Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of FP Markets vs IronFX, 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.
FP Markets, established in 2005, and IronFX, which started in 2010, are both online brokers that cater to traders looking for reliable platforms. Neither FP Markets nor IronFX is publicly traded or operates as a bank. FP Markets holds two highly trusted Tier-1 licenses and one trusted Tier-2 license, resulting in a Trust Score of 89 from ForexBrokers.com. This places FP Markets in the trusted category.
In comparison, IronFX has a slightly lower Trust Score of 83, as it holds three highly trusted Tier-1 licenses but lacks Tier-2 licenses. While both brokers enjoy a strong reputation, FP Markets holds a slight edge in trustworthiness with its higher score and additional licensing. Traders evaluating these brokers will find that FP Markets is slightly more trusted, although IronFX also presents a reliable option in the online trading arena.
| Feature |
FP Markets
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2005 | 2010 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 3 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
When it comes to commissions and fees, FP Markets stands out with its highly competitive pricing, particularly for its commission-based ECN account. The broker's Raw ECN account features attractively low spreads, averaging 0.1 pips as of October 2023, translating to 0.8 pips when including commissions. Its Standard account offers higher spreads, averaging 1.1 pips for the EUR/USD pair. FP Markets has also been recognized for its excellence, earning a "Best in Class" honor for Commissions and Fees in 2024 and ranking 6th out of 63 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com, with a 5-star rating for this category.
FP Markets offers flexibility with its trading platforms, including MetaTrader and cTrader, both supporting spread-only or commission-based accounts. For traders in Australia, the Iress platform presents diverse options with distinct minimum deposit requirements, focusing mainly on active traders with high-balance accounts. While FP Markets excels in offering competitive fees, its premium Iress ViewPoint account may not be the most budget-friendly choice, whereas the Iress Investor account offers a more cost-effective alternative with some compromises in features.
In contrast, IronFX has room for improvement in its pricing structure, as its typical spreads are higher than the industry average. The Standard variable spread account, for example, lists a 1.8 pips spread. Their zero fixed-spread account starts from zero with a commission of $18 per lot, though the spreads widen to 3 pips overnight. IronFX holds a 4-star rating and is ranked 47th in the Commissions and Fees category by ForexBrokers.com. This comparison clearly highlights FP Markets' advantage in offering cost-effective trading solutions, particularly for traders who prioritize low fees and spreads.
| Feature |
FP Markets
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 AUD | $50 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.2 | 1.2 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.7 | N/A |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
FP Markets and IronFX both cover the basics for traders focused on range of investments in forex and CFDs. Each broker lets you trade forex as CFDs and via spot contracts, offers cryptocurrency CFDs, and supports copy trading. If you want to own actual crypto or buy real shares on U.S. or international exchanges, neither broker provides that; their stock and crypto access is only through CFDs.
For overall variety, FP Markets stands out with about 10,000 tradeable symbols, while IronFX lists around 340. IronFX carries more forex pairs (83 vs. FP Markets’ 71), but FP Markets offers far more non-forex instruments. Reflecting this, ForexBrokers.com rates FP Markets 4.5 out of 5 for Range of Investments (ranked 19th of 63 brokers), compared with IronFX at 3.5 out of 5 (ranked 52nd of 63).
| Feature |
FP Markets
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 10000 | 340 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 71 | 83 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | No |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| 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.
FP Markets vs IronFX: both brokers offer free demo (paper) trading, web and Windows desktop platforms, copy trading, MetaTrader 4 (MT4), and the ability to place trades directly from charts. The key differences are that FP Markets also provides MetaTrader 5 (MT5) and its own proprietary platform, while IronFX does not. In independent reviews, FP Markets earns 4 stars for Trading Platforms and Tools and ranks #23 out of 63 brokers, whereas IronFX scores 3.5 stars and ranks #62, reflecting a narrower platform lineup.
If you want more platform choice and the option to use MT5 alongside MT4, FP Markets has the edge. IronFX still covers the essentials with MT4, web and desktop access, copy trading, and a demo account, making it a straightforward pick for MT4-focused traders. Both brokers include charting and watchlists, but FP Markets’ added platform variety and higher rating may appeal to traders who value more flexibility.
| Feature |
FP Markets
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | No |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
FP Markets and IronFX both offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, with price alerts, trendline drawing, and auto-saving of chart annotations. Watchlist syncing across mobile and web is not available with either broker. For charting, FP Markets uses the MetaTrader app with its default set of technical indicators, while IronFX lists 30 built-in studies.
