Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Trading 212 vs GBE brokers, 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 and GBE brokers offer online trading services, but they differ in their history and regulatory trust. Trading 212 was established in 2004, while GBE brokers started in 2013. Neither company is publicly traded or operates as a bank. In terms of licensing, Trading 212 holds two Tier-1 licenses, which are highly regarded, whereas GBE brokers maintain one Tier-1 license. Neither has Tier-2 licenses, which indicates a further level of security.
When it comes to trustworthiness, Trading 212 and GBE brokers have been evaluated by ForexBrokers.com. Trading 212 has a Trust Score of 79, placing it in the average risk category according to ForexBrokers.com's rating criteria. On the other hand, GBE brokers received a slightly lower Trust Score of 71, which still falls under the average risk bracket. Choosing between these brokers involves considering their years in the industry, regulatory licenses, and trust scores.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
GBE brokers
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2004 | 2013 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| 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, focused on trading shares, and the CFD account, tailored for trading CFDs. While the Invest account requires a minimal deposit of just 1 euro, starting an account for CFDs needs at least 10 euros. Although Trading 212 promotes its zero-commission trading for CFDs and forex, trading still incurs a spread. The broker has begun providing average spread data, which enhances pricing transparency. As of January 2024, the average spread for the EUR/USD pair was 1.9 pips, a value that exceeds the industry average and could impact its competitiveness compared to leading CFD and forex brokers.
While GBE brokers do not provide average spread data, both Trading 212 and GBE brokers have received a 4-star rating for their commissions and fees. Despite the same star ratings, there are differences in their rankings. Trading 212 is ranked 43rd out of 62 brokers on ForexBrokers.com for commissions and fees, which is notably lower than GBE brokers, who hold the 37th position within the same ranking.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
GBE brokers
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | €10 | $500 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.9 | N/A |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.9 | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | No |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | Yes |
| 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.
For traders looking to explore a diverse range of investment opportunities, Trading 212 and GBE Brokers offer distinctive options catering to various investor preferences. Trading 212 emerges as a comprehensive platform, providing an impressive 8,025 tradeable symbols, significantly outpacing GBE Brokers' offering of 500 symbols. Forex enthusiasts will also find more choices with Trading 212's 146 tradeable forex pairs compared to GBE Brokers' 71 pairs. A standout feature of Trading 212 is its access to exchange-traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges, enabling clients to invest directly in well-known stocks like Apple and Vodafone. This feature is absent in GBE Brokers, which focuses primarily on CFDs without direct stock market investments.
Both platforms facilitate forex trading as CFDs or spot contracts and offer access to cryptocurrency derivatives, though neither provides actual, delivered cryptocurrencies for purchase. GBE Brokers, however, gains points for offering copy trading, a feature not available on Trading 212. The investment range offered by Trading 212 has been rated 5 stars, placing it at an impressive number 15 out of 62 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com. In contrast, GBE Brokers, rated 3.5 stars, ranks at number 44. These distinctions highlight Trading 212 as a versatile platform for investors seeking broader market exposure.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
GBE brokers
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 8025 | 500 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 146 | 71 |
| 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 the trading platforms and tools of Trading 212 and GBE brokers, both offer simulated trading with free virtual demo accounts. Trading 212 stands out with a proprietary platform developed in-house, while GBE brokers rely on more established platforms like MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5). For desktop users, GBE brokers provides a Windows-based download option whereas Trading 212 is fully web-based, requiring no installation. Both platforms facilitate trading directly from stock charts, but GBE brokers offers copy trading, a feature not available with Trading 212.
In terms of charting tools, Trading 212 boasts 20 drawing tools, outpacing GBE brokers, which offers 15. However, GBE brokers provides more options in watch list customization with 7 columns compared to Trading 212's 5. Despite these differences, both platforms have been rated 4 stars for trading platforms and tools. ForexBrokers.com ranks Trading 212 as the 20th out of 62 brokers, significantly higher than GBE brokers, which holds the 57th position. This comparison illustrates that customers' needs for certain functionalities might lead them to choose one broker over the other based on specific features such as platform proprietary, charting tools, and customization options.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
GBE brokers
|
|---|---|---|
| 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.
Both Trading 212 and GBE brokers offer comprehensive mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, ensuring seamless access for traders on the go. Users of these apps can take advantage of stock and forex price alerts as well as the essential feature of being able to draw trendlines on charts. However, a significant difference between the two is that Trading 212 provides watchlist symbol syncing, allowing for smooth updates and synchronization between your mobile app and online account, a feature that GBE brokers currently lacks. Additionally, Trading 212 stands out with a more extensive range of technical studies available for charting—104 compared to GBE brokers' 30. Both apps allow viewing multiple time frames and auto-save chart drawings, maintaining consistency across devices.
