Capital.com vs Trading 212 – Which Broker Is Better for You?
Capital.com and Trading 212 are two of the most popular brokers for retail traders in Europe and the UK. Capital.com specialises in CFD and spread betting, while Trading 212 combines CFDs with zero-commission stock and ETF investing. The better choice depends on how you trade.
Quick Answer: Should You Choose Capital.com or Trading 212?
Capital.com is usually the better choice for active CFD traders who want education, TradingView support, clear costs, and fast withdrawals. Trading 212 suits long-term investors who primarily want commission-free stock or ETF investing with occasional CFD trading inside one app.
Capital.com vs Trading 212 Snapshot Comparison
| Metric | Capital.com | Trading 212 |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2016 | 2004 |
| Business model | CFDs and spread betting only | CFD plus Invest and ISA stock accounts |
| Minimum deposit | From 20 base currency | No official minimum |
| Trading commissions | 0% | 0% |
| FX conversion fee | 0.7% CFD | 0.5% CFD and 0.15% Invest |
| Platforms | Web, Mobile, TradingView, MT4 | Web, Mobile (proprietary only) |
| Trustpilot score | About 4.0 from 13,000+ reviews | About 4.6 from over 70,000 reviews |
| Reported growth | 800,000 new funded accounts in one quarter | Over 5 million lifetime funded accounts |
Table showing key differences between Capital.com and Trading 212 including pricing models, platform approach, account types, and public review volume.
Who Is Capital.com Best For vs Who Is Trading 212 Best For?
Choose Capital.com if you are primarily a CFD day trader who wants structured education, TradingView charts, and simple spread-only pricing. Choose Trading 212 if you want one app for long-term investing, ISA stock accounts, and occasional CFD trading without leaving the same interface.
Platform Safety and Regulation Compared
Which Broker Has Stronger Regulatory Coverage?
Both brokers hold major licences including FCA authorisation. Capital.com and Trading 212 must segregate client funds and display risk warnings. Trading 212 is older, but Capital.com publishes detailed fee and execution breakdowns, supporting transparency for active traders.
Are Client Funds Protected the Same Way at Both Brokers?
Both brokers use segregated accounts under regulatory rules. Eligible clients benefit from negative balance protection. Trading 212 applies this across CFD accounts, while Capital.com extends protection across its CFD and spread bet offering depending on jurisdiction.
Fees, Spreads, and Trading Costs Compared
Capital.com uses a spread only cost model with no ticket commission on CFDs and spread bets. Trading 212 also offers commission-free CFD trading, but applies a 0.5% FX fee when instruments differ from account currency. Capital.com applies a 0.7% FX conversion but only on the cash adjustment, not the full trade value.
Overnight funding differs. Capital.com applies a published annual four percent fee divided daily plus benchmark rates. Trading 212 applies overnight interest that may be positive or negative depending on direction and instrument. Both brokers market themselves as zero-commission, yet overall cost depends heavily on trade style and currency exposure.
Does Capital.com or Trading 212 Have Lower CFD Costs?
For purely intraday CFD trading, Capital.com often works out cheaper due to the way its FX fee applies only to adjusted cash flows. Trading 212 can be cheaper for occasional trades, but frequent multi-currency CFD activity may produce accumulated FX conversion costs.
What About Stock and ETF Investing Costs?
Trading 212 offers zero-commission stock and ETF investing through Invest and ISA accounts, with only a 0.15% FX fee. Capital.com does not offer real share ownership, focusing entirely on leveraged trading. For long-term investing, Trading 212 has the clear advantage.
Are There Hidden FX Conversion or Funding Fees?
Both brokers disclose FX and overnight costs publicly. Capital.com applies 0.7% FX on relevant conversions and clearly shows overnight funding rates. Trading 212 applies 0.5% FX for CFD accounts and 0.15% for Invest accounts. Neither charges deposit or withdrawal fees under normal conditions.
Full Cost Comparison
| Cost type | Capital.com | Trading 212 |
|---|---|---|
| CFD commission | 0% | 0% |
| FX fee (CFD) | 0.7% | 0.5% |
| FX fee (Invest) | Not applicable | 0.15% |
| Overnight funding | Broker fee 4% per year plus benchmark | Swap interest, positive or negative |
| Guaranteed stop fee | Only if triggered | Not offered as separate feature |
| Stock ownership | No | Yes (Invest and ISA) |
Side-by-side cost comparison showing how each broker charges for FX, funding, and stock investing.
Platform and Execution Quality Compared
Which Platform Is Better for Active Traders?
Capital.com offers advanced charts, one-click trading, TradingView integration, and optional MT4. Trading 212 keeps everything inside its proprietary platform. Both perform well, but Capital.com gives advanced traders more flexibility and custom indicator options.
Can You Use MT4 or TradingView on Either Broker?
Capital.com supports TradingView and MT4 access in supported jurisdictions. Trading 212 does not support TradingView, MT4, or MT5. For traders who depend on technical scripts or multi-broker chart layouts, Capital.com is the clear option.
Which Broker Has Faster Order Execution?
Both brokers report fast execution, but Capital.com publicly highlights that over ninety eight percent of withdrawals were processed within twenty four hours. Traders often report smoother ticket execution on Capital.com when scaling from demo to live trading.
