Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Trading 212 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.
Trading 212, established in 2004, and IronFX, which came on the scene in 2010, stand as notable names in the online brokerage world. Both are privately owned companies and neither functions as a bank. Each broker holds three Tier-1 licenses, an indicator of high trust according to ForexBrokers.com, ensuring a measure of confidence for their users. They do not possess any Tier-2 licenses, which are deemed simply trusted. For a user looking to choose between these two brokers, the ForexBrokers.com Trust Score offers some insight. Trading 212 holds a respectable Trust Score of 80, placing it in the "trusted" category, while IronFX scores an 83, indicating a slightly higher trust rating.
Both brokers show commitment to regulatory compliance with their Tier-1 licenses, crucial for establishing trust among traders. Although neither Trading 212 nor IronFX is a bank or publicly traded, they maintain their relevance through added layers of credibility from their respective trust scores. Potential users may consider these factors in deciding which broker aligns better with their trading needs, especially with IronFX scoring marginally higher in the trust department.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2004 | 2010 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 3 | 3 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
Trading 212’s CFD account advertises zero-commission trading, but you still pay the spread on each trade. The broker now publishes average spread data; in April 2025 its average EUR/USD spread was 2.7 pips—above the industry average, which can make frequent trading more costly. Commissions and Fees rating: 4 out of 5 stars. Category ranking: #50 out of 63 brokers (ForexBrokers.com).
IronFX’s pricing also trends higher than the industry average, though its Standard variable account lists a typical 1.8-pip spread (no date range provided). Its Zero fixed-spread account starts at 0.0 pips but charges a $18 per lot commission, and spreads widen to 3 pips overnight—costs that active traders should factor in. Commissions and Fees rating: 4 out of 5 stars. Category ranking: #47 out of 63 brokers (ForexBrokers.com).
Bottom line: Trading 212 offers clear, published average spreads but showed 2.7 pips on EUR/USD in April 2025. IronFX posts a lower typical 1.8 pips on its Standard account, yet the lack of a date range and extra costs on its Zero account (commission plus overnight widening) can add up. Both earn 4 stars, with IronFX ranked slightly higher (#47) than Trading 212 (#50) for commissions and fees.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | €1 | $50 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 2.7 | 1.2 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 2.7 | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | Yes |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
Comparing Trading 212 vs IronFX for range of investments, both support forex trading (CFD/spot) and offer cryptocurrency derivatives, but neither lets you buy actual crypto. Trading 212 stands out for sheer choice: 7,868 tradeable symbols and 146 forex pairs, versus IronFX’s 340 symbols and 83 pairs. Trading 212 also lets you buy real exchange-traded shares on both U.S. and international exchanges (think Apple or Vodafone), while IronFX limits you to CFDs and does not offer real stock ownership.
IronFX does offer copy trading, which Trading 212 lacks. For range of investments, Trading 212 earns 5 stars and ranks #16 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while IronFX scores 3.5 stars and ranks #52. In short, choose Trading 212 if you want broader market access and real stocks alongside CFDs; pick IronFX if copy trading is a priority and a smaller lineup suits your needs.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 7868 | 340 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 146 | 83 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| 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). | 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 IronFX both offer free demo accounts to practice trading. Trading 212 uses its own proprietary, browser-based platform and does not provide a Windows desktop app, copy trading, or MetaTrader support. IronFX, by contrast, offers a web platform plus a Windows download, supports MetaTrader 4 (MT4), and includes copy trading. Neither broker supports MT5, DupliTrade, or ZuluTrade.
For tools and charting, both brokers let you place trades directly from charts. Trading 212 lists 20 drawing tools, while IronFX lists 15; indicator counts were not provided. Watchlists include 5 columns on Trading 212 and 7 on IronFX. In ForexBrokers.com’s Trading Platforms and Tools category, Trading 212 is rated 4 stars and ranks 20th out of 63 brokers, while IronFX is rated 3.5 stars and ranks 62nd.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | No |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | No | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | No |
| 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.
Trading 212 and IronFX both offer iPhone and Android apps with real-time quotes, price alerts, and the ability to create watchlists. A key difference is watchlist syncing: Trading 212 syncs symbols between the mobile app and your online account, while IronFX does not, which can matter if you switch between devices.
For charting, Trading 212 includes 104 technical studies compared with IronFX’s 30. Both apps let you draw trendlines, switch among multiple time frames (intraday, daily, weekly), and auto-save your drawings. In independent ratings for Mobile Trading Apps, Trading 212 scores 4 stars and is ranked #17 out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, while IronFX scores 3.5 stars and is ranked #63. If you want deeper charting and synced watchlists, Trading 212 has the edge; if you need the basics on iPhone or Android, both apps cover the essentials.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No |
| 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.
Comparing market research, IronFX edges ahead with daily market commentary and access to Trading Central’s technical analysis, while Trading 212 skips daily commentary and doesn’t offer Trading Central. Both brokers deliver forex news from top-tier sources and include an economic calendar. Neither broker uses Autochartist. Trading 212 adds a helpful sentiment tool that shows the ratio of long vs. short positions, which IronFX lacks. Trading 212 does not integrate TipRanks or Acuity Trading; IronFX’s use of TipRanks or Acuity is not specified.
Overall, IronFX earns 4 stars for research and ranks #29 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, making it a solid pick if you want daily insights and Trading Central signals. Trading 212 scores 3.5 stars and ranks #45 out of 63, and may suit traders who prefer sentiment data paired with high-quality news coverage.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | No | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | Yes |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No |
| TipRanks | No | |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
Both Trading 212 and IronFX offer beginners a solid start with forex and CFD education, each providing well over 10 learning pieces such as articles, videos, and archived webinars. You’ll find searchable webinar archives and at least 10 beginner-friendly videos at both brokers, plus an investor dictionary covering 50+ key terms. Neither runs monthly live webinars. One key difference: Trading 212 adds 10+ advanced videos for traders who want to go beyond the basics, while IronFX does not.
Ratings and rankings paint a mixed picture. Trading 212 earns 3.5 stars for Education and ranks #21 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while IronFX scores 4 stars but ranks #44. If you want beginner resources with room to grow into advanced video lessons, Trading 212 may suit you better. If you prefer a higher star-rated education experience overall, IronFX could be your pick.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | No | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | 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 Trading 212 is better than IronFX. Trading 212 finished with an overall rank of #31, while IronFX finished with an overall rank of #48.
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
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 80 | 83 |
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Both Trading 212 and IronFX do not offer the ability to buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrency, but they do provide options to invest in cryptocurrency derivatives.
When comparing online brokers, Trading 212 provides more diverse and convenient funding options than IronFX, with support for ACH, SEPA, and PayPal transactions, while both platforms accept Visa, Mastercard, and bank wires, and only IronFX supports Skrill.
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 | IronFX | |
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| Trust Score | 80 | 83 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Trading 212 Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Trading 212 | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Regulation | Trading 212 | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 80 | 83 | |
| Year Founded | 2004 | 2010 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 3 | 3 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Trading 212 | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | No | 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) | |||
| 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 | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| 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) |
| Investments | Trading 212 | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 7868 | 340 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 146 | 83 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| 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). | 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 | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 2.7 | 1.2 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 2.7 | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Trading 212 | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | €1 | $50 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| 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 | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | No | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | No | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | No | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Trading 212 | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 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 | 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 | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | No | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | ||
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Trading 212 | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | No | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Trading 212 | 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 | Trading 212 Review |
| Overall | Trading 212 | IronFX | |
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| Trust Score | 80 | 83 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Trading 212 Review |
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