPA transfers, PayPal, and bank wire deposits/withdrawals, but only FOREX.com offers Skrill, while Visa/Mastercard availability is not specified.
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 | FOREX.com | Trading 212 | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 82 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | FOREX.com Review | Trading 212 Review |
| Broker Screenshots | FOREX.com | Trading 212 | |
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| Regulation | FOREX.com | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 82 | |
| Year Founded | 1999 | 2004 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 3 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 1 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | FOREX.com | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (FSA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | 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) | FOREX.com | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | ||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | No | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or CMA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No |
| Investments | FOREX.com | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 5500 | 7868 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 80 | 146 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | Yes | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (CFDs) | 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 | FOREX.com | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.00 | 2.7 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.13 | 2.7 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | No | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | FOREX.com | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | €1 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | FOREX.com | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | No | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | No | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | No | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | FOREX.com | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 90 | 54 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | FOREX.com | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 90 | 104 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | FOREX.com | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | No | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | FOREX.com | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | FOREX.com | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | FOREX.com Review | Trading 212 Review |
| Overall | FOREX.com | Trading 212 | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 82 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | FOREX.com Review | Trading 212 Review |
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