Markets and Instruments Compared
Which Broker Offers More Tradeable Assets?
Capital.com offers thousands of CFDs and spread bets across forex, indices, commodities, and shares. Cryptocurrency CFDs are available for professional clients only. Trading 212 offers CFDs across similar markets plus real stocks and ETFs for longer term investors who do not require leverage.
Can Both Platforms Trade Crypto, Stocks, and Indices?
Both brokers allow index CFD trading. Capital.com offers cryptocurrency CFDs for professional clients only, along with synthetic share exposure. Trading 212 allows direct share ownership inside its Invest and ISA accounts, which is important if you need dividends and long holding periods.
Education, Tools, and Extra Features
Which Broker Supports Beginners Better?
Capital.com offers structured learning courses, a learning app, a demo account for risk-free practice, and behavioural alerts to reduce emotional mistakes. Trading 212 provides basic explainers and strong community forums. First-time traders usually progress faster inside Capital.com’s guided environment.
Which One Offers Better Research and Analysis Tools?
Trading 212 focuses on simplicity rather than deep research tools. Capital.com offers news, market sentiment, and full TradingView charting. XTB or Pepperstone exceed both on analyst research, but among these two, Capital.com offers more sophisticated day-trading features.
Deposit Minimums and Funding Options Compared
Which Broker Is Cheaper to Start With?
Capital.com allows starting deposits from around twenty base currency units. Trading 212 has no formal minimum and can be opened with a very small card transfer. Both are accessible, though Capital.com provides clearer guidance for sizing early trades.
Whose Deposit and Withdrawal System Is Faster?
Both brokers support instant card funding and bank transfers. Capital.com reports that almost all withdrawals are processed within twenty four hours. Trading 212 also processes quickly, though large withdrawals sometimes wait for banking cycles depending on region.
Pros and Cons Side-by-Side
Capital.com Pros and Cons
- Spread-only CFD pricing
- TradingView and MT4 support
- Behavioural training and structured education
- Fast withdrawals and 24/7 customer support
- No real share ownership
- FX conversion higher than Trading 212 Invest accounts
- Not a single-app solution for long-term investing
Trading 212 Pros and Cons
- Zero commission real stock and ETF investing
- ISA accounts with no custody fee
- Large Trustpilot footprint and user count
- One app for investing and CFD trading
- No TradingView or MT4 support
- CFD FX conversion can accumulate for multi-currency trading
- Education and research tools are limited
Full Feature Comparison Table
| Feature | Capital.com | Trading 212 |
|---|---|---|
| Primary model | CFDs and spread betting only | CFD plus real stock and ETF investing |
| Platform support | Web, Mobile, TradingView, MT4 | Proprietary only |
| CFD costs | Spread-only, no ticket cost | Spread-only, no ticket cost |
| Investing costs | Not provided | Zero commission plus 0.15% FX |
| FX conversion | 0.7% on cash adjustments | 0.5% CFD / 0.15% Invest |
| Education | Built-in courses, learning app, behavioural alerts | Basic help docs, community discussions |
| Best for | Retail CFD day traders | CFD plus long-term investor hybrids |
Table summarising differences in platform support, cost models, education tools, and target trader type.
Final Verdict – Which Broker Should You Choose?
If you want a single app to buy stocks, ETFs, and occasionally trade CFDs without a platform switch, Trading 212 is a strong choice. Its zero-commission Invest and ISA accounts are ideal for long-term investors who want simplicity and low FX costs on share purchases.
Capital.com is the stronger choice for anyone who prioritises CFD trading performance. Its spread-only pricing, clear overnight funding logic, TradingView and MT4 support, structured education, and fast withdrawal processing make it better suited for intraday and short-term strategies. For pure trading first, Capital.com usually wins.
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Spread bets and CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 60% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading spread bets and CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how spread bets and CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
FAQs
Is Trading 212 Cheaper Than Capital.com?
Trading 212 is cheaper for long-term share investing because it only charges 0.15% currency conversion. For active CFD traders, Capital.com is often more cost-efficient because its FX fee applies only to cash adjustments, not the full notional value.
Which Broker Has Better Spreads?
Both advertise zero-commission CFD trading. Actual spreads vary by market and time of day. Capital.com tends to quote clearer index spread examples, while Trading 212 spreads adjust inside the platform without published minimums. Frequent intraday traders often prefer the transparency of Capital.com.
Can I Use TradingView With Either Broker?
You can use TradingView with Capital.com. Trading 212 does not provide TradingView, MT4, or MT5 access. If you rely on third-party charting or custom indicators, Capital.com is the only viable option of the two.
Which Broker Is Better for Beginners?
Trading 212 is easier for people who want to buy stocks passively and check them occasionally. Capital.com is better for people who want to learn trading properly, because its tutorials and behavioural support explain position sizing, volatility, and risk.
Which Broker Is Safer?
Both are regulated and must keep client funds segregated. Trading 212 is older and has more public user reviews. Capital.com publishes detailed breakdowns of fees, execution logic, and risk controls, which helps short-term traders understand cost and exposure more clearly.
