Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
CFI vs iFOREX
What sets them apart
| Compare |  CFI |  iFOREX |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0Lower | $100 |
| Regulators | Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission, FCA | CySEC, BVI FSC |
| Retail accounts that lose money | 66% | 80% |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | No deposit fees | No broker deposit fee; $20 EEA wire withdrawal fee may apply |
| Platforms | MT5, TradingView, CFI Multi Asset, CFI Trading App | IFOREX App |
| Stock trade fee | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Inactivity fee | Not confirmed | $15 |
| Maximum retail leverage | Not confirmed | 1:30 EU, 1:400 offshore |
Same on both: Markets (Stocks, ETFs, Forex, CFDs, Crypto), Investor protection (EU ICS up to EUR 20,000).
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Key differences
- CFI scores higher overall: 9.6 vs 9.0.
- Regulators: only CFI offers Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission, FCA.
- Regulators: only iFOREX offers CySEC, BVI FSC.
- Founded is lower at iFOREX: 1996 vs 1998.
- Minimum deposit is lower at CFI: $0 vs $100.
- Platforms: only CFI offers MT5, TradingView, CFI Multi Asset.
- Platforms: only iFOREX offers IFOREX App.
- Features: only iFOREX offers Crypto.
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.
iFOREX
iFOREX suits European traders who want forex, CFDs, crypto, shares and ETFs in a single commission-free account, and who put regulation and predictable costs above a small opening deposit. The EU entity sits under CySEC, with investor protection of EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 for accounts taken there.
Score breakdown
| Area | CFI | iFOREX |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.7Higher | 8.8Opening deposit of $100 and inactivity charge of $15 sit above the site medians of €4.64 and €0. |
| Offer | 9.6Higher | 8.7 |
| Trust | 9.4 | 9.5Higher |
Side by side, item by item
| Markets | CFI | iFOREX |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Forex | Yes | Yes |
| CFDs | Yes | Yes |
| Crypto | Yes | Yes |
Where they rank in our lists
| Ranking | CFI | iFOREX |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 43 of 471 | 141 of 471 |
| Forex brokers | 15 of 147 | 61 of 147 |
| Low-spread forex brokers | 13 of 145 | 59 of 145 |
| CFD brokers | 13 of 122 | 51 of 122 |
Availability and regulation
| Country | CFI | iFOREX |
|---|---|---|
| Cyprus | CySEC 143/11 | |
| United Kingdom | Not confirmed | |
| Virgin Islands, British | Not confirmed |
What we checked
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
iFOREX
- iforex.com: 4 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- play.google.com: 3 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- myfxbook.com: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- tradingfinder.com: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- custommapposter.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | CFI | iFOREX |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Demo account, Mobile app | Crypto, Demo account, Mobile appCovers more |
| Pricing model | Commission free | Commission free |
| Legal entity | Credit Financier Invest (CFI) Ltd | iCFD Limited |
| Founded | 1998 | 1996Lower |
| Support channels | Not confirmed | Help centre |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | CFI | iFOREX | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0below the median | $100above the median | $25 |
| Stock trade fee | Not confirmed | $0at the median | $0 |
| Inactivity fee | Not confirmed | $15above the median | $0 |
| Retail accounts that lose money | 66%lowest quarter | 80%highest quarter | 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.
iFOREX
Pros
- Stock trade fee of $0, ranking 1 of 161 brands on that cost.
- Regulated by CySEC and BVI FSC, with iCFD Limited as the named EU entity.
- EU investor protection of EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 for accounts taken in the EU.
Cons
- Minimum deposit of $100 ranks 148 of 213, so the entry point is high.
- Support runs on help centre only.
- Inactivity fee of $15 ranks 42 of 56.
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%.
iFOREX
Who it suits
- Traders who want stocks, etfs and forex in a single account and can fund $100, while Vantage opens at $5.
- EU clients who prefer CySEC oversight and EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 to the route run by the BVI FSC.
- Savers happy to work from iFOREX App and practise on a demo account first.
Who should look elsewhere
- Small starters: CFI opens at $0 and Vantage at $5, both below iFOREX's $100.
- Broader market seekers: eToro lists stocks, etfs and forex, adding futures to iFOREX's stocks, etfs and forex.
- Traders who want phone or chat support, since support runs on help centre only.
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%.
iFOREX
What does it cost to trade a stock?+
The stock trade fee is $0. iFOREX runs a commission free pricing model, so there is no per-trade commission layered on top, and the account covers stocks, etfs and forex. The cost side of the ledger is the deposit and any inactivity charge, not the trade itself.
How much do I need to deposit to open an account?+
The minimum deposit is $100. That puts iFOREX towards the dearer end of the field: it ranks 148 of 213 brands on minimum deposit. CFI opens at $0 and Vantage at $5, so a lighter entry is available elsewhere.
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