Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
CFI vs EC Markets
What sets them apart
| Compare |  CFI |  EC Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0Lower | $10 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, CFDs, Crypto | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, CFDs, Crypto, MetalsCovers more |
| Regulators | Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission, FCA | SIPC |
| Investor protection | EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 | SIPC up to USD 500,000 |
| Platforms | MT5, TradingView, CFI Multi Asset, CFI Trading App | MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, EC Markets App |
| Retail accounts that lose money | 66% | Not confirmed |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | No deposit fees | Not confirmed |
| Maximum retail leverage | Not confirmed | 1:1000 |
We earn a commission when you sign up through links on this site. Partner status can affect where a brand appears in our rankings.
Key differences
- CFI scores higher overall: 9.6 vs 9.0.
- Regulators: only CFI offers Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission, FCA.
- Regulators: only EC Markets offers SIPC.
- CFI is licensed in 1 more country.
- Minimum deposit is lower at CFI: $0 vs $10.
- Markets: only EC Markets offers Metals.
- Platforms: only CFI offers MT5, TradingView, CFI Multi Asset.
- Platforms: only EC Markets offers MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, EC Markets App.
- Features: only CFI offers Demo account.
Our verdict on each
CFI
CFI suits traders who want one account covering stocks, etfs and forex on a commission-free model commission free, with a minimum deposit of $0 and a Cyprus entity licensed by Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission and FCA. Note that 66% of retail accounts lose money, and protection under the EU scheme is limited.
EC Markets
EC Markets suits active traders who want retail leverage of 1:1000 across forex, CFDs, stocks and crypto in one account. The US entity behind the brand, RB INTERNATIONAL MARKETS (USA) LLC, sits under SIPC up to USD 500,000, so the safety side is easier to check than with an offshore-only broker.
Score breakdown
| Area | CFI | EC Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.7Higher | 9.0The $10 minimum deposit sits below the €4.64 site median, so the cost of opening an account is low. |
| Offer | 9.6Higher | 9.5 |
| Trust | 9.4Higher | 8.6 |
Side by side, item by item
| Markets | CFI | EC Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Forex | Yes | Yes |
| CFDs | Yes | Yes |
| Crypto | Yes | Yes |
| Metals | No | Yes |
Pick CFI if, pick EC Markets if
Pick CFI if cost, trust, and minimum deposit matter most.
Pick EC Markets if markets matter most.
Sources behind this comparison
CFI
- media.cfifinancial.com: 4 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- play.google.com: 3 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- dailyforex.com: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- forex.wikibit.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
- investinglive.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
EC Markets
- ecmarkets.com: 5 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- sipc.org: 3 facts, checked September 26, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | CFI | EC Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 43 of 471 | 138 of 471 |
| Forex brokers | 15 of 147 | 58 of 147 |
| Low-spread forex brokers | 13 of 145 | 56 of 145 |
| CFD brokers | 13 of 122 | 47 of 122 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | CFI | EC Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Demo account, Mobile appCovers more | Mobile app |
| Pricing model | Commission free | Not confirmed |
| Legal entity | Credit Financier Invest (CFI) Ltd | RB INTERNATIONAL MARKETS (USA) LLC |
| Founded | 1998 | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | CFI | EC Markets | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0below the median | $10below the median | $25 |
| Retail accounts that lose money | 66%lowest quarter | Not confirmed | 72.05% |
Median across 134 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
CFI
Pros
- No minimum deposit, at $0, and No deposit fees, so funding does not cost a fee and the account can open at any size.
- Regulated on both sides of Europe: Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission and FCA, with the Cyprus entity named as Credit Financier Invest (CFI) Ltd.
- A single account covers stocks, etfs and forex rather than forcing separate apps per asset class.
Cons
- Protection caps out at EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 on the Cyprus entity, so balances above that sit outside the scheme.
- 66% of retail accounts lose money, which is the risk that matters most for anyone sizing a position.
- Leverage sits alongside shares and ETFs in stocks, etfs and forex, so a single account mixes instruments with very different risk levels.
EC Markets
Pros
- One account spans stocks, etfs and forex, so you are not locked into a single asset class.
- You can trade on MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5 and EC Markets App, with the mobile app listed under mobile app.
Cons
- Retail leverage of 1:1000 magnifies losses, and on the site's forex list 72.13% of retail accounts lose money.
- The $10 entry point sits above CFI's $0 and Vantage's $5, so the cheapest way in is elsewhere.
Who each suits
CFI
Who it suits
- People who want stocks, etfs and forex held in one place instead of several broker accounts.
- Traders who prefer the commission-free model commission free and a minimum deposit of $0 over a larger entry threshold.
- Savers who want a Cyprus or UK regulated option, given Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission and FCA and the Cyprus licence 179/12.
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone wanting a wider asset list, since stocks, etfs and forex runs to futures as well and CFI's list is stocks, etfs and forex.
- EU traders who want a rival with a low entry point, such as XTB at €0.
- Traders put off by losses in the retail book, where 66% lose money and the median here is 70.15%.
EC Markets
Who it suits
- Active traders who want 1:1000 retail leverage on forex and CFDs
- US-based investors who want protection stated at SIPC up to USD 500,000
- Newcomers who can start at $10 and learn on MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5 and EC Markets App
Who should look elsewhere
- CFI, if you want to open an account with no minimum at $0
- Vantage, if the entry deposit matters more than the market list, since it starts at $5
- eToro, if you trade futures, which its market list stocks, etfs and forex covers
Questions about each
CFI
What is the minimum deposit to open a CFI account?+
The minimum deposit is $0, so an account can be opened at any size and a first deposit does not have to clear a threshold. For comparison, Vantage lists $5 and XTB €0. The median minimum across the brands ranked is €4.64, and the highest reaches €26,308.87. CFI places 1 of 213 on that measure.
Does CFI charge commission on trades?+
CFI trades on a commission-free model, commission free, so positions are opened without a per-trade commission charge. The cost of a trade therefore sits in the spread and the market rather than in a commission line. Commission-free models are common in the field, appearing for 69.8% of the brands compared. Low-fee models sit alongside them at 40.5%.
EC Markets
What is the minimum deposit at EC Markets?+
The minimum deposit is $10 to fund an account. That sits above the €4.64 site median, so it is a low entry point rather than the lowest one available. Anyone starting small should confirm which account the deposit applies to before adding funds.
Is money held at EC Markets protected?+
Protection is stated as SIPC up to USD 500,000, under the SIPC scheme named in the brand's licences. That figure is the scheme's stated ceiling rather than a promise of returns, and the scheme's own terms set the conditions, so read them before depositing.
Other options to compare
Other matchups
- CFI vs Exness
- CFI vs XM
- CFI vs Trading 212
- CFI vs Tickmill
- CFI vs Capital.com
- CFI vs OANDA
- CFI vs iFOREX
- CFI vs VT Markets
- CFI vs Charles Schwab
- CFI vs FXCM
- CFI vs tastyfx
- CFI vs IG
- CFI vs FxPro
- CFI vs ActivTrades
- CFI vs XTB
- CFI vs NAGA
- CFI vs Mintos
- EC Markets vs Bitpanda
- CFI vs Robinhood
- CFI vs Kraken
- EC Markets vs BlackBull Markets
- CFI vs EBC Financial Group
- CFI vs CapTrader