B
Barclays logo

Barclays

8.4/10
Core Spreads logo

Core Spreads

7.7/10
7/10RegulationWinner8/10
10/10FeesTied10/10
9/10PlatformsTied9/10
10/10WinnerEducation & Research4/10
4/10Deposits & WithdrawalsTied4/10
10/10SupportTied10/10

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Overview

Barclays was founded in 2011 and is headquartered in United Kingdom, while Core Spreads was established in 2014 and is based in London. Both brokers are regulated by Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), among other authorities. Barclays serves 10,000+ clients worldwide; Core Spreads has 10,000+. The minimum deposit is $0 at Barclays and $1 at Core Spreads.

Barclays wins this category
FeatureBarclaysCore Spreads
Min. Deposit$0$1
RegulationFinancial Conduct Authority (FCA), Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA)Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)
Founded20112014
CountryUnited KingdomLondon
Clients10,000+10,000+

Fees

Fees are a critical factor when choosing between Barclays and Core Spreads, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. Barclays has a lower barrier to entry with a minimum deposit of $0 (vs $1 at Core Spreads). Neither broker charges withdrawal fees. Core Spreads charges deposit fees; Barclays does not. The two brokers are broadly comparable on fee structure.

Tied
FeatureBarclaysCore Spreads
Min. Deposit$0$1
Withdrawal FeesNoNo
Inactivity FeesNoNo
Deposit FeesNoYes
CFD FeesNoNo

Platforms

Barclays offers MT4, MT5, cTrader, while Core Spreads supports MT4, MT5, cTrader. Both brokers provide mobile trading apps for iOS and Android. The two brokers are closely matched on platform offering.

Tied
FeatureBarclaysCore Spreads
MT4YesYes
MT5YesYes
cTraderYesYes
Windows AppYesYes
iOS AppYesYes
Android AppYesYes
Trading PlatformsDesktop, Tablet & Mobile appsMT4, Web Trader, Tablet & Mobile apps

Education & Research

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

Barclays wins this category
FeatureBarclaysCore Spreads
Forex EducationYesYes
CFD EducationYesNo
Weekly WebinarsYesNo
Daily CommentaryYesNo
Trading CentralYesNo
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 Core Spreads supports 2 (bank transfer, credit/debit card). Both brokers support the same set of payment methods.

Tied
FeatureBarclaysCore Spreads
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 Core Spreads 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
FeatureBarclaysCore Spreads
Live ChatYesYes
Phone SupportYesYes
Email SupportYesYes
LanguagesEnglish, and ChineseEnglish, and Chinese