Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Trade Nation vs IFC Markets, 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.
Trade Nation, established in 2014, is an online broker known for its trustworthiness, reflected by a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 85, signifying a trusted status. This broker holds two Tier-1 licenses, marking it as highly trusted, and one Tier-2 license. Though not publicly traded or a bank, Trade Nation’s regulatory framework offers peace of mind for potential investors seeking a reliable platform.
Founded in 2006, IFC Markets holds a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 73, placing it in the average risk category. This broker maintains one Tier-2 license but lacks Tier-1 licensure, which are indicators of higher trust. Like Trade Nation, IFC Markets is neither publicly traded nor a bank. Investors interested in IFC Markets should be aware of its lower, yet still respectable, trust score when compared to other brokers.
| Feature |
Trade Nation
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2014 | 2006 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 0 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
Trade Nation is a preferred choice for traders seeking competitive pricing with a five-star rating for commissions and fees. It features fixed spreads on all tradeable symbols through its proprietary platform and offers variable spreads on the MetaTrader platform. Notably, Trade Nation maintains fixed spreads, such as 0.6 pips for the EUR/USD pair, except during a daily rollover period, where spreads can extend to 1.4 pips. The average effective spread is around 1 pip. Trade Nation offers three account types, including a commission-based Raw Spread account with fees of $3.50 per side per standard lot, a commission-free account, and the TN Trader account benefiting from the lowest spreads among the options. Ranking #7 out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, Trade Nation stands out in the competitive field.
Conversely, IFC Markets offers spreads that tend to fall slightly short of the industry average, with an average spread of 1.44 pips for the EUR/USD pair. However, for active traders, the ECN account offers more appealing spreads at 1.1 pips once the 0.005% commission on both trade sides is considered. IFC Markets provides advantages such as no inactivity fees and active trader discounts, though its overall commission and fees rating stand at four stars. Despite its perks, IFC Markets ranks lower at #39 out of 63 brokers in the Commissions and Fees category on ForexBrokers.com.
In summary, Trade Nation takes the lead with its fixed spreads and tailored account options, making it an attractive choice for traders looking for predictable costs. Meanwhile, IFC Markets offers certain benefits for active traders but falls behind Trade Nation in both industry ranking and competitive spread pricing.
| Feature |
Trade Nation
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $1 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.6 | 1.44 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.6 | 1.1 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | Yes |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
Trade Nation and IFC Markets both cater to forex traders by offering forex trading through CFDs or spot contracts. Trade Nation provides access to 1,000 tradeable symbols, while IFC Markets offers 630, giving Trade Nation a broader range of options overall. However, when it comes to forex pairs specifically, IFC Markets has a slight edge, offering 49 compared to Trade Nation's 46. Both brokers share a similarity in allowing clients to engage in copy trading and purchase cryptocurrency derivatives, but neither provides options for buying actual cryptocurrencies. If you are interested in exchange-traded securities on U.S. exchanges, both brokers fall short. However, IFC Markets lets clients buy securities on international exchanges like the London Stock Exchange, whereas Trade Nation does not.
Both Trade Nation and IFC Markets are rated equally for their range of investments, each earning 3.5 out of 5 stars. According to ForexBrokers.com, Trade Nation ranks higher in the Range of Investments category at #38 out of 63 brokers, while IFC Markets follows at #43. This ranking suggests that despite the similarities and differences in their offerings, Trade Nation slightly outperforms IFC Markets in terms of investment variety according to this specific source. Investors should carefully consider these aspects when deciding which broker aligns best with their investment goals and needs.
| Feature |
Trade Nation
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1000 | 630 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 46 | 49 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | Yes |
| 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). |
Dive deeper: Best Copy Trading Platforms.
When comparing the trading platforms of Trade Nation and IFC Markets, both brokers offer free virtual demo accounts, supporting new and experienced traders to sharpen their skills. Each broker provides its proprietary platform and a Windows-based desktop application. Additionally, both have web-based trading platforms and support the popular MetaTrader 4. However, when it comes to MetaTrader 5, only IFC Markets extends this offering, giving them an edge for traders seeking the newer version. Moreover, both brokers provide copy trading, yet neither supports DupliTrade or ZuluTrade.
Examining their charting tools, Trade Nation provides 39 drawing tools, clearly surpassing IFC Markets' 15. However, IFC Markets allows trading directly from a stock chart, while Trade Nation does not. The watchlist functionality at Trade Nation offers more flexibility with 14 customizable fields compared to IFC Markets' seven. In terms of ratings, both earn four out of five stars for trading platforms and tools. Nonetheless, IFC Markets holds a slightly higher rank at #36 compared to Trade Nation's #44, according to ForexBrokers.com.
| Feature |
Trade Nation
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 115 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 39 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | No | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 14 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
When comparing the mobile trading apps of Trade Nation and IFC Markets, both brokers provide comprehensive features that cater to traders on the go. Available for both iPhone and Android users, these apps offer essential tools such as price alerts, the ability to sync watchlists with online accounts, and the option to draw trendlines on charts. Users can also view multiple time frames and create watchlists with real-time quotes. Charting capabilities also include autosaving drawings, providing a seamless experience for tracking stock or forex performance.
