Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Markets.com vs Trading 212, 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.
Markets.com, established in 1999, and Trading 212, founded in 2004, are both online brokers that are not publicly traded and do not operate as banks. When it comes to regulation and trustworthiness, Markets.com shines with a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 93, placing it in the highly trusted category. It holds three Tier-1 licenses, considered highly trusted, along with one Tier-2 license, which is deemed trusted. This regulatory strength helps assure users of its reliability in the financial markets.
Trading 212, while founded five years later in 2004, maintains a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 80. This positions the broker in the trusted category, largely thanks to its three highly regarded Tier-1 licenses. However, unlike Markets.com, Trading 212 does not have any Tier-2 licenses. Both brokers are recognized for their adherence to regulatory standards, offering safe environments for trading and investment, yet Markets.com holds a slight edge with its higher trust score and additional licensing.
| Feature |
Markets.com
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1999 | 2004 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 3 | 3 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
Comparing commissions and fees, Trading 212 edges out Markets.com with a higher rating and slightly better category placement. Trading 212 earns 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #50 out of 63 brokers for Commissions and Fees, while Markets.com holds 3.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #51 out of 63. Both sit mid-pack, but Trading 212 has the slight advantage in our ratings.
Markets.com does not publish average spread data, making it harder to gauge typical trading costs at a glance. Without this benchmark, traders may find it challenging to compare Markets.com’s day-to-day pricing versus peers that share detailed spread information.
Trading 212 offers two account types: Invest (shares) with a 1 EUR minimum deposit and CFD (contracts for difference) with a 10 EUR minimum deposit; the CFD account is the focus here. While Trading 212 advertises zero-commission trading, you still pay the spread on CFDs and forex. The broker has begun publishing average spreads, which helps with price transparency. For April 2025, its average spread on EUR/USD was 2.7 pips—higher than the industry average—so forex and CFD traders may still face higher costs despite the no-commission pitch.
| Feature |
Markets.com
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | €1 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | N/A | 2.7 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | 2.7 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | Yes |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
Markets.com and Trading 212 both let you trade forex as CFDs or spot, and both offer crypto derivatives (but not actual coins). The biggest difference is breadth: Markets.com lists 2,179 total symbols and 57 forex pairs, while Trading 212 delivers 7,868 symbols and 146 forex pairs. Trading 212 also supports buying real exchange-traded shares on both U.S. and international exchanges (think Apple on NASDAQ or Vodafone in London), which Markets.com does not. On the flip side, Markets.com includes copy trading, whereas Trading 212 does not.
For range of investments, ForexBrokers.com rates Markets.com 4 out of 5 stars (ranked 30th of 63) and Trading 212 5 out of 5 stars (ranked 16th of 63). In plain terms: choose Markets.com if you want CFD trading with copy trading features; pick Trading 212 if you want the widest selection—especially for stocks and forex pairs—under one platform.
| Feature |
Markets.com
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 2179 | 7868 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 57 | 146 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | Yes |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | 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 Markets.com and Trading 212, both brokers offer various options to cater to traders' needs. Markets.com excels by providing a downloadable Windows-based platform, which Trading 212 does not, alongside their proprietary and web-based platforms. Both brokers support free demo accounts for simulated trading. For traders interested in third-party platforms, Markets.com leads with access to both MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, options not available with Trading 212. Additionally, Markets.com offers copy trading, which could be an attractive feature for those looking to emulate successful trading strategies, something Trading 212 lacks.
While Trading 212 might be limited in some platform offerings, it makes up for it with extensive charting tools, including 20 drawing tools compared to Markets.com's 4. This could benefit traders who value detailed chart analysis. Trading 212 also allows direct trading from stock charts, adding convenience for quick decision-making. Both platforms have received a four-star rating for their tools, but in a broader comparison, Trading 212 scores higher in ranks for trading platforms and tools at ForexBrokers.com. When considering watch lists, Markets.com offers one more column than Trading 212, providing slightly more customization. Ultimately, both platforms have their strengths, with Markets.com appealing to those seeking comprehensive platform options and Trading 212 offering superior charting capabilities.
| Feature |
Markets.com
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | No |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | No |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | No |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 89 | 54 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 4 | 20 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | No | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 6 | 5 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Both Markets.com and Trading 212 offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, with price alerts, real-time watchlists, and watchlist sync between mobile and web. Each app lets you draw trendlines on charts. Where they differ is flexibility: Trading 212 supports multiple time frames (intraday to weekly) and automatically saves your chart drawings, while the Markets.com app does not offer multiple time frames and does not auto save drawings.
