Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Trading 212 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.
Trading 212 (founded 2004) and IFC Markets (founded 2006) are online brokers that are not publicly traded and are not banks. Based on ForexBrokers.com’s Trust Score, Trading 212 scores 82/99 (trusted, 80–89), while IFC Markets scores 73/99 (average risk, 70–79). For context: 90–99 is highly trusted, 60–69 is high risk, and below 59 should not be trusted.
On regulation, Trading 212 holds three Tier-1 licenses (considered highly trusted by ForexBrokers.com) and zero Tier-2 licenses. IFC Markets holds one Tier-1 license and zero Tier-2 licenses.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2004 | 2006 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 3 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 5 |
Trading 212 and IFC Markets both earn 4 out of 5 stars for commissions and fees, but neither is a clear standout on pricing. Trading 212’s CFD account advertises zero-commission trading, yet traders still pay the spread on CFDs and forex. Its average EUR/USD spread was 2.7 pips in April 2025, which is well above the industry average and makes it less competitive for cost-conscious traders. Trading 212 is ranked #29 out of 36 brokers in the Commissions and Fees category.
IFC Markets also scores 4 out of 5 stars, but its pricing picture is a little more mixed. Its average EUR/USD spread is 1.44 pips, which is higher than the industry average of 1.08, so it is not the cheapest option overall. However, active traders may do better with the new ECN account, where the effective spread comes to 1.1 pips after commission. IFC Markets also does not charge inactivity fees and offers active trader discounts, which can help lower overall costs. It is ranked #34 out of 36 brokers for Commissions and Fees.
In simple terms, Trading 212 may appeal to traders who like its no-commission message, while IFC Markets may suit those looking for more pricing options and lower effective spreads on its ECN account. Still, both brokers sit below the top tier for fees, so traders focused mainly on low trading costs may want to compare them carefully against other CFD and forex brokers.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | €1 | $1 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Spread-only account | 2.7 | 1.44 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | 2.7 | 1.1 |
| Non-wire bank transfer (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
Trading 212 offers a wider range of investments than IFC Markets, making it a stronger choice for traders who want more variety. Trading 212 gives access to about 13,000 tradeable symbols and 180 forex pairs, compared with IFC Markets’ 630 symbols and 49 forex pairs. Both brokers offer forex trading as either CFDs or spot contracts, and both also provide cryptocurrency CFDs.
Trading 212 stands out for share investing too, since it lets clients buy actual U.S. and international exchange-traded securities, such as Apple or Vodafone shares. IFC Markets offers international shares but does not provide direct access to U.S.-listed exchange-traded securities. Trading 212 also supports buying real cryptocurrency, while IFC Markets does not. On top of that, IFC Markets includes copy trading, which Trading 212 does not. Overall, Trading 212 is rated 5 stars for Range of Investments and ranks #14 out of 36 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, while IFC Markets is rated 3.5 stars and ranks #33.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 13000 | 630 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 180 | 49 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | Yes | 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.
Trading 212 and IFC Markets both give traders a web-based platform and a free demo account for simulated trading, so either one can be used without downloading software at first. Both also let you trade directly from a chart, which is handy if you like to act quickly while watching price movements. In ForexBrokers.com’s Trading Platforms and Tools category, each broker is rated 4 out of 5 stars, though Trading 212 is ranked higher overall at #19 out of 36 brokers, compared with IFC Markets at #32.
The biggest difference is in platform choice. Trading 212 keeps things simpler with its own browser-based platform but does not offer a desktop download, MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, or copy trading. IFC Markets offers more platform options, including its own in-house platform, a Windows desktop platform, MT4, MT5, and copy trading. For traders who want extra platform variety and more tools to choose from, IFC Markets has the edge, while Trading 212 may appeal to those who prefer a more straightforward setup.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | No | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | No | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 102 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Trading 212 and IFC Markets both offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, along with stock and forex price alerts, watchlist syncing, trendline drawing, and auto-saved chart drawings. In other words, both apps cover the basics that most mobile traders look for, and each earns a 4-star rating for mobile trading apps.
