Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Trade Nation vs IronFX, 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 and IronFX are both well-regarded online brokers, though they have different regulatory standing and history. Trade Nation, established in 2014, holds two Tier-1 licenses, considered highly trusted, and one Tier-2 license, indicating a strong level of trust. It has a Trust Score of 85, falling within the trusted category according to ForexBrokers.com. Despite not being a bank or a publicly listed company, Trade Nation offers a reliable platform for traders.
Founded in 2010, IronFX carries three Tier-1 licenses, reflecting a high level of trust. Although it does not have any Tier-2 licenses, it still boasts a respectable Trust Score of 83, signifying its solid reputation. Like Trade Nation, IronFX is neither a bank nor a publicly traded entity. Both firms offer dependable options for those entering the trading market, each demonstrating a commitment to secure trading environments.
| Feature |
Trade Nation
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2014 | 2010 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 3 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
When comparing Trade Nation and IronFX on commissions and fees, Trade Nation emerges as a frontrunner due to its competitive fixed-spread pricing model. On its proprietary TN Trader platform, Trade Nation maintains fixed spreads, such as 0.6 pips for the EUR/USD pair, which generally allows for transparent and predictable trading costs. Although spreads temporarily widen during rollover periods to approximately 1.4 pips, Trade Nation's pricing strategy results in an average spread close to 1 pip. On its MetaTrader platform, Trade Nation offers both a commission-based Raw Spread account, with a $3.50 fee per side for standard lots, and a commission-free account, giving traders flexibility depending on their trading style. Overall, Trade Nation is rated 5 out of 5 stars and ranks #7 out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com for commissions and fees.
In contrast, IronFX's pricing structure leaves room for improvement as its spreads are typically higher than industry averages. For instance, the Standard variable spread account lists a typical spread of 1.8 pips, but some details, like the date range for spread data, are unspecified, leading to potential cost uncertainties. IronFX also offers a zero fixed-spread account that starts at zero spread, but it incorporates an $18 per lot commission, with spreads widening up to 3 pips overnight. This pricing structure can result in less predictable trading costs compared to Trade Nation. IronFX has received a 4-star rating and occupies the #46 position out of 63 brokers in the same category according to ForexBrokers.com.
| Feature |
Trade Nation
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $50 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.6 | 1.2 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.6 | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | Yes |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
Trade Nation and IronFX both offer forex trading options through CFDs or spot contracts. Trade Nation boasts a larger number of total tradeable symbols with 1,000 compared to IronFX's 340, although IronFX leads in tradeable forex pairs available, offering 83 pairs, while Trade Nation provides 46. Neither platform gives access to exchange-traded securities on U.S. and international exchanges, which means users cannot buy shares of companies like Apple or Vodafone directly through these brokers.
Both platforms allow for copy trading and offer cryptocurrency derivatives instead of actual cryptocurrency purchases. Trade Nation and IronFX each receive a rating of 3.5 out of 5 stars for their range of investments. However, Trade Nation ranks higher in the ForexBrokers.com list, placed at #38, whereas IronFX is positioned at #51, indicating Trade Nation's slightly more favorable standing despite both having similar offerings in this category.
| Feature |
Trade Nation
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1000 | 340 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 46 | 83 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | 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). | 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 Trade Nation and IronFX, both brokers offer a range of features including free virtual demo accounts that allow users to practice trading without risk. However, Trade Nation stands out by offering its own proprietary platform alongside the popular MetaTrader 4 (MT4), while IronFX relies solely on MT4 with no in-house platform. Both brokers provide a Windows-based desktop and a web-based trading platform, as well as the option for copy trading. Neither broker offers support for MetaTrader 5 (MT5) or third-party tools like DupliTrade and ZuluTrade.
In terms of trading tools, Trade Nation offers 39 drawing tools for charting, significantly more than IronFX's 15, although neither exceeds expectations for technical indicators. IronFX has the unique ability to trade directly from stock charts, a feature missing in Trade Nation's lineup. Watchlist customization differs, with Trade Nation enabling more detailed tracking via 14 fields compared to IronFX's 7. These differences contribute to Trade Nation receiving a higher rating of 4 stars for trading platforms and tools, ranking 44th among 63 brokers, while IronFX earns a slightly lower 3.5 stars, landing at 61st.
| Feature |
Trade Nation
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | No |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | No |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 115 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 39 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | No | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 14 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Trade Nation and IronFX both provide mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, offering essential features for traders on the move. Both apps supply price alerts and allow drawing trendlines on charts. However, Trade Nation offers a more comprehensive experience with 99 technical studies for charting, compared to IronFX's 30. Trade Nation also supports seamless syncing of watchlists between the app and online accounts, ensuring your investment preferences remain updated in both places, a feature missing from IronFX's app.
