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 earns 4 stars and ranks #27 out of 36 for commissions and fees. Its CFD account advertises zero-commission trading, but traders still pay the spread on CFDs and forex. Trading 212 has started sharing average spread data, which helps with price transparency, but its April 2025 average EUR/USD spread of 2.7 pips is well above the industry average, making it less attractive on pricing for active forex and CFD traders.
IFC Markets also scores 4 stars, but it places lower at #32 out of 36 in the commissions and fees category. Its average EUR/USD spread is 1.44 pips, which is above the industry average of 1.08 and therefore not especially competitive. That said, active traders may find better pricing with IFC Markets’ new ECN account, where the effective spread is about 1.1 pips after commission, and the lack of inactivity fees plus active trader discounts can help lower overall costs.
Overall, both brokers offer similar star ratings, but Trading 212 is ranked higher and provides more pricing visibility through published spread data. IFC Markets may appeal more to active traders who can benefit from its ECN pricing and fee perks, while Trading 212’s main drawback is its wider EUR/USD spread for CFD and forex trading.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | €1 | $1 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 2.7 | 1.44 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 2.7 | 1.1 |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | 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 wider choice than IFC Markets. Trading 212 gives clients access to 13,000 tradeable symbols and 180 forex pairs, compared with 630 symbols and 49 forex pairs at IFC Markets. Both brokers offer forex trading as a CFD or spot contract, and both support cryptocurrency CFDs, but Trading 212 also lets clients buy actual cryptocurrency. It also provides exchange traded securities on U.S. and international exchanges, while IFC Markets does not offer U.S.-listed exchange traded shares.
IFC Markets does have a few features Trading 212 does not, including copy trading and access to international exchange traded securities. Still, Trading 212 comes out ahead overall for investment range, with a 5-star rating and a #15 ranking out of 36 brokers from ForexBrokers.com, versus IFC Markets’ 3.5-star rating and #31 ranking. For traders who want more markets and more choice across stocks, forex, and crypto, Trading 212 is the broader option.
| 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 free demo account and a web-based platform, so each lets you practice and trade from a browser without installing software. Both also let you place trades directly from a chart, which can make it easier to act on price moves quickly. In ForexBrokers.com’s Trading Platforms and Tools category, both brokers are rated 4 out of 5 stars, but Trading 212 is ranked higher overall at #19 out of 36 brokers, compared with IFC Markets at #29.
The main difference is in platform choice. Trading 212 does not offer a proprietary desktop platform, Windows download, copy trading, or MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, while IFC Markets does. IFC Markets also has its own in-house platform, a Windows desktop platform, and copy trading tools, which may appeal to traders who want more platform options and familiar MetaTrader support. For charting and watch lists, specific counts were not provided for either broker.
| 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 useful features like stock or forex price alerts, watchlist syncing, trendline drawing, and auto-saving chart drawings. In terms of day-to-day use, both apps cover the basics well and are rated 4 out of 5 stars for mobile trading.
The main difference is in charting tools. Trading 212 gives mobile users 104 technical studies, while IFC Markets offers 30, which may matter more to active chart watchers. Based on ForexBrokers.com’s ranking for mobile trading apps, Trading 212 places #17 out of 36 brokers, compared with IFC Markets at #34 out of 36, making Trading 212 the stronger choice overall for mobile app features and chart analysis.
| 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 comparing market research features, Trading 212 and IFC Markets are fairly close overall, with both brokers earning 3.5 out of 5 stars for Research. Each platform offers a sentiment tool that shows long and short positions, plus an economic calendar to track upcoming global events. Neither broker provides research from Autochartist, Trading Central, TipRanks, or Acuity Trading, so traders looking for those extra tools will not find them here. In ForexBrokers.com’s research rankings, Trading 212 places #32 out of 36 brokers, while IFC Markets comes in slightly higher at #30.
The main difference is in news and commentary. IFC Markets includes daily market commentary, while Trading 212 does not. Trading 212, however, does offer forex news from top-tier sources such as Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones, which IFC Markets does not. For everyday traders who want a simple research setup, both brokers cover the basics, but Trading 212 stands out for premium news coverage and IFC Markets has the edge for daily commentary.
| 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 both give beginners a fair amount of learning support, especially through video content. Each broker offers at least 10 beginner-friendly videos and at least 10 advanced videos, so new traders and more experienced users can find material that fits their level. Neither broker offers monthly online educational webinars, and neither one appears to meet the standard for forex or CFDs education that requires at least 10 pieces focused mainly on those topics.
In third-party ratings, both brokers score 3.5 out of 5 stars for Education, which suggests a similar overall experience for learners. However, Trading 212 ranks a bit higher in ForexBrokers.com’s Education category, placing #20 out of 36 brokers, while IFC Markets comes in at #25. For beginners who want clear, easy-to-follow videos, both are comparable, but Trading 212 has a slight edge in the ranking.
| 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 #33.
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.
Comparing online brokers Trading 212 and IFC Markets on deposit and withdrawal methods: Trading 212 supports ACH/SEPA and bank wire transfers, while IFC Markets does not support ACH/SEPA but does support bank wires; neither broker offers PayPal or Skrill, and Visa/Mastercard availability is not specified for either.
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) - Standard account | 2.7 | 1.44 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 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 | Yes | 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 Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| 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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