The main difference is in charting tools. Trading 212 gives users 104 technical studies in its mobile app, while IFC Markets offers 30. That wider selection helps Trading 212 stand out for traders who want more chart analysis on the go. It also helps explain why Trading 212 ranks higher for mobile trading apps, coming in at #17 out of 36 brokers, compared with IFC Markets at #37.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
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 | 104 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When it comes to market research, Trading 212 and IFC Markets are fairly close overall, with each earning a 3.5-star Research rating. Both brokers include a sentiment tool that shows the balance of long and short positions, and both offer an economic calendar for tracking upcoming global events. Neither broker provides research from Autochartist, Trading Central, TipRanks, or Acuity Trading. In ForexBrokers.com’s Research rankings, Trading 212 is placed slightly higher at #31 out of 36 brokers, while IFC Markets sits at #33.
The main difference is in the news and commentary they provide. IFC Markets offers daily market commentary, which can be helpful for traders who want regular updates in plain language. Trading 212, on the other hand, stands out for forex news from top-tier sources such as Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones. So, if you want more daily commentary, IFC Markets has the edge, but if you prefer access to well-known financial news providers, Trading 212 has the stronger offering.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | No | 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 | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
Trading 212 and IFC Markets are fairly close when it comes to education for beginners. Both brokers offer at least 10 beginner trading videos and at least 10 advanced videos for more experienced traders, and each is rated 3.5 out of 5 stars for Education by ForexBrokers.com. Neither broker offers monthly live educational webinars, and neither appears to provide the level of forex or CFD-focused education that would count as at least 10 dedicated pieces on those topics.
For newcomers who want to learn the basics, Trading 212 has a slight edge in the rankings, placing #23 out of 36 brokers for Education, compared with IFC Markets at #26. In simple terms, both brokers can help beginners get started, but Trading 212 may offer a somewhat better overall learning experience, while IFC Markets is still a solid option for video-based education.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
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 Trading 212 is better than IFC Markets. Trading 212 finished with an overall rank of #25, while IFC Markets finished with an overall rank of #36.
Best known for its mobile trading app, Trading 212 offers an easy-to-use trading platform suite for CFD and share trading, as well as a large variety of forex pairs. However, despite its well-designed platform and wide range of symbols, its lack of advanced trading tools and flat research offerings hamper Trading 212’s bid to be considered a top broker.
| Feature |
Trading 212
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IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 82 | 73 |
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Trading 212 vs IFC Markets: the online broker Trading 212 lets you buy real (delivered) cryptocurrency and trade cryptocurrency CFDs, while IFC Markets supports only cryptocurrency CFDs and does not offer the purchase of actual crypto.
Trading 212 and IFC Markets both support bank wire deposits and withdrawals, while neither broker offers PayPal or Skrill, and based on the available information, both also appear to support Visa or Mastercard and possibly ACH or SEPA transfers for account funding.
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 | Trading 212 | IFC Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 82 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Trading 212 Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Trading 212 | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Regulation | Trading 212 | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 82 | 73 | |
| Year Founded | 2004 | 2006 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | ||
| Tier-1 Licenses | 3 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 5 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Trading 212 | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | No | ||
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | ||
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | ||
| Japan (FSA 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). | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Trading 212 | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | ||
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or CMA Authorised) | No | ||
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | ||
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | Trading 212 | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 13000 | 630 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 180 | 49 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | Yes | 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 | Trading 212 | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Spread-only account | 2.7 | 1.44 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | 2.7 | 1.1 | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Trading 212 | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | €1 | $1 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer (Deposit/Withdraw) | No |
| Trading Platforms | Trading 212 | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | No | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | No | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Trading 212 | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 102 | 30 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Trading 212 | 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 | 104 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Trading 212 | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | No | 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 | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Trading 212 | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | No | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Trading 212 | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| Review | Trading 212 Review |
| Overall | Trading 212 | IFC Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 82 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Trading 212 Review |
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