B

Alfa Forex

6.1/10

FXCM

7.9/10
3/10RegulationWinner7/10
10/10FeesTied10/10
9/10PlatformsTied9/10
4/10Education & ResearchWinner10/10
4/10Deposits & WithdrawalsTied4/10
10/10SupportTied10/10

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Overview

Alfa Forex was founded in 2011 and is headquartered in Cyprus, while FXCM was established in 1999 and is based in United States. Alfa Forex holds licences including Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), while FXCM is regulated by Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) among others. Alfa Forex serves 10,000+ clients worldwide; FXCM has 10,000+. The minimum deposit is $0 at Alfa Forex and $1 at FXCM.

FXCM wins this category
FeatureAlfa ForexFXCM
Min. Deposit$0$1
RegulationSecurities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA)Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)
Founded20111999
CountryCyprusUnited States
Clients10,000+10,000+

Fees

Fees are a critical factor when choosing between Alfa Forex and FXCM, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. Alfa Forex has a lower barrier to entry with a minimum deposit of $0 (vs $1 at FXCM). Alfa Forex charges withdrawal fees while FXCM does not, a notable advantage for frequent withdrawers. Alfa Forex applies inactivity fees on dormant accounts; FXCM does not. The two brokers are broadly comparable on fee structure.

Tied
FeatureAlfa ForexFXCM
Min. Deposit$0$1
Withdrawal FeesYesNo
Inactivity FeesYesNo
Deposit FeesNoNo
CFD FeesNoNo

Platforms

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

Tied
FeatureAlfa ForexFXCM
MT4YesYes
MT5YesYes
cTraderYesYes
Windows AppYesYes
iOS AppYesYes
Android AppYesYes
Trading PlatformsMT4MT4, Mirror Trader, Web Trader, NinjaTrader, 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 FXCM compare. FXCM runs regular live webinars; Alfa Forex does not. Both provide video tutorials. FXCM publishes daily market commentary; Alfa Forex does not. Both integrate third-party research tools. FXCM maintains an archive of past webinars for on-demand viewing. FXCM scores higher overall in education and research.

FXCM wins this category
FeatureAlfa ForexFXCM
Forex EducationYesYes
CFD EducationNoYes
Weekly WebinarsNoYes
Daily CommentaryNoYes
Trading CentralNoYes
AutochartistYesYes

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 FXCM supports 2 (bank transfer, credit/debit card). Both brokers support the same set of payment methods.

Tied
FeatureAlfa ForexFXCM
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 FXCM 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 ForexFXCM
Live ChatYesYes
Phone SupportYesYes
Email SupportYesYes
LanguagesEnglish, and ChineseEnglish, and Chinese