If you care about technical indicators, Trading 212 includes 104 studies in its app. The Markets.com-branded app lists no built-in studies; you’d need to use the MT4 mobile platform to access MT4’s default indicators. Despite these differences, both apps earned 4 out of 5 stars for mobile from ForexBrokers.com. In the same ranking across 63 brokers, Markets.com placed #34, while Trading 212 ranked #17. Bottom line: Markets.com covers the basics for on-the-go trading and alerts, while Trading 212 offers deeper charting tools and a higher category ranking.
| Feature |
Markets.com
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | (default on MT4, none on Markets app) | 104 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | No | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | No | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
Comparing market research at Markets.com versus Trading 212: Markets.com provides daily market commentary, while Trading 212 does not. Both brokers deliver forex news from top-tier sources such as Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones, and each includes an economic calendar and a sentiment tool that displays the long/short ratio across instruments. Neither platform currently offers research tools from Autochartist, Trading Central, TipRanks, or Acuity Trading.
For ratings, Markets.com scores 4.0 out of 5 stars for Research and ranks 17th out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com. Trading 212 scores 3.5 out of 5 stars and ranks 45th out of 63. If daily commentary matters to you, Markets.com has the edge; if you just need quality news, a calendar, and sentiment data, both platforms cover those essentials.
| Feature |
Markets.com
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | No |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| 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.
For beginner traders comparing Markets.com and Trading 212, both brokers offer plenty of video lessons for newcomers and more experienced traders, with at least 10 beginner videos and 10 advanced videos each. Key differences: Trading 212 provides dedicated forex and CFD education with 10+ pieces and includes an investor dictionary covering 50+ terms, plus a searchable archive of recorded webinars for on-demand learning. Markets.com, on the other hand, runs monthly live educational webinars but does not provide a searchable archive, and it does not meet the threshold for forex and CFD-specific education as defined here.
According to ForexBrokers.com, Markets.com earns 4 stars for Education and ranks #34 out of 63 brokers, while Trading 212 earns 3.5 stars and ranks #21. Choose Trading 212 if you want structured forex/CFD lessons, a glossary of key terms, and an easy-to-browse library of past sessions. Pick Markets.com if live monthly webinars appeal to you and you’re happy learning through its beginner and advanced video catalogs.
| Feature |
Markets.com
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | No | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | No | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | No | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 63 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that Markets.com is better than Trading 212. Markets.com finished with an overall rank of #23, while Trading 212 finished with an overall rank of #31.
Thanks to its web-based MarketsX platform, Markets.com is easy to use and new trader friendly. However, Markets.com is pricey and lacks the feature-rich trading tools required to compete with the best trading platforms.
| Feature |
Markets.com
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 93 | 80 |
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Both Markets.com and Trading 212 do not provide the option to buy actual delivered cryptocurrency, but they do offer the ability to trade cryptocurrency derivatives.
When comparing Markets.com and Trading 212 in terms of deposit and withdrawal options, Trading 212 supports a broader range of methods including ACH, SEPA transfers, and PayPal, while Markets.com offers Skrill; both platforms provide Visa, Mastercard, and bank wire services.
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 | Markets.com | Trading 212 | |
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| Trust Score | 93 | 80 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Trading 212 Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Markets.com | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Regulation | Markets.com | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 93 | 80 | |
| Year Founded | 1999 | 2004 | |
| 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 | 1 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Markets.com | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | 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) | |||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | No | 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) | Markets.com | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| 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) |
| Investments | Markets.com | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 2179 | 7868 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 57 | 146 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | Yes | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | 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 | Markets.com | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | N/A | 2.7 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | 2.7 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Markets.com | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | €1 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | Markets.com | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | No | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | No | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | No | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Markets.com | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | No | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 6 | 5 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 89 | 54 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 4 | 20 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | No | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Markets.com | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | (default on MT4, none on Markets app) | 104 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | No | Yes |
| Research | Markets.com | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | No | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Markets.com | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | No | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | No | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | No | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Markets.com | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/JPY | Yes | Yes | |
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CAD | Yes | Yes | |
| NZD/USD | Yes | ||
| AUD/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| Review | Trading 212 Review |
| Overall | Markets.com | Trading 212 | |
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| Trust Score | 93 | 80 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Trading 212 Review |
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