Skilling
Uphold
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Overview
Skilling was founded in 2016 and is headquartered in Cyprus, while Uphold was established in 2013 and is based in United States. Skilling holds licences including Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC), while Uphold is regulated by FCA and FINCEN: Uphold Europe Limited among others. Skilling serves 5,000+ clients worldwide; Uphold has 4,000,000+. The minimum deposit is $100 at Skilling and $1 at Uphold.
| Feature | Skilling | Uphold |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $100 | $1 |
| Regulation | Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC), CIF license number 357/18, Financial Services Authority (FSA) under license No. SD042 | FCA and FINCEN: Uphold Europe Limited, Reg No. 09281410. Uphold HQ Inc. NMLS ID No. 1269875 |
| Founded | 2016 | 2013 |
| Country | Cyprus | United States |
| Clients | 5,000+ | 4,000,000+ |
Fees
Fees are a critical factor when choosing between Skilling and Uphold, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. Uphold has a lower barrier to entry with a minimum deposit of $1 (vs $100 at Skilling). Neither broker charges withdrawal fees. Overall, Uphold scores higher on fees in our assessment.
| Feature | Skilling | Uphold |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $100 | $1 |
| Withdrawal Fees | No | No |
| Inactivity Fees | No | No |
| Deposit Fees | No | No |
| CFD Fees | No | No |
Platforms
Skilling offers MT4, MT5, cTrader, while Uphold supports a proprietary platform. Both brokers provide mobile trading apps for iOS and Android. Skilling supports social and copy trading features, which Uphold does not offer. Skilling edges ahead on platform breadth and functionality in our scoring.
| Feature | Skilling | 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, Web Trader, 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 Skilling and Uphold compare. Both brokers run regular live webinars. Both provide video tutorials, including advanced content. Skilling publishes daily market commentary; Uphold does not. Skilling integrates third-party research tools (Trading Central); Uphold does not. Archived webinars are available at both brokers for self-paced learning. Skilling scores higher overall in education and research.
| Feature | Skilling | Uphold |
|---|---|---|
| Forex Education | No | No |
| CFD Education | Yes | No |
| Weekly Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Daily Commentary | Yes | No |
| Trading Central | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | No | No |
Deposits & Withdrawals
Convenient deposit and withdrawal options reduce friction for traders, especially important when managing positions across time zones. Skilling accepts 2 of the tracked payment methods (bank transfer, credit/debit card), while Uphold supports 2 (bank transfer, credit/debit card). Both brokers support the same set of payment methods.
| Feature | Skilling | Uphold |
|---|---|---|
| Bank Transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Credit Card | Yes | Yes |
| PayPal | No | No |
| 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 Skilling and Uphold offer live chat support. Skilling offers phone support; Uphold does not. Email support is available at both brokers. Skilling supports 2 languages and Uphold supports 1, giving Skilling broader global reach. Skilling scores higher overall on customer support in our assessment.
| Feature | Skilling | Uphold |
|---|---|---|
| Live Chat | Yes | Yes |
| Phone Support | Yes | No |
| Email Support | Yes | Yes |
| Languages | English, and Chinese | English |