Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Trade Nation vs IFC Markets, 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.
Trade Nation, established in 2014, is an online broker known for its trustworthiness, reflected by a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 85, signifying a trusted status. This broker holds two Tier-1 licenses, marking it as highly trusted, and one Tier-2 license. Though not publicly traded or a bank, Trade Nation’s regulatory framework offers peace of mind for potential investors seeking a reliable platform.
Founded in 2006, IFC Markets holds a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 73, placing it in the average risk category. This broker maintains one Tier-2 license but lacks Tier-1 licensure, which are indicators of higher trust. Like Trade Nation, IFC Markets is neither publicly traded nor a bank. Investors interested in IFC Markets should be aware of its lower, yet still respectable, trust score when compared to other brokers.
| Feature |
Trade Nation
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2014 | 2006 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 0 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
Trade Nation stands out with its competitive fixed-spread pricing across all tradeable symbols on its proprietary platform, setting it apart from the common variable pricing offered by many brokers. By maintaining a fixed spread, Trade Nation simplifies the trading process as no additional calculations are required, with the exception of a brief period each day when spreads widen. For the EUR/USD pair, the spread can be as low as 0.6 pips, although it temporarily widens to a maximum of 1.4 pips during the rollover period, resulting in a true average closer to 1 pip. The broker offers three primary account types: two based on MetaTrader, including a Raw Spread account with a $7 round-trip commission per standard lot and a commission-free option, and one with its TN Trader web platform, which features the lowest all-in costs and higher spreads in its commission-free MetaTrader account. Trade Nation's consistent spread structure earns it a high rating.
In contrast, IFC Markets does not provide detailed average spread data, making direct comparisons challenging. Despite this lack of transparency, IFC Markets is rated commendably, though it does fall short of Trade Nation's performance. Investors considering costs will find less clarity with IFC Markets regarding expected spread conditions in regular trading environments.
According to ForexBrokers.com, Trade Nation receives a top-tier rating of 5 stars in the commissions and fees category, ranking 7th out of 62 brokers. This accolade reflects Trade Nation's advantageous pricing model and cost-effectiveness. Conversely, IFC Markets is rated 4 stars and is ranked 39th, indicating a respectable but less competitive standing in terms of cost efficiency compared to Trade Nation.
| Feature |
Trade Nation
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $1 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.6 | 1.44 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.6 | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | Yes |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
When considering online brokers for investment opportunities, both Trade Nation and IFC Markets offer forex trading as both CFD and spot contracts. Trade Nation boasts a slightly larger pool of tradeable symbols, totaling 1000, while IFC Markets offers 630. In terms of forex pairs, IFC Markets edges out Trade Nation with 49 available pairs compared to Trade Nation's 46. However, neither broker provides the option to buy exchange-traded securities (not CFDs) on U.S. exchanges, such as Apple shares.
In contrast, only IFC Markets offers the opportunity to purchase international exchange-traded securities, like Vodafone shares. Both platforms support copy trading and offer cryptocurrency derivatives, though neither allows the purchase of actual cryptocurrencies. With both brokers receiving a 3.5-star rating for Range of Investments, Trade Nation is ranked slightly higher at #38 compared to IFC Markets at #43 according to ForexBrokers.com.
| Feature |
Trade Nation
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1000 | 630 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 46 | 49 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | Yes |
| 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). |
Dive deeper: Best Copy Trading Platforms.
When comparing Trade Nation and IFC Markets, both online brokers offer a variety of trading platforms and tools to enhance the trading experience. Both brokers provide simulated trading via free virtual demo accounts and have developed their own proprietary platforms. For those who prefer desktop trading, each offers a Windows-based platform, and both brokers also feature web-based platforms accessible via browser. On key features like copy trading and MetaTrader 4 (MT4) support, Trade Nation and IFC Markets align. A noteworthy difference is that IFC Markets supports MetaTrader 5 (MT5), whereas Trade Nation does not. However, neither broker offers DupliTrade or ZuluTrade integration.
When it comes to charting and customization, Trade Nation offers a more extensive selection of drawing tools—39, as opposed to IFC Markets' 15. Notably, IFC Markets allows trading directly from stock charts, a feature absent in Trade Nation. In terms of watch lists, Trade Nation offers a broader range with 14 columns compared to IFC Markets' 7. Despite these differences, both brokers receive a rating of four stars for their trading platforms and tools. Nevertheless, IFC Markets holds a higher rank (#36) than Trade Nation (#45) in the Trading Platforms and Tools category according to ForexBrokers.com, out of a total of 62 brokers assessed.
| Feature |
Trade Nation
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 99 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 39 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | No | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 14 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
If you're deciding between Trade Nation and IFC Markets for mobile trading, both platforms have a lot to offer. Whether you're using an iPhone or Android device, each provides a dedicated app for seamless trading experiences. Both platforms support important features like price alerts for stocks and forex, watchlist syncing across devices, and the ability to draw trendlines on charts. Moreover, they both allow traders to view stock and forex charts in various time frames, such as daily, weekly, or intraday, and even auto-save your drawings. Creating watchlists with real-time quotes is another shared capability, giving you up-to-the-minute market data at your fingertips.
