Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Trading 212 vs Eightcap, 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, established in 2004, and Eightcap, founded in 2009, are both well-known online brokers that cater to traders across the globe. Neither of these brokers is publicly traded or operates as a bank. In terms of regulatory oversight, Trading 212 holds two Tier-1 licenses, which means it is recognized as having high trust according to ForexBrokers.com. However, its Trust Score is 79, placing it at an average risk level.
On the other hand, Eightcap holds three Tier-1 licenses, representing a strong regulatory standing. This broker boasts an impressive Trust Score of 85, indicating a trusted status. Although both companies have similar regulatory frameworks, Eightcap's slightly higher Trust Score and greater number of Tier-1 licenses may present it as the more reliable choice for conscientious traders seeking online brokerage services.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
Eightcap
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2004 | 2009 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 3 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
Trading 212 offers two types of accounts: the Invest account for trading shares and the CFD account for trading contracts for difference (CFDs). The focus here is on the CFD account, which requires a minimum deposit of 10 euros. While Trading 212 promotes zero-commission trading, other costs like spreads still apply when dealing in CFDs and forex. Recently, Trading 212 released its average spread data, enhancing transparency. However, in January 2024, the average spread for the EUR/USD pair was 1.9 pips, which exceeds the industry average, making it less competitive compared to top CFD and forex brokers. Trading 212 earns a four-star rating and is ranked 43rd out of 62 brokers in the Commissions and Fees category by ForexBrokers.com.
Eightcap provides two account options with its global presence, including locations in Australia and the Bahamas. Traders can choose between the commission-based Raw account and the spread-only Standard account. The Raw account features an attractive average spread of 0.06 pips. However, the per-side commission of $3.50 per trade results in an all-in cost of about 0.76 pips, slightly below the industry average of 0.8 pips. While Eightcap is not the cheapest option, it remains reasonably competitive. Eightcap also receives a four-star rating but ranks 26th out of 62 brokers in the Commissions and Fees category according to ForexBrokers.com.
In summary, both Trading 212 and Eightcap boast competitive offerings for online trading, each with distinct advantages and disadvantages regarding costs. Trading 212's higher spreads on some trades may affect its appeal, while Eightcap’s structured accounts offer more predictable costs, though they are slightly above the cheapest in the market. Ultimately, both hold a four-star rating for their commissions and fees, with Eightcap achieving a higher ranking. This makes Eightcap a more favorable choice for cost-conscious traders when compared side by side with Trading 212.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
Eightcap
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | €10 | $100 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.9 | 1.0 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.9 | 0.76 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | No |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
In comparing the available investment options between Trading 212 and Eightcap, Trading 212 clearly stands out with a broader array of offerings. Trading 212 provides access to 8025 tradeable symbols, significantly surpassing Eightcap, which offers 736. Specifically, in the forex trading arena, Trading 212 shines with 146 forex pairs, while Eightcap offers 56. Additionally, Trading 212 allows traders to directly purchase U.S. and international exchange-traded securities, such as Apple and Vodafone shares, whereas Eightcap focuses solely on contract for difference (CFD) products and does not offer direct access to these securities. Both brokers allow forex trading through CFDs and offer cryptocurrency derivatives; however, neither supports the purchase of actual cryptocurrencies.
When it comes to additional features, Trading 212 does not support copy trading, unlike Eightcap, which includes this option in its services. However, the broader range of investments available on Trading 212 contributes to its higher rating, earning 5 stars for Range of Investments compared to Eightcap's 3.5 stars. This extensive selection places Trading 212 at number 15 out of 62 brokers in ForexBrokers.com's rankings for Range of Investments, while Eightcap is ranked at number 40. Thus, for investors prioritizing a wide selection of tradeable instruments, Trading 212 offers a compelling choice.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
Eightcap
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 8025 | 736 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 146 | 56 |
| 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.
When comparing Trading 212 and Eightcap, both brokers offer free virtual demo accounts, allowing newcomers and seasoned traders to practice without real money at stake. Trading 212 stands out with its proprietary in-house platform, ideal for users seeking a unique interface. It provides a web-based trading platform but lacks a Windows-based desktop download option. On the other hand, Eightcap offers a Windows desktop platform and access to well-known third-party tools like MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, catering to those familiar with these popular platforms. While Trading 212 does not support copy trading, Eightcap includes this feature, giving users the opportunity to follow and mimic successful traders.
