Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of IronFX vs ATFX, 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.
IronFX and ATFX are two online brokers that cater to traders seeking a reliable platform. Founded in 2010, IronFX is not publicly traded and holds 3 Tier-1 licenses, signaling a high level of trust according to ForexBrokers.com. Despite being established seven years later in 2017, ATFX also isn't listed on any stock exchange. However, ATFX holds 4 Tier-1 licenses, demonstrating a firmer trust proposition for traders. Both brokers are not banks, which means they focus solely on brokerage services.
When it comes to licensing, IronFX has no Tier-2 licenses, whereas ATFX secures added stability with 2 Tier-2 licenses. According to ForexBrokers.com, IronFX has a Trust Score of 83, placing it well within the "trusted" range. Meanwhile, ATFX edges slightly higher in trust with a score of 85, suggesting a slightly more favorable reputation. Both brokers offer a trustworthy experience; however, ATFX may provide a more appealing choice for those weighing regulatory strength closely.
| Feature |
IronFX
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2010 | 2017 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 3 | 4 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 2 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
When comparing the commissions and fees of IronFX to those of ATFX, there are notable distinctions in their pricing structures. IronFX has room for improvement as its spreads are higher than the industry standard. For their Standard variable spread account, IronFX typically offers a spread of 1.8 pips, but these spreads can fluctuate depending on the account type. On their zero fixed-spread account, the spread starts at zero but incurs an $18 per lot commission, with spreads increasing to 3 pips overnight. This pricing model earns IronFX a rating of 4 out of 5 stars for commissions and fees, ranking them 47th out of 62 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com.
ATFX, on the other hand, does not provide average spread data, leaving some potential clients uncertain of specific cost metrics. This lack of available information on spreads positions ATFX with a somewhat less favorable rating of 3 out of 5 stars for commissions and fees. Furthermore, ATFX holds the 59th position out of 62 brokers in this category, as evaluated by ForexBrokers.com. This comparison highlights the importance of transparency and clearly defined cost structures for traders when choosing a broker.
| Feature |
IronFX
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $50 | $500 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.2 | N/A |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
When comparing IronFX and ATFX, both online brokers provide forex trading as CFDs or spot contracts, catering to currency trading enthusiasts. IronFX stands out with a more extensive selection of 340 tradeable symbols, including 83 forex pairs, allowing for a richer and more diversified trading experience. In contrast, ATFX offers 150 tradeable symbols, featuring 44 forex pairs. Neither broker provides exchange-traded securities on U.S. or international exchanges, such as buying stocks like Apple or Vodafone directly. For those interested in following successful traders, both platforms offer copy trading features.
Neither IronFX nor ATFX allows the purchase of actual (delivered) cryptocurrency; however, they both offer trading in cryptocurrency derivatives, giving traders exposure to digital assets' price movements. Both brokers have been rated 3.5 out of 5 stars for their range of investments. Despite similar ratings, IronFX ranks slightly higher at #51 compared to ATFX's #57 position among 62 brokers evaluated by ForexBrokers.com. This subtle difference might influence your choice, depending primarily on the number of trading symbols and forex pairs you wish to access.
| Feature |
IronFX
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 340 | 150 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 83 | 44 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | 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.
When comparing IronFX and ATFX for their trading platforms and tools, both brokers offer a similar range of features. Each provides access to simulated trading through free virtual demo accounts and supports the popular MetaTrader 4 (MT4) platform. Neither broker offers a proprietary platform made in-house, but they do provide both Windows-based desktop and web-based trading platforms. Additionally, copy trading options are available with both brokers. However, one notable difference is that ATFX also includes the newer MetaTrader 5 (MT5), which is not offered by IronFX. Both brokers have an equal number of drawing tools, featuring 15 for charting, and allow trading directly from stock charts.
Despite these similarities, the user ratings and rankings slightly differ. Both IronFX and ATFX received an identical score of 3.5 stars for their trading platforms and tools. Yet, in ForexBrokers.com’s rankings out of 62 brokers, IronFX is rated slightly higher at #60 compared to ATFX at #61. While their basic features align closely, the inclusion of MT5 by ATFX might be a consideration for traders looking for more advanced capabilities beyond what IronFX offers.
| Feature |
IronFX
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | No | No |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 15 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Both IronFX and ATFX provide mobile trading apps available for iPhone and Android devices, ensuring users can trade on the go. While both platforms allow users to receive stock and forex price alerts, neither supports watchlist symbol syncing, meaning updates on the mobile app will not automatically reflect on an online account. In terms of technical features, IronFX stands out by offering 30 technical studies in its mobile charting tools, whereas ATFX only provides 7. Both apps allow drawing trendlines and viewing different time frames on charts, and they auto-save any chart drawings for your convenience. Additionally, users can create a watchlist with real-time quotes on both platforms.
