Barclays
Fidelity
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Overview
Barclays was founded in 2011 and is headquartered in United Kingdom, while Fidelity was established in 2008 and is based in USA. Both brokers are regulated by Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), among other authorities. Barclays serves 10,000+ clients worldwide; Fidelity has 10,000+. The minimum deposit is $0 at Barclays and $100 at Fidelity.
| Feature | Barclays | Fidelity |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $0 | $100 |
| Regulation | Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) | Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) |
| Founded | 2011 | 2008 |
| Country | United Kingdom | USA |
| Clients | 10,000+ | 10,000+ |
Fees
Fees are a critical factor when choosing between Barclays and Fidelity, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. Barclays has a lower barrier to entry with a minimum deposit of $0 (vs $100 at Fidelity). Neither broker charges withdrawal fees. Fidelity applies inactivity fees on dormant accounts; Barclays does not. Overall, Barclays scores higher on fees in our assessment.
| Feature | Barclays | Fidelity |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $0 | $100 |
| Withdrawal Fees | No | No |
| Inactivity Fees | No | Yes |
| Deposit Fees | No | No |
| CFD Fees | No | Yes |
Platforms
Barclays offers MT4, MT5, cTrader, while Fidelity supports MT5, cTrader. Both brokers provide mobile trading apps for iOS and Android. Fidelity supports social and copy trading features, which Barclays does not offer. Barclays edges ahead on platform breadth and functionality in our scoring.
| Feature | Barclays | Fidelity |
|---|---|---|
| MT4 | Yes | No |
| MT5 | Yes | Yes |
| cTrader | Yes | Yes |
| Windows App | Yes | Yes |
| iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | Desktop, Tablet & Mobile apps | iPad, iPhone, Android, Windows Phone 8 device, Website, Trader Pro |
Education & Research
Education and research tools help traders at every level make more informed decisions, and here's how Barclays and Fidelity 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.
| Feature | Barclays | Fidelity |
|---|---|---|
| Forex Education | Yes | No |
| CFD Education | Yes | Yes |
| Weekly Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Daily Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Central | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
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 Fidelity supports 2 (bank transfer, credit/debit card). Both brokers support the same set of payment methods.
| Feature | Barclays | Fidelity |
|---|---|---|
| Bank Transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Credit Card | Yes | Yes |
| PayPal | No | No |
| Skrill | No | No |
| Neteller | No | No |
Support
Responsive customer support matters most when you're locked out of your account or need urgent help with a trade. Both Barclays and Fidelity 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.
| Feature | Barclays | Fidelity |
|---|---|---|
| Live Chat | Yes | Yes |
| Phone Support | Yes | Yes |
| Email Support | Yes | Yes |
| Languages | English, and Chinese | English, and Chinese |