B

Alfa Financials

6.4/10

shaw and partners limited

7.4/10
7/10RegulationWinner10/10
0/10FeesTied0/10
9/10PlatformsTied9/10
10/10WinnerEducation & Research4/10
4/10Deposits & WithdrawalsWinner10/10
10/10SupportTied10/10

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Overview

Alfa Financials was founded in 1987 and is headquartered in UAE, while shaw and partners limited was established in 2014 and is based in Switzerland. Both brokers are regulated by Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), among other authorities. Alfa Financials serves 10,000+ clients worldwide; shaw and partners limited has 250,000+. The minimum deposit is $500 at Alfa Financials and $250 at shaw and partners limited.

shaw and partners limited wins this category
FeatureAlfa Financialsshaw and partners limited
Min. Deposit$500$250
RegulationFinancial Conduct Authority (FCA)Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC), Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA), Pepperstone Markets Limited is incorporated in The Bahamas (number 177174 B), Licensed by the Securities Commission of The Bahamas (SCB) number SIA-F305
Founded19872014
CountryUAESwitzerland
Clients10,000+250,000+

Fees

Fees are a critical factor when choosing between Alfa Financials and shaw and partners limited, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. shaw and partners limited has a lower barrier to entry with a minimum deposit of $250 (vs $500 at Alfa Financials). Neither broker charges withdrawal fees. Both brokers charge inactivity fees on dormant accounts, worth noting if you trade infrequently. The two brokers are broadly comparable on fee structure.

Tied
FeatureAlfa Financialsshaw and partners limited
Min. Deposit$500$250
Withdrawal FeesNoNo
Inactivity FeesYesYes
Deposit FeesNoNo
CFD FeesYesYes

Platforms

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

Tied
FeatureAlfa Financialsshaw and partners limited
MT4YesYes
MT5YesYes
cTraderYesYes
Windows AppYesYes
iOS AppYesYes
Android AppYesYes
Trading PlatformsMetaTrader 4 (MT4),Trader Desktop,Android,Mac,IPad,Alfa TraderMT4, MT5, Mac, ZuluTrade, Web Trader, cTrader, 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 shaw and partners limited compare. Alfa Financials runs regular live webinars; shaw and partners limited does not. Both provide video tutorials. Alfa Financials publishes daily market commentary; shaw and partners limited does not. Both integrate third-party research tools. Alfa Financials maintains an archive of past webinars for on-demand viewing. Alfa Financials scores higher overall in education and research.

Alfa Financials wins this category
FeatureAlfa Financialsshaw and partners limited
Forex EducationYesYes
CFD EducationYesNo
Weekly WebinarsYesNo
Daily CommentaryYesNo
Trading CentralYesNo
AutochartistYesYes

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 shaw and partners limited supports 5 (bank transfer, credit/debit card, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller). shaw and partners limited uniquely supports PayPal and Skrill and Neteller among the two brokers. shaw and partners limited scores higher on deposit and withdrawal flexibility.

shaw and partners limited wins this category
FeatureAlfa Financialsshaw and partners limited
Bank TransferYesYes
Credit CardYesYes
PayPalNoYes
SkrillNoYes
NetellerNoYes

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 shaw and partners limited offer live chat support. Both provide phone support. Email support is available at both brokers. Alfa Financials supports 2 languages and shaw and partners limited supports 8, giving shaw and partners limited broader global reach. Both brokers are comparable on support quality.

Tied
FeatureAlfa Financialsshaw and partners limited
Live ChatYesYes
Phone SupportYesYes
Email SupportYesYes
LanguagesEnglish, and ChineseEnglish, Spanish, Polish, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, and Arabic