Despite having similar offerings in terms of basic functionality and several helpful trading features, both IronFX and ATFX receive a 3.5-star rating for their mobile trading apps. However, their rankings differ in user evaluations from ForexBrokers.com, with IronFX placed at #61 and ATFX just behind at #62 among 62 brokers. While the apps offer a range of useful features, users may find other platforms more refined or user-friendly if rankings and ratings are important criteria.
| Feature |
IronFX
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 7 |
| 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.
IronFX and ATFX both provide daily market commentary to help traders stay informed. However, IronFX sets itself apart by offering forex news from well-known sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, while ATFX does not provide this feature. In terms of technical analysis, IronFX includes tools from Trading Central, but does not offer anything from Autochartist. ATFX, on the other hand, provides resources from both Autochartist and Trading Central, giving traders a variety of analytical tools to choose from. Both brokers offer economic calendars to keep traders updated on global news events, but neither provides a sentiment-based trading tool or market research from firms such as TipRanks and Acuity Trading.
When it comes to research ratings and rankings, IronFX scores higher with a 4-star rating compared to ATFX's 3 stars. Among 62 brokers reviewed by ForexBrokers.com, IronFX holds the 28th position for research capabilities, while ATFX lags behind at 54th. This suggests that while both brokers cover basic research needs, IronFX may offer slightly more in terms of market insights and analysis, making it a potentially more attractive option for traders who value comprehensive market coverage.
| Feature |
IronFX
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | No | Yes |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | Yes |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | No | No |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When comparing the educational resources for beginners offered by IronFX and ATFX, both brokers provide a solid foundation for new traders. IronFX and ATFX each offer a substantial amount of educational content focused on forex and CFDs, including articles and videos. Both have searchable archives of recorded webinars, enabling learners to revisit past sessions conveniently. Each broker also provides more than 10 beginner-oriented trading videos to help newcomers understand the basics of trading strategies and the market environment. However, neither IronFX nor ATFX offers advanced video options for experienced traders or monthly online educational webinars.
IronFX edges out ATFX with a slightly higher education rating of 4 stars compared to ATFX's 3 stars. Both brokers have a helpful investor dictionary, featuring definitions of over 50 investing terms for beginners to get acquainted with essential terminology. Although IronFX is rated better in terms of educational content, it ranks 44th out of 62 brokers for education, while ATFX holds a better position, ranked at 28th. This makes them both valuable choices for traders starting their educational journey in the world of forex and CFDs.
| Feature |
IronFX
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | No | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | No | No |
| 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 IronFX is better than ATFX. IronFX finished with an overall rank of #48, while ATFX finished with an overall rank of #51.
IronFX has come a long way to rebuild its brand, acquiring multiple regulatory licenses to improve its Trust Score, and creating balanced educational material. That said, pricing is an area where IronFX has room to further improve as spreads appeared higher than the industry average.
| Feature |
IronFX
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ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 83 | 85 |
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Both IronFX and ATFX do not offer the ability to buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrencies, but they do provide options for trading cryptocurrency derivatives.
Both IronFX and ATFX provide various deposit and withdrawal options, including Skrill, Visa or Mastercard, and bank wires, but neither offers ACH, SEPA transfers, or PayPal as available methods.
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 | IronFX | ATFX | |
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| Trust Score | 83 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
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| Broker Screenshots | IronFX | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trading Platforms Gallery (click to expand) | |||
| Mobile Trading Gallery (click to expand) | |||
| Research Gallery (click to expand) | |||
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| Regulation | IronFX | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 83 | 85 | |
| Year Founded | 2010 | 2017 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 3 | 4 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 2 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | IronFX | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| 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 | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | IronFX | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | IronFX | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 340 | 150 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 83 | 44 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | 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 | IronFX | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.2 | N/A | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | IronFX | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $50 | $500 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | IronFX | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | No | No | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | IronFX | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 15 | 15 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | IronFX | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 7 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | IronFX | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | No | Yes | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | No | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | IronFX | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | No | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | No | No | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | IronFX | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Overall | IronFX | ATFX | |
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| Trust Score | 83 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review |
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