Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of FXCM vs Trading 212, 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.
Comparing online brokers FXCM and Trading 212: FXCM was founded in 1999 and is publicly traded, while Trading 212 began in 2004 and is not listed on a stock exchange. Neither broker is a bank. If public listing and company age matter to you, FXCM is the older firm with shares available on a market, whereas Trading 212 operates as a private company.
On regulation, FXCM holds 4 Tier-1 licenses (considered highly trusted by ForexBrokers.com) and 2 Tier-2 licenses, earning a Trust Score of 95 out of 99—placing it in the “highly trusted” 90–99 range. Trading 212 has 3 Tier-1 licenses and no Tier-2 licenses, with a Trust Score of 82—within the “trusted” 80–89 range. In plain terms, both brokers are well-regulated, but FXCM scores higher and holds more top-tier approvals.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1999 | 2004 |
| 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 | 0 |
FXCM comes out ahead of Trading 212 on commissions and fees, mainly because its trading costs are generally lower for forex and CFD traders. FXCM’s average EUR/USD spread in May 2024 was 0.78 pips for its EU, U.K., and Australia accounts, while its commission-based accounts averaged 0.28 pips before commissions. Even after adding commission costs, FXCM can still be fairly competitive, especially for active traders who may qualify for rebates and lower pricing based on trading volume. FXCM is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars and is ranked #17 out of 36 brokers for commissions and fees.
Trading 212 markets itself as zero-commission, but that does not mean it is free to trade CFDs or forex because spreads still apply. Its published average EUR/USD spread for April 2025 was 2.7 pips, which is well above the industry average and noticeably higher than FXCM’s pricing. That makes Trading 212 a less appealing choice if low trading costs are your top priority. Trading 212 is rated 4 out of 5 stars and is ranked #29 out of 36 brokers for commissions and fees.
In simple terms, FXCM is the better pick for traders focused on lower fees, while Trading 212 may suit beginners more than frequent forex traders. If keeping spread costs down matters most, FXCM has the edge by a clear margin.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | Starts from $50 | €1 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Spread-only account | 0.9 | 2.7 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | 0.8 | 2.7 |
| Non-wire bank transfer (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
When it comes to range of investments, Trading 212 offers a much wider selection than FXCM. Trading 212 lists about 13,000 tradeable symbols and 180 forex pairs, compared with FXCM’s 440 symbols and 46 forex pairs. Both brokers offer forex trading as CFDs or spot contracts, and both allow crypto CFDs. However, only Trading 212 lets clients buy actual shares on U.S. and international exchanges, as well as actual cryptocurrency. FXCM does not offer exchange-traded stocks or delivered crypto, but it does support copy trading, which Trading 212 does not.
These differences are reflected in their ratings and rankings for investment choice. Trading 212 scores 5 stars for Range of Investments and ranks #14 out of 36 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while FXCM earns 4.5 stars and ranks #21. For traders who want access to a broader mix of stocks, forex pairs, and crypto options, Trading 212 has the edge. FXCM may still appeal to those focused on forex and copy trading, but its overall selection is more limited.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 440 | 13000 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 46 | 180 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | Yes |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | No |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | Yes |
| 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 has the edge over Trading 212 when it comes to trading platforms and tools. FXCM offers a free demo account, a proprietary platform, a Windows desktop app, a web platform, copy trading, and MetaTrader 4 (MT4), giving traders more ways to trade and more platform choices overall. Trading 212 also provides a free demo account and a web-based platform, and both brokers let you trade directly from a chart, but Trading 212 does not offer a desktop download platform, copy trading, or MT4.
