Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Swissquote 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.
Swissquote, founded in 1996, stands out as a highly trusted online broker, with a top Trust Score of 99 according to ForexBrokers.com. As a publicly traded entity on the stock exchange and functioning as a bank, Swissquote fortifies its credibility with five Tier-1 licenses and one Tier-2 license, providing a strong foundation for investors seeking reliable trading solutions.
Founded in 2010, IronFX offers a trusted service with a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 83. While not publicly traded or classified as a bank, IronFX holds three Tier-1 licenses, underscoring its commitment to client protection. However, it does not possess any Tier-2 licenses, which could be a consideration for potential investors evaluating broker safety.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1996 | 2010 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | Yes | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 5 | 3 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
When comparing the online brokers Swissquote and IronFX, it's essential to consider their commissions and fees. Swissquote, known for its Swiss banking connections, charges slightly higher fees, making it less attractive for those seeking low-cost trades. The UK-based branch of Swissquote offers more competitive pricing with lower costs and lighter deposit requirements, although it has a narrower range of products. Swissquote's UK entity offers four accounts, where the Elite account stands out if you have at least $10,000 to deposit, with its $5 commission per round-turn trade and tighter spreads. Their Luxembourg and Swiss branches have similar pricing models with varying account minimums and spreads, custom pricing for active traders is available but not transparent.
IronFX, on the other hand, offers somewhat more competitive pricing but still above the industry average. IronFX's Standard variable spread account typically lists spreads of 1.8 pips, while the zero fixed-spread account starts at zero with an $18 per lot commission, although spreads widen to 3 pips overnight. This indicates that while IronFX is a feasible option, there is potential for enhancement in their pricing model.
In terms of ratings and rankings, Swissquote holds a 3.5-star rating for commissions and fees and is ranked 52nd out of 62 brokers by ForexBrokers.com. In comparison, IronFX earns a slightly better rating, with 4 stars, and stands at the 47th place in the same ranking. While both brokers provide reliable services, those prioritizing lower fees may find IronFX to be the more favorable choice.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $1000 | $50 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | N/A | 1.2 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | 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 the investment options of Swissquote and IronFX, Swissquote emerges as a more versatile choice. Swissquote offers a comprehensive selection of 472 tradeable symbols, including 80 forex pairs, while IronFX provides 340 tradeable symbols with 83 forex pairs. A distinct advantage of Swissquote lies in its access to exchange-traded securities on U.S. and international markets, allowing clients to purchase well-known stocks such as Apple and Vodafone. This opportunity is not available through IronFX, which does not offer direct access to exchange-traded stocks. Additionally, Swissquote allows investors to engage in both actual cryptocurrency purchases and cryptocurrency derivatives, unlike IronFX, which restricts clients to crypto derivatives only.
Another feature both brokers share is the availability of copy trading, catering to investors interested in leveraging the expertise of experienced traders. However, when it comes to the breadth and depth of investment options, Swissquote is recognized for its superior offerings, earning a 5-star rating for Range of Investments and ranking 2nd out of 62 brokers in the same category on ForexBrokers.com. In contrast, IronFX holds a 3.5-star rating and is ranked 51st, indicating a more limited array of investment choices. These distinctions highlight Swissquote's stronger position as an online broker for a broader range of investment opportunities.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 472 | 340 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 80 | 83 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | Yes | 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.
Swissquote and IronFX both provide free virtual demo accounts, allowing users to practice trading without financial risk. When it comes to trading platforms, Swissquote offers an in-house developed platform, while IronFX relies on third-party solutions. Both brokers support Windows-based desktop downloads and web-based platforms, but Swissquote stands out with its proprietary software. For traders interested in copy trading, both Swissquote and IronFX deliver this feature, and they also support the popular MetaTrader 4 (MT4). However, only Swissquote extends support to MetaTrader 5 (MT5), potentially appealing to traders seeking the latest features and tools.
