Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Trading 212 vs iFOREX, 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, established in 2004, and iFOREX, founded in 1996, are both non-publicly traded, non-bank online brokers. When it comes to regulation, Trading 212 holds three Tier-1 licenses, earning a trust score of 80 from ForexBrokers.com, which places it in the trusted category. On the other hand, iFOREX has one Tier-1 license, with a trust score of 75, categorizing it as average risk. These scores suggest a strong regulatory framework for Trading 212 compared to iFOREX's more modest setup.
Neither of these brokers holds any Tier-2 licenses, which are essential for being regarded as trusted by ForexBrokers.com. Despite their long-standing presence in the industry, regulatory differences are significant factors to consider for potential investors looking for secure and trustworthy trading platforms. Trading 212's higher trust score and more substantial regulatory licenses might appeal to those prioritizing a regulated trading environment.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
iFOREX
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2004 | 1996 |
| 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 | 1 |
Trading 212 offers a user-friendly structure for both its Invest and CFD accounts, with minimum deposits of 1 euro and 10 euros respectively. Focusing on the CFD account, Trading 212 advertises zero-commission trading, although it's important to note that a spread is applicable when trading CFDs and forex. The broker has made strides toward transparency by publishing average spread data; for example, its spread for the EUR/USD pair in April 2025 was 2.7 pips. This figure is notably above the industry average, which may affect its competitiveness among top CFD and forex brokers. Trading 212 receives a rating of 4 stars for its commissions and fees and is ranked 49th out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com.
On the other hand, iFOREX does not provide average spread data, making it more challenging for traders to gauge its pricing transparency and competitiveness. Without specific details on the average spread, it's difficult to make an apples-to-apples comparison with Trading 212. iFOREX receives a slightly lower rating of 3 stars for commissions and fees and is ranked 61st among 63 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com, indicating room for improvement in offering more competitive cost structures.
In summary, Trading 212 and iFOREX present different approaches to commissions and fees in the online trading space. Trading 212's effort to publish spread data adds a layer of transparency, although its higher-than-average spreads may be a concern for cost-conscious traders. iFOREX, lacking detailed spread information, faces a harder challenge in appealing to traders focused on cost efficiency. Both brokers have distinct advantages and drawbacks, with Trading 212 slightly outshining iFOREX in terms of ratings and rankings in this category.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
iFOREX
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | €1 | $100 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 2.7 | N/A |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 2.7 | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | No |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
When comparing Trading 212 and iFOREX in terms of their range of investments, Trading 212 stands out with a significantly broader selection. Trading 212 offers a staggering 7,868 tradeable symbols, including 146 forex pairs, making it a strong contender for diversifying investment portfolios. It allows users to invest in exchange-traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges, enabling access to prominent stocks like Apple and Vodafone. Additionally, Trading 212 provides options for trading in cryptocurrency derivatives, although it doesn’t offer the purchase of actual cryptocurrencies or copy trading features.
On the other hand, iFOREX provides a more limited range with 750 tradeable symbols and 88 forex pairs. Its offerings are focused more on Contracts for Difference (CFDs), with no options for buying exchange-traded securities on U.S. or international exchanges. This positions iFOREX chiefly as a CFD platform, though it does offer cryptocurrency derivatives similar to Trading 212. In terms of ratings, Trading 212 is more favorably viewed, earning a 5-star rating for its range of investments and ranked #15 out of 63 brokers. Meanwhile, iFOREX comes in with a 3.5-star rating and is ranked at #41, making Trading 212 the more versatile choice for investors seeking a wider array of investment opportunities.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
iFOREX
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 7868 | 750 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 146 | 88 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | No |
| 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). | 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 and tools of Trading 212 and iFOREX, both brokers bring unique offerings to the table. Trading 212 provides a free virtual demo account, allowing new traders to practice without financial commitment, an option not available with iFOREX. Both companies have developed their own proprietary platforms, accessible via a web browser, as neither supports a Windows-based desktop download. Although they share the absence of certain third-party platforms like MetaTrader 4 and 5, DupliTrade, and ZuluTrade, Trading 212 and iFOREX facilitate trading directly from stock charts, enhancing user experience.
