Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of FOREX.com vs IronFX, 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.
FOREX.com, established in 1999, stands as a highly trusted online broker with a remarkable Trust Score of 99 out of 99 according to ForexBrokers.com. As a publicly traded entity, FOREX.com is regulated by various top-tier authorities, boasting an impressive seven Tier-1 licenses, which signifies strong reliability for traders. While it isn’t a bank, FOREX.com's extensive regulatory oversight and long-standing presence in the market contribute to its solid reputation among investors.
In contrast, IronFX, founded in 2010, holds a Trust Score of 83 from ForexBrokers.com, placing it in the "trusted" category. While not publicly traded, IronFX is underpinned by three Tier-1 regulatory licenses, reflecting a respectable level of safety and trustworthiness. However, it does not hold any Tier-2 licenses, which are also considered essential for added investor confidence. Both brokers are not banks, yet their regulatory standings highlight a key difference in their market credibility.
| Feature |
FOREX.com
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1999 | 2010 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 3 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
When comparing FOREX.com and IronFX, both online brokers offer distinct structures for commissions and fees that cater to different trading preferences. FOREX.com provides multiple account types, such as the Standard and Raw accounts. Their Standard account, mostly for MetaTrader clients, has higher spreads, averaging 1.4 pips for the EUR/USD in the U.S., but offers market-maker execution. On the other hand, the Raw account presents lower spreads around 0.13 pips for the EUR/USD with a commission per trade, making it ideal for high-volume traders. FOREX.com, rated 4.5 stars and ranked #13 out of 62 brokers for commissions and fees, also offers volume-based rebates for its active traders, which can further reduce trading costs.
In contrast, IronFX's pricing structure shows room for improvement, with spreads generally higher than the industry average. Their Standard variable spread account lists typical spreads of 1.8 pips, though this may vary with no specified date range. The zero fixed-spread account starts from zero but includes an $18 per lot commission, and spreads can increase to 3 pips overnight. While offering a straightforward setup, IronFX is rated 4 stars and ranks at #47 for commissions and fees, suggesting it's less cost-effective for certain trading strategies compared to some of its competitors.
Overall, while both brokers cater to different trading styles, FOREX.com appears more favorable for active traders looking for low all-in costs, particularly those trading in high volumes, due to its competitive raw spreads and rebate tiers. In contrast, IronFX might suit traders less concerned with exact pricing precision. Nonetheless, FOREX.com's higher ranking and rating underscore its advantageous position in terms of commissions and fees within the industry.
| Feature |
FOREX.com
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | $50 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.4 | 1.2 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.9 | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| 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 it comes to an extensive range of investments, FOREX.com stands out with a significant edge over IronFX. FOREX.com offers a remarkable choice of 5,500 tradeable symbols, which includes 91 forex pairs, providing traders with ample options to diversify their portfolios. In comparison, IronFX provides access to 340 tradeable symbols, including 83 forex pairs. While both platforms offer forex trading through CFDs or spot contracts, FOREX.com’s broader selection of symbols caters to a larger variety of trading strategies and preferences.
Both platforms share similarities in some areas: neither offers exchange-traded securities on U.S. or international markets, and both allow trading of cryptocurrency derivatives, but not the actual cryptocurrencies. However, IronFX provides copy trading capabilities, a feature not available with FOREX.com. Despite this, FOREX.com scores higher for its range of investments, earning a five-star rating and securing the 7th spot among 62 brokers evaluated by ForexBrokers.com. IronFX, on the other hand, garners a 3.5-star rating and ranks 51st, reflecting a more limited offering in comparison.
| Feature |
FOREX.com
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 5500 | 340 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 91 | 83 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | 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 FOREX.com and IronFX, both brokers provide simulated trading with free virtual demo accounts, allowing prospective traders to practice without financial risk. While FOREX.com has developed its own proprietary platform, IronFX relies on third-party platforms. Both brokers offer Windows-based desktop downloads and web-based platforms, catering to diverse trading needs. However, IronFX holds an edge in social trading by providing copy trading, something not available with FOREX.com. Despite offering MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and the upgraded MetaTrader 5 (MT5) are available with FOREX.com, while IronFX lacks MT5 support.
