Boston Merchant Financial
ifc markets
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Overview
Boston Merchant Financial was founded in 1988 and is headquartered in Dubai, while ifc markets was established in 2016 and is based in Cyprus. Boston Merchant Financial holds licences including Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC), while ifc markets is regulated by Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) among others. Boston Merchant Financial serves 10,000+ clients worldwide; ifc markets has 60,000+. The minimum deposit is $50 at Boston Merchant Financial and $250 at ifc markets.
| Feature | Boston Merchant Financial | ifc markets |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $50 | $250 |
| Regulation | Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC) | 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 | 1988 | 2016 |
| Country | Dubai | Cyprus |
| Clients | 10,000+ | 60,000+ |
Fees
Fees are a critical factor when choosing between Boston Merchant Financial and ifc markets, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. ifc markets has a lower barrier to entry with a minimum deposit of $250 (vs $50 at Boston Merchant Financial). Neither broker charges withdrawal fees. ifc markets applies inactivity fees on dormant accounts; Boston Merchant Financial does not. Overall, Boston Merchant Financial scores higher on fees in our assessment.
| Feature | Boston Merchant Financial | ifc markets |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $50 | $250 |
| Withdrawal Fees | No | No |
| Inactivity Fees | No | Yes |
| Deposit Fees | No | No |
| CFD Fees | No | Yes |
Platforms
Boston Merchant Financial offers MT5, cTrader, while ifc markets supports MT5, cTrader. Both brokers provide mobile trading apps for iOS and Android. Boston Merchant Financial supports social and copy trading features, which ifc markets does not offer. The two brokers are closely matched on platform offering.
| Feature | Boston Merchant Financial | ifc markets |
|---|---|---|
| MT4 | No | No |
| MT5 | Yes | Yes |
| cTrader | Yes | Yes |
| Windows App | Yes | Yes |
| iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | MT4, Web Trader, 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 Boston Merchant Financial and ifc markets compare. ifc markets has a video library; Boston Merchant Financial does not. ifc markets integrates third-party research tools (Autochartist); Boston Merchant Financial does not. ifc markets scores higher overall in education and research.
| Feature | Boston Merchant Financial | ifc markets |
|---|---|---|
| Forex Education | No | Yes |
| CFD Education | No | No |
| Weekly Webinars | No | No |
| Daily Commentary | No | No |
| Trading Central | No | No |
| Autochartist | No | Yes |
Deposits & Withdrawals
Convenient deposit and withdrawal options reduce friction for traders, especially important when managing positions across time zones. Boston Merchant Financial 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 | Boston Merchant Financial | 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 Boston Merchant Financial and ifc markets offer live chat support. Both provide phone support. Email support is available at both brokers. Boston Merchant Financial supports 2 languages and ifc markets supports 8, giving ifc markets broader global reach. Both brokers are comparable on support quality.
| Feature | Boston Merchant Financial | 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 |