Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of FXCM vs Axi, 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.
FXCM, established in 1999, and Axi, founded in 2007, are two online brokerage firms that cater to traders worldwide. An essential factor when choosing a broker is their Trust Score, a metric provided by ForexBrokers.com that ranges from 90-99 for highly trusted brokers to below 59 for those not recommended. FXCM boasts an impressive Trust Score of 95, positioning it as a highly trusted broker. In contrast, Axi's Trust Score of 82 places it in the 'trusted' category. Both brokers are not banks, but FXCM is unique as it is publicly traded, adding an extra layer of transparency to its operations.
Another crucial aspect is regulatory compliance. FXCM holds four Tier-1 licenses, indicating a high level of trust, while Axi holds two Tier-1 licenses. Further, FXCM also has two Tier-2 licenses, compared to Axi's one, highlighting FXCM's broader regulatory approval. For traders evaluating these brokers based on regulatory confidence and public transparency, FXCM offers a more established and widely trusted option compared to Axi.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
Axi
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1999 | 2007 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
Comparing FXCM and Axi for their commissions and fees, there are notable differences that can influence a trader's choice between the two. FXCM presents a slightly above-average cost for forex trading. The standard account spreads for FXCM during May 2024 averaged 0.78 pips for regions like the EU, U.K., and Australia, while their St. Vincent and the Grenadines entity had a higher spread average of 1.38 pips. On commission-based accounts, spreads averaged 0.28 pips, excluding commissions, with additional discounts available through their Active Trader Rebate Program, though these are not available in the U.K. or EU.
FXCM offers several tiers in its Active Trader Rebate Program, providing rebates up to $25 per million traded for those trading over $10 million per month. Effective spreads can be brought down to 0.74 pips when accounting for commissions, making it more affordable for high-volume traders. Additional discounts vary depending on account location and trading volume, such as in the U.K., where a $25,000 account with substantial trading volume can further reduce commissions and effective spreads.
In contrast, detailed spread information for Axi is unavailable, making direct comparisons challenging. However, in terms of overall ratings, FXCM stands at 4 out of 5 stars, ranking 24th out of 62 brokers by ForexBrokers.com for their commissions and fees. Meanwhile, Axi also holds a 4-star rating but ranks lower at 44th out of 62 brokers. These rankings suggest that while both brokers offer similar star ratings, FXCM's more favorable ranking indicates potentially better value or more comprehensive options regarding commissions and fees.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
Axi
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | Starts from $50 | $0 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.78 | N/A |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.78 | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | 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 FXCM and Axi, both online brokers support forex trading as CFDs or spot contracts. FXCM offers a broader range of tradeable symbols, providing access to 440 options, whereas Axi provides 175. On the other hand, Axi surpasses FXCM in the variety of tradeable forex pairs, offering 65 compared to FXCM's 43. Neither broker facilitates the purchase of exchange-traded securities—such as Apple shares—on U.S. or international exchanges, limiting their investment avenues to certain financial products.
Both FXCM and Axi offer copy trading services, allowing users to replicate successful trading strategies. However, neither broker permits buying actual cryptocurrencies, although both offer cryptocurrency derivatives for trading. For their range of investment offerings, FXCM and Axi are rated equally with 3.5 stars. According to ForexBrokers.com, FXCM holds the #47 rank out of 62 brokers for investment range, slightly ahead of Axi, which ranks at #55.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
Axi
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 440 | 175 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 43 | 65 |
| 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 the trading platforms and tools offered by FXCM and Axi, several significant differences emerge that may influence your trading decision. Both brokers provide access to simulated trading through free virtual demo accounts, which is an excellent starting point for beginners. FXCM stands out for its proprietary platform, developed in-house, along with the choice of a Windows-based desktop download and a web-based trading platform. Axi, while offering both Windows and web-based platforms, does not have its own proprietary platform. Copy trading is available with both brokers, and they also support popular platforms like MetaTrader 4 and ZuluTrade but not MetaTrader 5 or DupliTrade. Despite FXCM and Axi offering similar baseline capabilities, FXCM's platform is noted for having a broader range of functionalities that cater to various trading styles.
Regarding tools available for charting, FXCM offers 10 drawing tools, surpassing Axi’s 15, and allows trading directly from stock charts, which both brokers support. However, FXCM excels in watch list customization, allowing 13 columns compared to Axi's 7. FXCM's tools and platforms receive higher commendations, rated at 5 stars and ranked #6 out of 62 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, indicating superior satisfaction and usability. In contrast, Axi is rated 3.5 stars with a ranking of #62 in the same category, highlighting areas of potential improvement in their offerings. These distinctions make FXCM a more highly recommended option for traders seeking a comprehensive and customizable trading experience.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
Axi
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | 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 | No |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 115 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 10 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 13 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
When comparing the mobile trading apps of FXCM and Axi, both brokers offer apps compatible with iPhone and Android devices. They also provide features like stock or forex price alerts and the ability to create watchlists with real-time quotes. However, FXCM stands out by allowing watchlist symbol syncing, so any changes made can be reflected across both mobile and online platforms, a feature Axi lacks. Additionally, FXCM offers 59 technical studies for charting, nearly double the 30 technical studies provided by Axi. Both platforms allow drawing trendlines and viewing different time frames on charts, but only FXCM's app automatically saves drawings.
