B

Alfa Forex

6.1/10
Circle Markets logo

Circle Markets

6.3/10
3/10RegulationWinner4/10
10/10WinnerFees4/10
9/10PlatformsTied9/10
4/10Education & ResearchWinner6/10
4/10Deposits & WithdrawalsTied4/10
10/10SupportTied10/10

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Overview

Alfa Forex was founded in 2011 and is headquartered in Cyprus, while Circle Markets was established in 2007 and is based in New Zealand. Alfa Forex holds licences including Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), while Circle Markets is regulated by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) among others. Alfa Forex serves 10,000+ clients worldwide; Circle Markets has 10,000+. The minimum deposit is $0 at Alfa Forex and $100 at Circle Markets.

Circle Markets wins this category
FeatureAlfa ForexCircle Markets
Min. Deposit$0$100
RegulationSecurities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA)Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA)
Founded20112007
CountryCyprusNew Zealand
Clients10,000+10,000+

Fees

Fees are a critical factor when choosing between Alfa Forex and Circle Markets, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. Alfa Forex has a lower barrier to entry with a minimum deposit of $0 (vs $100 at Circle Markets). Both brokers charge withdrawal fees. Alfa Forex applies inactivity fees on dormant accounts; Circle Markets does not. Circle Markets charges deposit fees; Alfa Forex does not. Overall, Alfa Forex scores higher on fees in our assessment.

Alfa Forex wins this category
FeatureAlfa ForexCircle Markets
Min. Deposit$0$100
Withdrawal FeesYesYes
Inactivity FeesYesNo
Deposit FeesNoYes
CFD FeesNoNo

Platforms

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

Tied
FeatureAlfa ForexCircle Markets
MT4YesYes
MT5YesYes
cTraderYesYes
Windows AppYesYes
iOS AppYesYes
Android AppYesYes
Trading PlatformsMT4Desktop, Tablet & Mobile apps

Education & Research

Education and research tools help traders at every level make more informed decisions, and here's how Alfa Forex and Circle Markets compare. Circle Markets runs regular live webinars; Alfa Forex does not. Both provide video tutorials. Circle Markets publishes daily market commentary; Alfa Forex does not. Both integrate third-party research tools. Circle Markets maintains an archive of past webinars for on-demand viewing. Circle Markets scores higher overall in education and research.

Circle Markets wins this category
FeatureAlfa ForexCircle Markets
Forex EducationYesNo
CFD EducationNoYes
Weekly WebinarsNoYes
Daily CommentaryNoYes
Trading CentralNoYes
AutochartistYesNo

Deposits & Withdrawals

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

Tied
FeatureAlfa ForexCircle 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 Forex and Circle 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 ForexCircle Markets
Live ChatYesYes
Phone SupportYesYes
Email SupportYesYes
LanguagesEnglish, and ChineseEnglish, and Chinese