B

Alfa Financials

6.4/10
IG logo

IG

8.3/10
7/10RegulationWinner9/10
0/10FeesWinner8/10
9/10PlatformsTied9/10
10/10WinnerEducation & Research6/10
4/10Deposits & WithdrawalsWinner6.5/10
10/10SupportTied10/10

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Overview

Alfa Financials was founded in 1987 and is headquartered in UAE, while IG was established in 1974 and is based in UK. Both brokers are regulated by Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), among other authorities. Alfa Financials serves 10,000+ clients worldwide; IG has 178,500+. The minimum deposit is $500 at Alfa Financials and $200 at IG.

IG wins this category
FeatureAlfa FinancialsIG
Min. Deposit$500$200
RegulationFinancial Conduct Authority (FCA)Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC)
Founded19871974
CountryUAEUK
Clients10,000+178,500+

Fees

Fees are a critical factor when choosing between Alfa Financials and IG, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. IG has a lower barrier to entry with a minimum deposit of $200 (vs $500 at Alfa Financials). Neither broker charges withdrawal fees. Alfa Financials applies inactivity fees on dormant accounts; IG does not. Overall, IG scores higher on fees in our assessment.

IG wins this category
FeatureAlfa FinancialsIG
Min. Deposit$500$200
Withdrawal FeesNoNo
Inactivity FeesYesNo
Deposit FeesNoNo
CFD FeesYesNo

Platforms

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

Tied
FeatureAlfa FinancialsIG
MT4YesYes
MT5YesYes
cTraderYesYes
Windows AppYesYes
iOS AppYesYes
Android AppYesYes
Trading PlatformsMetaTrader 4 (MT4),Trader Desktop,Android,Mac,IPad,Alfa TraderMT4, Mac, Web Trader, L2 Dealer, 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 IG 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 FinancialsIG
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 IG supports 3 (bank transfer, credit/debit card, PayPal). IG uniquely supports PayPal among the two brokers. IG scores higher on deposit and withdrawal flexibility.

IG wins this category
FeatureAlfa FinancialsIG
Bank TransferYesYes
Credit CardYesYes
PayPalNoYes
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 IG offer live chat support. Both provide phone support. Email support is available at both brokers. Alfa Financials supports 2 languages and IG supports 5, giving IG broader global reach. Both brokers are comparable on support quality.

Tied
FeatureAlfa FinancialsIG
Live ChatYesYes
Phone SupportYesYes
Email SupportYesYes
LanguagesEnglish, and ChineseEnglish, French, German, Spanish, and Portuguese