When it comes to charting features, both Trade Nation and IronFX allow viewing multiple time frames and auto-save chart drawings. They also support the creation of watchlists with real-time quotes. However, Trade Nation edges ahead in user ratings, scoring 4 out of 5 stars, while IronFX earns 3.5 stars. According to ForexBrokers.com, Trade Nation ranks 45th out of 63 brokers for mobile trading apps, significantly higher than IronFX's 62nd place. Overall, Trade Nation provides a more feature-rich mobile app experience for traders seeking advanced tools.
| Feature |
Trade Nation
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 99 | 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.
When comparing Trade Nation to IronFX for market research offerings, both brokers provide daily market commentary and forex news sourced from top-tier providers like Bloomberg and Reuters. However, IronFX stands out by offering technical analysis from Trading Central, which Trade Nation lacks. On the other hand, Trade Nation compensates with a sentiment-based trading tool, indicating long or short positions across various instruments, a feature IronFX does not offer. While TipRanks research tools are missing from both brokers, Trade Nation includes Acuity Trading's Signal Centre, unlike IronFX.
IronFX offers the advantage of an economic calendar showcasing key global economic events, a service unavailable with Trade Nation. This difference in offerings is reflected in user ratings and rankings, with IronFX rated higher at 4 stars in research compared to Trade Nation's 3.5 stars. IronFX also ranks better within the industry, positioned at #28 compared to Trade Nation's #42, based on ForexBrokers.com's evaluation of 63 brokers. Overall, each broker has distinctive strengths, letting traders choose based on their specific market research needs.
| Feature |
Trade Nation
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | Yes |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | Yes | No |
| Economic Calendar | No | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When it comes to providing educational resources for beginners, both Trade Nation and IronFX offer a substantial collection of forex and CFDs educational materials, including over 10 articles, videos, or archived webinars focused on these topics. However, Trade Nation provides an edge in offering more advanced educational videos suitable for experienced traders too. IronFX, while not having as many advanced learning videos, compensates somewhat by providing a searchable archive of previously recorded client webinars, a feature that Trade Nation lacks.
Both brokers provide investor dictionaries with definitions of at least 50 investing terms, catering well to beginners seeking to familiarize themselves with trading jargon. Neither broker, though, hosts regular monthly online educational webinars, a gap for those looking for consistent, interactive learning sessions. Trade Nation is rated at 3.5 stars for its educational offerings and ranks #41 out of 63 brokers in the education category by ForexBrokers.com. IronFX is rated slightly higher with 4 stars but ranks lower at #44, indicating a close yet distinct difference in educational quality as assessed by industry experts.
| Feature |
Trade Nation
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | No | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | No | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| 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 Trade Nation is better than IronFX. Trade Nation finished with an overall rank of #34, while IronFX finished with an overall rank of #48.
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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IronFX
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|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 85 | 83 |
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Both Trade Nation and IronFX provide the option to trade cryptocurrency derivatives, yet neither allows for the purchase of actual delivered cryptocurrency.
Both Trade Nation and IronFX do not support ACH, SEPA transfers, or PayPal for account funding or withdrawals, but they do offer Skrill, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wires as available options.
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 | IronFX | |
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| Trust Score | 85 | 83 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Trade Nation Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Trade Nation | IronFX | |
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| Regulation | Trade Nation | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 85 | 83 | |
| Year Founded | 2014 | 2010 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | No | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 3 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Trade Nation | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| 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). | No | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Trade Nation | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | No | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | Trade Nation | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1000 | 340 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 46 | 83 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | 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). | 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 | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.6 | 1.2 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.6 | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Trade Nation | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $50 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | Trade Nation | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | No | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | No | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Trade Nation | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 14 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 115 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 39 | 15 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | No | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | No | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Trade Nation | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 99 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | No | Yes |
| Research | Trade Nation | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | No | Yes |
| Education | Trade Nation | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | No | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | No | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Trade Nation | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Trade Nation Review |
| Overall | Trade Nation | IronFX | |
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| Trust Score | 85 | 83 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Trade Nation Review |
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