Two regulated brokers clash over regulation, pricing, and platform choices, revealing divergent strengths in instrument range and technology.
ATFX and Trade Nation are closely matched overall; the clearest differentiator is instrument variety, with Trade Nation offering 1000 instruments vs ATFX's 300.
Find out which broker best suits your trader profile.
Choose ATFX if…
Choose ATFX if you value MT4 support and 300 instruments.
Choose Trade Nation if…
Choose Trade Nation if you want a proprietary platform with advanced charting and 1000 instruments.
Which broker wins for each type of trader, based on costs, safety, platforms, and editorial scoring.
Trade Nation offers tighter spreads from 0.60 pips vs 1.80 pips for ATFX, reducing trading costs.
| Editorial score | 4.2/ 5 | 4.1/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Score Breakdown | ||
Trust & Regulation 40% weight | 4.3 / 5▲ | 4.2 / 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 | Trade Nation |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Pass |
| Transparent pricing page | Pass | Pass |
| Platforms & Tools | ||
| MT4/MT5 available | Pass | Fail |
| 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 Trade Nation rates 4.1/5. ATFX 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.
Trade Nation starts from 0.6 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 Trade Nation requires a minimum deposit, making both accessible regardless of starting capital.
Both ATFX and Trade Nation 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 Trade Nation lists up to 500:1. 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 Trade Nation supports Proprietary Web/Mobile, MetaTrader 4. Both provide MetaTrader 4. Trade Nation has exclusive access to Proprietary Web/Mobile.
Equally matched; both ATFX and Trade Nation have strong regulation and fund segregation.
Trade Nation wins for active traders thanks to 1000 instruments and advanced charting.
Trade Nation is better suited for scalpers: tighter spreads from 0.60 pips.
Trade Nation wins for platform choice with MT4 and a proprietary platform.
Equally matched; both offer no minimum deposit, segregated funds, and investor compensation scheme coverage.
Trade Nation offers more instruments, 1000 versus 300.
Fees & Spreads 30% weight | 3.8 / 5 | 4.2 / 5▲ |
|---|
Platforms & Tools 20% weight | 3.7 / 5 | 3.9 / 5▲ |
|---|
Customer Support 10% weight | 4.2 / 5▲ | 3.9 / 5 |
|---|
| Founded | 2017 | 2014 |
|---|
| Headquarters | London, United Kingdom | London, United Kingdom |
|---|
| Min Deposit | No minimum | No minimum |
|---|
| Spreads From | 1.8 pips | 0.6 pips▼ lower |
|---|
| Commission / lot | N/A | N/A |
|---|
| Max Leverage | 400:1 | 500:1▲ higher |
|---|
| Inactivity Fee | None | None |
|---|
| Deposit Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Deposit methods | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardSkrillNeteller | Bank transferCredit cardDebit card |
|---|
| Withdrawal methods | Bank transferCredit cardSkrillNeteller | Bank transferCredit card |
|---|
| Withdrawal Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Regulators | FCA FSCA CySEC | FCA ASIC |
|---|
| Platforms | MetaTrader 4 | Proprietary Web/Mobile 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
Fixed spreads from 0.6 pips with no commission
No minimum deposit and no inactivity fee
Strong FCA and ASIC multi-region regulation
Simple, transparent cost structure ideal for cost-conscious traders
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
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
Limited asset classes, no stocks or ETF CFDs
Proprietary platform is basic compared to MT4/MT5
Fixed spreads widen significantly during major news events
No raw spread account option
No MetaTrader support
Dig deeper into each broker’s features, fees, and regulation.
Score 4.1 / 5
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