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 |
When comparing commissions and fees, FXCM comes out ahead of Trading 212 for most forex and CFD traders. FXCM’s pricing is slightly above the industry average overall, but its commission-based accounts can be relatively competitive, with May 2024 average EUR/USD spreads of 0.28 pips before commissions. Even after adding the commission cost, the effective spread is about 0.74 pips, which is still much better than many brokers. FXCM also offers Active Trader rebates in some regions, which can lower costs further for high-volume traders. FXCM is rated 4.5/5 stars and is ranked #17 out of 36 for Commissions and Fees.
Trading 212 advertises zero-commission trading, but that does not mean trading is free, since spreads still apply on CFDs and forex. For April 2025, its average EUR/USD spread was 2.7 pips, which is well above the industry average and makes it less attractive on price than FXCM. Trading 212 is rated 4/5 stars and is ranked #27 out of 36 for Commissions and Fees.
In simple terms, FXCM is the better choice if keeping trading costs down is your main goal, especially for active forex traders. Trading 212 may appeal to beginners because of its simple zero-commission message, but its wider spreads can make it more expensive in practice.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | Starts from $50 | €1 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.9 | 2.7 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.8 | 2.7 |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | 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 comparing FXCM and Trading 212 for range of investments, Trading 212 comes out ahead overall. Both brokers offer forex trading as CFDs or spot contracts, but Trading 212 gives traders a much wider selection, with about 13,000 tradeable symbols and 180 forex pairs, compared with FXCM’s 440 symbols and 46 forex pairs. Trading 212 also lets clients buy real shares on U.S. and international exchanges, while FXCM does not offer exchange traded securities outside CFDs.
FXCM does have some features that Trading 212 does not, including copy trading, which may appeal to traders who want to follow others. Both brokers support cryptocurrency CFDs, but only Trading 212 also allows the purchase of actual cryptocurrency. In independent ratings, FXCM scores 4.5 out of 5 for range of investments and ranks #21 out of 36 brokers, while Trading 212 scores a full 5 out of 5 and ranks #15, making it the stronger choice for investors looking for more asset variety.
| 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 has the edge overall. FXCM offers daily market commentary, Trading Central tools, sentiment data showing long and short position ratios, TipRanks research, forex news from top sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, and an economic calendar. Trading 212 also provides forex news, sentiment data, and an economic calendar, but it does not include daily market commentary, Trading Central research, or TipRanks.
In terms of research ratings, FXCM scores 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #11 out of 36 brokers for Research at ForexBrokers.com, while Trading 212 scores 3.5 stars and ranks #32. Neither broker offers Autochartist or Acuity Trading tools, so the main difference comes down to the extra research features FXCM includes, making it the stronger choice for traders who want more market insight.
| 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.
When comparing FXCM and Trading 212 for beginner-friendly learning, FXCM comes out ahead overall. FXCM offers forex and CFD education with at least 10 relevant learning pieces, plus monthly client webinars, which can be especially helpful for new traders who want live guidance and regular market lessons. It also provides at least 10 beginner videos and 10 advanced videos, giving users a clear path to keep learning as their skills grow. FXCM is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars for Education and ranks #13 out of 36 brokers in ForexBrokers.com’s Education category.
Trading 212 also gives beginners a useful set of learning tools, including at least 10 beginner videos and at least 10 advanced videos. However, it does not offer monthly educational client webinars, and its overall education score is lower at 3.5 out of 5 stars. It also ranks #20 out of 36 brokers for Education. For traders who want more live teaching and a stronger all-around education offering, FXCM appears to be the better choice.
| 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
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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 vs Trading 212: both support ACH/SEPA and bank wire transfers for deposits and withdrawals, but only FXCM offers PayPal and Skrill, while card support is not specified for either broker.
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) - Standard account | 0.9 | 2.7 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 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 | Yes | 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 Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 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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