FXCM
instaforex
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Overview
FXCM was founded in 1999 and is headquartered in United States, while instaforex was established in 2017 and is based in Russia. FXCM holds licences including Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), while instaforex is regulated by BVI FSC among others. FXCM serves 10,000+ clients worldwide; instaforex has 12,000,000+. The minimum deposit is $1 at FXCM and $250 at instaforex.
| Feature | FXCM | instaforex |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $1 | $250 |
| Regulation | Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) | BVI FSC, License Number SIBA/L/14/1082. FSC Saint Vincent, Reg. Number IBC22945. Saint Vincent, IBC24321 |
| Founded | 1999 | 2017 |
| Country | United States | Russia |
| Clients | 10,000+ | 12,000,000+ |
Fees
Fees are a critical factor when choosing between FXCM and instaforex, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. FXCM has a lower barrier to entry with a minimum deposit of $1 (vs $250 at instaforex). Neither broker charges withdrawal fees. instaforex applies inactivity fees on dormant accounts; FXCM does not. Overall, FXCM scores higher on fees in our assessment.
| Feature | FXCM | instaforex |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $1 | $250 |
| Withdrawal Fees | No | No |
| Inactivity Fees | No | Yes |
| Deposit Fees | No | No |
| CFD Fees | No | No |
Platforms
FXCM offers MT4, MT5, cTrader, while instaforex supports MT4, MT5, cTrader, a proprietary platform. Both brokers provide mobile trading apps for iOS and Android. instaforex supports social and copy trading features, which FXCM does not offer. instaforex edges ahead on platform breadth and functionality in our scoring.
| Feature | FXCM | instaforex |
|---|---|---|
| MT4 | Yes | Yes |
| MT5 | Yes | Yes |
| cTrader | Yes | Yes |
| Windows App | Yes | Yes |
| iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | MT4, Mirror Trader, Web Trader, NinjaTrader, 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 FXCM and instaforex 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. The two brokers are evenly matched on educational content.
| Feature | FXCM | instaforex |
|---|---|---|
| Forex Education | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Education | Yes | Yes |
| Weekly Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Daily Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Central | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes |
Deposits & Withdrawals
Convenient deposit and withdrawal options reduce friction for traders, especially important when managing positions across time zones. FXCM accepts 2 of the tracked payment methods (bank transfer, credit/debit card), while instaforex supports 5 (bank transfer, credit/debit card, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller). instaforex uniquely supports PayPal and Skrill and Neteller among the two brokers. instaforex scores higher on deposit and withdrawal flexibility.
| Feature | FXCM | instaforex |
|---|---|---|
| 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 FXCM and instaforex offer live chat support. Both provide phone support. Email support is available at both brokers. FXCM supports 2 languages and instaforex supports 8, giving instaforex broader global reach. Both brokers are comparable on support quality.
| Feature | FXCM | instaforex |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |