Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of FXCM vs Trade Nation, 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 player in the online brokerage industry. With a strong public presence as a publicly traded company, FXCM holds 4 highly trusted Tier-1 licenses and 2 trusted Tier-2 licenses. This regulatory foundation delivers a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 95, marking it as a highly trusted broker for traders seeking security and reliability.
On the other hand, Trade Nation, founded in 2014, offers a more recent entry into the market. Although it is not publicly traded, Trade Nation holds 2 Tier-1 licenses and 1 Tier-2 license. These credentials contribute to a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 85, categorizing it as a trusted choice for traders looking for dependable trading solutions. Neither FXCM nor Trade Nation operates as a bank, focusing instead on providing dedicated trading services.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
Trade Nation
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1999 | 2014 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 2 |
Comparing commissions and fees, Trade Nation is the cheaper, simpler pick for most forex traders, earning 5 stars and ranking #7 of 63 brokers for pricing. FXCM is solid but generally pricier, with 4 stars and a #26 ranking. FXCM’s forex pricing is slightly higher than the industry average, while Trade Nation’s fixed spreads make costs easier to predict.
FXCM’s standard EUR/USD spread averaged 0.78 pips in the EU, U.K., and Australia in May 2024 (and 1.38 pips via its St. Vincent and the Grenadines entity). Its commission-based accounts averaged a 0.28‑pip core spread, but the all-in cost lands closer to about 0.74 pips once commissions are included. FXCM offers an Active Trader Rebate Program (not available in the U.K. or EU) that pays $5–$25 per million traded, with requirements that vary by region; for example, in the U.K. a $25,000 balance and $50 million in monthly volume can reduce commissions to $2.50 per side. As with most brokers, spreads can widen at rollover and during unusual market conditions.
Trade Nation features fixed spreads on its proprietary TN Trader platform—EUR/USD is listed at 0.6 pips, widening briefly around the daily rollover (sometimes up to 1.4 pips), which brings the true average closer to about 1 pip across the day. It also offers two MetaTrader account types: a commission-free option and a Raw Spread account that charges $3.50 per side ($7 round-trip) per standard lot. In practice, TN Trader often delivers the lowest all-in costs among its account choices, and the fixed pricing format keeps fees straightforward.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
Trade Nation
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | Starts from $50 | $0 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.78 | 0.6 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.78 | 0.6 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No |
| 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.
Comparing FXCM vs Trade Nation for range of investments: Trade Nation offers about 1,000 tradeable symbols, while FXCM lists around 440. Both brokers provide 46 forex pairs and support forex trading as CFDs/spot contracts. Neither broker lets you buy real shares on U.S. or international exchanges, and neither supports buying actual cryptocurrency. However, both offer cryptocurrency derivatives and copy trading.
For Range of Investments, both FXCM and Trade Nation earn 3.5 out of 5 stars, but Trade Nation ranks higher (#39 of 63) than FXCM (#48 of 63) at ForexBrokers.com. If you want more overall markets to browse, Trade Nation has the bigger catalog. If your focus is forex pairs, crypto derivatives, and copy trading, both brokers cover those needs equally, while both lack access to real stocks and delivered crypto.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
Trade Nation
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 440 | 1000 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 46 | 46 |
| 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 vs Trade Nation: Both online brokers offer free demo accounts, in-house proprietary platforms, Windows desktop downloads, and web-based platforms. Each supports MetaTrader 4 (MT4) but not MetaTrader 5 (MT5). Copy trading is available at both, though only FXCM integrates with ZuluTrade, which Trade Nation does not support.
For charting and order entry, FXCM lets you trade directly from a chart, while Trade Nation does not. Trade Nation provides more drawing tools (39) than FXCM (10), and watchlist customization is similar (14 vs 13 fields). In third-party testing of Trading Platforms and Tools, FXCM earned 5/5 stars and ranked #6 out of 63 brokers, whereas Trade Nation received 4/5 stars and ranked #45.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
Trade Nation
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes |
| 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 | 115 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 10 | 39 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | No |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 13 | 14 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
FXCM and Trade Nation both deliver full-featured mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android. Each app includes price alerts, real-time watchlists, and watchlist syncing with your online account. Charting is strong on both: you can draw trendlines, switch between time frames like intraday, daily, or weekly, and your drawings auto-save so you can pick up where you left off.