For traders focusing on charting capabilities and watch lists, Trading 212 delivers 20 drawing tools, slightly more than Eightcap's 15 tools, and allows trades to be executed directly from the stock chart, a capability shared by both platforms. However, Eightcap offers seven fields for watch lists compared to Trading 212’s five, giving users more flexibility in monitoring assets. Both brokers receive a solid four-star rating for their trading platforms and tools, indicating a generally positive user experience. Yet, in terms of overall ranking by ForexBrokers.com, Trading 212 sits at #21, overshadowing Eightcap's position at #38, reflecting a slightly higher favorability among users for platform features and functionality.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
Eightcap
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | No |
| 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.
When it comes to mobile trading apps, both Trading 212 and Eightcap provide comprehensive platforms for iPhone and Android users. Each app offers the ability to set stock and forex price alerts, ensuring that you stay informed on market movements. They also feature watchlist symbol syncing, which keeps your watchlists up-to-date across both mobile and desktop accounts. In terms of charting capabilities, Trading 212 shines with 104 technical studies compared to Eightcap’s 30. Both brokers allow for drawing trendlines and viewing multiple time frames on stock or forex charts, along with auto-saving these drawings for future reference.
Trading 212 and Eightcap also offer the ability to create watchlists with real-time quotes, enhancing their appeal to active traders. However, user ratings give each platform a tie with four out of five stars for their mobile trading apps. Despite this, Trading 212 holds a competitive edge, being ranked 17th out of 62 brokers in the Mobile Trading Apps category by ForexBrokers.com, while Eightcap is placed at 38th. Whether you're a beginner or seasoned trader, both apps offer a solid set of features to support your trading needs on the go.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
Eightcap
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| 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 Eightcap, there are notable differences and similarities. Trading 212 provides forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, ensuring traders have access to high-quality information. On the other hand, Eightcap stands out by offering daily market commentary, which could be beneficial for traders seeking regular insights. Both platforms offer an economic calendar to keep traders informed of global news events, but neither offers research tools from companies like Autochartist, Trading Central, or Acuity Trading, nor do they provide market research from TipRanks. Additionally, each broker offers a sentiment-based trading tool, allowing users to gauge market sentiment through the ratio of long and short positions across various instruments.
In terms of research reputation, Trading 212 and Eightcap are both rated 3.5 stars out of 5. However, when it comes to rankings by ForexBrokers.com, Eightcap holds a slightly better position at #39 out of 62 brokers, compared to Trading 212's rank at #46. This ranking suggests that while their capabilities are similar in many respects, Eightcap is perceived slightly more favorably for research overall. Traders should consider these aspects alongside their own needs when choosing between the two brokers.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
Eightcap
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes |
| 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 available for beginners at Trading 212 and Eightcap, both online brokers offer a substantial collection of over 10 educational pieces such as articles, videos, and archived webinars focused on forex and CFDs. Trading 212 further enhances its offering by providing monthly online educational webinars and a comprehensive searchable archive of past webinars to support continuous learning. Eightcap also offers a searchable archive but does not provide regular monthly webinars.
Both Trading 212 and Eightcap cater to beginners by providing a range of educational videos covering key trading topics, with Trading 212 extending its resources to include content aimed at advanced traders. Additionally, both brokers offer an investor dictionary with over 50 investing terms defined, aiding newcomers in understanding complex terminology. The brokers are equally rated at 3.5 stars for their educational offerings, though Trading 212 is ranked higher, occupying the 20th spot compared to Eightcap's 40th place according to ForexBrokers.com out of 62 brokers.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
Eightcap
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| 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 Trading 212 is better than Eightcap. Trading 212 finished with an overall rank of #31, while Eightcap finished with an overall rank of #38.
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
|
Eightcap
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 79 | 85 |
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Both Trading 212 and Eightcap provide the ability to trade cryptocurrency derivatives, although neither platform offers the option to purchase actual, delivered cryptocurrencies.
Trading 212 and Eightcap offer various deposit and withdrawal methods, with Trading 212 supporting ACH and SEPA transfers, unlike Eightcap; both brokers accept PayPal and card payments via Visa or Mastercard, while Eightcap uniquely provides options for Skrill, and both allow bank wire transactions.
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 | Eightcap | |
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| Trust Score | 79 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Trading 212 Review | Eightcap Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Trading 212 | Eightcap | |
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| Regulation | Trading 212 | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 79 | 85 | |
| Year Founded | 2004 | 2009 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 3 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Trading 212 | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Trading 212 | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 8025 | 736 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 146 | 56 | |
| 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 | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.9 | 1.0 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.9 | 0.76 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Trading 212 | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | €10 | $100 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| 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 | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | No | |
| 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 | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 30 | |
| 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 | Trading 212 | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Trading 212 | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Trading 212 | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Eightcap Review |
| Overall | Trading 212 | Eightcap | |
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| Trust Score | 79 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Trading 212 Review | Eightcap Review |
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