kawase
Uphold
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Overview
kawase was founded in 2011 and is headquartered in Australia, while Uphold was established in 2013 and is based in United States. kawase holds licences including Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), while Uphold is regulated by FCA and FINCEN: Uphold Europe Limited among others. kawase serves 3,500,000+ clients worldwide; Uphold has 4,000,000+. The minimum deposit is $250 at kawase and $1 at Uphold.
| Feature | kawase | Uphold |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $250 | $1 |
| Regulation | Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC), Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA), Pepperstone Markets Limited is incorporated in The Bahamas (number 177174 B), Licensed by the Securities Commission of The Bahamas (SCB) number SIA-F266 | FCA and FINCEN: Uphold Europe Limited, Reg No. 09281410. Uphold HQ Inc. NMLS ID No. 1269875 |
| Founded | 2011 | 2013 |
| Country | Australia | United States |
| Clients | 3,500,000+ | 4,000,000+ |
Fees
Fees are a critical factor when choosing between kawase and Uphold, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. Uphold has a lower barrier to entry with a minimum deposit of $1 (vs $250 at kawase). Neither broker charges withdrawal fees. Overall, Uphold scores higher on fees in our assessment.
| Feature | kawase | Uphold |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $250 | $1 |
| Withdrawal Fees | No | No |
| Inactivity Fees | No | No |
| Deposit Fees | No | No |
| CFD Fees | No | No |
Platforms
kawase offers MT4, MT5, cTrader, while Uphold supports a proprietary platform. Both brokers provide mobile trading apps for iOS and Android. kawase edges ahead on platform breadth and functionality in our scoring.
| Feature | kawase | Uphold |
|---|---|---|
| MT4 | Yes | No |
| MT5 | Yes | No |
| cTrader | Yes | No |
| Windows App | Yes | Yes |
| iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | MT4, MT5, Mac, ZuluTrade, Web Trader, cTrader, Tablet & Mobile apps | Web, Desktop & Mobile Apps |
Education & Research
Education and research tools help traders at every level make more informed decisions, and here's how kawase and Uphold compare. Both brokers run regular live webinars. Both provide video tutorials, including advanced content. kawase publishes daily market commentary; Uphold does not. kawase integrates third-party research tools (Trading Central, Autochartist); Uphold does not. Archived webinars are available at both brokers for self-paced learning. kawase scores higher overall in education and research.
| Feature | kawase | Uphold |
|---|---|---|
| Forex Education | Yes | No |
| CFD Education | Yes | No |
| Weekly Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Daily Commentary | Yes | No |
| Trading Central | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
Deposits & Withdrawals
Convenient deposit and withdrawal options reduce friction for traders, especially important when managing positions across time zones. kawase accepts 5 of the tracked payment methods (bank transfer, credit/debit card, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller), while Uphold supports 2 (bank transfer, credit/debit card). kawase uniquely supports PayPal and Skrill and Neteller among the two brokers. kawase scores higher on deposit and withdrawal flexibility.
| Feature | kawase | Uphold |
|---|---|---|
| Bank Transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Credit Card | Yes | Yes |
| PayPal | Yes | No |
| Skrill | Yes | No |
| Neteller | Yes | No |
Support
Responsive customer support matters most when you're locked out of your account or need urgent help with a trade. Both kawase and Uphold offer live chat support. kawase offers phone support; Uphold does not. Email support is available at both brokers. kawase supports 8 languages and Uphold supports 1, giving kawase broader global reach. kawase scores higher overall on customer support in our assessment.
| Feature | kawase | Uphold |
|---|---|---|
| Live Chat | Yes | Yes |
| Phone Support | Yes | No |
| Email Support | Yes | Yes |
| Languages | English, Spanish, Polish, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, and Arabic | English |