When it comes to technical studies offered within their charting tools, Trade Nation stands out with 99 options compared to IFC Markets' 30. Both apps are well-regarded, earning four-star ratings; however, Trade Nation slightly edges ahead in the rankings by ForexBrokers.com, standing at #45, as opposed to IFC Markets' #52. Whether you're a novice or a seasoned trader, these features make both Trade Nation and IFC Markets competent choices for mobile trading, though Trade Nation might offer a bit more in technical analysis tools.
| Feature |
Trade Nation
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 99 | 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 it comes to market research offerings, Trade Nation and IFC Markets present distinct features for traders. Trade Nation doesn’t provide daily market commentary, contrasting with IFC Markets, which offers this feature to keep traders updated with daily insights. However, Trade Nation excels in delivering forex news acquired from reliable sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, a service IFC Markets doesn’t furnish. While neither platform collaborates with Autochartist or Trading Central for research tools, both brokers provide a sentiment-based trading tool, enabling users to understand the market stance on various currency pairs or instruments. Additionally, Trade Nation benefits from research tools offered by Acuity Trading, while IFC Markets provides an economic calendar to help traders stay informed about significant global economic events.
In terms of overall research ratings and rankings, both brokers share the same score of 3.5 out of five stars for research. However, IFC Markets holds a slightly higher position, ranking 40th out of 62 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, whereas Trade Nation is ranked at 42nd. This data indicates that while both platforms offer valuable research tools, each has its strengths and specific features that cater to different trader preferences and needs.
| Feature |
Trade Nation
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| 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) | Yes | No |
| Economic Calendar | No | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When it comes to educational resources for those new to trading, both Trade Nation and IFC Markets have a fair amount to offer. Each provides at least ten educational pieces including articles, videos, or similar content focused on forex and CFDs. If you're looking for online webinars, neither broker offers these educational sessions on a monthly basis, nor do they have an archive of past webinars available for viewing. For beginners specifically, both platforms deliver at least ten instructional videos covering essential trading topics, making them valuable resources for those just starting out.
While Trade Nation does a solid job catering to beginners, IFC Markets takes things a step further by offering over ten advanced educational videos, making it more appealing to those ready to expand their trading knowledge. Additionally, IFC Markets provides an investor dictionary with definitions for over 50 investing terms, a feature that Trade Nation lacks. Despite these differences, both brokers share a similar education rating of 3.5 stars out of 5. However, IFC Markets ranks higher at #30 compared to Trade Nation's #42 in the education category, as evaluated by ForexBrokers.com.
| Feature |
Trade Nation
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | No | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | No | No |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | No | Yes |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | No | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 62 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that Trade Nation is better than IFC Markets. Trade Nation finished with an overall rank of #34, while IFC Markets finished with an overall rank of #45.
Trade Nation’s well-designed, easy-to-use trading app is an innovative trading platform that’s great for beginner forex and CFD traders. However, if you’re a seasoned trader, you may find that Trade Nation lacks advanced features compared to the best trading platforms.
| Feature |
Trade Nation
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IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 85 | 73 |
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Both Trade Nation and IFC Markets provide traders with the opportunity to invest in cryptocurrency derivatives, but neither platform offers the option to purchase actual delivered cryptocurrency.
Both Trade Nation and IFC Markets do not support ACH, SEPA, or PayPal transfers for account funding, with Trade Nation offering Skrill as an additional option compared to IFC Markets, while both brokers provide Visa/Mastercard and bank wire options for deposits and withdrawals.
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 | Trade Nation | IFC Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 85 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Trade Nation Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Trade Nation | IFC Markets | |
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| Regulation | Trade Nation | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 85 | 73 | |
| Year Founded | 2014 | 2006 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | No | No | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 0 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Trade Nation | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | 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). | No | No |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Trade Nation | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | No | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | Trade Nation | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1000 | 630 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 46 | 49 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | Yes | |
| 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). |
| Cost | Trade Nation | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.6 | 1.44 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.6 | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Trade Nation | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $1 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | Trade Nation | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Trade Nation | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 14 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 99 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 39 | 15 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | No | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | No | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Trade Nation | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 99 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | No | Yes |
| Research | Trade Nation | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | No | Yes |
| Education | Trade Nation | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | No | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | No | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | No | Yes | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | No | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Trade Nation | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Trade Nation Review |
| Overall | Trade Nation | IFC Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 85 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Trade Nation Review |
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