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 and Trade Nation, both reputable online brokers, provide services backed by strong regulatory credentials. Founded in 2004, Trading 212 holds two Tier-1 licenses, placing it in the highly trusted category. Despite not being publicly traded or operating as a bank, Trading 212 has a Trust Score of 79 on ForexBrokers.com, indicating an average risk. This score reflects the regulatory assurances it offers, even though it hasn't acquired any Tier-2 licenses, which are considered still trustworthy.
Established a decade later in 2014, Trade Nation also boasts two Tier-1 licenses, indicating a high level of regulatory trust. Trade Nation, similar to its counterpart, is neither publicly traded nor a bank. However, its ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 85 places it comfortably in the trusted category. This is further bolstered by an additional Tier-2 license, enhancing its trustworthiness. Overall, while both brokers provide a secure trading environment, Trade Nation holds a slight edge in trust ratings and regulatory coverage.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
Trade Nation
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2004 | 2014 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 2 |
When comparing Trading 212 and Trade Nation, investors need to consider the different approaches each broker takes toward commissions and fees. Trading 212 offers two account options: Invest and CFD. Focusing on the CFD account, which requires a 10-euro minimum deposit, Trading 212 promotes zero-commission trading. However, traders should note that they pay a spread on CFDs and forex trades. For instance, in January 2024, Trading 212's average spread for the EUR/USD pair was 1.9 pips. This spread is notably higher than the industry average and could be a disadvantage for cost-conscious traders. Trading 212 earns a 4-star rating for commissions and fees, ranking 43rd out of 62 brokers on ForexBrokers.com.
In contrast, Trade Nation offers competitive fixed-spread pricing on its proprietary platform and variable-spread options on MetaTrader. With a fixed spread of 0.6 pips for the EUR/USD pair, Trade Nation provides more predictable pricing, though spreads can temporarily widen during daily rollover periods. The average spread becomes closer to 1 pip when these periods are averaged in. The broker offers three main account types, including a commission-based Raw Spread account and a commission-free MetaTrader account, as well as a TN Trader account tailored to its proprietary platform. Trade Nation's fixed spreads give it a strong position in the market, reflected in its 5-star rating and a #7 ranking for commissions and fees according to ForexBrokers.com.
Overall, while Trading 212 may appeal to beginners with its low deposit requirements and zero-commission promise, Trade Nation stands out for its consistent and competitive spread pricing. This makes Trade Nation an attractive choice for those who value cost stability and are seeking a broker with outstanding ratings in the commissions and fees category.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
Trade Nation
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | €10 | $0 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.9 | 0.6 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.9 | 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 in terms of investment range, Trading 212 emerges as a frontrunner with a wide selection of 8,025 tradeable symbols alongside 146 forex pairs, while Trade Nation offers 1,000 symbols and 46 forex pairs. Both platforms include forex trading through CFDs or spot contracts, but only Trading 212 provides the opportunity to invest in actual exchange-traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges. This means you can directly purchase shares like Apple and Vodafone with Trading 212, in contrast to Trade Nation, which does not offer this feature.
Trade Nation does stand out by offering copy trading, unlike Trading 212. However, neither broker supports buying actual cryptocurrencies; you can only trade cryptocurrency derivatives. With a 5-star rating for its range of investments, Trading 212 ranks 15th among 62 brokers evaluated by ForexBrokers.com, significantly ahead of Trade Nation, which holds a 3.5-star rating and ranks 38th. Thus, for those seeking a greater variety of investment options, Trading 212 presents a more comprehensive choice.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
Trade Nation
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 8025 | 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.
Choosing between Trading 212 and Trade Nation for online trading platforms and tools presents a few clear distinctions. Both brokers provide a virtual demo account for simulated trading and have developed their proprietary platforms. Trading 212 is more web-based, lacking a Windows desktop application, while Trade Nation provides this option and supports the popular MetaTrader 4 platform. Despite this, both platforms are highly rated, each receiving 4 stars for their trading tools and features.
