Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Questrade 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.
Questrade, founded in 2000, and ATFX, established in 2017, are both well-known entities in the online brokerage space. When it comes to regulatory trust and security, Questrade holds two Tier-1 licenses, reflecting a strong regulatory standing. In contrast, ATFX surpasses this with four Tier-1 licenses and an additional two Tier-2 licenses, which further attest to its reliability. Questrade's Trust Score from ForexBrokers.com is 86, categorizing it as a trusted broker. Similarly, ATFX holds a Trust Score of 85, placing it in the same trusted category.
Neither of the two brokers is publicly traded or operates as a bank. With Questrade and ATFX nearing each other in trust scores, they present as solid options for potential investors seeking reliable online brokers. However, ATFX's higher number of regulatory licenses might appeal to those placing particular emphasis on regulatory strength.
| Feature |
Questrade
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2000 | 2017 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | ||
| Bank | ||
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 4 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 2 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
When considering online brokers, understanding commissions and fees is crucial. Questrade offers a target spread of 1.9 pips on the EUR/USD pair, which is relatively steep when compared to the industry average. For this reason, Questrade receives a three-star rating for its commissions and fees. According to ForexBrokers.com, Questrade is ranked 58th out of 63 brokers in the Commissions and Fees category.
On the other hand, ATFX does not provide average spread data, which might be a point of concern for traders looking for transparent cost structures. Like Questrade, ATFX also earns a three-star rating for its commissions and fees. In the same Commissions and Fees category, ATFX is slightly lower ranked at 60th out of 63 brokers as evaluated by ForexBrokers.com.
| Feature |
Questrade
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $250 | $500 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | N/A | N/A |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | ||
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | ||
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | ||
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
Questrade and ATFX both offer forex trading as contracts for difference (CFDs), providing investors access to currency markets. However, when it comes to the variety of trading options, Questrade outshines ATFX with 641 tradeable symbols compared to ATFX's 150. Questrade also offers a broader selection of forex pairs, boasting 110 compared to ATFX's 44. Furthermore, Questrade allows clients to invest in exchange-traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges, enabling them to purchase shares of well-known companies like Apple or Vodafone directly. Unfortunately, this is not an offering with ATFX, which limits its scope to CFDs and does not provide the option to trade actual shares on stock exchanges.
While both Questrade and ATFX provide opportunities to trade cryptocurrency derivatives, they do not offer immediate ownership of the cryptocurrencies themselves. Additionally, ATFX grants the possibility of engaging in copy trading, an appealing feature for those who prefer to mirror the strategies of experienced traders. In terms of investment diversity, Questrade earns a higher rating of five stars compared to ATFX’s 3.5 stars. This is further reflected in their rankings by ForexBrokers.com, where Questrade holds the 11th position against ATFX's 57th out of 63 brokers, highlighting Questrade's wider investment options and competitive edge.
| Feature |
Questrade
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 641 | 150 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 110 | 44 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | ||
| 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). |
Dive deeper: Best Copy Trading Platforms.
When comparing Questrade and ATFX in terms of their trading platforms and tools, both brokers offer simulated or paper trading accounts, which allow users to practice trading without financial risk. Questrade stands out with its proprietary platform developed in-house, offering both a Windows-based desktop download and a web-based trading platform. ATFX, meanwhile, provides the popular MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 platforms, renowned for their extensive features. Although both brokers support trading from stock charts, Questrade offers more flexibility with 20 drawing tools compared to ATFX's 15, and impressively allows users to create extensive watchlists with 52 columns, substantially outpacing ATFX's 7 columns.
In terms of innovative features, ATFX excels with its support for copy trading, allowing traders to mirror the trades of successful investors. However, Questrade integrates seamlessly with DupliTrade, enhancing its platform's appeal for traders looking for diversified options. Rated 4 stars, Questrade comes out slightly ahead of ATFX, which holds a 3.5-star rating from ForexBrokers.com. Among 63 brokers, Questrade ranks 34th while ATFX is positioned at 62nd in the Trading Platforms and Tools category. This comparison highlights Questrade's versatile platform and enhanced features in this competitive landscape.
| Feature |
Questrade
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | |
| DupliTrade | Yes | |
| ZuluTrade | ||
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 64 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 20 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 52 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
When comparing mobile trading apps from Questrade and ATFX, both brokers offer iPhone and Android apps, along with features such as stock and forex price alerts and the ability to draw trendlines on charts. However, Questrade stands out with its extensive 64 technical studies for charting, while ATFX provides just 7. Additionally, Questrade ensures a seamless experience with watchlist symbol syncing between the mobile app and their online account, a feature not mentioned for ATFX. Also, both apps allow users to view multiple time frames and offer auto-saving for chart drawings.
