B

instaforex

6.9/10

Startrader

8.1/10
6/10RegulationWinner9/10
0/10FeesWinner10/10
10/10WinnerPlatforms6/10
10/10Education & ResearchTied10/10
10/10WinnerDeposits & Withdrawals7.5/10
10/10SupportTied10/10

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Overview

instaforex was founded in 2017 and is headquartered in Russia, while Startrader was established in 2011 and is based in Hong Kong. instaforex holds licences including BVI FSC, while Startrader is regulated by Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) among others. instaforex serves 12,000,000+ clients worldwide; Startrader has 500,000 +. The minimum deposit is $250 at instaforex and $50 at Startrader.

Startrader wins this category
FeatureinstaforexStartrader
Min. Deposit$250$50
RegulationBVI FSC, License Number SIBA/L/14/1082. FSC Saint Vincent, Reg. Number IBC22945. Saint Vincent, IBC24321Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), Saint Vincent and Grenadines (SVG) and Financial Services Authority Seychelles (FSA)
Founded20172011
CountryRussiaHong Kong
Clients12,000,000+500,000 +

Fees

Fees are a critical factor when choosing between instaforex and Startrader, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. instaforex has a lower barrier to entry with a minimum deposit of $250 (vs $50 at Startrader). Startrader charges withdrawal fees while instaforex does not, giving instaforex an edge for frequent withdrawers. instaforex applies inactivity fees on dormant accounts; Startrader does not. Overall, Startrader scores higher on fees in our assessment.

Startrader wins this category
FeatureinstaforexStartrader
Min. Deposit$250$50
Withdrawal FeesNoYes
Inactivity FeesYesNo
Deposit FeesNoNo
CFD FeesNoYes

Platforms

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

instaforex wins this category
FeatureinstaforexStartrader
MT4YesYes
MT5YesYes
cTraderYesYes
Windows AppYesYes
iOS AppYesNo
Android AppYesNo
Trading PlatformsMT4, MT5, Mac, ZuluTrade, Web Trader, cTrader, 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 instaforex 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. The two brokers are evenly matched on educational content.

Tied
FeatureinstaforexStartrader
Forex EducationYesYes
CFD EducationYesYes
Weekly WebinarsYesYes
Daily CommentaryYesYes
Trading CentralYesYes
AutochartistYesYes

Deposits & Withdrawals

Convenient deposit and withdrawal options reduce friction for traders, especially important when managing positions across time zones. instaforex accepts 5 of the tracked payment methods (bank transfer, credit/debit card, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller), while Startrader supports 4 (bank transfer, credit/debit card, Skrill, Neteller). instaforex uniquely supports PayPal among the two brokers. instaforex scores higher on deposit and withdrawal flexibility.

instaforex wins this category
FeatureinstaforexStartrader
Bank TransferYesYes
Credit CardYesYes
PayPalYesNo
SkrillYesYes
NetellerYesYes

Support

Responsive customer support matters most when you're locked out of your account or need urgent help with a trade. Both instaforex and Startrader offer live chat support. Both provide phone support. Email support is available at both brokers. instaforex supports 8 languages and Startrader supports 2, giving instaforex broader global reach. Both brokers are comparable on support quality.

Tied
FeatureinstaforexStartrader
Live ChatYesYes
Phone SupportYesYes
Email SupportYesYes
LanguagesEnglish, Spanish, Polish, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, and ArabicEnglish, Chinese