Two brokers square off on trust, platforms, and cost. ACY Securities emphasizes regulation and raw spreads, while TradeStation centers on a deep platform ecosystem and investor protections.
TradeStation edges ACY Securities on overall score, due to stronger trust/regulation and a proprietary platform with investor compensation; ACY remains competitive with raw spreads and MT4/MT5 access.
Find out which broker best suits your trader profile.
Choose ACY Securities if…
Choose ACY Securities if you want MT4/MT5 access, no inactivity fee, and multilingual support.
Choose TradeStation if…
Choose TradeStation if you want investor compensation, a proprietary platform, and broad instrument coverage.
Which broker wins for each type of trader, based on costs, safety, platforms, and editorial scoring.
ACY Securities offers tighter spreads from 0.00 pips vs 1.00 pips for TradeStation, reducing trading costs.
| Editorial score | 4.0/ 5 | 4.3/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Score Breakdown | ||
Trust & Regulation 40% weight | 4.3 / 5 | 4.8 / 5▲ |
Pros
2,200+ instruments including share CFDs and ETF CFDs
TradingView integration for browser-based chart execution
ASIC regulated with Tier 1 investor protections
Raw ECN spreads from 0.0 pips at $7 round-turn commission
Client funds held in segregated accounts
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
| Criteria | ACY Securities | TradeStation |
|---|---|---|
| Trust & Regulation | ||
| Top-tier regulator (FCA, ASIC, CFTC, etc.) | Pass | Pass |
| Segregated client funds | Pass | Pass |
| Negative balance protection | Pass | Pass |
| Compensation scheme (e.g. FSCS) | Fail | Pass |
| Fees & Spreads | ||
| Raw/ECN spreads available | Pass | Fail |
| No deposit fee | Pass | Pass |
| No inactivity fee | Pass | Fail |
| Transparent pricing page | Pass | Pass |
| Platforms & Tools | ||
| MT4/MT5 available | Pass | Fail |
| Proprietary platform | Fail | Pass |
| Mobile app | Pass | Pass |
| Advanced charting tools | Pass | Pass |
| Customer Support | ||
| 24/5 live chat | Pass | Pass |
| Phone support | Pass | Pass |
| Multilingual support | Pass | Fail |
The scores are close: ACY Securities rates 4/5 and TradeStation rates 4.3/5. TradeStation has a marginal edge in our scoring, but the difference is small enough that your specific priorities — fees, platforms, or regulatory jurisdiction — should guide the final choice.
ACY Securities starts from 0 pips, tighter than TradeStation's 1 pips. Tighter spreads lower the cost per trade, which matters most for high-frequency and scalping strategies.
TradeStation has no minimum deposit, while ACY Securities requires at least $50. This makes TradeStation more accessible for traders with limited starting capital.
Both ACY Securities and TradeStation hold licences from top-tier regulators, indicating a high standard of regulatory oversight. Check each broker's specific regulatory bodies to confirm coverage in your jurisdiction.
For beginners, two factors stand out: TradeStation has no minimum deposit, removing the capital barrier entirely, and both brokers provide negative balance protection. Also compare demo account availability and educational resources before deciding.
ACY Securities lists maximum leverage of 500:1, while TradeStation lists up to 50:1. Available leverage depends on your jurisdiction. EU retail clients under ESMA rules are capped at 1:30 on major forex pairs.
ACY Securities charges $7 per lot on commission-based accounts. Commission details for TradeStation are not currently available. Check their website for up-to-date pricing.
ACY Securities supports MetaTrader 5, TradingView, MetaTrader 4, while TradeStation supports Proprietary Web/Mobile. ACY Securities has exclusive access to MetaTrader 5 and TradingView and MetaTrader 4. TradeStation has exclusive access to Proprietary Web/Mobile.
TradeStation wins for safety & regulation with FINRA/NFA oversight and investor protection schemes.
TradeStation suits active traders with EasyLanguage and deep backtesting.
ACY Securities is better suited for scalpers: raw/ECN spreads available, tighter spreads from 0.00 pips.
TradeStation wins for platform choice with a proprietary platform and advanced charting.
ACY Securities suits beginners with a low $50 minimum and multilingual support.
TradeStation leads in instrument variety with 10,000 instruments vs 2,200 at ACY.
Fees & Spreads 30% weight | 4.3 / 5▲ | 4.0 / 5 |
|---|
Platforms & Tools 20% weight | 4.2 / 5 | 4.8 / 5▲ |
|---|
Customer Support 10% weight | 3.9 / 5 | 4.2 / 5▲ |
|---|
| Founded | 2011 | 1982 |
|---|
| Headquarters | Sydney, Australia | Plantation, Florida, United States |
|---|
| Min Deposit | $50 | No minimum▼ lower |
|---|
| Spreads From | 0 pips▼ lower | 1 pips |
|---|
| Commission / lot | $7/lot | N/A |
|---|
| 0.7 pips | N/A |
| Max Leverage | 500:1 | 50:1▲ higher |
|---|
| Inactivity Fee | None | $25/month (after 12 months) |
|---|
| Deposit Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Deposit methods | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardCrypto | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardACH |
|---|
| Withdrawal methods | Bank transferCredit cardCrypto | Bank transferCredit cardACH |
|---|
| Withdrawal Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Regulators | ASIC FSA Seychelles | FINRA NFA |
|---|
| Platforms | MetaTrader 5 TradingView MetaTrader 4 | Proprietary Web/Mobile |
|---|
| Active bonuses |
|---|
Negative balance protection
No deposit fees
No inactivity fee
MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 supported
Mobile trading app available
Advanced charting tools included
Transparent pricing with clear cost disclosure
24/5 live chat support
Phone support available
Multilingual customer support
Pros
40+ years of operation, one of the longest track records in US retail trading
EasyLanguage strategy platform with the deepest retail backtesting ecosystem
Equities, futures, options, and forex from one account
FINRA and NFA regulated, highest US retail standards
Regulated by top-tier authorities (FCA, ASIC, CySEC)
Client funds held in segregated accounts
Negative balance protection
Investor compensation scheme coverage
No deposit fees
Mobile trading app available
Proprietary trading platform available
Advanced charting tools included
Transparent pricing with clear cost disclosure
24/5 live chat support
Phone support available
Cons
$200 minimum for ECN Ultra account
Less established brand than IC Markets or Pepperstone in Australia
Limited proprietary tools
No investor compensation scheme
No proprietary platform
Cons
Forex is secondary to the equities/futures offering, not an ECN-first FX desk
50:1 leverage cap under US Dodd-Frank rules
US clients only, not available to international traders
Desktop platform has a steep learning curve
No raw spread account option
Inactivity fee applies
No MetaTrader support
Support available in limited languages
Dig deeper into each broker’s features, fees, and regulation.
Score 4 / 5
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