Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Trading 212 vs Trade Nation, 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 Trade Nation, founded a decade later in 2014, are both online brokers that are not publicly traded companies nor are they banks. When comparing their regulatory standings, Trading 212 holds three Tier-1 licenses, signifying a high level of trust. On the other hand, Trade Nation holds two Tier-1 licenses and an additional Tier-2 license, indicative of a generally trusted regulatory status.
According to ForexBrokers.com, which evaluates broker trustworthiness, Trading 212 has a Trust Score rating of 80 out of 99, marking it as a trusted broker. Conversely, Trade Nation scores a bit higher with a Trust Score of 85, suggesting a stronger level of trust. This difference in regulatory licensing and Trust Scores may influence potential users' decision-making processes when selecting between the two brokers.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
Trade Nation
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2004 | 2014 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 3 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 2 |
When comparing Trading 212 and Trade Nation in terms of commissions and fees, these two brokers offer distinct approaches that cater to different trading needs. Trading 212 boasts a zero-commission trading model for CFDs and forex, though traders should note the cost of spreads. Notably, Trading 212's average spread for the EUR/USD pair in April 2025 was 2.7 pips, reflecting a higher-than-average industry spread, which might deter cost-conscious traders. With a 4-star rating for commissions and fees, Trading 212 ranks #49 out of 63 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com, highlighting room for improvement in pricing competitiveness.
In contrast, Trade Nation stands out with its competitive fixed-spread pricing, offering transparency and predictability for traders. The fixed spread for the EUR/USD pair is generally at 0.6 pips, which is briefly adjusted during the daily rollover period. This yields an overall average spread closer to 1 pip when considering all price movements. Trade Nation's approach, particularly with its TN Trader account, demonstrates a commitment to cost efficiency, earning the broker a top-tier 5-star rating and a strong #7 ranking in the Commissions and Fees category by ForexBrokers.com.
Trade Nation's diverse account offerings include a commission-based Raw Spread account on MetaTrader with a $3.50 commission per side and a commission-free option, alongside its TN Trader account with low spreads. In comparison, while Trading 212 simplifies its account structure with just two types, Trade Nation’s array gives traders a broader choice based on their trading style and cost preferences. For those prioritizing cost transparency and lower spread costs, Trade Nation presents a compelling option.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
Trade Nation
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | €1 | $0 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 2.7 | 0.6 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 2.7 | 0.6 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | No |
| 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.
When comparing Trading 212 and Trade Nation, you'll find that Trading 212 offers a broader range of investment options. Traders can access 7,868 symbols and 146 forex pairs on Trading 212, whereas Trade Nation provides access to 1,000 symbols and 46 forex pairs. Moreover, Trading 212 grants the opportunity to invest in exchange-traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges, unlike Trade Nation, which does not offer such options. Both platforms facilitate trading in forex as CFDs and offer cryptocurrency derivatives, but neither supports buying actual cryptocurrencies.
While Trading 212 has received a five-star rating for its range of investments, Trade Nation earns a 3.5-star rating in the same category. Furthermore, ForexBrokers.com places Trading 212 at #15 out of 63 brokers for its investment offerings, whereas Trade Nation is ranked at #38. Although Trade Nation provides copy trading capabilities that Trading 212 lacks, the greater number of available symbols and diverse investment options contribute to Trading 212's higher ratings and rankings.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
Trade Nation
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 7868 | 1000 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 146 | 46 |
| 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 Trade Nation both cater to traders with a variety of platform features, each offering a unique set of advantages. Both brokers provide a free virtual demo account to help new users practice before diving into live trading. Each company has developed its own proprietary platform, ensuring a customized trading experience for their users. When it comes to platform accessibility, Trading 212 offers a browser-based platform but lacks a desktop download for Windows, while Trade Nation supports both web-based and Windows desktop platforms. For chart enthusiasts, Trading 212 provides around 20 drawing tools and allows direct trading from stock charts, whereas Trade Nation offers more tools with 39 drawing options but doesn't support direct chart trading. Additionally, Trading 212 features five columns for customizing watch lists, compared to Trade Nation's more extensive 14-column option.
Concerning advanced and social trading features, Trade Nation has an edge with its inclusion of copy trading and support for the popular MetaTrader 4 platform. However, neither broker offers access to platforms like MetaTrader 5, DupliTrade, or ZuluTrade. Both Trading 212 and Trade Nation receive a four-star rating for their trading platforms and tools. Despite this equal rating, Trading 212 ranks higher with ForexBrokers.com, coming in at number 20 out of 63 brokers, whereas Trade Nation is positioned at number 44. This suggests that while both brokers are well-regarded, Trading 212 may offer a slightly more favorable platform experience according to industry rankings.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
Trade Nation
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes |
| 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 | 115 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 20 | 39 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | No |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 5 | 14 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
When comparing the mobile trading apps of Trading 212 and Trade Nation, both platforms offer strong features suited for traders on the go. They each provide iPhone and Android apps, allowing users to stay connected no matter their device choice. Essential features such as stock and forex price alerts, watchlist symbol syncing, and the ability to draw trendlines on charts are present in both apps, ensuring that traders have the tools they need at their fingertips. Additionally, both apps allow users to view multiple time frames and create watchlists with real-time quotes, enhancing their trading experience.