However, in terms of technical studies available for charting, Trade Nation stands out by offering 99 options, whereas IFC Markets provides 30. Both apps receive a solid rating of 4 stars out of 5 for their mobile trading experience, yet Trade Nation slightly edges ahead in rankings, placed at #45 compared to IFC Markets at #52 out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com. This subtle difference might appeal to traders seeking more in-depth charting features.
| Feature |
Trade Nation
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 99 | 30 |
| 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.
Trade Nation and IFC Markets both provide daily market commentary, catering to traders who rely on updated insights for their strategies. However, while Trade Nation excels by offering forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, IFC Markets does not provide this feature. Both platforms lack research tools from Autochartist and Trading Central, but they do include sentiment-based trading tools that display the ratio of long or short positions, helping traders gauge market mood effectively. Notably, Trade Nation provides additional research tools from Acuity Trading, such as Signal Centre, which are absent from IFC Markets' offerings.
When it comes to user-friendly tools like economic calendars, IFC Markets is ahead, offering a comprehensive display of global economic events, a feature Trade Nation does not provide. Both brokers have earned a research rating of 3.5 stars, indicating a solid performance in this area despite their distinct approaches to market research. In terms of rankings, IFC Markets holds a slightly better position at #40, compared to Trade Nation's #42, among 63 examined brokers. This comparison highlights their areas of strength while showcasing different aspects they prioritize for their users seeking insightful market research.
| Feature |
Trade Nation
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | Yes | No |
| Economic Calendar | No | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When comparing the educational offerings of Trade Nation and IFC Markets, both brokers provide a solid foundation for beginners venturing into forex and CFDs trading. Each offers a collection of at least 10 educational resources, such as articles and videos, devoted to these trading areas. Additionally, they provide over 10 beginner-focused educational videos, easing new traders into the fundamentals of the market. For those seeking more advanced knowledge, these brokers also cover complex topics with their selection of advanced educational videos. Both brands feature an investor dictionary containing definitions for more than 50 investing terms, establishing a reliable reference guide for beginners.
Despite these educational offerings, neither Trade Nation nor IFC Markets support ongoing learning through monthly webinars or provide a searchable archive of previously recorded sessions. With equal ratings of 3.5 stars for educational content, choosing between them might rely on other factors like overall ranking. As of the latest data, IFC Markets holds a slightly higher position, ranked #30 out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, compared to Trade Nation's #41 ranking in the Education category. This distinction might make a difference for those prioritizing educational support when selecting an online broker.
| Feature |
Trade Nation
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | No | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | No | 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 Trade Nation is better than IFC Markets. Trade Nation finished with an overall rank of #34, while IFC Markets finished with an overall rank of #45.
Trade Nation’s well-designed, easy-to-use trading app is an innovative trading platform that’s great for beginner forex and CFD traders. However, if you’re a seasoned trader, you may find that Trade Nation lacks advanced features compared to the best trading platforms.
| Feature |
Trade Nation
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IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 85 | 73 |
| Range of Investments |
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Both Trade Nation and IFC Markets provide traders with the opportunity to invest in cryptocurrency derivatives, but neither platform offers the option to purchase actual delivered cryptocurrency.
Both Trade Nation and IFC Markets do not support ACH, SEPA, or PayPal transfers for account funding, with Trade Nation offering Skrill as an additional option compared to IFC Markets, while both brokers provide Visa/Mastercard and bank wire options for deposits and withdrawals.
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 | Trade Nation | IFC Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 85 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Trade Nation Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Trade Nation | IFC Markets | |
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| Regulation | Trade Nation | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 85 | 73 | |
| Year Founded | 2014 | 2006 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | No | No | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 0 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Trade Nation | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | No | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | No | 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). | No | No |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Trade Nation | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | No | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | Trade Nation | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1000 | 630 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 46 | 49 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | Yes | |
| 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). |
| Cost | Trade Nation | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.6 | 1.44 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.6 | 1.1 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Trade Nation | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $1 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | Trade Nation | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Trade Nation | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 14 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 115 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 39 | 15 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | No | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | No | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Trade Nation | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 99 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | No | Yes |
| Research | Trade Nation | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | No | Yes |
| Education | Trade Nation | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | No | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | No | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Trade Nation | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Trade Nation Review |
| Overall | Trade Nation | IFC Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 85 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Trade Nation Review |
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