Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of FXCM 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.
FXCM, established in 1999, is a seasoned player in the online brokerage industry and is publicly traded, enhancing its transparency. It boasts a high Trust Score of 95 out of 99 from ForexBrokers.com, classifying it as a highly trusted broker. This reputation is underpinned by its possession of 4 Tier-1 licenses and 2 Tier-2 licenses, which are indicative of stringent regulatory compliance. Although it is not a bank, its standing in the industry remains solid, providing users with confidence in its services.
Founded in 2010, IronFX also emerges as a competitive online broker, though it is not publicly traded, which may limit its transparency to some investors. With a Trust Score of 83, it falls into the 'trusted' category according to ForexBrokers.com. IronFX holds 3 Tier-1 licenses, solidifying its credibility, but lacks Tier-2 licenses. Like FXCM, IronFX is not a bank, but its regulatory adherence through Tier-1 licensing provides a level of assurance to its clients.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1999 | 2010 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 3 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
FXCM’s commissions and fees are slightly above the industry average on its standard pricing, but can be competitive if you use its commission-based or high-volume tiers. In May 2024, average EUR/USD spreads were 0.78 pips for EU, U.K., and Australia clients, and 1.38 pips under its St. Vincent and the Grenadines entity. FXCM’s commission-based accounts averaged 0.28 pips before commissions in May 2024; after adding commissions, the all-in cost is roughly three-quarters of a pip per trade. Its five-tier Active Trader Rebate Program (not offered in the U.K. or EU) pays $5 to $25 per million traded for those doing at least $10 million monthly; for example, a U.K. account with a $25,000 balance and $50 million in monthly volume can see commissions drop to $2.50 per side. As with most brokers, spreads can widen during rollover or unusual market conditions. FXCM commissions and fees rating: 4 stars. Ranking: #25 of 63.
IronFX’s pricing generally trends higher than average. The broker lists a typical 1.8-pip spread for its Standard variable account (no date range provided), and costs vary by account type. Its zero fixed-spread account can start at 0.0 pips, but it carries a $18 per lot commission and widens spreads to 3 pips overnight, which can lift effective trading costs—especially for positions held through the rollover. IronFX commissions and fees rating: 4 stars. Ranking: #47 of 63.
Bottom line: both brokers earn 4 stars for commissions and fees, but FXCM ranks higher, signaling generally sharper pricing potential—particularly if you qualify for its commission-based setup and volume rebates. IronFX’s Standard spread and the commission on its zero fixed-spread account tend to result in higher all-in costs, while FXCM’s standard spreads are moderate in regulated regions and its commission-based option can offer lower effective costs for active traders.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | Starts from $50 | $50 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.9 | 1.2 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.8 | 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.
FXCM and IronFX both support forex trading via CFDs or spot contracts, and each offers copy trading. FXCM lists about 440 total tradeable symbols, giving it the wider overall catalog, while IronFX offers around 340. That said, IronFX leads in currency choice with 83 forex pairs compared with 46 at FXCM. Neither broker lets you buy exchange‑traded stocks on U.S. or international exchanges, and neither sells actual cryptocurrency; both provide access to crypto derivatives instead.
For range of investments, both brokers earn 3.5 out of 5 stars. In ForexBrokers.com’s rankings, FXCM sits at #48 of 63 and IronFX at #52. In short, pick FXCM if you want a larger overall selection of instruments, or choose IronFX if a bigger lineup of forex pairs matters most.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 440 | 340 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 46 | 83 |
| 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 IronFX both cover the essentials for trading platforms and tools: each offers a free demo (paper trading) account, Windows desktop and web-based platforms, copy trading, and MetaTrader 4 (MT4) support. Neither broker supports MetaTrader 5 (MT5) or DupliTrade. A key difference is that FXCM also provides its own proprietary platform and integrates with ZuluTrade, while IronFX does not. Both brokers let you place orders directly from charts.
