First Trade
Markets.com
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Overview
First Trade was founded in 2008 and is headquartered in USA, while Markets.com was established in 2008 and is based in Cyprus. First Trade holds licences including Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), while Markets.com is regulated by Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) among others. First Trade serves 10,000+ clients worldwide; Markets.com has 10,000+. The minimum deposit is $5 at First Trade and $250 at Markets.com.
| Feature | First Trade | Markets.com |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $5 | $250 |
| Regulation | Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) | Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC), Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA), Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC) |
| Founded | 2008 | 2008 |
| Country | USA | Cyprus |
| Clients | 10,000+ | 10,000+ |
Fees
Fees are a critical factor when choosing between First Trade and Markets.com, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. Markets.com has a lower barrier to entry with a minimum deposit of $250 (vs $5 at First Trade). First Trade charges withdrawal fees while Markets.com does not, a notable advantage for frequent withdrawers. First Trade charges deposit fees; Markets.com does not. Overall, First Trade scores higher on fees in our assessment.
| Feature | First Trade | Markets.com |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $5 | $250 |
| Withdrawal Fees | Yes | No |
| Inactivity Fees | No | No |
| Deposit Fees | Yes | No |
| CFD Fees | No | No |
Platforms
First Trade offers MT4, MT5, cTrader, while Markets.com supports MT4, MT5, cTrader. Both brokers provide mobile trading apps for iOS and Android. Markets.com supports social and copy trading features, which First Trade does not offer. The two brokers are closely matched on platform offering.
| Feature | First Trade | Markets.com |
|---|---|---|
| MT4 | Yes | Yes |
| MT5 | Yes | Yes |
| cTrader | Yes | Yes |
| Windows App | Yes | Yes |
| iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | MT4,WEB | MT4, MT5, Web Trader, Tablet & Mobile apps |
Education & Research
Education and research tools help traders at every level make more informed decisions, and here's how First Trade and Markets.com compare. First Trade runs regular live webinars; Markets.com does not. Both provide video tutorials. First Trade publishes daily market commentary; Markets.com does not. Both integrate third-party research tools. First Trade maintains an archive of past webinars for on-demand viewing. First Trade scores higher overall in education and research.
| Feature | First Trade | Markets.com |
|---|---|---|
| Forex Education | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Education | Yes | No |
| Weekly Webinars | Yes | No |
| Daily Commentary | Yes | No |
| Trading Central | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes |
Deposits & Withdrawals
Convenient deposit and withdrawal options reduce friction for traders, especially important when managing positions across time zones. First Trade accepts 2 of the tracked payment methods (bank transfer, credit/debit card), while Markets.com supports 3 (bank transfer, credit/debit card, PayPal). Markets.com uniquely supports PayPal among the two brokers. Markets.com scores higher on deposit and withdrawal flexibility.
| Feature | First Trade | Markets.com |
|---|---|---|
| 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 First Trade and Markets.com offer live chat support. Both provide phone support. Email support is available at both brokers. First Trade supports 2 languages and Markets.com supports 14, giving Markets.com broader global reach. Both brokers are comparable on support quality.
| Feature | First Trade | Markets.com |
|---|---|---|
| Live Chat | Yes | Yes |
| Phone Support | Yes | Yes |
| Email Support | Yes | Yes |
| Languages | English, and Chinese | Arabic, Chinese, Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Norwegian, Polish, Romanian, Russian, Spanish, and Turkish |