B

Alfa Forex

6.1/10

instaforex

6.9/10
3/10RegulationWinner6/10
10/10WinnerFees0/10
9/10PlatformsWinner10/10
4/10Education & ResearchWinner10/10
4/10Deposits & WithdrawalsWinner10/10
10/10SupportTied10/10

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Overview

Alfa Forex was founded in 2011 and is headquartered in Cyprus, while instaforex was established in 2017 and is based in Russia. Alfa Forex holds licences including Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), while instaforex is regulated by BVI FSC among others. Alfa Forex serves 10,000+ clients worldwide; instaforex has 12,000,000+. The minimum deposit is $0 at Alfa Forex and $250 at instaforex.

instaforex wins this category
FeatureAlfa Forexinstaforex
Min. Deposit$0$250
RegulationSecurities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA)BVI FSC, License Number SIBA/L/14/1082. FSC Saint Vincent, Reg. Number IBC22945. Saint Vincent, IBC24321
Founded20112017
CountryCyprusRussia
Clients10,000+12,000,000+

Fees

Fees are a critical factor when choosing between Alfa Forex and instaforex, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. Alfa Forex has a lower barrier to entry with a minimum deposit of $0 (vs $250 at instaforex). Alfa Forex charges withdrawal fees while instaforex does not, a notable advantage for frequent withdrawers. Both brokers charge inactivity fees on dormant accounts, worth noting if you trade infrequently. Overall, Alfa Forex scores higher on fees in our assessment.

Alfa Forex wins this category
FeatureAlfa Forexinstaforex
Min. Deposit$0$250
Withdrawal FeesYesNo
Inactivity FeesYesYes
Deposit FeesNoNo
CFD FeesNoNo

Platforms

Alfa Forex offers MT4, MT5, cTrader, while instaforex supports MT4, MT5, cTrader, a proprietary platform. Both brokers provide mobile trading apps for iOS and Android. Both brokers support copy or social trading, catering to less hands-on investors. instaforex edges ahead on platform breadth and functionality in our scoring.

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

instaforex wins this category
FeatureAlfa Forexinstaforex
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 instaforex supports 5 (bank transfer, credit/debit card, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller). instaforex uniquely supports PayPal and Skrill and Neteller among the two brokers. instaforex scores higher on deposit and withdrawal flexibility.

instaforex wins this category
FeatureAlfa Forexinstaforex
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 Forex and instaforex offer live chat support. Both provide phone support. Email support is available at both brokers. Alfa Forex supports 2 languages and instaforex supports 8, giving instaforex broader global reach. Both brokers are comparable on support quality.

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