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 |
When it comes to evaluating online brokers based on commissions and fees, Markets.com and Trading 212 present different offerings. Markets.com, which currently does not provide average spread data, is rated 3.5 out of 5 stars in this category by ForexBrokers.com. It is ranked as the 50th out of 63 brokers, highlighting its average position within the competitive landscape.
Trading 212 offers a unique approach by providing two account types: the Invest account for trading shares and the CFD account for trading CFDs. This analysis focuses on the CFD account, which requires a minimum deposit of 10 euros. Although Trading 212 advertises zero-commission trading, traders should note that a spread needs to be paid when trading CFDs and forex. Recently, Trading 212 started publishing its average spread data, with the average spread for the EUR/USD pair at 2.7 pips in April 2025. This figure is higher than the industry average, indicating a potential drawback for traders looking for more cost-effective options. However, Trading 212 scores a higher rating of 4 out of 5 stars for its commissions and fees, ranking 49th out of 63 brokers.
| 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.
When comparing Markets.com and Trading 212, both platforms offer forex trading with Contracts for Difference (CFDs), giving investors a choice between different trading formats. However, Trading 212 stands out with a broader collection of tradeable symbols, offering 7,868 compared to Markets.com's 2,179. Moreover, if forex trading is your primary focus, Trading 212 provides access to 146 forex pairs, significantly more than the 57 pairs available on Markets.com. For investors looking to trade exchange-traded securities on U.S. and international exchanges, Trading 212 offers this capability, allowing you to invest in companies like Apple and Vodafone, whereas Markets.com does not. Meanwhile, Markets.com does offer copy trading, a feature Trading 212 lacks.
The capability to invest in cryptocurrency is similar across both platforms, with neither allowing for the purchase of actual cryptocurrencies, although they do provide options for trading cryptocurrency derivatives. In terms of user ratings, Trading 212 earns a top score of five stars for its range of investments, reflecting its extensive offerings and earning it the #15 ranking among 63 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com. On the other hand, Markets.com garners a respectable four-star rating and ranks at #29, showing solid, though not quite as expansive, options for investors. Overall, Trading 212 may be the preferred choice for those seeking a wider array of investment opportunities.
| 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.
When comparing the mobile trading apps offered by Markets.com and Trading 212, both platforms support iOS and Android devices, ensuring accessibility for most users. They provide essential features such as stock and forex price alerts and the capability to sync watchlists between mobile apps and online accounts. However, there are notable differences: while Markets.com lacks technical studies for charting on its proprietary app and does not support viewing multiple time frames or auto-saving drawings, Trading 212 excels with 104 technical studies, the ability to view various time frames, and automatic saving of chart drawings.
Both Markets.com and Trading 212 allow users to draw trendlines and create watchlists with real-time quotes. Despite these similarities, Trading 212 edges ahead with its more extensive charting features, as reflected in its higher ranking (#17) by ForexBrokers.com, compared to Markets.com (#33) in the Mobile Trading Apps category. Overall, both apps receive a solid four out of five star rating, but Trading 212's enhanced charting capabilities offer a more comprehensive mobile trading experience.
| 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.
When it comes to market research offerings, Markets.com and Trading 212 provide unique features for traders seeking valuable insights. Markets.com stands out by delivering daily market commentary to keep users informed about market movements, while Trading 212 does not offer this service. Both platforms provide forex news from reputable sources such as Bloomberg and Reuters, ensuring traders have access to credible information. However, neither broker offers technical or fundamental research tools from Autochartist or Trading Central, nor do they provide research insights from TipRanks or Acuity Trading resources.
In terms of sentiment analysis, both Markets.com and Trading 212 offer tools that display the ratio of long and short positions across different instruments, aiding traders in making informed decisions. Furthermore, both brokers provide economic calendars to track key global events. Markets.com edges ahead with a research rating of 4 stars, compared to Trading 212’s 3.5 stars. Markets.com also holds a higher ranking in ForexBrokers.com's research category, coming in at 17th place out of 63 providers, whereas Trading 212 is rated 44th.
| 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.
When it comes to educational resources for beginners, Markets.com and Trading 212 each offer distinct benefits. Markets.com provides a wide array of beginner and advanced educational videos that cover various trading topics, highlighting their commitment to educating all levels of traders. Additionally, they host regular online webinars to help clients learn in a live, interactive environment. However, they fall short in offering forex or CFDs-specific educational content, such as articles or videos, and they lack a searchable archive of past webinars. Markets.com's educational features earn them a commendable 4-star rating for education from users.
On the other hand, Trading 212 excels in offering a wide selection of educational pieces tailored to forex and CFDs, boasting more than 10 such resources. Unlike Markets.com, they provide a searchable archive of past webinars, making it easy for users to revisit and learn at their own pace. Furthermore, Trading 212 features an investor dictionary with over 50 definitions, enhancing their educational offerings for beginner investors. Although they don't host regular webinars, their comprehensive educational content earns them a 3.5-star user rating. Overall, Trading 212 is ranked slightly higher than Markets.com in education, sitting at #20 compared to Markets.com's #34, according to ForexBrokers.com.
| 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 | |
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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) | No | No | |
| 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) | 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 | 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 | No | 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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