Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of FXCM vs IUX, 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.
Founded in 1999, FXCM is a well-established online broker with a strong presence in the financial market. It is publicly traded, offering transparency to its clients, and holds 4 Tier-1 licenses, which are highly trusted according to ForexBrokers.com. Additionally, FXCM possesses 2 Tier-2 licenses. With a Trust Score of 95 out of 99, it is considered a highly trusted broker, making it a favored choice for many traders.
In contrast, IUX was established more recently in 2016 and operates without the backing of being publicly traded. This broker holds 1 Tier-1 and 1 Tier-2 license, reflecting a more modest regulatory standing. With a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 78, IUX is regarded as an average risk brokerage. While it is a viable option for some traders, its trust rating and regulatory credentials are not as strong as those of FXCM.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
IUX
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1999 | 2016 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
FXCM and IUX both earn 4 out of 5 stars for commissions and fees, but they sit at different spots in the rankings: FXCM is #25 of 63 brokers, while IUX is #49 of 63 (ForexBrokers.com). FXCM’s pricing for forex is slightly above the industry average, yet it offers commission-based options and volume discounts. IUX’s pricing is competitive for a smaller broker and offers multiple account types, though it doesn’t beat the lowest-cost leaders; its Pro account is a close contender.
FXCM’s EUR/USD spreads in May 2024 averaged 0.78 pips on its Standard account in the EU, U.K., and Australia, and 1.38 pips via its St. Vincent and the Grenadines entity. Its commission-based accounts averaged a 0.28-pip core spread (excluding commissions), with an effective cost closer to 0.74 pips after adding the commission-equivalent. High-volume traders can tap the Active Trader Rebate Program (not available in the U.K. or EU), with five tiers that pay $5–$25 per million traded if you do at least $10 million per month. As one example, in the U.K. a $25,000 balance and $50 million in monthly volume can bring commissions to $2.50 per side ($5 round turn). Keep in mind spreads can widen during rollover or volatile markets.
IUX ties pricing to account type. Standard and Standard+ need just $10 to start; Standard+ supports deposit bonuses but has wider spreads, while the Standard account offers lower spreads without promos. The Pro and Raw accounts require $500: Pro is spread-only with lower spreads than Standard, and Raw posts the tightest spreads but charges a $6 commission per 100,000 units. For EUR/USD, IUX lists average spreads of 0.9 pips (Standard), 0.7 pips (Pro), and about 0.6 pips on Raw after factoring in the commission. In short, choose IUX for a low minimum and simple spread-only pricing (Standard/Pro) or go Raw if you trade enough to benefit from paying a commission; pick FXCM if you want access to commission-based pricing and potential rebates tied to higher trading volumes.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
IUX
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | Starts from $50 | 10 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.9 | 0.9 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.8 | 0.6 |
| 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 IUX both support forex trading as CFDs or spot contracts. FXCM offers a wider selection overall, with 440 tradeable symbols and 46 currency pairs, compared with IUX’s 152 symbols and 34 pairs. Neither broker lets you buy U.S.-listed shares directly, but IUX does provide access to exchange-traded shares on international exchanges, while FXCM does not.
Feature-wise, FXCM includes copy trading, while IUX does not. For crypto, neither broker lets you purchase actual coins, though both offer cryptocurrency derivatives. ForexBrokers.com rates both brokers 3.5 out of 5 stars for Range of Investments; it ranks FXCM 48th out of 63 brokers and IUX 61st. In short, choose FXCM if you want more markets and copy trading, or IUX if access to international exchange-traded stocks is your priority.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
IUX
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 440 | 152 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 46 | 34 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | No |
| 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). |
Dive deeper: Best Copy Trading Platforms.
Comparing FXCM vs IUX on trading platforms and tools: both brokers provide free demo accounts, in-house proprietary platforms, a Windows desktop app, and a web-based platform. FXCM supports MetaTrader 4 (MT4) but not MT5, while IUX supports MetaTrader 5 (MT5) but not MT4. FXCM includes copy trading and integrates with ZuluTrade; IUX does not offer copy trading and doesn’t support ZuluTrade. Neither broker supports DupliTrade. Both let you place trades straight from charts and include built-in technical indicators (exact counts weren’t provided). For charting extras, FXCM lists 10 drawing tools, while IUX offers 89. Watchlists are more detailed at IUX with 46 fields compared to 13 at FXCM.
