Betterment
Circle Markets
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Overview
Betterment was founded in 2008 and is headquartered in USA, while Circle Markets was established in 2007 and is based in New Zealand. Betterment holds licences including Unregulated, while Circle Markets is regulated by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) among others. Betterment serves 10,000+ clients worldwide; Circle Markets has 10,000+. The minimum deposit is $0 at Betterment and $100 at Circle Markets.
| Feature | Betterment | Circle Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $0 | $100 |
| Regulation | Unregulated | Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) |
| Founded | 2008 | 2007 |
| Country | USA | New Zealand |
| Clients | 10,000+ | 10,000+ |
Fees
Fees are a critical factor when choosing between Betterment and Circle Markets, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. Betterment has a lower barrier to entry with a minimum deposit of $0 (vs $100 at Circle Markets). Both brokers charge withdrawal fees. Circle Markets charges deposit fees; Betterment does not. Overall, Betterment scores higher on fees in our assessment.
| Feature | Betterment | Circle Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $0 | $100 |
| Withdrawal Fees | Yes | Yes |
| Inactivity Fees | No | No |
| Deposit Fees | No | Yes |
| CFD Fees | No | No |
Platforms
Betterment offers MT5, cTrader, while Circle Markets supports MT4, MT5, cTrader. Both brokers provide mobile trading apps for iOS and Android. Betterment supports social and copy trading features, which Circle Markets does not offer. Circle Markets edges ahead on platform breadth and functionality in our scoring.
| Feature | Betterment | Circle Markets |
|---|---|---|
| MT4 | No | Yes |
| MT5 | Yes | Yes |
| cTrader | Yes | Yes |
| Windows App | Yes | Yes |
| iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | Mac,iPhone,iPad,WEB,Desktop | Desktop, Tablet & Mobile apps |
Education & Research
Education and research tools help traders at every level make more informed decisions, and here's how Betterment and Circle Markets 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 | Betterment | Circle Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Forex Education | No | No |
| CFD Education | Yes | Yes |
| Weekly Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Daily Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Central | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
Deposits & Withdrawals
Convenient deposit and withdrawal options reduce friction for traders, especially important when managing positions across time zones. Betterment accepts 2 of the tracked payment methods (bank transfer, credit/debit card), while Circle Markets supports 2 (bank transfer, credit/debit card). Both brokers support the same set of payment methods.
| Feature | Betterment | Circle Markets |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Betterment and Circle Markets 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 | Betterment | Circle Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Live Chat | Yes | Yes |
| Phone Support | Yes | Yes |
| Email Support | Yes | Yes |
| Languages | English, and Chinese | English, and Chinese |