In a head-to-head review, ATFX and OANDA compete on regulation, costs, and platforms, revealing how licensing, pricing, and toolsets shape trader choices.
OANDA has the higher editorial score, outperforming ATFX. This reflects stronger category ratings across trust, fees, platforms, and support.
Find out which broker best suits your trader profile.
Choose ATFX if…
You choose ATFX for no inactivity fee. You also access about 300 instruments. You choose OANDA for platform choice. You get MT4 and MT5 plus a proprietary platform.
Choose OANDA if…
You choose ATFX for no inactivity fee. You also access about 300 instruments. You choose OANDA for platform choice. You get MT4 and MT5 plus a proprietary platform.
Which broker wins for each type of trader, based on costs, safety, platforms, and editorial scoring.
OANDA offers tighter spreads from 1.00 pips vs 1.80 pips for ATFX, reducing trading costs.
| Editorial score | 4.2/ 5 | 4.6/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Score Breakdown | ||
Trust & Regulation 40% weight | 4.3 / 5 | 4.8 / 5▲ |
Pros
FCA (UK), CySEC (EU), and FSCA (SA) licensing
300+ instruments including ETF CFDs and bond CFDs
FSCS protection up to GBP 85,000 for UK clients
No minimum deposit, no inactivity fee
Client funds held in segregated accounts
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
| Criteria | ATFX | OANDA |
|---|---|---|
| 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) | Pass | Pass |
| Fees & Spreads | ||
| Raw/ECN spreads available | Fail | Fail |
| No deposit fee | Pass | Pass |
| No inactivity fee | Pass | Fail |
| Transparent pricing page | Pass | Pass |
| Platforms & Tools | ||
| MT4/MT5 available | Pass | Pass |
| Proprietary platform | Fail | Pass |
| Mobile app | Pass | Pass |
| Advanced charting tools | Fail | Pass |
| Customer Support | ||
| 24/5 live chat | Pass | Pass |
| Phone support | Pass | Pass |
| Multilingual support | Pass | Pass |
The scores are close: ATFX rates 4.2/5 and OANDA rates 4.6/5. OANDA 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.
OANDA starts from 1 pips, tighter than ATFX's 1.8 pips. Tighter spreads lower the cost per trade, which matters most for high-frequency and scalping strategies.
Neither ATFX nor OANDA requires a minimum deposit, making both accessible regardless of starting capital.
Both ATFX and OANDA 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, both brokers provide negative balance protection. Also compare demo account availability and educational resources on each broker's site before deciding.
ATFX lists maximum leverage of 400:1, while OANDA 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.
ATFX supports MetaTrader 4, while OANDA supports MetaTrader 5, Proprietary Web/Mobile, TradingView, MetaTrader 4. Both provide MetaTrader 4. OANDA has exclusive access to MetaTrader 5 and Proprietary Web/Mobile and TradingView.
OANDA gains safety with diverse licensing including NFA and ASIC.
ATFX suits active traders with higher leverage and more instruments.
OANDA is better suited for scalpers: tighter spreads from 1.00 pips.
OANDA is better for beginners due to multi-platform access and research tools.
Fees & Spreads 30% weight | 3.8 / 5 | 4.5 / 5▲ |
|---|
Platforms & Tools 20% weight | 3.7 / 5 | 4.6 / 5▲ |
|---|
Customer Support 10% weight | 4.2 / 5 | 4.3 / 5▲ |
|---|
| Founded | 2017 | 1996 |
|---|
| Headquarters | London, United Kingdom | New York, United States |
|---|
| Min Deposit | No minimum | No minimum |
|---|
| Spreads From | 1.8 pips | 1 pips▼ lower |
|---|
| Commission / lot | N/A | N/A |
|---|
| Max Leverage | 400:1 | 50:1▲ higher |
|---|
| Inactivity Fee | None | $10/month (after 12 months) |
|---|
| Deposit Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Deposit methods | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardSkrillNeteller | Bank transferCredit cardDebit card |
|---|
| Withdrawal methods | Bank transferCredit cardSkrillNeteller | Bank transferDebit card |
|---|
| Withdrawal Fee | Free | Free for ACH |
|---|
| Regulators | FCA FSCA CySEC | FCA ASIC CBI CMF NFA |
|---|
| Platforms | MetaTrader 4 | MetaTrader 5 Proprietary Web/Mobile TradingView MetaTrader 4 |
|---|
| Active bonuses |
|---|
Negative balance protection
Investor compensation scheme coverage
No deposit fees
MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 supported
Mobile trading app available
Transparent pricing with clear cost disclosure
24/5 live chat support
Phone support available
Multilingual customer support
Pros
Available to US residents (NFA-registered)
Best-in-class research and economic data
No minimum deposit
MT4, MT5 and proprietary platforms
Regulated by top-tier authorities (FCA, ASIC, CySEC)
Client funds held in segregated accounts
Negative balance protection
Investor compensation scheme coverage
No deposit fees
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
Cons
MT4 only, no MT5, cTrader, or proprietary platform
Standard spreads from 1.8 pips are not ECN-competitive
Relatively young broker, founded 2017
No raw spread account option
Limited charting capabilities
Cons
Spreads slightly wider than ECN-style brokers
No copy trading
No raw spread account option
Inactivity fee applies
Dig deeper into each broker’s features, fees, and regulation.
Score 4.2 / 5
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