In terms of charting tools, Swissquote surpasses IronFX with 75 drawing tools compared to IronFX's 15. Both brokers permit trading directly from stock charts, enhancing user convenience. Swissquote also leads in watch list customization, offering 11 fields against IronFX’s seven. These comprehensive capabilities contribute to Swissquote’s higher rating of 4.5 stars for its trading platforms and tools, in contrast to IronFX's 3.5 stars. According to ForexBrokers.com, Swissquote ranks 11th among 62 brokers in the Trading Platforms and Tools category, while IronFX trails significantly at 60th position, highlighting Swissquote's superior market presence and technological offerings.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| 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) | Yes | No |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 86 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 75 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 11 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Swissquote and IronFX both provide comprehensive mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android users, allowing traders to access stock and forex markets on the go. With each app offering price alerts, the ability to draw trendlines, view multiple time frames, and auto save drawings, they cater well to mobile traders. Both platforms support real-time quote watchlists, although neither offers syncing of watchlist symbols with their online counterparts. Charting capabilities are strong in both apps, with 30 technical studies available to enhance analysis.
When it comes to user satisfaction and ranking among their peers, Swissquote clearly stands out. It holds an impressive 4.5-star rating for its mobile trading app, placing it among the top 10 out of 62 brokers surveyed by ForexBrokers.com. In contrast, IronFX receives a 3.5-star rating and ranks significantly lower at 61st position. This distinction suggests that while both apps are feature-rich, Swissquote's mobile trading experience tends to be more favored by users.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 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 Swissquote and IronFX provide daily market commentary and access to top-tier forex news from sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, ensuring traders stay informed. While Swissquote includes tools from Autochartist, enhancing its technical and fundamental research capabilities, IronFX stands out with access to Trading Central's advanced analysis tools. Unfortunately, neither broker offers sentiment-based trading tools or partnerships with TipRanks or Acuity Trading, but both maintain a comprehensive economic calendar to keep traders abreast of global events.
In terms of research, Swissquote and IronFX are similarly ranked with a respectable four-star rating. However, Swissquote edges out IronFX in the ForexBrokers.com rankings, placing 16th compared to IronFX's 28th position. This subtle difference suggests that while both platforms offer solid research services, Swissquote might provide slightly more in-depth options due to its partnership with Autochartist.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | Yes |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | No | 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 resources available to beginners on Swissquote and IronFX, both online brokers provide a solid foundation. Both platforms offer a substantial suite of over ten educational pieces targeting forex or CFDs, including articles, videos, and archived webinars. Additionally, each broker maintains a searchable archive of past webinars and features a collection of at least ten beginner-focused trading videos. Where Swissquote takes the lead is in hosting monthly educational webinars, not provided by IronFX, as well as offering numerous advanced trading videos tailored for more experienced traders, which IronFX lacks.
Both Swissquote and IronFX have compiled investor dictionaries that explain over 50 investing terms to help newcomers familiarize themselves with trading jargon. Despite Swissquote being ranked higher at #21 compared to IronFX's #44 in the Education category by ForexBrokers.com, both brokers receive a commendable four-star rating for their educational offerings. This highlights Swissquote's slight edge in educational resources, particularly beneficial for those seeking ongoing learning through webinars and advanced video content.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
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 Swissquote is better than IronFX. Swissquote finished with an overall rank of #11, while IronFX finished with an overall rank of #48.
Traders choose Swissquote for its quality research and vast multi-asset offering – as long as they are willing to pay a premium to have their brokerage account held with a Swiss bank.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 83 |
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Swissquote allows you to purchase actual delivered cryptocurrency as well as cryptocurrency derivatives, whereas IronFX only provides the option to trade in cryptocurrency derivatives without holding the actual digital currency.
When comparing online brokers Swissquote and IronFX, Swissquote offers more diverse funding options, including ACH or SEPA transfers and PayPal, which are not available with IronFX, while both provide the ability to use Skrill, Visa or Mastercard, and bank wires for depositing or withdrawing funds.
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 | Swissquote | IronFX | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 83 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Swissquote Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Swissquote | IronFX | |
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| Regulation | Swissquote | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 83 | |
| Year Founded | 1996 | 2010 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 5 | 3 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Swissquote | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | Yes | 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) | Swissquote | 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 | Swissquote | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 472 | 340 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 80 | 83 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | Yes | 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 | Swissquote | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | N/A | 1.2 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Swissquote | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $1000 | $50 | |
| 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 | Swissquote | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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) | Yes | No | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Swissquote | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 11 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 86 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 75 | 15 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Swissquote | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 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 | Swissquote | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | No | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Swissquote | 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 | Swissquote | 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 | Swissquote Review |
| Overall | Swissquote | IronFX | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 83 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Swissquote Review |
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