For charting depth, Trade Nation offers more built-in technical studies (99) compared to FXCM’s 59. However, FXCM earns the higher overall marks: 4.5 stars and a #16 ranking out of 63 brokers for Mobile Trading Apps, versus Trade Nation’s 4 stars and #46 ranking. If you value a wider set of indicators, Trade Nation could appeal; if you want a higher-rated mobile experience backed by stronger industry rankings, FXCM is the better fit.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
Trade Nation
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 59 | 99 |
| 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 vs Trade Nation: both deliver daily market commentary and stream forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones. Each also offers a sentiment tool that shows long/short ratios across markets, and neither includes Autochartist. The differences are where it counts: FXCM adds Trading Central analytics, TipRanks research, and a built-in economic calendar. Trade Nation instead provides Acuity Trading’s Signal Centre but lacks Trading Central, TipRanks, and an economic calendar.
These extras help FXCM score higher for research: 4.5/5 stars and ranked #11 out of 63 by ForexBrokers.com, compared with Trade Nation’s 3.5/5 stars and #43 ranking. If you want Trading Central, TipRanks, and an in-platform calendar, FXCM is the stronger pick. If you prefer Signal Centre alongside solid news and sentiment tools, Trade Nation covers the essentials.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
Trade Nation
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | No |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | Yes | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | Yes |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When comparing the educational resources for beginners between FXCM and Trade Nation, both brokers provide a solid foundation for new traders by offering more than ten educational pieces focused on forex or CFDs. These may include articles, videos, or webinars. However, FXCM enhances its offerings with online educational webinars available monthly. This interactive platform for learning sets FXCM apart and is further bolstered by a searchable archive of recorded sessions for convenient re-watching, which Trade Nation does not offer. Both brokers cater to beginner and advanced traders with at least ten educational videos for each level, and both maintain an investor dictionary for reference, boasting definitions for over 50 investing terms.
In terms of recognition and ratings, FXCM is awarded 4.5 stars for its educational services, reflecting a robust educational structure. In contrast, Trade Nation's educational services receive a 3.5-star rating. Among a pool of 63 brokers, FXCM holds a respectable #14 ranking according to ForexBrokers.com, highlighting its commendable educational resources. On the other hand, Trade Nation sits at #41, indicating there is room for growth in their educational offerings. The difference in rankings underscores FXCM as a potentially more advantageous option for beginners seeking extensive educational support.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
Trade Nation
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| 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 Trade Nation. FXCM finished with an overall rank of #15, while Trade Nation finished with an overall rank of #34.
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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Trade Nation
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|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 95 | 85 |
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Both FXCM and Trade Nation do not provide the option to purchase actual delivered cryptocurrency, but they do offer the ability to buy cryptocurrency derivatives, allowing traders to speculate on price movements without owning the underlying asset.
FXCM stands out as an online broker by offering a wider range of deposit and withdrawal options than Trade Nation, including ACH, SEPA transfers, and PayPal, alongside shared options like Skrill, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wires.
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 | Trade Nation | |
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| Trust Score | 95 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | FXCM Review | Trade Nation Review |
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| Regulation | FXCM | Trade Nation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 95 | 85 | |
| Year Founded | 1999 | 2014 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 2 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 2 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | FXCM | Trade Nation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | No |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | FXCM | Trade Nation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | No | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | FXCM | Trade Nation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 440 | 1000 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 46 | 46 | |
| 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 | Trade Nation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.78 | 0.6 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.78 | 0.6 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | FXCM | Trade Nation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | Starts from $50 | $0 | |
| 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 | Trade Nation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| 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 | Trade Nation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 13 | 14 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 115 | 115 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 10 | 39 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | No | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | No |
| Mobile Trading | FXCM | Trade Nation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 59 | 99 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | No |
| Research | FXCM | Trade Nation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | Yes | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | No |
| Education | FXCM | Trade Nation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | FXCM | Trade Nation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Trade Nation Review |
| Overall | FXCM | Trade Nation | |
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| Trust Score | 95 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | FXCM Review | Trade Nation Review |
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