B

Alfa Forex

6.1/10

Startrader

8.1/10
3/10RegulationWinner9/10
10/10FeesTied10/10
9/10WinnerPlatforms6/10
4/10Education & ResearchWinner10/10
4/10Deposits & WithdrawalsWinner7.5/10
10/10SupportTied10/10

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Overview

Alfa Forex was founded in 2011 and is headquartered in Cyprus, while Startrader was established in 2011 and is based in Hong Kong. Alfa Forex holds licences including Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), while Startrader is regulated by Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) among others. Alfa Forex serves 10,000+ clients worldwide; Startrader has 500,000 +. The minimum deposit is $0 at Alfa Forex and $50 at Startrader.

Startrader wins this category
FeatureAlfa ForexStartrader
Min. Deposit$0$50
RegulationSecurities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA)Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), Saint Vincent and Grenadines (SVG) and Financial Services Authority Seychelles (FSA)
Founded20112011
CountryCyprusHong Kong
Clients10,000+500,000 +

Fees

Fees are a critical factor when choosing between Alfa Forex and Startrader, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. Alfa Forex has a lower barrier to entry with a minimum deposit of $0 (vs $50 at Startrader). Both brokers charge withdrawal fees. Alfa Forex applies inactivity fees on dormant accounts; Startrader does not. The two brokers are broadly comparable on fee structure.

Tied
FeatureAlfa ForexStartrader
Min. Deposit$0$50
Withdrawal FeesYesYes
Inactivity FeesYesNo
Deposit FeesNoNo
CFD FeesNoYes

Platforms

Alfa Forex offers MT4, MT5, cTrader, while Startrader supports MT4, MT5, cTrader. Alfa Forex offers a mobile trading app; mobile availability for Startrader is limited. Both brokers support copy or social trading, catering to less hands-on investors. Alfa Forex edges ahead on platform breadth and functionality in our scoring.

Alfa Forex wins this category
FeatureAlfa ForexStartrader
MT4YesYes
MT5YesYes
cTraderYesYes
Windows AppYesYes
iOS AppYesNo
Android AppYesNo
Trading PlatformsMT4MT4, MT5 and Web Trader

Education & Research

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

Startrader wins this category
FeatureAlfa ForexStartrader
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 Startrader supports 4 (bank transfer, credit/debit card, Skrill, Neteller). Startrader uniquely supports Skrill and Neteller among the two brokers. Startrader scores higher on deposit and withdrawal flexibility.

Startrader wins this category
FeatureAlfa ForexStartrader
Bank TransferYesYes
Credit CardYesYes
PayPalNoNo
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 Startrader 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 ForexStartrader
Live ChatYesYes
Phone SupportYesYes
Email SupportYesYes
LanguagesEnglish, and ChineseEnglish, Chinese