In terms of creating watchlists with real-time quotes, both brokers are on par. Yet, according to ForexBrokers.com, Questrade is ranked at #34 for their mobile trading app out of 63 brokers, with a rating of 4 stars. In contrast, ATFX holds the #63 position with a slightly lower rating of 3.5 stars. This indicates that while both offer fundamental functionalities, Questrade may provide a more comprehensive and user-friendly mobile trading experience.
| Feature |
Questrade
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 64 | 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.
When comparing the market research offerings of Questrade and ATFX, there are several noteworthy distinctions. Although ATFX provides daily market commentary to keep traders informed, Questrade does not offer this feature. Both brokers, however, equip their users with various technical analysis tools and resources powered by Autochartist and Trading Central, making them suitable for traders needing advanced analytics. While neither broker provides forex news from premier sources like Bloomberg or Reuters, Questrade benefits from the inclusion of market research from TipRanks, which ATFX lacks, while both Questrade and ATFX offer an economic calendar to help traders stay updated on global events.
In terms of sentiment-based trading tools and resources from Acuity Trading, neither Questrade nor ATFX caters to these needs. Despite these missing features, both platforms maintain a focus on providing essential research tools for informed trading. According to ratings, Questrade scores 3.5 stars for its research offerings, surpassing ATFX's 3-star rating. Additionally, in the overall research category, Questrade ranks 51st out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, slightly outperforming ATFX, which ranks at 54th. These insights can help potential users decide which broker may align best with their specific trading needs and research preferences.
| Feature |
Questrade
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | ||
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | Yes |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | ||
| TipRanks | Yes | |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | ||
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When it comes to educational resources for beginners, both Questrade and ATFX provide a comprehensive collection that includes at least ten pieces focused on forex or CFDs. These resources come in various formats, such as articles, videos, and archived webinars, catering to different learning preferences. Additionally, both platforms feature a searchable archive of past client webinars, making it easy for users to access and learn from previous sessions. While Questrade offers an array of beginner-oriented educational videos, ATFX also matches this offering with a similar selection aimed at novice traders.
Despite their similar offerings for newcomers, there are differences in ratings and rankings. Questrade is rated slightly higher for its educational content, receiving 3.5 stars compared to ATFX's 3 stars. However, ATFX ranks higher in the Education category among 63 brokers, positioned at #28, while Questrade is ranked at #36. An additional point of distinction is ATFX's inclusion of an investor dictionary with over 50 terms, a resource Questrade presently does not offer. Overall, both brokers give beginners a solid foundation of educational materials, though their specific offerings differ in some aspects.
| Feature |
Questrade
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | ||
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | ||
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 63 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that Questrade is better than ATFX. Questrade finished with an overall rank of #32, while ATFX finished with an overall rank of #51.
Regulated in both the U.S. and Canada, Questrade is a trusted full-service multi-asset broker now offering forex and CFDs alongside its stock trading services for active and passive investors. While its scope of educational resources and in-house research is limited, Questrade has an impressive platform lineup.
| Feature |
Questrade
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
|
| Trust Score | 86 | 85 |
| Range of Investments |
|
|
| Commissions & Fees |
|
|
| Platforms & Tools |
|
|
| Research |
|
|
| Mobile Trading |
|
|
| Education |
|
|
Questrade and ATFX both allow investors to trade cryptocurrency derivatives, however, neither platform currently offers the option to purchase actual delivered cryptocurrency.
When comparing online brokers Questrade and ATFX, both offer Visa or Mastercard and bank wires as options for depositing or withdrawing account funds, but only ATFX provides the option of using Skrill, while neither supports ACH, SEPA, or PayPal transfers.
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.
Select Brokers
↓×Compare
0 of 5| Overall Rating | Questrade | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Commissions & Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Platforms & Tools |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 86 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Questrade Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Questrade | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
|
| Regulation | Questrade | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 86 | 85 | |
| Year Founded | 2000 | 2017 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | |||
| Bank | |||
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | ||
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 4 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 2 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Questrade | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | |||
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | |||
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | |||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | |||
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | |||
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Questrade | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | |||
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | |||
| India (SEBI Authorised) | |||
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | Questrade | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 641 | 150 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 110 | 44 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | ||
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | ||
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | ||
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | |||
| 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). |
| Cost | Questrade | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | N/A | N/A | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | |||
| Inactivity Fee | |||
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | ||
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes |
| Funding | Questrade | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $250 | $500 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | |||
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | ||
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers |
| Trading Platforms | Questrade | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | ||
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | ||
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | ||
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | ||
| cTrader | |||
| DupliTrade | Yes | ||
| ZuluTrade |
| Trading Tools | Questrade | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 52 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 64 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 20 | 15 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Questrade | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | ||
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 64 | 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 | Questrade | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | ||
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | |||
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | Yes | |
| TipRanks | Yes | ||
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | |||
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Questrade | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | |||
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | |||
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Questrade | 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 | Questrade Review |
| Overall | Questrade | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Commissions & Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Platforms & Tools |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 86 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Questrade Review |
IG
CMC Markets
FOREX.com
XTB
eToro
AvaTrade
Plus500
Pepperstone
FP Markets
Tickmill