B
Barclays logo

Barclays

8.4/10

FXCM

7.9/10
7/10RegulationTied7/10
10/10FeesTied10/10
9/10PlatformsTied9/10
10/10Education & ResearchTied10/10
4/10Deposits & WithdrawalsTied4/10
10/10SupportTied10/10

BrokerDataNet earns affiliate commission from brokers listed on this site. This does not affect our ratings or editorial independence.

Overview

Barclays was founded in 2011 and is headquartered in United Kingdom, while FXCM was established in 1999 and is based in United States. Both brokers are regulated by Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), among other authorities. Barclays serves 10,000+ clients worldwide; FXCM has 10,000+. The minimum deposit is $0 at Barclays and $1 at FXCM.

Barclays wins this category
FeatureBarclaysFXCM
Min. Deposit$0$1
RegulationFinancial Conduct Authority (FCA), Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA)Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)
Founded20111999
CountryUnited KingdomUnited States
Clients10,000+10,000+

Fees

Fees are a critical factor when choosing between Barclays and FXCM, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. Barclays has a lower barrier to entry with a minimum deposit of $0 (vs $1 at FXCM). Neither broker charges withdrawal fees. The two brokers are broadly comparable on fee structure.

Tied
FeatureBarclaysFXCM
Min. Deposit$0$1
Withdrawal FeesNoNo
Inactivity FeesNoNo
Deposit FeesNoNo
CFD FeesNoNo

Platforms

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

Tied
FeatureBarclaysFXCM
MT4YesYes
MT5YesYes
cTraderYesYes
Windows AppYesYes
iOS AppYesYes
Android AppYesYes
Trading PlatformsDesktop, Tablet & Mobile appsMT4, Mirror Trader, Web Trader, NinjaTrader, Tablet & Mobile apps

Education & Research

Education and research tools help traders at every level make more informed decisions, and here's how Barclays and FXCM 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
FeatureBarclaysFXCM
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 FXCM supports 2 (bank transfer, credit/debit card). Both brokers support the same set of payment methods.

Tied
FeatureBarclaysFXCM
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 FXCM 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
FeatureBarclaysFXCM
Live ChatYesYes
Phone SupportYesYes
Email SupportYesYes
LanguagesEnglish, and ChineseEnglish, and Chinese