B
Barclays logo

Barclays

8.4/10
Bitfinex logo

Bitfinex

6.6/10
7/10WinnerRegulation3/10
10/10WinnerFees6/10
9/10WinnerPlatforms7/10
10/10Education & ResearchTied10/10
4/10Deposits & WithdrawalsTied4/10
10/10SupportTied10/10

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Overview

Barclays was founded in 2011 and is headquartered in United Kingdom, while Bitfinex was established in 2015 and is based in New Zealand. Barclays holds licences including Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), while Bitfinex is regulated by Financial Services Provider (FSP) among others. Barclays serves 10,000+ clients worldwide; Bitfinex has 10,000+. The minimum deposit is $0 at Barclays and $100 at Bitfinex.

Barclays wins this category
FeatureBarclaysBitfinex
Min. Deposit$0$100
RegulationFinancial Conduct Authority (FCA), Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA)Financial Services Provider (FSP)
Founded20112015
CountryUnited KingdomNew Zealand
Clients10,000+10,000+

Fees

Fees are a critical factor when choosing between Barclays and Bitfinex, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. Barclays has a lower barrier to entry with a minimum deposit of $0 (vs $100 at Bitfinex). Bitfinex charges withdrawal fees while Barclays does not, giving Barclays an edge for frequent withdrawers. Overall, Barclays scores higher on fees in our assessment.

Barclays wins this category
FeatureBarclaysBitfinex
Min. Deposit$0$100
Withdrawal FeesNoYes
Inactivity FeesNoNo
Deposit FeesNoNo
CFD FeesNoNo

Platforms

Barclays offers MT4, MT5, cTrader, while Bitfinex supports MT5, cTrader. Both brokers provide mobile trading apps for iOS and Android. Bitfinex 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
FeatureBarclaysBitfinex
MT4YesNo
MT5YesYes
cTraderYesYes
Windows AppYesYes
iOS AppYesYes
Android AppYesYes
Trading PlatformsDesktop, Tablet & Mobile appsAndroid Apps,iPhone/iPad,Desktop

Education & Research

Education and research tools help traders at every level make more informed decisions, and here's how Barclays and Bitfinex 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. The two brokers are evenly matched on educational content.

Tied
FeatureBarclaysBitfinex
Forex EducationYesYes
CFD EducationYesYes
Weekly WebinarsYesYes
Daily CommentaryYesYes
Trading CentralYesYes
AutochartistYesYes

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 Bitfinex supports 2 (bank transfer, credit/debit card). Both brokers support the same set of payment methods.

Tied
FeatureBarclaysBitfinex
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 Bitfinex 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
FeatureBarclaysBitfinex
Live ChatYesYes
Phone SupportYesYes
Email SupportYesYes
LanguagesEnglish, and ChineseEnglish, and Chinese