However, Trading 212 edges out slightly in terms of technical studies, offering 104 compared to Trade Nation's 99. The app also enjoys a higher ranking from ForexBrokers.com, coming in at #17 compared to Trade Nation's #45. Despite these differences, both apps receive a solid 4-star rating for their mobile trading solutions, indicating a high level of satisfaction among users. Whether you prioritize a higher number of technical studies or app ranking, both Trading 212 and Trade Nation offer comprehensive tools for mobile trading.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
Trade Nation
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 104 | 99 |
| 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 the market research offerings of Trading 212 and Trade Nation, both platforms have strengths and limitations to consider. Trading 212 stands out by providing comprehensive forex news from established sources like Bloomberg and Reuters. It also features a sentiment-based trading tool, which reveals the ratio of long to short positions across various instruments. Additionally, Trading 212 offers an economic calendar, helping traders stay informed on significant global news events. However, it doesn't include daily market commentary, nor does it provide research tools from companies like Autochartist or Trading Central.
Trade Nation, on the other hand, excels in providing daily market commentary and offers forex news from quality providers such as Bloomberg and Reuters, similar to Trading 212. While it also has a sentiment-based trading tool, Trade Nation differentiates itself with research tools from Acuity Trading. Nevertheless, it lacks features like Trading 212's economic calendar and also lacks tools from Autochartist and Trading Central. Despite these differences, both brokers receive identical research ratings of 3.5 stars, with Trade Nation slightly ahead in ranking at #42 compared to Trading 212's #44, according to ForexBrokers.com.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
Trade Nation
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | No | Yes |
| 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 | Yes |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When comparing educational resources for beginners, both Trading 212 and Trade Nation provide a substantial collection of educational materials related to forex and CFDs, each offering more than 10 articles, videos, or webinars dedicated to these subjects. Both platforms also ensure newcomers have access to over 10 beginner-friendly videos that explain trading concepts clearly. Additionally, both brokers maintain an investor dictionary with definitions of over 50 investing terms, making it easier for beginners to familiarize themselves with industry jargon.
Despite similarities in educational content, Trading 212 has a slight edge due to its searchable archive of recorded webinars, which Trade Nation lacks. This feature allows users to revisit valuable learning sessions at their convenience. Although neither platform hosts monthly webinars, Trading 212 ranks higher in the education category at #20 compared to Trade Nation's #41, according to ForexBrokers.com. Despite these differences, both platforms are rated similarly, with a 3.5-star education rating. This suggests that each broker offers reasonably solid educational resources to support novice investors.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
Trade Nation
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | No | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| 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 Trade Nation. Trading 212 finished with an overall rank of #31, while Trade Nation finished with an overall rank of #34.
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
|
Trade Nation
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 80 | 85 |
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Both Trading 212 and Trade Nation do not provide the ability to buy actual delivered cryptocurrency, but they do offer the option to purchase cryptocurrency derivatives.
Trading 212 and Trade Nation both provide deposit and withdrawal options via Visa or Mastercard and bank wires, while only Trading 212 supports ACH, SEPA, and PayPal, and Trade Nation exclusively offers 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 | Trade Nation | |
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| Trust Score | 80 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Trading 212 Review | Trade Nation Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Trading 212 | Trade Nation | |
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| Regulation | Trading 212 | Trade Nation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 80 | 85 | |
| Year Founded | 2004 | 2014 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 3 | 2 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 2 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Trading 212 | Trade Nation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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) | 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 | No |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Trading 212 | Trade Nation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | No | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | Trading 212 | Trade Nation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 7868 | 1000 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 146 | 46 | |
| 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 | Trade Nation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 2.7 | 0.6 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 2.7 | 0.6 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Trading 212 | Trade Nation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | €1 | $0 | |
| 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 | Trade Nation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| 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 | Trade Nation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 5 | 14 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 54 | 115 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 20 | 39 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | No | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | No |
| Mobile Trading | Trading 212 | Trade Nation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 104 | 99 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | No |
| Research | Trading 212 | Trade Nation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | No | Yes | |
| 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 | No |
| Education | Trading 212 | Trade Nation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | No | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Trading 212 | Trade Nation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Trade Nation Review |
| Overall | Trading 212 | Trade Nation | |
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| Trust Score | 80 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Trading 212 Review | Trade Nation Review |
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