B

Alfa Forex

6.1/10

swiss markets

7.7/10
3/10RegulationWinner10/10
10/10WinnerFees0/10
9/10PlatformsTied9/10
4/10Education & ResearchWinner6/10
4/10Deposits & WithdrawalsWinner10/10
10/10SupportTied10/10

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Overview

Alfa Forex was founded in 2011 and is headquartered in Cyprus, while swiss markets was established in 2012 and is based in USA. Alfa Forex holds licences including Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), while swiss markets is regulated by Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) among others. Alfa Forex serves 10,000+ clients worldwide; swiss markets has 10,000+. The minimum deposit is $0 at Alfa Forex and $250 at swiss markets.

swiss markets wins this category
FeatureAlfa Forexswiss markets
Min. Deposit$0$250
RegulationSecurities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA)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-F315
Founded20112012
CountryCyprusUSA
Clients10,000+10,000+

Fees

Fees are a critical factor when choosing between Alfa Forex and swiss markets, 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 swiss markets). Both brokers charge withdrawal fees. Both brokers charge inactivity fees on dormant accounts, worth noting if you trade infrequently. swiss markets charges deposit fees; Alfa Forex does not. Overall, Alfa Forex scores higher on fees in our assessment.

Alfa Forex wins this category
FeatureAlfa Forexswiss markets
Min. Deposit$0$250
Withdrawal FeesYesYes
Inactivity FeesYesYes
Deposit FeesNoYes
CFD FeesNoYes

Platforms

Alfa Forex offers MT4, MT5, cTrader, while swiss markets supports MT4, MT5, cTrader. Both brokers provide mobile trading apps for iOS and Android. Both brokers support copy or social trading, catering to less hands-on investors. The two brokers are closely matched on platform offering.

Tied
FeatureAlfa Forexswiss markets
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 swiss markets compare. swiss markets runs regular live webinars; Alfa Forex does not. Both provide video tutorials. swiss markets publishes daily market commentary; Alfa Forex does not. Both integrate third-party research tools. swiss markets maintains an archive of past webinars for on-demand viewing. swiss markets scores higher overall in education and research.

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

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

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