FOREX.com's charting tools are significantly more comprehensive, with 239 drawing tools compared to IronFX's 15. Additionally, FOREX.com gives traders access to customizable watch lists with 20 columns, surpassing IronFX's offering of seven. Both platforms allow direct trading from stock charts, enhancing user experience. In terms of overall performance, FOREX.com excels with a five-star rating for its trading platforms and tools, and ranks seventh out of 62 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com. In contrast, IronFX has a 3.5-star rating and is placed at 60th, indicating a notable difference in their platform and tool offerings.
| Feature |
FOREX.com
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | No |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 88 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 239 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 20 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
When comparing the mobile trading apps of FOREX.com and IronFX, both brokers offer apps for iPhone and Android, making them accessible for most smartphone users. Traders can enjoy receiving price alerts on both platforms, keeping them informed of the latest market movements. While both apps allow users to create watchlists with real-time quotes and draw trendlines on charts, FOREX.com stands out by offering watchlist symbol syncing, letting changes made on the app sync with the online account—a feature IronFX lacks.
FOREX.com also shines with 88 technical studies for charting, compared to IronFX's 30. Both apps allow users to view different time frames and auto-save chart drawings. However, FOREX.com receives a higher rating of 5 stars for its mobile app, compared to IronFX's 3.5 stars. This difference in quality is reflected in their rankings, with FOREX.com ranked #3 and IronFX #61 out of 62 brokers on ForexBrokers.com. This makes FOREX.com a compelling choice for traders seeking a more comprehensive mobile trading experience.
| Feature |
FOREX.com
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 88 | 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.
Both FOREX.com and IronFX provide daily market commentary and offer forex news from leading sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, ensuring traders have access to critical market insights. Traders using either platform have access to Trading Central’s technical analysis tools, assisting with insightful market forecasts. However, a key difference lies in the availability of sentiment tools: FOREX.com provides a sentiment-based trading tool to show long or short positions ratios across currency pairs, whereas IronFX does not offer this feature. Both platforms offer economic calendars to track global news events, but lack features from Autochartist, TipRanks, and Acuity Trading.
Overall, when it comes to market research, FOREX.com slightly surpasses IronFX with a higher rating of 4.5 stars compared to IronFX's 4 stars. Additionally, FOREX.com holds a superior position, ranked 9th out of 62 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, while IronFX is ranked 28th. This distinction points to FOREX.com offering a more comprehensive suite of research tools, potentially giving traders a more informative trading experience.
| Feature |
FOREX.com
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | Yes |
| 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 comparing the educational offerings for beginners between FOREX.com and IronFX, both brokers provide a solid selection of content, each having at least ten educational pieces focused on forex and CFDs. However, FOREX.com edges ahead by organizing monthly online educational webinars for clients, a feature IronFX does not offer. Both brokers provide an archive of previously recorded webinars for users to review at their convenience.
FOREX.com continues to excel by offering a broader selection of educational videos tailored for both beginners and advanced traders. While both brokers have over ten beginner videos, only FOREX.com extends this to advanced topics, appealing to a wider audience. Additionally, both platforms provide investor dictionaries with over 50 terms, yet in overall educational value, FOREX.com achieves a higher rating with 4.5 stars, securing the 4th position out of 62 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com. In contrast, IronFX garners a 4-star rating and ranks 44th, indicating a notable difference in their educational resources for clients.
| Feature |
FOREX.com
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 FOREX.com is better than IronFX. FOREX.com finished with an overall rank of #5, while IronFX finished with an overall rank of #48.
FOREX.com is a trusted brand that delivers an excellent trading experience for forex and CFDs traders across the globe. It offers a wide range of markets and provides an impressive suite of proprietary platforms – alongside limited access to MetaTrader.
| Feature |
FOREX.com
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 83 |
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BOTH FOREX.com and IronFX provide access to cryptocurrency derivatives, however, neither platform offers the ability to purchase actual (delivered) cryptocurrency.
When comparing the deposit and withdrawal options offered by online brokers, FOREX.com provides ACH or SEPA transfers, PayPal, Visa or Mastercard, and bank wires, whereas IronFX does not support ACH or SEPA transfers or PayPal, but offers Skrill, Visa or Mastercard, and bank wires.
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 | FOREX.com | IronFX | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 83 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | FOREX.com Review |
| Broker Screenshots | FOREX.com | IronFX | |
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| Regulation | FOREX.com | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 83 | |
| Year Founded | 1999 | 2010 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 3 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | FOREX.com | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | Yes | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | FOREX.com | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | No | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | FOREX.com | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 5500 | 340 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 91 | 83 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | 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 | FOREX.com | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.4 | 1.2 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.9 | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | FOREX.com | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | $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 | No |
| Trading Platforms | FOREX.com | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | No | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | FOREX.com | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 20 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 88 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 239 | 15 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | FOREX.com | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 88 | 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 | FOREX.com | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | FOREX.com | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | FOREX.com | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | FOREX.com Review |
| Overall | FOREX.com | IronFX | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 83 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | FOREX.com Review |
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