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.
When it comes to choosing a reliable online broker, regulatory oversight is crucial, and both FOREX.com and Trading 212 offer notable credentials in this area. FOREX.com, founded in 1999, holds an impressive Trust Score of 99 out of 99, indicating a high level of trust according to ForexBrokers.com. It is publicly traded and holds seven Tier-1 licenses, making it a trustworthy option for traders. Despite not being a bank, its strong regulatory framework sets it apart as a secure choice.
On the other hand, Trading 212, established in 2004, has a Trust Score of 80, reflecting a solid level of trust. While it is not publicly traded and holds no Tier-2 licenses, Trading 212 does maintain three Tier-1 licenses. Both brokers ensure users that they operate under strict guidelines, offering peace of mind for both new and seasoned investors. Nonetheless, the higher Trust Score and number of licenses give FOREX.com a competitive edge in terms of perceived security and regulation.
| 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 | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
Comparing commissions and fees, FOREX.com is generally the cheaper choice for forex traders, especially if you use its commission-based RAW account. FOREX.com earns 4.5/5 stars for commissions and fees and ranks #14 of 63 on ForexBrokers.com, while Trading 212 earns 4/5 stars and ranks #50 of 63. Both advertise competitive pricing in different ways, but the actual spreads tell a clearer story.
FOREX.com’s Standard account shows typical EUR/USD spreads of about 1.4 pips in the U.S. (July 2023), and about 0.74 pips outside the U.S. (time-weighted average, July 2023). The RAW account posts typical EUR/USD spreads of 0.13 pips (February 2024) plus a $7 per standard lot commission ($3.50 per side), which adds roughly 0.7 pips—putting the all-in cost near 0.83 pips before any rebates. Active-trader rebates range from $2 to $9 per million, and very high-volume traders (over $2 billion per month) can see pricing on par with top low-cost rivals. For most U.S. traders who don’t exceed $50 million per month, the RAW account’s all-in costs are similar to the Standard account; the key differences are execution method and eligible platforms.
Trading 212’s CFD account advertises zero-commission trading, but you still pay the spread. In April 2025, its average EUR/USD spread was 2.7 pips, which is much higher than industry averages and notably above FOREX.com’s typical costs on both the Standard and RAW accounts. Bottom line: if your priority is lower forex trading costs (especially on EUR/USD), FOREX.com tends to be the more cost-effective option, while Trading 212’s pricing is less competitive on spreads despite the no-commission headline.
| Feature |
FOREX.com
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | €1 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.4 | 2.7 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.9 | 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.
Comparing FOREX.com vs Trading 212 on range of investments: both let you trade forex as CFDs or spot and both offer cryptocurrency CFDs, but neither supports buying actual crypto or copy trading. Trading 212 lists more instruments overall with 7,868 tradeable symbols and 146 forex pairs, while FOREX.com offers 5,500 symbols and 80 forex pairs.
For real shares, Trading 212 stands out by allowing purchases of exchange-traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges (think Apple on NASDAQ and Vodafone in London). FOREX.com does not offer exchange-traded securities. Despite these differences, both brokers earned 5 out of 5 stars for Range of Investments from ForexBrokers.com; FOREX.com ranks 7th out of 63 brokers in this category, while Trading 212 ranks 16th. If you want access to stocks across markets plus a wide symbol list, Trading 212 has the edge. If your focus is forex and CFDs, FOREX.com is a strong contender.
| 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) | No | Yes |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | 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.
Comparing trading platforms and tools at FOREX.com vs Trading 212: both brokers provide a free demo (paper trading) account and offer their own in-house platforms. FOREX.com adds more platform choice with a Windows desktop download and support for MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5), while Trading 212 does not support MT4 or MT5 and does not have a Windows desktop app. Both brokers have web-based platforms and let you place orders directly from charts. Neither broker offers copy trading.
For platform quality, ForexBrokers.com rates FOREX.com at 5 out of 5 stars and ranks it #7 of 63 brokers for Trading Platforms and Tools. Trading 212 earns 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #20 of 63. If you want MetaTrader or a downloadable Windows platform, FOREX.com is the better fit; if you prefer trading in your browser on a broker’s own platform, Trading 212 also delivers, and both let you practice with a free demo account.
| 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) | 88 | 54 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
FOREX.com and Trading 212 both deliver capable mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android. Each one supports price alerts and watchlist syncing with your online account, so changes carry over across devices. Charting is well covered on both apps: you can draw trendlines, and your drawings auto-save for the next session.
For indicator count, Trading 212 offers 104 technical studies versus 88 on FOREX.com. However, independent testing from ForexBrokers.com gives FOREX.com the edge for overall mobile experience, rating it 5 stars and ranking it #3 out of 63 brokers, while Trading 212 earns 4 stars and ranks #17. In short, Trading 212 provides more built-in studies, but FOREX.com is rated higher for its mobile trading app overall.
| 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 | 88 | 104 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
For market research, FOREX.com offers more depth. It provides daily market commentary, top-tier forex news (from sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones), Trading Central tools for technical analysis, a sentiment indicator showing long vs. short positioning, and an economic calendar. Trading 212 delivers key essentials—forex news from leading outlets, a sentiment tool, and an economic calendar—but it does not publish daily commentary and does not include Trading Central. Neither broker offers Autochartist, TipRanks, or Acuity Trading tools.
Ratings back up the gap: FOREX.com scores 4.5/5 stars for Research and ranks 9th out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com. Trading 212 earns 3.5/5 stars and ranks 45th out of 63. In short, choose FOREX.com if you want daily insights and added third-party analysis; pick Trading 212 if headlines, sentiment, and a calendar cover your needs.
| 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.
FOREX.com and Trading 212 both provide forex and CFD education with at least 10 pieces of learning content, and each offers more than 10 beginner videos as well as more than 10 advanced videos. A key difference is live training: FOREX.com hosts client webinars at least once a month, while Trading 212 does not. If you learn best with scheduled, interactive sessions, FOREX.com has the edge; if you prefer on-demand videos and articles, both platforms have you covered.
For overall education quality, FOREX.com earns 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #4 out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com. Trading 212 scores 3.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #21. Beginners looking for a richer, more structured learning path may find FOREX.com more appealing, while Trading 212 still offers a solid library for self-paced study.
| 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 #5, while Trading 212 finished with an overall rank of #31.
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
|
|---|---|---|
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| Trust Score | 99 | 80 |
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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 | 80 | |
| 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 | 80 | |
| 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 | 0 | 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 (SFC 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 SCA 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) | No | Yes | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | 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 | 1.4 | 2.7 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.9 | 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) | 88 | 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 | 88 | 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 | 80 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | FOREX.com Review | Trading 212 Review |
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