Looking at charting tools, Trading 212 offers 20 drawing tools, whereas iFOREX provides slightly more with 25 tools. When it comes to watch lists, iFOREX caters to a greater variety offering nine columns compared to Trading 212's five. Each broker scores four out of five stars for their trading platforms and tools. However, Trading 212 ranks higher in the industry, coming in at 20th among 63 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com, while iFOREX ranks 54th. These rankings and features provide a perspective for traders considering platform options between Trading 212 and iFOREX.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
iFOREX
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | No |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | No | No |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | No |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | No |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | No |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 54 | 57 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 20 | 25 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 5 | 9 |
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When comparing the mobile trading apps of Trading 212 and iFOREX, both options are available for iPhone and Android users. However, Trading 212 stands out with its sheer range of features. It offers stock and forex price alerts, which are absent in iFOREX. Furthermore, Trading 212 provides the convenience of watchlist symbol syncing between mobile apps and online accounts, ensuring that any changes made sync seamlessly. On the charting front, Trading 212 impresses with the ability to access 104 technical studies, draw trend lines, and view various time frames. Meanwhile, iFOREX does not currently offer these features.
Creating a watchlist with real-time quotes is another feature Trading 212 provides, which is not offered by iFOREX. While both apps maintain a 4-star rating for mobile trading, Trading 212's position at #17 out of 63 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com highlights its edge over iFOREX, which sits at #55. Ultimately, for those seeking a more feature-rich mobile trading experience, Trading 212 clearly provides more tools and flexibility.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
iFOREX
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | No |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 104 | N/A |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | No |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When comparing the market research offerings of Trading 212 and iFOREX, there are several key differences and similarities to consider. Trading 212 provides forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, while iFOREX lacks this feature. On the other hand, iFOREX offers technical analysis tools through Trading Central, a resource not available with Trading 212. Both platforms deliver sentiment-based trading tools and economic calendars to keep investors informed of the global news that could impact their trading decisions.
Despite these variations, both Trading 212 and iFOREX receive a 3.5-star rating for research, reflecting a similar level of overall satisfaction with what they offer. However, their rankings differ slightly, with Trading 212 positioned at #44 and iFOREX at #48 among 63 brokers assessed by ForexBrokers.com. This indicates that while both brokers provide useful research tools, Trading 212 slightly outpaces iFOREX in this aspect according to industry rankings.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
iFOREX
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | No | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | Yes |
| 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.
When it comes to educational resources for beginners, Trading 212 offers more comprehensive materials compared to iFOREX. Trading 212 provides over ten educational pieces focused on forex and CFDs, alongside a searchable archive of past client webinars. They also have more than ten beginner educational videos and over ten advanced videos for experienced traders. Additionally, Trading 212 offers an investor dictionary with over fifty investing terms, enhancing the learning experience for newcomers.
In contrast, iFOREX lacks some key educational resources offered by Trading 212. They do not meet the minimum ten educational pieces specifically for forex or CFDs, nor do they have a searchable archive of webinars. While iFOREX does provide more than ten beginner educational videos, they fall short in offering advanced educational videos and an investor dictionary. Both Trading 212 and iFOREX received a 3.5-star rating for education; however, Trading 212 is ranked higher in the Education category by ForexBrokers.com, standing at #20 compared to iFOREX's #53.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
iFOREX
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars | No | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | No |
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 iFOREX. Trading 212 finished with an overall rank of #31, while iFOREX finished with an overall rank of #52.
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
|
iFOREX
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 80 | 75 |
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Both Trading 212 and iFOREX do not offer the ability to buy actual delivered cryptocurrency, but they do provide the option to invest in cryptocurrency derivatives.
Trading 212 distinguishes itself from iFOREX by offering ACH or SEPA transfers for deposits and withdrawals, unlike iFOREX; both platforms support PayPal and Visa/Mastercard transactions, but only iFOREX provides Skrill, while both allow for bank wire transfers.
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 | iFOREX | |
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| Trust Score | 80 | 75 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Trading 212 Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Trading 212 | iFOREX | |
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| Regulation | Trading 212 | iFOREX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 80 | 75 | |
| Year Founded | 2004 | 1996 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 3 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Trading 212 | iFOREX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | No | 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 | Yes | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | No | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Trading 212 | iFOREX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | No | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | No | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | Trading 212 | iFOREX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 7868 | 750 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 146 | 88 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | No | |
| 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). | 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 | iFOREX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 2.7 | N/A | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 2.7 | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Trading 212 | iFOREX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | €1 | $100 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | Trading 212 | iFOREX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | No | No | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | No | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | No | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | No | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Trading 212 | iFOREX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | No | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | No | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 5 | 9 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 54 | 57 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 20 | 25 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | No |
| Mobile Trading | Trading 212 | iFOREX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | No | |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 104 | N/A | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | No |
| Research | Trading 212 | iFOREX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | No | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Trading 212 | iFOREX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars | No | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | Trading 212 | iFOREX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | iFOREX | |
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| Trust Score | 80 | 75 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Trading 212 Review |
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