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 and IFC Markets are both online brokers, each offering distinct regulatory advantages. Trading 212, established in 2004, stands out with a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 80, placing it in the "trusted" category. It holds three Tier-1 licenses, considered the gold standard in broker licensing, showcasing a strong regulatory framework. In comparison, IFC Markets, founded in 2006, has a Trust Score of 73, categorizing it as "average risk" according to ForexBrokers.com's ratings. Although it holds one Tier-2 license, it does not possess any Tier-1 licenses like Trading 212, indicating different levels of regulatory oversight. Both companies are privately held and do not operate as banks, offering a clear choice for users prioritizing varied trust levels and regulatory standings.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2004 | 2006 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 3 | 0 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
When comparing commissions and fees, both Trading 212 and IFC Markets earn 4 out of 5 stars, but IFC Markets ranks higher (#40 of 63) than Trading 212 (#50 of 63) in ForexBrokers.com’s Commissions and Fees category. Trading 212 promotes zero-commission trading on its CFD account (minimum deposit €10), but your real cost comes from the spread. The broker now publishes average spreads; in April 2025 its EUR/USD average was 2.7 pips—much higher than the industry average—making it less attractive for spread-sensitive forex and CFD traders.
IFC Markets’ typical EUR/USD spread is 1.44 pips, which is above the 1.08-pip industry average but still notably tighter than Trading 212’s 2.7 pips. Active traders can lower costs further with IFC Markets’ ECN account, where the effective spread can reach about 1.1 pips after a 0.005% commission on both sides of the trade. The lack of inactivity fees and the availability of active trader discounts add to IFC Markets’ cost appeal.
Bottom line: both brokers are rated 4/5 for commissions and fees, but IFC Markets’ tighter spreads and ECN pricing give it an edge over Trading 212 for frequent forex and CFD trading, while Trading 212’s low account minimum may appeal to beginners who prioritize ease of entry over the tightest spreads.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | €1 | $1 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 2.7 | 1.44 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 2.7 | 1.1 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | Yes |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
Trading 212 vs IFC Markets: both support forex trading via CFDs or spot. Trading 212 offers a far wider range with 7,868 tradeable symbols and 146 forex pairs, compared with IFC Markets’ 630 symbols and 49 pairs. For exchange-traded securities (not CFDs), Trading 212 lets you buy U.S. shares like Apple on NASDAQ as well as stocks on international exchanges, while IFC Markets offers international exchange-traded stocks but not direct U.S. share dealing.
IFC Markets includes copy trading; Trading 212 does not. Neither broker sells actual cryptocurrency, but both offer cryptocurrency derivatives. For Range of Investments, ForexBrokers.com rates Trading 212 at 5 stars (ranked 16th of 63) and IFC Markets at 3.5 stars (ranked 44th of 63). Choose Trading 212 if you want the widest selection and access to U.S. stocks; consider IFC Markets if copy trading is a priority and you’re comfortable with a smaller lineup.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 7868 | 630 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 146 | 49 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | 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.
Comparing Trading 212 vs IFC Markets for trading platforms and tools: both brokers provide free demo (paper) trading and their own in-house platforms, plus easy access through a web browser. If you prefer a downloadable Windows desktop platform or want MetaTrader, IFC Markets fits the bill with MT4 and MT5 support and a Windows app, while Trading 212 does not offer either. Copy trading is available at IFC Markets but not at Trading 212. Neither broker supports DupliTrade or ZuluTrade. Both let you place trades directly from charts.
For charting and workspace features, Trading 212 includes 20 drawing tools compared with 15 at IFC Markets, while watchlists offer 5 columns on Trading 212 and 7 on IFC Markets. Both brokers earned 4 out of 5 stars for Trading Platforms and Tools; however, Trading 212 ranks #20 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while IFC Markets ranks #37. In short, choose Trading 212 for streamlined web trading and strong drawing tools, or go with IFC Markets if you need a Windows platform, MetaTrader access, or built-in copy trading.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | No | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 54 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 20 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 5 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Both Trading 212 and IFC Markets offer full-featured mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android. You’ll get price alerts, real-time quote watchlists, synced watchlists between mobile and web, multiple time frames, trendline drawing tools, and auto-saved chart drawings on both platforms. Each app earned a 4-star rating for mobile trading. However, Trading 212 ranks higher in ForexBrokers.com’s Mobile Trading Apps category (#17 out of 63) compared to IFC Markets (#53), and it stands out for charting depth with 104 technical studies versus IFC Markets’ 30.
If you value a wider set of technical indicators for stocks and forex, Trading 212’s mobile app will likely suit you better. If you mainly need the essentials—alerts, synced watchlists, and straightforward charting—IFC Markets covers the basics well on both iPhone and Android.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
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 | 104 | 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.
Trading 212 and IFC Markets both earn 3.5 out of 5 stars for market research. On ForexBrokers.com, IFC Markets ranks #41 of 63 brokers, edging out Trading 212 at #45. Key differences: IFC Markets publishes daily market commentary, while Trading 212 does not. In contrast, Trading 212 offers forex news from top-tier sources such as Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones, which IFC Markets does not provide.
Both brokers include an economic calendar and a sentiment tool that shows the long/short ratio across instruments. Neither offers tools from Autochartist, Trading Central, TipRanks, or Acuity Trading. Bottom line: choose IFC Markets if you want day-to-day commentary, or Trading 212 if real-time news from major wires is more important—otherwise, their research toolsets are quite similar.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | No | 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) | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
Both Trading 212 and IFC Markets offer beginner-friendly forex and CFD education, meeting the mark with at least 10 learning pieces and well-stocked video libraries. Each broker provides at least 10 videos for beginners and 10 for advanced traders, plus an investor dictionary with 50+ terms to help newcomers learn the basics. This makes either platform a workable choice if you prefer to learn through articles and videos at your own pace.
Live education is limited: neither broker hosts monthly client webinars. However, Trading 212 stands out by offering a searchable archive of past webinars, while IFC Markets does not. In independent reviews, both earn 3.5 out of 5 stars for Education, with Trading 212 ranked #21 of 63 brokers and IFC Markets ranked #30 of 63 by ForexBrokers.com. If you want on-demand learning and the option to revisit recorded sessions, Trading 212 has a slight edge; if you don’t need webinar archives, IFC Markets delivers comparable overall education for beginners.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | No | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | 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 Trading 212 is better than IFC Markets. Trading 212 finished with an overall rank of #31, while IFC Markets finished with an overall rank of #45.
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
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 80 | 73 |
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Both Trading 212 and IFC Markets do not offer the option to buy actual delivered cryptocurrency, but they do provide the ability to trade cryptocurrency derivatives, allowing investors to engage in the cryptocurrency market without owning the actual assets.
Trading 212 distinguishes itself by offering ACH, SEPA transfers, and PayPal for deposits and withdrawals, while both Trading 212 and IFC Markets provide Visa, Mastercard, and bank wire options, but neither supports Skrill as a funding method.
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 | 80 | 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 | 80 | 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 | 0 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Trading 212 | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | No | ||
| 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). | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Trading 212 | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | ||
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | No | ||
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | ||
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | Trading 212 | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 7868 | 630 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 146 | 49 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | 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 | Trading 212 | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 2.7 | 1.44 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 2.7 | 1.1 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Trading 212 | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | €1 | $1 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | Trading 212 | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | No | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Trading 212 | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 5 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 54 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 20 | 15 | |
| 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 Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 104 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Trading 212 | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | No | 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 | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Trading 212 | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | No | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Trading 212 | 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 | Trading 212 Review |
| Overall | Trading 212 | IFC Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 80 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Trading 212 Review |
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