B

Boston Merchant Financial

6.1/10

Startrader

8.1/10
7/10RegulationWinner9/10
10/10FeesTied10/10
7/10WinnerPlatforms6/10
0/10Education & ResearchWinner10/10
4/10Deposits & WithdrawalsWinner7.5/10
10/10SupportTied10/10

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Overview

Boston Merchant Financial was founded in 1988 and is headquartered in Dubai, while Startrader was established in 2011 and is based in Hong Kong. Boston Merchant Financial holds licences including Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC), while Startrader is regulated by Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) among others. Boston Merchant Financial serves 10,000+ clients worldwide; Startrader has 500,000 +. Both brokers share the same minimum deposit of $50.

Startrader wins this category
FeatureBoston Merchant FinancialStartrader
Min. Deposit$50$50
RegulationAustralian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC)Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), Saint Vincent and Grenadines (SVG) and Financial Services Authority Seychelles (FSA)
Founded19882011
CountryDubaiHong Kong
Clients10,000+500,000 +

Fees

Fees are a critical factor when choosing between Boston Merchant Financial and Startrader, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. Both require a minimum deposit of $50. Startrader charges withdrawal fees while Boston Merchant Financial does not, giving Boston Merchant Financial an edge for frequent withdrawers. The two brokers are broadly comparable on fee structure.

Tied
FeatureBoston Merchant FinancialStartrader
Min. Deposit$50$50
Withdrawal FeesNoYes
Inactivity FeesNoNo
Deposit FeesNoNo
CFD FeesNoYes

Platforms

Boston Merchant Financial offers MT5, cTrader, while Startrader supports MT4, MT5, cTrader. Boston Merchant Financial offers a mobile trading app; mobile availability for Startrader is limited. Both brokers support copy or social trading, catering to less hands-on investors. Boston Merchant Financial edges ahead on platform breadth and functionality in our scoring.

Boston Merchant Financial wins this category
FeatureBoston Merchant FinancialStartrader
MT4NoYes
MT5YesYes
cTraderYesYes
Windows AppYesYes
iOS AppYesNo
Android AppYesNo
Trading PlatformsMT4, Web Trader, 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 Boston Merchant Financial and Startrader compare. Startrader runs regular live webinars; Boston Merchant Financial does not. Startrader has a video library; Boston Merchant Financial does not. Startrader publishes daily market commentary; Boston Merchant Financial does not. Startrader integrates third-party research tools (Trading Central, Autochartist); Boston Merchant Financial does not. Startrader maintains an archive of past webinars for on-demand viewing. Startrader scores higher overall in education and research.

Startrader wins this category
FeatureBoston Merchant FinancialStartrader
Forex EducationNoYes
CFD EducationNoYes
Weekly WebinarsNoYes
Daily CommentaryNoYes
Trading CentralNoYes
AutochartistNoYes

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 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
FeatureBoston Merchant FinancialStartrader
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 Boston Merchant Financial 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
FeatureBoston Merchant FinancialStartrader
Live ChatYesYes
Phone SupportYesYes
Email SupportYesYes
LanguagesEnglish, and ChineseEnglish, Chinese