In independent evaluations, FP Markets scores higher: 4 stars and ranked #18 out of 63 brokers for Mobile Trading Apps on ForexBrokers.com. IronFX earns 3.5 stars and ranks #63 out of 63. If you want similar core features on iOS and Android but care about third-party ratings and overall mobile experience, FP Markets has the edge.
| Feature |
FP Markets
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | No | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | MetaTrader (Default) | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
FP Markets and IronFX both deliver daily market commentary and premium forex news from major outlets, plus Trading Central tools and a global economic calendar. That means each broker covers the essentials for market research, from timely updates to technical insights.
The key differences appear in extra tools. FP Markets adds Autochartist for pattern scanning and a sentiment tool that shows the ratio of long and short positions—features IronFX does not provide. FP Markets does not offer TipRanks or Acuity Trading; for IronFX, availability of those services is not confirmed. Both are rated 4 stars for research by ForexBrokers.com, with FP Markets ranked #25 out of 63 brokers and IronFX at #29. If you want added automation and sentiment data, FP Markets has the edge; for core news and analysis, both perform well.
| Feature |
FP Markets
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
| Trading Central | Yes | Yes |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | No |
| TipRanks | No | |
| Acuity Trading | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
Comparing FP Markets and IronFX for beginner trading education, both brokers provide plenty of entry-level learning with at least 10 beginner video lessons on forex and CFD topics. FP Markets goes a step further by running monthly client webinars and offering at least 10 advanced videos for traders who want to keep progressing. IronFX does not host monthly educational webinars and does not meet the 10-video mark for advanced topics, but it does meet the bar for beginner video content.
Both brokers earn a 4-star Education rating. That said, FP Markets ranks higher for Education on ForexBrokers.com—23rd out of 63 brokers—while IronFX sits at 44th. For beginners who value live sessions and a clearer path into advanced material, FP Markets has the edge; if you mainly want beginner-friendly videos to get started, IronFX also fits the bill.
| Feature |
FP Markets
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 63 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that FP Markets is better than IronFX. FP Markets finished with an overall rank of #19, while IronFX finished with an overall rank of #48.
FP Markets shines as a low-cost broker for trading forex and CFDs – as long as you use the MetaTrader platform. The Iress platform suite offers well over 9,000 tradeable symbols, but it’s mostly a share trading platform – and is generally a much pricier option.
| Feature |
FP Markets
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IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
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| Trust Score | 89 | 83 |
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FP Markets vs IronFX: neither broker offers the ability to buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrency, but both provide cryptocurrency CFD trading.
Comparing FP Markets vs IronFX for deposits and withdrawals: both do not support ACH/SEPA, FP Markets offers PayPal, Skrill, and bank wire transfers, while IronFX’s availability for PayPal, Skrill, Visa/Mastercard, and bank wires is not stated, and FP Markets’ Visa/Mastercard availability is also not stated.
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 | FP Markets | IronFX | |
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| Trust Score | 89 | 83 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | FP Markets Review |
| Broker Screenshots | FP Markets | IronFX | |
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| Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Regulation | FP Markets | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 89 | 83 | |
| Year Founded | 2005 | 2010 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 3 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | FP Markets | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | 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) | |||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | No | 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) | FP Markets | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | No | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | FP Markets | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 10000 | 340 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 71 | 83 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | No | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| 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 | FP Markets | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.2 | 1.2 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.7 | N/A | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | No | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | FP Markets | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 AUD | $50 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | ||
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | ||
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | ||
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | FP Markets | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | No | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No | |
| cTrader | Yes | No |
| Trading Tools | FP Markets | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 30 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | FP Markets | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | No | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | MetaTrader (Default) | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | FP Markets | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central | Yes | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | ||
| Client sentiment data | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | FP Markets | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | FP Markets | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | FP Markets Review |
| Overall | FP Markets | IronFX | |
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| Trust Score | 89 | 83 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | FP Markets Review |
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