B

Alfa Financials

6.4/10

CFI Markets

7.4/10
7/10RegulationWinner10/10
0/10FeesWinner2/10
9/10PlatformsTied9/10
10/10WinnerEducation & Research6/10
4/10Deposits & WithdrawalsTied4/10
10/10SupportTied10/10

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Overview

Alfa Financials was founded in 1987 and is headquartered in UAE, while CFI Markets was established in 2012 and is based in Cyprus. Both brokers are regulated by Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), among other authorities. Alfa Financials serves 10,000+ clients worldwide; CFI Markets has 10,000+. The minimum deposit is $500 at Alfa Financials and $100 at CFI Markets.

CFI Markets wins this category
FeatureAlfa FinancialsCFI Markets
Min. Deposit$500$100
RegulationFinancial Conduct Authority (FCA)Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC), The Federal Financial Supervisory Authority Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht (BaFin)
Founded19872012
CountryUAECyprus
Clients10,000+10,000+

Fees

Fees are a critical factor when choosing between Alfa Financials and CFI Markets, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. CFI Markets has a lower barrier to entry with a minimum deposit of $100 (vs $500 at Alfa Financials). CFI Markets charges withdrawal fees while Alfa Financials does not, giving Alfa Financials an edge for frequent withdrawers. Both brokers charge inactivity fees on dormant accounts, worth noting if you trade infrequently. CFI Markets charges deposit fees; Alfa Financials does not. Overall, CFI Markets scores higher on fees in our assessment.

CFI Markets wins this category
FeatureAlfa FinancialsCFI Markets
Min. Deposit$500$100
Withdrawal FeesNoYes
Inactivity FeesYesYes
Deposit FeesNoYes
CFD FeesYesYes

Platforms

Alfa Financials offers MT4, MT5, cTrader, while CFI Markets supports MT4, MT5, cTrader. Both brokers provide mobile trading apps for iOS and Android. CFI Markets supports social and copy trading features, which Alfa Financials does not offer. The two brokers are closely matched on platform offering.

Tied
FeatureAlfa FinancialsCFI Markets
MT4YesYes
MT5YesYes
cTraderYesYes
Windows AppYesYes
iOS AppYesYes
Android AppYesYes
Trading PlatformsMetaTrader 4 (MT4),Trader Desktop,Android,Mac,IPad,Alfa TraderMT4, Mac, Tablet & Mobile apps

Education & Research

Education and research tools help traders at every level make more informed decisions, and here's how Alfa Financials and CFI Markets compare. Both brokers run regular live webinars. Both provide video tutorials, including advanced content. Daily market commentary is available from both brokers. Both integrate third-party research tools including Trading Central. Archived webinars are available at both brokers for self-paced learning. Alfa Financials scores higher overall in education and research.

Alfa Financials wins this category
FeatureAlfa FinancialsCFI Markets
Forex EducationYesNo
CFD EducationYesYes
Weekly WebinarsYesYes
Daily CommentaryYesYes
Trading CentralYesYes
AutochartistYesNo

Deposits & Withdrawals

Convenient deposit and withdrawal options reduce friction for traders, especially important when managing positions across time zones. Alfa Financials accepts 2 of the tracked payment methods (bank transfer, credit/debit card), while CFI Markets supports 2 (bank transfer, credit/debit card). Both brokers support the same set of payment methods.

Tied
FeatureAlfa FinancialsCFI Markets
Bank TransferYesYes
Credit CardYesYes
PayPalNoNo
SkrillNoNo
NetellerNoNo

Support

Responsive customer support matters most when you're locked out of your account or need urgent help with a trade. Both Alfa Financials and CFI Markets offer live chat support. Both provide phone support. Email support is available at both brokers. Both brokers offer support in 2 languages. Both brokers are comparable on support quality.

Tied
FeatureAlfa FinancialsCFI Markets
Live ChatYesYes
Phone SupportYesYes
Email SupportYesYes
LanguagesEnglish, and ChineseEnglish, and Chinese