Trading 212 shines in simplicity with trade execution directly from stock charts and a notably concise approach with its 5-column watch list. Meanwhile, Trade Nation boasts a broader selection of drawing tools and offers a 14-column watch list along with copy trading capabilities. As a result, Trading 212 holds a higher industry rank at #20 compared to Trade Nation's #44, reflecting its strengths in providing a streamlined yet effective trading experience for users preferring web platforms. However, Trade Nation’s additional features may appeal to those who prefer a more comprehensive desktop experience and diverse tools.
| 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 apps for iPhone and Android users, ensuring accessibility on major devices. Traders on both apps can receive stock or forex price alerts and enjoy the convenience of watchlist symbol syncing. This feature allows any changes made to watchlists to be updated and accessible on both the mobile app and the client's online account. A key aspect for traders is the availability of technical studies for chart analysis, where Trading 212 offers 104 studies compared to Trade Nation's 99. Users of both apps can draw trendlines on charts and view multiple time frames, such as daily, weekly, or intraday, for better analysis of stock or forex trends. Additionally, the apps automatically save chart drawings and enable the creation of watchlists with real-time quotes.
Despite similar features, there are differences in their ratings and rankings. Both Trading 212 and Trade Nation have earned a commendable 4-star rating for their mobile apps. However, Trading 212 holds a stronger position among 62 brokers, securing the 17th spot in the rankings by ForexBrokers.com, whereas Trade Nation is placed at the 45th position. This higher ranking could imply a slightly more favorable user experience or broader acceptance among traders when using Trading 212's mobile platform.
| 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 it comes to market research offerings, Trading 212 and Trade Nation each have distinct strengths. Trade Nation stands out by providing daily market commentary, which can be a valuable asset for traders looking to stay updated on the latest market trends. Both Trading 212 and Trade Nation keep their users informed with forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, ensuring that traders receive timely and accurate information. Additionally, both platforms offer sentiment-based trading tools, which help traders gauge market positions across currency pairs and other instruments. However, neither offers research tools from Autochartist or Trading Central, which could enhance their technical analysis capabilities.
Trade Nation edges ahead by integrating Acuity Trading's tools like Signal Centre, offering an added layer of research capabilities. Meanwhile, Trading 212 provides an economic calendar that displays global news events, a feature not available on Trade Nation, helping users keep track of critical events that might impact trading strategies. Despite these differences, both platforms share an equal Research rating of 3.5 stars. On ForexBrokers.com, their rankings reflect subtle differences, with Trade Nation slightly outperforming Trading 212, ranked at #42 compared to Trading 212's #46 out of 62 brokers. This comparison highlights the nuanced advantages both platforms offer and gives traders insight into choosing a brokerage that aligns with their research needs.
| 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 it comes to educational resources for beginners, both Trading 212 and Trade Nation offer a solid foundation for understanding forex and CFDs. Trading 212 provides at least 10 educational pieces, including articles and videos, alongside monthly live webinars and a searchable archive of past webcasts, making it a more interactive choice for those who appreciate regular live training. Trade Nation also supplies a minimum of 10 educational materials, but it lacks the monthly live webinar feature and a searchable archive, which might limit those who prefer live interactions and easy access to past sessions.
Both platforms boast at least 10 beginner and advanced educational videos, ensuring a comprehensive learning path from novice to more experienced trading topics. They each offer an investor dictionary with definitions of over 50 terms, catering to those new to the trading jargon. However, Trading 212 edges out slightly with its more frequent webinar offerings and higher rank in educational resources according to ForexBrokers.com, placing 20th out of 62 brokers compared to Trade Nation's 41st. Despite their individual strengths, both are rated 3.5 stars for education, reflecting a relatively equal quality of content for users, though different aspects may appeal depending on personal learning preferences.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
Trade Nation
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | 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 62 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 | 79 | 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 | 79 | 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 | 79 | 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 | 2 | 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) | 8025 | 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 | 1.9 | 0.6 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.9 | 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 | €10 | $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 | Yes | 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 | 79 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Trading 212 Review | Trade Nation Review |
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