For charting, the number of built-in technical indicators isn’t specified for either broker, but FXCM lists 10 drawing tools compared with IronFX’s 15. FXCM’s watchlists offer 13 columns (fields) versus 7 at IronFX, which may matter if you track many data points. Based on ForexBrokers.com evaluations of trading platforms and tools, FXCM earns 5 stars and ranks #6 out of 63 brokers, while IronFX earns 3.5 stars and ranks #62. If you value a proprietary platform, ZuluTrade access, and more watchlist fields, FXCM stands out; if you prefer more drawing tools on charts, IronFX has a slight edge there.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | No |
| 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 and IronFX both offer iPhone and Android apps with the essentials: price alerts, real-time quote watchlists, trendline drawing, multiple time frames, and auto-saved chart drawings. Where they differ is depth and convenience. FXCM’s mobile app provides 59 technical studies compared to IronFX’s 30, and FXCM syncs watchlists with your online account so changes carry over between devices—IronFX does not offer this syncing.
Quality scores support the gap in features: FXCM earns 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #16 out of 63 brokers for Mobile Trading Apps at ForexBrokers.com, while IronFX holds 3.5 stars and ranks #63. If you want deeper charting and seamless watchlist syncing, the FXCM mobile app is the stronger pick; if you mainly need alerts, real-time lists, and standard chart tools, IronFX still covers the basics.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
FXCM and IronFX both deliver strong market research for forex traders. Each broker provides daily market commentary, premium forex news from top-tier sources (such as Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones), Trading Central tools for technical and fundamental insights, and an economic calendar. Neither broker offers Autochartist.
The key differences are in extra tools. FXCM includes a sentiment indicator showing the long/short positioning across instruments and offers research from TipRanks, while IronFX does not provide a sentiment tool and does not list TipRanks or Acuity Trading integrations. Based on ForexBrokers.com, FXCM earns 4.5 stars for Research and ranks #11 out of 63 brokers; IronFX earns 4 stars and ranks #29. Choose FXCM if you want added sentiment data and TipRanks insights, or IronFX if you mainly need daily commentary, top-tier news, Trading Central research, and an easy-to-use calendar.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | Yes |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No |
| TipRanks | Yes | |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When evaluating the educational resources for beginners offered by FXCM and IronFX, both provide a good start with a variety of materials like articles, videos, and archived webinars focusing on forex and CFDs. However, FXCM stands out by offering live educational webinars monthly, a feature absent from IronFX. Both platforms provide a searchable archive of recorded webinars and at least ten beginner videos on trading topics. This can greatly assist new traders looking for a foundational understanding of forex trading from a structured program.
FXCM further distinguishes itself by offering advanced educational videos, catering to those seeking to deepen their trading expertise, while IronFX lacks this feature. Additionally, both brokers equip learners with an investor dictionary. In terms of education ratings and rankings, FXCM scores 4.5 stars compared to IronFX's 4 stars and is ranked 14th by ForexBrokers.com, far ahead of IronFX, which is ranked 44th. Overall, FXCM presents a more comprehensive educational offering for beginners and those wishing to advance their skills.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | 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 FXCM is better than IronFX. FXCM finished with an overall rank of #15, while IronFX finished with an overall rank of #48.
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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IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 95 | 83 |
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Both FXCM and IronFX do not provide the option to buy actual delivered cryptocurrency, but they do offer the ability to invest in cryptocurrency derivatives.
FXCM distinguishes itself from IronFX by offering a wider variety of deposit and withdrawal methods, including ACH, SEPA, PayPal, Skrill, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wires, while IronFX supports Skrill, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wires but lacks ACH, SEPA, and PayPal options.
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 | IronFX | |
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| Trust Score | 95 | 83 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | FXCM Review |
| Broker Screenshots | FXCM | IronFX | |
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| Regulation | FXCM | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 95 | 83 | |
| Year Founded | 1999 | 2010 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 3 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | FXCM | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | FXCM | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | No | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | FXCM | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 440 | 340 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 46 | 83 | |
| 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 | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.9 | 1.2 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.8 | 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 | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | Starts from $50 | $50 | |
| 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 | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | No |
| Trading Tools | FXCM | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | FXCM | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | Yes | |
| TipRanks | Yes | ||
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | FXCM | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | 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 | FXCM | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | IronFX | |
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| Trust Score | 95 | 83 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | FXCM Review |
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