Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Trading 212 vs ACY Securities, 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 ACY Securities offer online brokerage services, but their trust scores and founding years set them apart. Trading 212, established in 2004, holds a trust score of 79 according to ForexBrokers.com, placing it within the average risk category. This platform is not publicly traded and does not function as a bank, but it does offer a level of safety by holding two Tier-1 licenses, which are seen as the most reliable by industry standards.
On the other hand, ACY Securities was founded in 2011 and possesses a slightly lower trust score of 75, also categorized as average risk. Like Trading 212, ACY Securities is neither publicly listed nor operates as a bank. It holds one Tier-1 license, suggesting a somewhat trusted regulatory standing. Both companies offer users a respected level of trust, but Trading 212 edges ahead with its additional regulatory license.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
ACY Securities
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2004 | 2011 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
When evaluating the commissions and fees of Trading 212 and ACY Securities, there are some notable differences. Trading 212 offers zero-commission CFD trading but compensates with spreads, particularly a 1.9 pips spread on the popular EUR/USD pair, which is higher than the industry average. This higher spread impacts its ranking, placing Trading 212 at #43 among 62 brokers in the Commissions and Fees category according to ForexBrokers.com. Despite this, Trading 212 garners a solid 4-star rating out of five due to other attractive features, such as a low minimum deposit and transparency in spread data.
In contrast, ACY Securities provides traders with a variety of account options that feature both commission-free and commission-based structures. The Standard account offers a slightly above-average spread of 1.2 pips on the EUR/USD for a minimal $50 deposit, whereas their ProZero and Bespoke accounts offer more competitive spreads as low as 0.25 pips at respective higher deposit requirements of $200 and $10,000. Commissions for these advanced accounts range from $5 to $6 per round turn (RT), though Australia-based traders benefit from reduced fees. ACY's pricing model for the ProZero account can result in effective costs comparable to top-tier brokers, contributing to its higher ranking of #21 on ForexBrokers.com and a commendable 4.5-star rating.
Overall, while Trading 212 offers simplicity with its zero-commission structure, the broader spreads place it at a relative disadvantage. Meanwhile, ACY Securities' tiered account options, including the appealing ProZero account for high-volume traders, offer potential savings and flexibility. This versatility and competitive pricing contribute to ACY Securities being rated higher in both stars and ranking for its commissions and fees.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
ACY Securities
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | €10 | $50 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.9 | 1.2 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.9 | 0.85 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | Yes |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | Yes |
| 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 ACY Securities, Trading 212 stands out with a wider selection of tradeable assets and forex pairs. Trading 212 offers over 8,000 tradeable symbols, including 146 forex pairs, surpassing ACY Securities' 2,200 symbols and 66 forex pairs. Unlike ACY Securities, Trading 212 also allows clients to purchase actual shares from U.S. and international stock exchanges, offering investments in companies like Apple and Vodafone. Both platforms provide cryptocurrency derivatives, but neither allows for the purchase of actual cryptocurrencies.
In terms of the investor experience and available offerings, Trading 212 is rated five stars for its range of investments, whereas ACY Securities holds a four-star rating. In ForexBrokers.com's ranking of 62 brokers, Trading 212 ranks at number 15, demonstrating a broad investment range, while ACY Securities sits in the 30th position, highlighted by its distinct feature of offering copy trading. For investors seeking a platform with diverse trading possibilities and direct stock purchases, Trading 212 might be the more appealing option, while those interested in copy trading might lean towards ACY Securities.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
ACY Securities
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 8025 | 2200 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 146 | 66 |
| 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 ACY Securities both support traders with free virtual demo accounts, making it easy for newcomers to get started risk-free. Each broker also features an in-house developed proprietary platform, providing unique experiences. When it comes to accessibility, Trading 212 offers a convenient web-based platform but skips a Windows desktop version, a gap filled by ACY Securities with its Windows-compatible platform. A notable difference arises in copy trading as ACY Securities includes this option while Trading 212 omits it, potentially appealing to different trading styles. Furthermore, enthusiasts of popular software will find ACY Securities offers both MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5), unlike Trading 212.
For traders who value chart analysis, Trading 212 provides 20 drawing tools, surpassing ACY Securities' 15, yet both platforms allow trading directly from charts, enhancing ease of execution. Watchlists are more detailed with ACY Securities, supporting 7 fields compared to Trading 212's 5. Despite these differences, both Trading 212 and ACY Securities earn a solid 4-star rating for trading platforms and tools. However, Trading 212 edges ahead in overall ranking, positioned at #21 compared to ACY Securities' #41 among 62 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, offering users a comparable, yet slightly more favored experience.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
ACY Securities
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes |
| 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.
