Barclays
Interactive Investor
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Overview
Barclays was founded in 2011 and is headquartered in United Kingdom, while Interactive Investor was established in 1995 and is based in UK. Both brokers are regulated by Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), among other authorities. Barclays serves 10,000+ clients worldwide; Interactive Investor has 10,000+. The minimum deposit is $0 at Barclays and $1 at Interactive Investor.
| Feature | Barclays | Interactive Investor |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $0 | $1 |
| Regulation | Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) | Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) |
| Founded | 2011 | 1995 |
| Country | United Kingdom | UK |
| Clients | 10,000+ | 10,000+ |
Fees
Fees are a critical factor when choosing between Barclays and Interactive Investor, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. Barclays has a lower barrier to entry with a minimum deposit of $0 (vs $1 at Interactive Investor). Neither broker charges withdrawal fees. Interactive Investor applies inactivity fees on dormant accounts; Barclays does not. The two brokers are broadly comparable on fee structure.
| Feature | Barclays | Interactive Investor |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $0 | $1 |
| Withdrawal Fees | No | No |
| Inactivity Fees | No | Yes |
| Deposit Fees | No | No |
| CFD Fees | No | No |
Platforms
Barclays offers MT4, MT5, cTrader, while Interactive Investor supports MT4, MT5, cTrader. Both brokers provide mobile trading apps for iOS and Android. Interactive Investor supports social and copy trading features, which Barclays does not offer. The two brokers are closely matched on platform offering.
| Feature | Barclays | Interactive Investor |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Web Trader, ProTrader, Tablet & Mobile apps |
Education & Research
Education and research tools help traders at every level make more informed decisions, and here's how Barclays and Interactive Investor compare. Barclays runs regular live webinars; Interactive Investor does not. Both provide video tutorials. Barclays publishes daily market commentary; Interactive Investor 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 | Interactive Investor |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Interactive Investor supports 2 (bank transfer, credit/debit card). Both brokers support the same set of payment methods.
| Feature | Barclays | Interactive Investor |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Interactive Investor 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 | Interactive Investor |
|---|---|---|
| Live Chat | Yes | Yes |
| Phone Support | Yes | Yes |
| Email Support | Yes | Yes |
| Languages | English, and Chinese | English, and Chinese |