In independent testing by ForexBrokers.com, FXCM earned 5 stars and ranked #6 out of 63 for Trading Platforms and Tools, while IUX received 3.5 stars and ranked #60. In simple terms: choose FXCM if you want MT4 and access to copy trading with ZuluTrade; pick IUX if you prefer MT5 and want a larger set of drawing tools and more watchlist fields.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
IUX
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | No |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | No |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | Yes | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 115 | 106 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 10 | 89 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 13 | 46 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
FXCM and IUX both offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, with real-time watchlists, auto-saved chart drawings, and the ability to switch between time frames like intraday, daily, and weekly. FXCM adds price alerts and watchlist syncing with your online account, plus the ability to draw trendlines on charts—features IUX does not include. IUX counters with a larger set of technical studies (106 vs. FXCM’s 59) for traders who like to test many indicators when analyzing forex or stocks.
Independent ratings reflect these trade-offs: FXCM earns 4.5 stars and ranks #16 out of 63 brokers for Mobile Trading Apps on ForexBrokers.com, while IUX holds 3.5 stars and ranks #61. Choose FXCM if you value alerts, synced watchlists, and drawing tools; pick IUX if having a big library of indicators matters most. Both apps cover the essentials for charting and monitoring markets on the go.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
IUX
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | No |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 59 | 106 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
Comparing FXCM vs IUX for market research shows a clear gap in tools and content. FXCM delivers daily market commentary, forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg/Reuters/Dow Jones, Trading Central analytics, a sentiment tool showing long/short positioning, TipRanks insights, and an economic calendar. IUX offers an economic calendar but does not provide daily commentary, top-tier news, Trading Central, a sentiment tool, or TipRanks. Neither broker integrates Autochartist or Acuity Trading.
Ratings back up the difference: FXCM earns 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #11 of 63 brokers for Research on ForexBrokers.com, while IUX scores 3 stars and ranks #60. If you want in-platform analysis and news to guide trading ideas, FXCM is the stronger choice; if you only need a basic calendar, IUX may suffice.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
IUX
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | No |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | No |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No |
| TipRanks | Yes | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
FXCM stands out for beginner-friendly forex and CFD education. It meets the 10-piece threshold with articles, videos, and archived webinars, and runs at least one client webinar each month. New learners can search a library of past sessions, watch 10+ beginner videos, and move up to 10+ advanced videos when ready. FXCM also includes an investor dictionary with 50+ definitions to explain trading terms in plain English. According to ForexBrokers.com, FXCM earns 4.5 stars for Education and ranks #14 out of 63 brokers.
IUX offers some help for newcomers—there are 10+ beginner videos—but it doesn’t meet the 10-piece education-library mark, and it does not host monthly webinars or provide a searchable archive. Advanced video lessons and a 50+ term investor dictionary are also missing. ForexBrokers.com rates IUX 3 stars for Education and ranks it #60 of 63, so it may suit self-starters who only need basic video explainers, while FXCM is a stronger choice for a fuller learning path.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
IUX
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | No |
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 IUX. FXCM finished with an overall rank of #15, while IUX finished with an overall rank of #55.
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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IUX
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 95 | 78 |
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While both FXCM and IUX do not offer the capability to purchase actual delivered cryptocurrency, they each provide options to buy cryptocurrency derivatives.
In a head-to-head comparison of deposit and withdrawal options, FXCM surpasses IUX by offering a wider variety of methods including ACH, SEPA transfers, and PayPal, in addition to shared options like Skrill, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wires, while IUX lacks both ACH, SEPA, and PayPal capabilities.
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 | IUX | |
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| Trust Score | 95 | 78 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | FXCM Review | IUX Review |
| Broker Screenshots | FXCM | IUX | |
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| Regulation | FXCM | IUX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 95 | 78 | |
| Year Founded | 1999 | 2016 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | FXCM | IUX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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) | No | ||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | No | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | FXCM | IUX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | ||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | No | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No |
| Investments | FXCM | IUX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 440 | 152 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 46 | 34 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | No | |
| 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). |
| Cost | FXCM | IUX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.9 | 0.9 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.8 | 0.6 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | FXCM | IUX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | Starts from $50 | 10 | |
| 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 | IUX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | No | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | No | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | Yes | No |
| Trading Tools | FXCM | IUX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 13 | 46 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 115 | 106 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 10 | 89 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | No |
| Mobile Trading | FXCM | IUX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 59 | 106 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | No |
| Research | FXCM | IUX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | No | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | Yes | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | FXCM | IUX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | FXCM | IUX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | IUX Review |
| Overall | FXCM | IUX | |
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| Trust Score | 95 | 78 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | FXCM Review | IUX Review |
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