Barclays
ifc markets
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Overview
Barclays was founded in 2011 and is headquartered in United Kingdom, while ifc markets was established in 2016 and is based in Cyprus. Both brokers are regulated by Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), among other authorities. Barclays serves 10,000+ clients worldwide; ifc markets has 60,000+. The minimum deposit is $0 at Barclays and $250 at ifc markets.
| Feature | Barclays | ifc markets |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $0 | $250 |
| Regulation | Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) | Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC), Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA), Pepperstone Markets Limited is incorporated in The Bahamas (number 177174 B), Licensed by the Securities Commission of The Bahamas (SCB) number SIA-F259 |
| Founded | 2011 | 2016 |
| Country | United Kingdom | Cyprus |
| Clients | 10,000+ | 60,000+ |
Fees
Fees are a critical factor when choosing between Barclays and ifc markets, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. Barclays has a lower barrier to entry with a minimum deposit of $0 (vs $250 at ifc markets). Neither broker charges withdrawal fees. ifc markets applies inactivity fees on dormant accounts; Barclays does not. Overall, Barclays scores higher on fees in our assessment.
| Feature | Barclays | ifc markets |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $0 | $250 |
| Withdrawal Fees | No | No |
| Inactivity Fees | No | Yes |
| Deposit Fees | No | No |
| CFD Fees | No | Yes |
Platforms
Barclays offers MT4, MT5, cTrader, while ifc markets supports MT5, cTrader. Both brokers provide mobile trading apps for iOS and Android. Barclays edges ahead on platform breadth and functionality in our scoring.
| Feature | Barclays | ifc markets |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | MT4, MT5, Mac, ZuluTrade, Web Trader, cTrader, Tablet & Mobile apps |
Education & Research
Education and research tools help traders at every level make more informed decisions, and here's how Barclays and ifc markets compare. Barclays runs regular live webinars; ifc markets does not. Both provide video tutorials. Barclays publishes daily market commentary; ifc markets 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.
| Feature | Barclays | ifc markets |
|---|---|---|
| Forex Education | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Education | Yes | No |
| Weekly Webinars | Yes | No |
| Daily Commentary | Yes | No |
| Trading Central | Yes | No |
| 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 ifc markets supports 5 (bank transfer, credit/debit card, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller). ifc markets uniquely supports PayPal and Skrill and Neteller among the two brokers. ifc markets scores higher on deposit and withdrawal flexibility.
| Feature | Barclays | ifc markets |
|---|---|---|
| Bank Transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Credit Card | Yes | Yes |
| PayPal | No | Yes |
| Skrill | No | Yes |
| Neteller | No | Yes |
Support
Responsive customer support matters most when you're locked out of your account or need urgent help with a trade. Both Barclays and ifc markets offer live chat support. Both provide phone support. Email support is available at both brokers. Barclays supports 2 languages and ifc markets supports 8, giving ifc markets broader global reach. Both brokers are comparable on support quality.
| Feature | Barclays | ifc markets |
|---|---|---|
| Live Chat | Yes | Yes |
| Phone Support | Yes | Yes |
| Email Support | Yes | Yes |
| Languages | English, and Chinese | English, Spanish, Polish, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, and Arabic |