FXCM's app receives a 4.5-star rating for its comprehensive features, while Axi's app is rated 3.5 stars. This difference is reflected in their rankings by ForexBrokers.com, where FXCM is placed at #16 out of 62 brokers, compared to Axi's ranking at #59. Overall, FXCM offers a more feature-rich mobile trading experience, making it a preferred choice for traders who value advanced functionality and synchronization capabilities in their trading apps.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
Axi
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 59 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | No |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When comparing FXCM and Axi in terms of market research offerings, FXCM stands out with its extensive resources. FXCM provides daily market commentary, offering insights that keep traders informed and up-to-date. Both brokers deliver forex news sourced from top-tier outlets such as Bloomberg and Reuters, ensuring traders receive high-quality information. FXCM offers tools from Trading Central to aid technical analysis, while Axi provides Autochartist tools for similar purposes. Both platforms feature sentiment-based trading tools that reveal market positioning. Notably, FXCM includes market research from TipRanks in its suite of tools, whereas Axi does not. Both brokers supply an economic calendar to track global news events, aiding strategic decision-making.
Ultimately, FXCM garners a research rating of 4.5 stars, significantly ahead of Axi's 3 stars. In the ForexBrokers.com rankings, FXCM holds the 11th position out of 62 brokers for research capabilities, in stark contrast to Axi, which ranks 55th. This notable difference highlights FXCM's advantage in offering comprehensive research tools that cater to a diverse range of trading strategies and preferences.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
Axi
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | No |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | Yes |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | No |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | Yes | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
Choosing between FXCM and Axi as an online broker can be a bit challenging, especially when considering the educational resources available for beginners. Both FXCM and Axi offer a variety of educational materials, including articles, videos, and webinars focused on forex and CFDs trading topics. Each provides at least ten beginner-friendly educational videos, ensuring beginners have access to valuable insights and foundational knowledge. FXCM and Axi also conduct at least one educational webinar each month to keep their clients informed and engaged. However, FXCM stands out with a searchable archive of recorded webinars, a feature Axi does not offer.
When it comes to advanced educational content, FXCM offers more, with at least ten videos targeting experienced traders, unlike Axi which does not provide the same breadth of advanced resources. Both brokers have an investor dictionary featuring over 50 investing terms, supporting traders as they familiarize themselves with key terminology. In the realm of educational quality and breadth, FXCM is rated 4.5 stars out of five, ranking 14th among 62 brokers reviewed by ForexBrokers.com. In comparison, Axi holds a rating of 3 stars, placing them 26th. This positions FXCM as a strong choice for beginners who value comprehensive educational support.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
Axi
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | 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 FXCM is better than Axi. FXCM finished with an overall rank of #15, while Axi finished with an overall rank of #49.
For traders who appreciate advanced trading tools and quality market research, FXCM is a winner, especially for algorithmic trading. Its range of tradeable markets is fairly narrow, however, and the pricing at FXCM is just average.
| Feature |
FXCM
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Axi
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 95 | 82 |
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Both FXCM and Axi do not offer the ability to buy actual delivered cryptocurrency, but they each provide the option to trade cryptocurrency derivatives.
In comparing online brokers FXCM and Axi, FXCM stands out by offering a wider range of deposit and withdrawal options, including ACH or SEPA transfers, PayPal, Skrill, Visa or Mastercard, and bank wires, while Axi offers Skrill, Visa or Mastercard, and bank wires, but does not support ACH or SEPA transfers or PayPal.
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 | FXCM | Axi | |
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| Trust Score | 95 | 82 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | FXCM Review |
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| Regulation | FXCM | Axi | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 95 | 82 | |
| Year Founded | 1999 | 2007 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 2 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | FXCM | Axi | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | 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) | FXCM | Axi | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | FXCM | Axi | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 440 | 175 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 43 | 65 | |
| 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 | FXCM | Axi | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.78 | N/A | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.78 | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | FXCM | Axi | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | Starts from $50 | $0 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | FXCM | Axi | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | 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 | No | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Tools | FXCM | Axi | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 13 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 115 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 10 | 15 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | FXCM | Axi | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 59 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | No |
| Research | FXCM | Axi | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | No | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | Yes | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | Yes | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | FXCM | Axi | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | FXCM | Axi | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | FXCM Review |
| Overall | FXCM | Axi | |
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| Trust Score | 95 | 82 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | FXCM Review |
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