B
Barclays logo

Barclays

8.4/10
Betterment logo

Betterment

6.6/10
7/10WinnerRegulation3/10
10/10FeesTied10/10
9/10WinnerPlatforms7/10
10/10WinnerEducation & Research6/10
4/10Deposits & WithdrawalsTied4/10
10/10SupportTied10/10

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Overview

Barclays was founded in 2011 and is headquartered in United Kingdom, while Betterment was established in 2008 and is based in USA. Barclays holds licences including Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), while Betterment is regulated by Unregulated among others. Barclays serves 10,000+ clients worldwide; Betterment has 10,000+. Both brokers share the same minimum deposit of $0.

Barclays wins this category
FeatureBarclaysBetterment
Min. Deposit$0$0
RegulationFinancial Conduct Authority (FCA), Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA)Unregulated
Founded20112008
CountryUnited KingdomUSA
Clients10,000+10,000+

Fees

Fees are a critical factor when choosing between Barclays and Betterment, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. Both require a minimum deposit of $0. Betterment charges withdrawal fees while Barclays does not, giving Barclays an edge for frequent withdrawers. The two brokers are broadly comparable on fee structure.

Tied
FeatureBarclaysBetterment
Min. Deposit$0$0
Withdrawal FeesNoYes
Inactivity FeesNoNo
Deposit FeesNoNo
CFD FeesNoNo

Platforms

Barclays offers MT4, MT5, cTrader, while Betterment supports MT5, cTrader. Both brokers provide mobile trading apps for iOS and Android. Betterment supports social and copy trading features, which Barclays does not offer. Barclays edges ahead on platform breadth and functionality in our scoring.

Barclays wins this category
FeatureBarclaysBetterment
MT4YesNo
MT5YesYes
cTraderYesYes
Windows AppYesYes
iOS AppYesYes
Android AppYesYes
Trading PlatformsDesktop, Tablet & Mobile appsMac,iPhone,iPad,WEB,Desktop

Education & Research

Education and research tools help traders at every level make more informed decisions, and here's how Barclays and Betterment compare. Both brokers run regular live webinars. Both provide video tutorials, including advanced content. Daily market commentary is available from both brokers. Both integrate third-party research tools including Trading Central. Archived webinars are available at both brokers for self-paced learning. Barclays scores higher overall in education and research.

Barclays wins this category
FeatureBarclaysBetterment
Forex EducationYesNo
CFD EducationYesYes
Weekly WebinarsYesYes
Daily CommentaryYesYes
Trading CentralYesYes
AutochartistYesNo

Deposits & Withdrawals

Convenient deposit and withdrawal options reduce friction for traders, especially important when managing positions across time zones. Barclays accepts 2 of the tracked payment methods (bank transfer, credit/debit card), while Betterment supports 2 (bank transfer, credit/debit card). Both brokers support the same set of payment methods.

Tied
FeatureBarclaysBetterment
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 Barclays and Betterment 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
FeatureBarclaysBetterment
Live ChatYesYes
Phone SupportYesYes
Email SupportYesYes
LanguagesEnglish, and ChineseEnglish, and Chinese