B
Barclays logo

Barclays

8.4/10

Startrader

8.1/10
7/10RegulationWinner9/10
10/10FeesTied10/10
9/10WinnerPlatforms6/10
10/10Education & ResearchTied10/10
4/10Deposits & WithdrawalsWinner7.5/10
10/10SupportTied10/10

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Overview

Barclays was founded in 2011 and is headquartered in United Kingdom, while Startrader was established in 2011 and is based in Hong Kong. Both brokers are regulated by Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), among other authorities. Barclays serves 10,000+ clients worldwide; Startrader has 500,000 +. The minimum deposit is $0 at Barclays and $50 at Startrader.

Barclays wins this category
FeatureBarclaysStartrader
Min. Deposit$0$50
RegulationFinancial Conduct Authority (FCA), Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA)Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), Saint Vincent and Grenadines (SVG) and Financial Services Authority Seychelles (FSA)
Founded20112011
CountryUnited KingdomHong Kong
Clients10,000+500,000 +

Fees

Fees are a critical factor when choosing between Barclays and Startrader, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. Barclays has a lower barrier to entry with a minimum deposit of $0 (vs $50 at Startrader). Startrader charges withdrawal fees while Barclays does not, giving Barclays an edge for frequent withdrawers. The two brokers are broadly comparable on fee structure.

Tied
FeatureBarclaysStartrader
Min. Deposit$0$50
Withdrawal FeesNoYes
Inactivity FeesNoNo
Deposit FeesNoNo
CFD FeesNoYes

Platforms

Barclays offers MT4, MT5, cTrader, while Startrader supports MT4, MT5, cTrader. Barclays offers a mobile trading app; mobile availability for Startrader is limited. Startrader supports social and copy trading features, which Barclays does not offer. Barclays edges ahead on platform breadth and functionality in our scoring.

Barclays wins this category
FeatureBarclaysStartrader
MT4YesYes
MT5YesYes
cTraderYesYes
Windows AppYesYes
iOS AppYesNo
Android AppYesNo
Trading PlatformsDesktop, Tablet & Mobile appsMT4, MT5 and Web Trader

Education & Research

Education and research tools help traders at every level make more informed decisions, and here's how Barclays and Startrader 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
FeatureBarclaysStartrader
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 Startrader supports 4 (bank transfer, credit/debit card, Skrill, Neteller). Startrader uniquely supports Skrill and Neteller among the two brokers. Startrader scores higher on deposit and withdrawal flexibility.

Startrader wins this category
FeatureBarclaysStartrader
Bank TransferYesYes
Credit CardYesYes
PayPalNoNo
SkrillNoYes
NetellerNoYes

Support

Responsive customer support matters most when you're locked out of your account or need urgent help with a trade. Both Barclays and Startrader 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
FeatureBarclaysStartrader
Live ChatYesYes
Phone SupportYesYes
Email SupportYesYes
LanguagesEnglish, and ChineseEnglish, Chinese