Barclays
First Trade
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Overview
Barclays was founded in 2011 and is headquartered in United Kingdom, while First Trade was established in 2008 and is based in USA. Barclays holds licences including Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), while First Trade is regulated by Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) among others. Barclays serves 10,000+ clients worldwide; First Trade has 10,000+. The minimum deposit is $0 at Barclays and $5 at First Trade.
| Feature | Barclays | First Trade |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $0 | $5 |
| Regulation | Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) | Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) |
| Founded | 2011 | 2008 |
| Country | United Kingdom | USA |
| Clients | 10,000+ | 10,000+ |
Fees
Fees are a critical factor when choosing between Barclays and First Trade, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. Barclays has a lower barrier to entry with a minimum deposit of $0 (vs $5 at First Trade). First Trade charges withdrawal fees while Barclays does not, giving Barclays an edge for frequent withdrawers. First Trade charges deposit fees; Barclays does not. The two brokers are broadly comparable on fee structure.
| Feature | Barclays | First Trade |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $0 | $5 |
| Withdrawal Fees | No | Yes |
| Inactivity Fees | No | No |
| Deposit Fees | No | Yes |
| CFD Fees | No | No |
Platforms
Barclays offers MT4, MT5, cTrader, while First Trade supports MT4, MT5, cTrader. Both brokers provide mobile trading apps for iOS and Android. The two brokers are closely matched on platform offering.
| Feature | Barclays | First Trade |
|---|---|---|
| MT4 | Yes | Yes |
| MT5 | Yes | Yes |
| cTrader | Yes | Yes |
| Windows App | Yes | Yes |
| iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | Desktop, Tablet & Mobile apps | MT4,WEB |
Education & Research
Education and research tools help traders at every level make more informed decisions, and here's how Barclays and First Trade 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.
| Feature | Barclays | First Trade |
|---|---|---|
| Forex Education | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Education | Yes | Yes |
| Weekly Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Daily Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Central | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes |
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 First Trade supports 2 (bank transfer, credit/debit card). Both brokers support the same set of payment methods.
| Feature | Barclays | First Trade |
|---|---|---|
| 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 First Trade 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 | First Trade |
|---|---|---|
| Live Chat | Yes | Yes |
| Phone Support | Yes | Yes |
| Email Support | Yes | Yes |
| Languages | English, and Chinese | English, and Chinese |