Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Markets.com vs Trading 212, 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.
Markets.com and Trading 212 stand as noteworthy choices for online brokerage services, with distinctive regulatory credentials that cater to different levels of investor assurance. Founded in 1999, Markets.com holds three Tier-1 licenses and one Tier-2 license, demonstrating a strong compliance standard. It boasts a high Trust Score of 93 from ForexBrokers.com, reflecting a highly trusted standing. While Markets.com is not publicly traded or a bank, its regulatory framework offers significant reassurance for investors.
In comparison, Trading 212, established in 2004, holds two Tier-1 licenses but lacks Tier-2 licenses, receiving a Trust Score rating of 79 from ForexBrokers.com, which places it at an average risk level. Like Markets.com, Trading 212 is neither publicly traded nor a bank. Investors seeking a brokerage with a high trust factor may lean towards Markets.com, given its higher Trust Score and more numerous regulatory licenses. Meanwhile, Trading 212 still presents a viable option for those comfortable with its risk level and regulatory standing.
| Feature |
Markets.com
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1999 | 2004 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 3 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
When comparing Markets.com and Trading 212, it's important to consider the difference in their commissions and fees. Markets.com, with a 3.5-star rating, ranks at #49 out of 62 brokers in the Commissions and Fees category. Despite this, specific average spread data is not available, which might make it less transparent for potential users evaluating their cost structure.
On the other hand, Trading 212 has a slightly higher rating of 4 stars and is ranked #43 out of 62 brokers for commissions and fees. This broker offers zero-commission trading; however, it is crucial to note that there are still spreads to consider when trading CFDs and forex. Specifically, for January 2024, the average spread for the EUR/USD pair was 1.9 pips. Although Trading 212 has begun publishing its spread data for improved transparency, this rate is higher than the industry average, which could be a disadvantage compared to top-tier brokers.
Overall, markets.com and Trading 212 each have their strengths and limitations with regard to costs. While Trading 212 leads in ranking and transparency efforts, both platforms have areas that may need further consideration by prospective traders focused on commission and fees.
| Feature |
Markets.com
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | €10 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | N/A | 1.9 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | 1.9 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | Yes |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| 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 comparing Markets.com and Trading 212 for investment variety, Trading 212 stands out with a significantly wider range of tradeable symbols, offering 8025 compared to Markets.com's 2179. Both platforms provide forex trading through CFDs or spot contracts, but Trading 212 boasts an impressive selection of 146 forex pairs while Markets.com offers 57. An additional advantage for Trading 212 is its ability to facilitate the purchase of exchange-traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges, enabling users to acquire shares like Apple or Vodafone directly. Conversely, Markets.com does not support direct equity purchases, focusing instead on trading contracts for difference (CFDs).
For investors interested in cryptocurrencies, both platforms offer derivative trading options without direct cryptocurrency ownership. An interesting feature of Markets.com is its copy trading function, not available with Trading 212. Ratings from ForexBrokers.com echo these observations, awarding Trading 212 a higher range of investment score of 5 stars against Markets.com's 4 stars. Overall, Trading 212 ranks higher at #15 compared to Markets.com's #29 out of 62 evaluated brokers. This highlights Trading 212 as a versatile option for a diverse investment portfolio, while Markets.com provides niche offerings with its copy trading capability.
| Feature |
Markets.com
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 2179 | 8025 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 57 | 146 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | Yes |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | No |
| 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.
Markets.com and Trading 212 both stand out as online brokers that provide a range of trading platforms and tools. Both brokers offer a free virtual demo account, allowing new traders to practice without risk. Each has developed an in-house proprietary platform, ensuring a unique trading experience. When it comes to accessibility, Markets.com offers a Windows-based desktop download option alongside a web-based platform, while Trading 212 focuses solely on browser-based trading. A key feature of Markets.com is its support for popular third-party platforms MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, which Trading 212 does not offer. Additionally, Markets.com includes copy trading in its suite of tools, whereas Trading 212 does not.
In terms of charting and ease of use, Trading 212 provides a wider range of drawing tools—20 compared to Markets.com's 4. However, Markets.com offers a bit more flexibility in watch list customization with six columns, as opposed to Trading 212's five. For those interested in chart-based trading, Trading 212 has the edge, allowing trades to be executed directly from the stock chart. Both brokers are highly rated with four stars each for their trading platforms and tools, though Trading 212 ranks slightly higher at #21 compared to Markets.com’s #26 in the Trading Platforms and Tools category by ForexBrokers.com. This comparison highlights the strengths of each broker, helping traders choose the platform that aligns best with their needs.
| Feature |
Markets.com
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | No |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | No |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | No |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 89 | 54 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 4 | 20 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | No | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 6 | 5 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Both Markets.com and Trading 212 provide mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android users, allowing traders to manage their portfolios on the go. These apps deliver essential features such as stock or forex price alerts and real-time quote watchlists to enhance decision-making. Both platforms synchronize watchlist symbols with online accounts, ensuring that any changes are seamlessly updated across devices. While both apps enable users to draw trendlines on charts, Trading 212 stands out by offering the ability to view multiple time frames and auto-saving chart drawings—features not present in Markets.com's app. Furthermore, Trading 212 provides 104 technical studies for charting, offering a more comprehensive analysis toolkit compared to Markets.com.