Both Trading 212 and ACY Securities offer iPhone and Android apps with features that cater to mobile traders. Users can set price alerts for stocks and forex on both platforms, making it easier to stay updated on market movements. While both brokers allow watchlist creation with real-time quotes, Trading 212 stands out with watchlist symbol syncing, enabling seamless integration between their mobile app and online accounts—a feature not available with ACY Securities. Furthermore, Trading 212 excels in technical charting, providing 104 technical studies, compared to ACY Securities' 30, and both platforms support drawing trendlines and viewing multiple time frames on charts.
In terms of usability, both apps auto-save chart drawings, ensuring no lost work. They share similar overall ratings for mobile trading apps, receiving four out of five stars. However, Trading 212 ranks higher at 17th in the ForexBrokers.com Mobile Trading Apps category, compared to ACY Securities, which is positioned at 40th. This higher ranking reflects Trading 212's broader range of advanced features that enhance the trading experience through its mobile platform.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
ACY Securities
|
|---|---|---|
| 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.
When comparing the market research offerings of Trading 212 and ACY Securities, both platforms display distinct strengths. Trading 212 shines by providing forex news from top-tier sources such as Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones, ensuring that traders have access to reliable and timely information. Additionally, it offers a sentiment-based trading tool that gives insight into the ratio of long or short positions across various instruments, helping traders gauge market sentiment effectively. Though Trading 212 lacks daily market commentary and does not incorporate research tools from Autochartist, Trading Central, or Acuity Trading, it compensates with a comprehensive economic calendar that displays critical global news events.
On the other hand, ACY Securities offers daily market commentary, keeping traders updated with the latest developments and insights. However, it does not provide forex news from high-level sources like Reuters and Bloomberg, nor does it feature sentiment-based trading tools. Similar to Trading 212, ACY Securities does not utilize research tools from Autochartist, Trading Central, or Acuity Trading. Yet, it also maintains an economic calendar to guide traders through important economic events. Despite the differences in offerings, both brokers hold a research rating of 3.5 stars and occupy close ranks in the ForexBrokers.com Research category, with ACY Securities slightly ahead at #44 compared to Trading 212's #46 out of 62 brokers.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
ACY Securities
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | No | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No |
| 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 beginner traders, both Trading 212 and ACY Securities provide a solid foundation. Each platform ensures that newcomers have access to more than ten educational pieces focused on forex and CFDs, including articles, videos, and webinars. Both brokers host at least one live educational webinar monthly, and they maintain searchable archives of these sessions for those who want to explore past content. Furthermore, each broker offers more than ten beginner-oriented educational videos that cover essential trading topics, demonstrating a commitment to educating traders who are just starting out.
Trading 212 stands out by offering advanced educational videos tailored for experienced traders and an investor dictionary with over 50 investing terms. In contrast, ACY Securities lacks these additional resources, which might be beneficial for those who wish to progress beyond the beginner stage. Despite these differences, both platforms are rated equally for their educational offerings, receiving a 3.5-star rating. However, Trading 212 holds a higher rank in the Education category, positioned at #20 compared to ACY Securities' #43, suggesting a slightly more favorable impression of its educational resources among the reviewed brokers.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
ACY Securities
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | No |
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 ACY Securities. Trading 212 finished with an overall rank of #31, while ACY Securities finished with an overall rank of #41.
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
|
ACY Securities
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 79 | 75 |
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While neither Trading 212 nor ACY Securities offers the ability to purchase actual cryptocurrency, both platforms provide options for trading cryptocurrency derivatives, allowing investors to speculate on digital asset price movements without owning the underlying coins.
Both Trading 212 and ACY Securities support ACH and SEPA transfers, Visa or Mastercard, and bank wires for depositing or withdrawing account funds; however, Trading 212 uniquely offers PayPal, while ACY Securities offers Skrill instead.
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 | ACY Securities | |
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| Trust Score | 79 | 75 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Trading 212 Review | ACY Securities Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Trading 212 | ACY Securities | |
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| Regulation | Trading 212 | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 79 | 75 | |
| Year Founded | 2004 | 2011 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Trading 212 | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | No | |
| 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 | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| 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) | No | No |
| Investments | Trading 212 | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 8025 | 2200 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 146 | 66 | |
| 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 | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.9 | 1.2 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.9 | 0.85 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | No |
| Funding | Trading 212 | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | €10 | $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 | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | Trading 212 | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Trading 212 | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | No |
| Research | Trading 212 | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | No | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Trading 212 | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | Trading 212 | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | ACY Securities Review |
| Overall | Trading 212 | ACY Securities | |
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| Trust Score | 79 | 75 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Trading 212 Review | ACY Securities Review |
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