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 stands out for commissions and fees with fixed spreads on its TN Trader platform and variable pricing on MetaTrader. EUR/USD is listed at 0.6 pips on TN Trader, though spreads briefly widen during the daily rollover (up to about 1.4 pips), putting the typical average close to 1 pip over time. On MetaTrader, you can choose a commission-free account (higher spreads) or the Raw Spread account that charges $3.50 per side ($7 round-trip) per standard lot. TN Trader generally delivers the lowest all-in costs among its account types. Rating: 5/5 stars; ranked #7 of 63 for Commissions and Fees by ForexBrokers.com.
IFC Markets’ average EUR/USD spread is 1.44 pips, above the industry average of 1.08, but its ECN account can bring effective costs down to about 1.1 pips after a 0.005% commission on both sides of the trade. The broker does not charge inactivity fees and offers active trader discounts, which can help frequent traders. Rating: 4/5 stars; ranked #40 of 63 for Commissions and Fees by ForexBrokers.com.
In a head-to-head comparison, Trade Nation tends to be cheaper for many traders thanks to its straightforward fixed spreads (especially on TN Trader) and the option of a low-commission Raw Spread account on MetaTrader. IFC Markets is less competitive on standard spreads but narrows the gap for high-volume traders through its ECN pricing and no inactivity fee. If you want predictable, low spreads, Trade Nation has the edge; if you prefer an ECN model with discounts for active trading, IFC Markets is worth a look.
| Feature |
Trade Nation
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $1 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.6 | 1.44 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.6 | 1.1 |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
Looking at the range of investments, Trade Nation offers about 1,000 tradeable symbols versus 630 at IFC Markets. Both brokers support forex trading (via CFDs or spot), with Trade Nation listing 46 currency pairs and IFC Markets offering 49. Crypto trading is available at both through cryptocurrency CFDs, but neither lets you buy actual coins. Copy trading is offered by both. When it comes to exchange-traded shares (not CFDs), neither broker provides access to U.S.-listed stocks; however, IFC Markets does let you buy certain international shares directly, while Trade Nation does not.
For overall variety, Trade Nation wins on sheer instrument count, while IFC Markets edges ahead on forex pairs and adds direct access to some non-CFD international equities. Both earn 3.5 out of 5 stars for Range of Investments; within ForexBrokers.com’s 63-broker review, Trade Nation ranks #39 and IFC Markets ranks #44.
| Feature |
Trade Nation
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1000 | 630 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 46 | 49 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | Yes |
| 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). |
Dive deeper: Best Copy Trading Platforms.
Trade Nation and IFC Markets both check key platform boxes: each offers a free demo account, in-house proprietary software, Windows desktop downloads, web-based platforms, copy trading, and MetaTrader 4. The biggest platform difference is MetaTrader 5 support—IFC Markets offers MT5 while Trade Nation does not. If you like to place orders straight from charts, IFC Markets enables chart trading, whereas Trade Nation does not. Counts for built-in technical indicators and watchlist fields aren’t specified, so it’s smart to try their demos to see which layout and tools you prefer.
For trading platforms and tools, both brokers earn 4 out of 5 stars, but IFC Markets ranks higher (#37 of 63) than Trade Nation (#45 of 63) at ForexBrokers.com. If you need MT5 features or chart-based order entry, IFC Markets may fit better; if you’re fine with MT4 and want to compare proprietary platforms side by side, test both demo accounts to find the workflow that feels most natural.
| Feature |
Trade Nation
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 115 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | No | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Trade Nation and IFC Markets both offer iPhone and Android mobile trading apps. Each app supports price alerts and watchlist syncing across mobile and web, so changes you make carry over to all your devices. Their charting tools cover the basics you need, including drawing trendlines that auto-save on your charts. Both are rated 4 out of 5 stars for mobile trading apps.
If you want more built-in indicators, Trade Nation provides 99 technical studies in its mobile charts, while IFC Markets offers 30. According to ForexBrokers.com’s Mobile Trading Apps rankings, Trade Nation places 46th out of 63 brokers, and IFC Markets ranks 53rd. In short, both cover alerts, syncing, and core drawing tools, but Trade Nation has a larger indicator library and a slightly higher category ranking.
| Feature |
Trade Nation
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 99 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
Trade Nation and IFC Markets both cover the basics for market research, offering daily market commentary and sentiment tools that show the split between long and short positions. Trade Nation goes a step further with forex news from top-tier sources such as Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones, and it also includes tools from Acuity Trading (e.g., Signal Centre). Neither broker offers Autochartist, Trading Central, or TipRanks.
IFC Markets counters with an in-platform economic calendar, which Trade Nation lacks. Both brokers earn 3.5 out of 5 stars for research, though IFC Markets ranks slightly higher (#41 of 63) than Trade Nation (#43 of 63) in ForexBrokers.com’s category results. Choose Trade Nation if you want premium news and Acuity Trading signals; pick IFC Markets if having an integrated economic calendar matters more. For core analysis features, the two are otherwise quite similar.
| Feature |
Trade Nation
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central | No | No |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Acuity Trading | Yes | No |
| Economic Calendar | No | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
Comparing Trade Nation and IFC Markets for beginner education, both brokers lean heavily on video-based learning. Each offers at least 10 beginner videos and at least 10 advanced videos that explain trading concepts in plain language, making it easier to get started and keep progressing. Neither broker runs monthly educational webinars, so live, interactive sessions aren’t part of the package. On overall quality, both earn 3.5 out of 5 stars for Education from ForexBrokers.com.
If you’re choosing between the two, IFC Markets holds a higher category ranking (#30) than Trade Nation (#41), which suggests a slight edge in its education lineup despite the same star rating. For beginners who prefer on-demand videos, either broker can work well; if you’re seeking regular live webinars, you’ll need to consider other options.
| Feature |
Trade Nation
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | No | 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 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
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| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 85 | 73 |
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Comparing online brokers Trade Nation and IFC Markets: neither supports buying actual (delivered) cryptocurrency, but both offer cryptocurrency CFD trading.
Comparing online brokers for deposits and withdrawals: Trade Nation does not offer ACH/SEPA and provides no stated support for PayPal, Skrill, Visa/Mastercard or bank wires, while IFC Markets also lacks ACH/SEPA, PayPal and Skrill, does support bank wire transfers, and does not specify Visa/Mastercard availability.
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 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
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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 | ||
| 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 | ||
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | ||
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | ||
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | No | ||
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | No | ||
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | |||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | No | ||
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | ||
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | No |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Trade Nation | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | ||
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | No | ||
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | ||
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | Trade Nation | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1000 | 630 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 46 | 49 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | Yes | |
| 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). |
| Cost | Trade Nation | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.6 | 1.44 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.6 | 1.1 | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | No | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Trade Nation | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $1 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | ||
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | ||
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | ||
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | Trade Nation | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Trade Nation | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 115 | 30 | |
| 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 Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 99 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | No | Yes |
| Research | Trade Nation | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | No | Yes |
| Education | Trade Nation | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | No | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Trade Nation | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| 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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