When it comes to mobile app ratings, both Markets.com and Trading 212 have received 4 out of 5 stars. However, Trading 212 ranks higher, at #17, among 62 brokers in the Mobile Trading Apps category according to ForexBrokers.com, whereas Markets.com is positioned at #33. This higher ranking might reflect Trading 212's superior charting capabilities and additional features that offer an enhanced trading experience on mobile devices.
| Feature |
Markets.com
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | (default on MT4, none on Markets app) | 104 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | No | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | No | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When comparing Markets.com and Trading 212 for market research, Markets.com stands out by offering daily market commentary, which Trading 212 does not provide. Both platforms deliver forex news from top-tier sources such as Bloomberg and Reuters, ensuring reliable and up-to-date information. However, neither broker offers tools from companies like Autochartist or Trading Central, which are often sought after for their analytic insights. Both Markets.com and Trading 212 also include sentiment-based trading tools, allowing users to see the long and short positions across currency pairs or other instruments.
Markets.com and Trading 212 both provide economic calendars, assisting traders by displaying current and upcoming global news events. However, when it comes to research ratings, Markets.com has a slight edge with a four-star rating compared to Trading 212's 3.5 stars. Moreover, in ForexBrokers.com's rankings out of 62 brokers for research capabilities, Markets.com is positioned at #17, while Trading 212 is further down the list at #46. These distinctions might make Markets.com a more appealing choice for traders prioritizing comprehensive market research.
| Feature |
Markets.com
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | No |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| 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 it comes to educational resources for beginners, Trading 212 seems to have the edge over Markets.com. Trading 212 offers a wide array of forex and CFD educational materials, including more than ten articles, videos, and archived webinars. In comparison, Markets.com does not meet this benchmark. Both brokers provide monthly online educational webinars, but only Trading 212 maintains a searchable archive of recorded webinars, making it easier for users to revisit past lessons. Each platform delivers beginner-focused videos, with at least ten available for novice traders, making either a viable option for those starting out.
For more advanced traders, both Markets.com and Trading 212 offer at least ten educational videos tailored to experienced individuals. However, when it comes to understanding investment jargon, Trading 212 provides an investor dictionary with defining terms, setting it apart from Markets.com, which lacks this feature. Despite Trading 212's additional resources, Markets.com is rated slightly higher at four stars for education, compared to Trading 212's 3.5 stars. Interestingly, Trading 212 is ranked higher overall in the education category by ForexBrokers.com, landing at #20 out of 62 brokers, while Markets.com sits at #34.
| Feature |
Markets.com
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | No | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | No | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | 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 Markets.com is better than Trading 212. Markets.com finished with an overall rank of #23, while Trading 212 finished with an overall rank of #31.
Thanks to its web-based MarketsX platform, Markets.com is easy to use and new trader friendly. However, Markets.com is pricey and lacks the feature-rich trading tools required to compete with the best trading platforms.
| Feature |
Markets.com
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 93 | 79 |
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Both Markets.com and Trading 212 do not provide the option to buy actual delivered cryptocurrency, but they do offer the ability to trade cryptocurrency derivatives.
When comparing Markets.com and Trading 212 in terms of deposit and withdrawal options, Trading 212 supports a broader range of methods including ACH, SEPA transfers, and PayPal, while Markets.com offers Skrill; both platforms provide Visa, Mastercard, and bank wire services.
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 | Markets.com | Trading 212 | |
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| Trust Score | 93 | 79 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Trading 212 Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Markets.com | Trading 212 | |
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| Regulation | Markets.com | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 93 | 79 | |
| Year Founded | 1999 | 2004 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 3 | 2 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Markets.com | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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) | No | 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) | Markets.com | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | No | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | Markets.com | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 2179 | 8025 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 57 | 146 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | Yes | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | No | |
| 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 | Markets.com | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | N/A | 1.9 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | 1.9 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Markets.com | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | €10 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | Markets.com | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | No | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | No | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | No | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Markets.com | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | No | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 6 | 5 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 89 | 54 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 4 | 20 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | No | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Markets.com | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | (default on MT4, none on Markets app) | 104 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | No | Yes |
| Research | Markets.com | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | No | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Markets.com | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | No | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | No | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | No | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Markets.com | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/JPY | Yes | Yes | |
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CAD | Yes | Yes | |
| NZD/USD | No | Yes | |
| AUD/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| Review | Trading 212 Review |
| Overall | Markets.com | Trading 212 | |
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| Trust Score | 93 | 79 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Trading 212 Review |
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