B

Commonwealth Securities

5.9/10

Startrader

8.1/10
7/10RegulationWinner9/10
0/10FeesWinner10/10
9/10WinnerPlatforms6/10
6/10Education & ResearchWinner10/10
4/10Deposits & WithdrawalsWinner7.5/10
10/10SupportTied10/10

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Overview

Commonwealth Securities was founded in 1999 and is headquartered in Australia, while Startrader was established in 2011 and is based in Hong Kong. Commonwealth Securities holds licences including Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC), while Startrader is regulated by Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) among others. Commonwealth Securities serves 10,000+ clients worldwide; Startrader has 500,000 +. The minimum deposit is $5000 at Commonwealth Securities and $50 at Startrader.

Startrader wins this category
FeatureCommonwealth SecuritiesStartrader
Min. Deposit$5000$50
RegulationCyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC)Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), Saint Vincent and Grenadines (SVG) and Financial Services Authority Seychelles (FSA)
Founded19992011
CountryAustraliaHong Kong
Clients10,000+500,000 +

Fees

Fees are a critical factor when choosing between Commonwealth Securities and Startrader, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. Startrader has a lower barrier to entry with a minimum deposit of $50 (vs $5000 at Commonwealth Securities). Startrader charges withdrawal fees while Commonwealth Securities does not, giving Commonwealth Securities an edge for frequent withdrawers. Commonwealth Securities charges deposit fees; Startrader does not. Overall, Startrader scores higher on fees in our assessment.

Startrader wins this category
FeatureCommonwealth SecuritiesStartrader
Min. Deposit$5000$50
Withdrawal FeesNoYes
Inactivity FeesNoNo
Deposit FeesYesNo
CFD FeesNoYes

Platforms

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

Commonwealth Securities wins this category
FeatureCommonwealth SecuritiesStartrader
MT4YesYes
MT5YesYes
cTraderYesYes
Windows AppYesYes
iOS AppYesNo
Android AppYesNo
Trading PlatformsMetatrader 4 - desktop, iOS and Android versions available.MT4, MT5 and Web Trader

Education & Research

Education and research tools help traders at every level make more informed decisions, and here's how Commonwealth Securities 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. Startrader scores higher overall in education and research.

Startrader wins this category
FeatureCommonwealth SecuritiesStartrader
Forex EducationNoYes
CFD EducationYesYes
Weekly WebinarsYesYes
Daily CommentaryYesYes
Trading CentralYesYes
AutochartistNoYes

Deposits & Withdrawals

Convenient deposit and withdrawal options reduce friction for traders, especially important when managing positions across time zones. Commonwealth Securities 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
FeatureCommonwealth SecuritiesStartrader
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 Commonwealth Securities 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
FeatureCommonwealth SecuritiesStartrader
Live ChatYesYes
Phone SupportYesYes
Email SupportYesYes
LanguagesEnglish, and ChineseEnglish, Chinese