Boston Merchant Financial
IG
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Overview
Boston Merchant Financial was founded in 1988 and is headquartered in Dubai, while IG was established in 1974 and is based in UK. Boston Merchant Financial holds licences including Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC), while IG is regulated by Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) among others. Boston Merchant Financial serves 10,000+ clients worldwide; IG has 178,500+. The minimum deposit is $50 at Boston Merchant Financial and $200 at IG.
| Feature | Boston Merchant Financial | IG |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $50 | $200 |
| Regulation | Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC) | Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC) |
| Founded | 1988 | 1974 |
| Country | Dubai | UK |
| Clients | 10,000+ | 178,500+ |
Fees
Fees are a critical factor when choosing between Boston Merchant Financial and IG, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. IG has a lower barrier to entry with a minimum deposit of $200 (vs $50 at Boston Merchant Financial). Neither broker charges withdrawal fees. Overall, Boston Merchant Financial scores higher on fees in our assessment.
| Feature | Boston Merchant Financial | IG |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $50 | $200 |
| Withdrawal Fees | No | No |
| Inactivity Fees | No | No |
| Deposit Fees | No | No |
| CFD Fees | No | No |
Platforms
Boston Merchant Financial offers MT5, cTrader, while IG supports MT4, MT5, cTrader. Both brokers provide mobile trading apps for iOS and Android. Both brokers support copy or social trading, catering to less hands-on investors. IG edges ahead on platform breadth and functionality in our scoring.
| Feature | Boston Merchant Financial | IG |
|---|---|---|
| MT4 | No | Yes |
| 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, Mac, Web Trader, L2 Dealer, 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 IG compare. IG runs regular live webinars; Boston Merchant Financial does not. IG has a video library; Boston Merchant Financial does not. IG publishes daily market commentary; Boston Merchant Financial does not. IG integrates third-party research tools (Trading Central); Boston Merchant Financial does not. IG maintains an archive of past webinars for on-demand viewing. IG scores higher overall in education and research.
| Feature | Boston Merchant Financial | IG |
|---|---|---|
| Forex Education | No | No |
| CFD Education | No | Yes |
| Weekly Webinars | No | Yes |
| Daily Commentary | No | Yes |
| Trading Central | No | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
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 IG supports 3 (bank transfer, credit/debit card, PayPal). IG uniquely supports PayPal among the two brokers. IG scores higher on deposit and withdrawal flexibility.
| Feature | Boston Merchant Financial | IG |
|---|---|---|
| Bank Transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Credit Card | Yes | Yes |
| PayPal | No | Yes |
| 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 Boston Merchant Financial and IG offer live chat support. Both provide phone support. Email support is available at both brokers. Boston Merchant Financial supports 2 languages and IG supports 5, giving IG broader global reach. Both brokers are comparable on support quality.
| Feature | Boston Merchant Financial | IG |
|---|---|---|
| Live Chat | Yes | Yes |
| Phone Support | Yes | Yes |
| Email Support | Yes | Yes |
| Languages | English, and Chinese | English, French, German, Spanish, and Portuguese |