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 |
When it comes to commissions and fees, FXCM offers slightly above-average pricing in the forex trading market. For standard accounts, their spreads on the EUR/USD pair averaged 0.78 pips in the EU, U.K., and Australia, while their St. Vincent and the Grenadines entity showed wider spreads at 1.38 pips, surpassing industry norms. Commission-based account holders enjoy narrower average spreads of 0.28 pips, excluding commissions, for May 2024. Although FXCM provides active trader discounts that can significantly reduce spreads depending on your trading volume and location, spreads can vary greatly during rollover periods and unstable market conditions. FXCM holds a 4-star rating for commissions and fees and is ranked 25th out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com.
Trade Nation, on the other hand, is known for its competitive fixed-spread pricing across its proprietary platform and offers variable spreads on its MetaTrader platform. With fixed spreads, traders can expect a consistent pricing structure, except during daily rollover periods when spreads may briefly widen. For the EUR/USD pair, Trade Nation maintains a fixed spread of 0.6 pips, occasionally reaching up to 1.4 pips during rollovers, with an average spread hovering around 1 pip. Trade Nation's three account types include two MetaTrader options and the TN Trader account on its proprietary platform, with the latter offering the lowest spreads. Trade Nation outshines in this area with a 5-star rating for commissions and fees and ranks 7th out of 63 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com.
Ultimately, while FXCM provides decent competitive spreads with potential discounts for high-volume traders, Trade Nation leads with its fixed-spread model and transparent pricing strategy. Trade Nation's superior rating and higher ranking indicate that it may be more appealing to traders looking for predictable and cost-effective trading conditions.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
Trade Nation
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | Starts from $50 | $0 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.9 | 0.6 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.8 | 0.6 |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
FXCM and Trade Nation both offer forex trading, available via CFDs or spot, and each lists 46 currency pairs. The big difference is overall variety: FXCM has about 440 tradeable symbols, while Trade Nation offers around 1,000, giving it a broader catalog. Neither broker lets you buy exchange-traded stocks directly on U.S. or international markets, but both support copy trading. For crypto, you can trade cryptocurrency as a CFD with either broker, though neither lets you buy actual coins.
Both FXCM and Trade Nation earn 3.5 out of 5 stars for Range of Investments. In ForexBrokers.com’s rankings of 63 brokers, FXCM places #48 while Trade Nation ranks #39, reflecting Trade Nation’s larger set of symbols despite matching FXCM on the number of forex pairs.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
Trade Nation
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 440 | 1000 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 46 | 46 |
| 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.
FXCM and Trade Nation both make it easy to get started with a free demo account and offer multiple ways to trade: each has its own proprietary platform, a Windows desktop download, and a web-based platform. Copy trading is available at both brokers, and each supports MetaTrader 4 (MT4); neither offers MetaTrader 5 (MT5). A key difference is that FXCM lets you place trades directly from charts, while Trade Nation does not.
For platform quality, FXCM earns 5 stars and ranks #6 out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, compared with Trade Nation’s 4 stars and #45 ranking. If trading from charts and higher-rated tools matter to you, FXCM has the edge. If you want MT4 access, copy trading, and an easy way to practice on demo, both FXCM and Trade Nation can fit the bill.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
Trade Nation
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 115 | 115 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | No |
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 supports price alerts for forex and stocks, plus watchlist symbol syncing so changes you make on mobile match your online account. That means your lists and alerts stay in step across devices.
For charting, Trade Nation offers more built‑in technical studies (99) than FXCM (59). Both apps let you draw trendlines and automatically save your drawings. When it comes to user feedback and third‑party recognition, FXCM holds the edge: it’s rated 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #16 out of 63 brokers for Mobile Trading Apps on ForexBrokers.com, while Trade Nation is rated 4 stars and ranks #46. In short, choose Trade Nation if you want a wider set of indicators, or FXCM if higher ratings and rankings matter more to you.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
Trade Nation
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 59 | 99 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | 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 (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central | Yes | No |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | Yes | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | Yes |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
If you’re a beginner comparing forex and CFD education at online brokers, both FXCM and Trade Nation offer plenty of on-demand learning, including 10+ beginner trading videos and 10+ advanced videos. The big difference is live support: FXCM hosts educational webinars at least once a month, giving newcomers a chance to ask questions and learn in real time, while Trade Nation does not run monthly client webinars.
Independent ratings back this up. FXCM earns 4.5 out of 5 stars for Education and ranks #14 out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, while Trade Nation scores 3.5 stars and ranks #41. For most new traders seeking a richer learning path with live webinars plus videos, FXCM is the stronger pick; Trade Nation suits those who prefer self-paced video education without regular live sessions.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
Trade Nation
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 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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Online brokers FXCM and Trade Nation do not allow you to buy actual delivered cryptocurrency, but both offer cryptocurrency CFD trading.
Compared with Trade Nation, online broker FXCM offers ACH/SEPA transfers, PayPal, Skrill, and bank wire deposit and withdrawal options, while Trade Nation does not support ACH/SEPA and its availability of PayPal, Skrill, Visa/Mastercard, and bank wires 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 | FXCM | Trade Nation | |
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| Trust Score | 95 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | FXCM Review | Trade Nation Review |
| Broker Screenshots | FXCM | Trade Nation | |
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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, FSRA, or SCA 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. 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 | FXCM | Trade Nation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.9 | 0.6 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.8 | 0.6 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | FXCM | Trade Nation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | Starts from $50 | $0 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | ||
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | ||
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | ||
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | FXCM | Trade Nation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | No | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | FXCM | Trade Nation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 115 | 115 | |
| 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 Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 59 | 99 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | No |
| Research | FXCM | Trade Nation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | Yes | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | No |
| Education | FXCM | Trade Nation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | FXCM | Trade Nation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| 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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