For traders who want more advanced platform options, FXCM stands out with a 5-star rating for Trading Platforms and Tools and a #4 ranking out of 36 brokers from ForexBrokers.com. Trading 212 is still a solid option, with a 4-star rating and a #19 ranking, but it offers fewer trading tools and less platform variety than FXCM.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | No |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | No |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | No |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | No |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 115 | 102 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
FXCM and Trading 212 both offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, and each app includes price alerts, watchlist symbol syncing, trendline drawing, and automatic saving for chart drawings. That means you can track stocks or forex on the go and keep your watchlists updated across your mobile app and online account. In terms of user ratings, FXCM comes in slightly ahead with 4.5 out of 5 stars for mobile trading apps, while Trading 212 is rated 4 out of 5.
When it comes to charting tools, Trading 212 has the edge with 104 technical studies in its mobile app compared with FXCM’s 59. Still, FXCM ranks a little better overall in the Mobile Trading Apps category, placing #16 out of 36 brokers, while Trading 212 sits at #17. For traders who want a broader set of chart indicators, Trading 212 stands out, but FXCM may appeal more to users looking for a slightly higher app rating and a marginally better category rank.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 59 | 104 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When comparing FXCM vs Trading 212 for market research, FXCM comes out ahead overall. FXCM offers daily market commentary, forex news from major sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, Trading Central tools, sentiment data, TipRanks research, and an economic calendar. Trading 212 also provides top-tier forex news, sentiment tools, and an economic calendar, but it does not offer daily market commentary, Trading Central, or TipRanks. Neither broker includes Autochartist or Acuity Trading research tools.
These differences are reflected in their research scores and rankings. FXCM is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars for Research and ranks #11 out of 36 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while Trading 212 is rated 3.5 stars and ranks #31. For traders who want more built-in market research and analysis support, FXCM is the stronger choice; Trading 212 still covers the basics well, especially for news, sentiment, and economic events.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | No |
| 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 | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
For beginners looking at educational content, FXCM has the edge over Trading 212. FXCM offers forex and CFD education with at least 10 learning pieces, plus online client webinars held at least once a month. It also provides 10 or more beginner videos and 10 or more advanced videos, giving new traders and more experienced users plenty to work through. That stronger mix of live and on-demand learning helps explain FXCM’s 4.5-star education rating and its #13 ranking out of 36 brokers for education.
Trading 212 also gives beginners a fair amount of video-based learning, with at least 10 beginner videos and at least 10 advanced videos available. However, it does not offer monthly educational webinars, and its forex or CFD learning library does not meet the same minimum level as FXCM’s. As a result, Trading 212 is rated 3.5 stars for education and sits lower at #23 out of 36 brokers, making it a decent option for self-paced learning but not as strong for hands-on educational support.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 Trading 212. FXCM finished with an overall rank of #10, while Trading 212 finished with an overall rank of #25.
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
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 95 | 82 |
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Comparing online brokers FXCM vs Trading 212 for crypto trading: Trading 212 allows buying actual (delivered) cryptocurrency while FXCM does not, and both brokers offer cryptocurrency CFDs.
FXCM offers a wider range of funding and withdrawal options than Trading 212, including ACH/SEPA transfers, PayPal, Skrill, and bank wires, while Trading 212 supports bank wires but does not offer PayPal or Skrill.
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 | Trading 212 | |
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| Trust Score | 95 | 82 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | FXCM Review | Trading 212 Review |
| Broker Screenshots | FXCM | Trading 212 | |
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| Regulation | FXCM | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 95 | 82 | |
| Year Founded | 1999 | 2004 | |
| 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 | 0 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | FXCM | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (FSA 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 | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | FXCM | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 440 | 13000 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 46 | 180 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | Yes | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | Yes | |
| 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 | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Spread-only account | 0.9 | 2.7 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | 0.8 | 2.7 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | FXCM | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | Starts from $50 | €1 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | FXCM | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | No | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | No | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | No | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | No | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | No | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | FXCM | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 115 | 102 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | FXCM | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 59 | 104 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | FXCM | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | No | |
| 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 | Yes |
| Education | FXCM | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | FXCM | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| Review | FXCM Review | Trading 212 Review |
| Overall | FXCM | Trading 212 | |
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| Trust Score | 95 | 82 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | FXCM Review | Trading 212 Review |
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