B

Ascot Securities

6.5/10

Startrader

8.1/10
6/10RegulationWinner9/10
8/10FeesWinner10/10
9/10WinnerPlatforms6/10
4/10Education & ResearchWinner10/10
4/10Deposits & WithdrawalsWinner7.5/10
10/10SupportTied10/10

BrokerDataNet earns affiliate commission from brokers listed on this site. This does not affect our ratings or editorial independence.

Overview

Ascot Securities was founded in 1996 and is headquartered in Estonia, while Startrader was established in 2011 and is based in Hong Kong. Ascot Securities holds licences including Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC), while Startrader is regulated by Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) among others. Ascot Securities serves 10,000+ clients worldwide; Startrader has 500,000 +. The minimum deposit is $25 at Ascot Securities and $50 at Startrader.

Startrader wins this category
FeatureAscot SecuritiesStartrader
Min. Deposit$25$50
RegulationCyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC)Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), Saint Vincent and Grenadines (SVG) and Financial Services Authority Seychelles (FSA)
Founded19962011
CountryEstoniaHong Kong
Clients10,000+500,000 +

Fees

Fees are a critical factor when choosing between Ascot Securities and Startrader, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. Ascot Securities has a lower barrier to entry with a minimum deposit of $25 (vs $50 at Startrader). Both brokers charge withdrawal fees. Ascot Securities applies inactivity fees on dormant accounts; Startrader does not. Ascot Securities charges deposit fees; Startrader does not. Overall, Startrader scores higher on fees in our assessment.

Startrader wins this category
FeatureAscot SecuritiesStartrader
Min. Deposit$25$50
Withdrawal FeesYesYes
Inactivity FeesYesNo
Deposit FeesYesNo
CFD FeesYesYes

Platforms

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

Ascot Securities wins this category
FeatureAscot SecuritiesStartrader
MT4YesYes
MT5YesYes
cTraderYesYes
Windows AppYesYes
iOS AppYesNo
Android AppYesNo
Trading PlatformsDesktop,Android,iPhone/iPad,MacMT4, MT5 and Web Trader

Education & Research

Education and research tools help traders at every level make more informed decisions, and here's how Ascot Securities and Startrader compare. Startrader runs regular live webinars; Ascot Securities does not. Both provide video tutorials. Startrader publishes daily market commentary; Ascot Securities 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
FeatureAscot SecuritiesStartrader
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. Ascot Securities 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
FeatureAscot SecuritiesStartrader
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 Ascot Securities 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
FeatureAscot SecuritiesStartrader
Live ChatYesYes
Phone SupportYesYes
Email SupportYesYes
LanguagesEnglish, and ChineseEnglish, Chinese