For those keen on creating watchlists with real-time quotes, both Trading 212 and GBE brokers meet this need effectively. While user ratings for both mobile apps are fairly positive, each earning four stars out of five, Trading 212 has a considerably higher ranking in the Mobile Trading Apps category by ForexBrokers.com, holding the 17th spot, compared to GBE brokers, which ranks at 57. This ranking could reflect the enhanced features and functionalities that Trading 212 offers, making it potentially more appealing for those who prioritize advanced charting tools and the seamless integration of watchlists across devices.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
GBE brokers
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No |
| 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 Trading 212 and GBE Brokers in terms of market research, there are a few distinct differences and similarities to note. Trading 212 does not provide daily market commentary, unlike GBE Brokers, which offers this feature. However, Trading 212 gains an edge with its access to forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones, whereas GBE Brokers does not provide this level of market news. Neither broker offers research tools from companies such as Autochartist or Trading Central. Both brokers do provide sentiment-based trading tools, helping traders see the ratio of long and short positions across various instruments. Additionally, both offer an economic calendar to keep traders informed about current and upcoming global news events.
In terms of ratings and rankings for research, Trading 212 receives a slightly higher score of 3.5 out of 5 stars compared to GBE Brokers’ 3 stars. This higher rating contributes to Trading 212’s better ranking, placing 46th out of 62 brokers for research on ForexBrokers.com. Meanwhile, GBE Brokers finds itself lower down the list at 61st. While neither broker provides research tools from TipRanks or Acuity Trading, Trading 212's access to quality forex news and slightly superior ranking may make it a more attractive choice for some traders concerned with market research capabilities.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
GBE brokers
|
|---|---|---|
| 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.
Trading 212 excels in providing educational resources for beginners interested in forex and CFDs. With an extensive selection of more than 10 educational pieces, including articles, videos, and archived webinars, Trading 212 ensures newcomers have access to substantial learning materials. The platform consistently offers online webinars at least once a month, enhancing the learning experience. Moreover, Trading 212 provides a searchable archive for past webinars, making it convenient for users to revisit key topics. Beginners will find value in their collection of 10 educational videos tailored specifically towards novice traders. Further, Trading 212 caters to more advanced users with an additional 10 videos dedicated to intricate trading concepts. For those looking to expand their vocabulary, there is an investor dictionary that explains over 50 investing terms. As a result, Trading 212 holds a 3.5-star rating for education and is ranked 20th out of 62 brokers by ForexBrokers.com.
In contrast, GBE brokers offer fewer educational resources for those venturing into forex or CFDs trading. The broker lacks the minimum number of educational pieces and does not offer monthly client webinars or a searchable archive of such sessions. This limits the options available for beginners who prefer to learn through interactive sessions. With no dedicated set of beginner-specific educational videos and absence of advanced content aimed at seasoned traders, new users might find it challenging to obtain comprehensive instruction through GBE brokers. Also, the lack of an investor dictionary that covers the basics can make it harder for beginners to understand complex terms. As such, GBE brokers have a 3-star rating in education and hold the 62nd spot in the ranking by ForexBrokers.com.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
GBE brokers
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | No |
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 GBE brokers. Trading 212 finished with an overall rank of #31, while GBE brokers finished with an overall rank of #56.
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
|
GBE brokers
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 79 | 71 |
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Both Trading 212 and GBE Brokers do not offer the ability to buy actual delivered cryptocurrency, but they do provide options to purchase cryptocurrency derivatives.
Both Trading 212 and GBE brokers facilitate ACH/SEPA transfers, PayPal, Visa/Mastercard, and bank wires for depositing and withdrawing account funds, while GBE brokers additionally support Skrill, a feature not available with Trading 212.
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 | GBE brokers | |
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| Trust Score | 79 | 71 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Trading 212 Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Trading 212 | GBE brokers | |
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| Regulation | Trading 212 | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 79 | 71 | |
| Year Founded | 2004 | 2013 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Trading 212 | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | No | No | |
| 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 | No | |
| 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 | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 8025 | 500 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 146 | 71 | |
| 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 | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.9 | N/A | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.9 | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Trading 212 | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | €10 | $500 | |
| 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 | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | Trading 212 | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 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 | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | Trading 212 | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Overall | Trading 212 | GBE brokers | |
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| Trust Score | 79 | 71 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Trading 212 Review |
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