Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
CFI vs Mintos
CFI vs Mintos: the differences
| Compare | ||
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0 | €50 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, CFDs, Crypto | Bonds, ETFs, Crypto |
| Regulators | Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission, FCA | Latvijas Banka, LV LV |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | No deposit fees | Free bank transfer withdrawal; 2% card deposits |
| Platforms | MT5, TradingView, CFI Multi Asset, CFI Trading App | Web, iOS, Android |
| Account fee | Not confirmed | €0 |
| Inactivity fee | Not confirmed | €4.90 |
| Retail accounts that lose money | 66% | Not confirmed |
| Currency conversion fee | Not confirmed | 0.5% |
| Interest on cash | Not confirmed | 2.5% |
Same on both: 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 Mintos offers Latvijas Banka, LV LV.
- Founded is lower at CFI: 1998 vs 2015.
- CFI is licensed in 1 more country.
- Markets: only CFI offers Stocks, Forex, CFDs.
- Markets: only Mintos offers Bonds.
- Platforms: only CFI offers MT5, TradingView, CFI Multi Asset.
- Platforms: only Mintos offers Web, iOS, Android.
- 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.
Mintos
Mintos is a cheap, commission-free platform for lending money to businesses through their loan marketplace, with an account fee of €0 and a secondary market for exiting early. It suits investors who want lending exposure in euro-denominated loans rather than a share dealing account, and accept that the money carries borrower default risk.
Score breakdown
| Area | CFI | Mintos |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.7Higher | 8.9Account fee of €0, an inactivity fee of €4.90 and a minimum deposit of €50. |
| Offer | 9.6Higher | 9.2Minimum investment of €50, target return of 9.2% and a secondary market. |
| Trust | 9.4Higher | 9.0 |
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | CFI | Mintos |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 43 of 471 | 9 of 471 |
What each covers
| Markets | CFI | Mintos |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | No |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Forex | Yes | No |
| CFDs | Yes | No |
| Crypto | Yes | Yes |
| Bonds | No | Yes |
Licences and countries
| Country | CFI | Mintos |
|---|---|---|
| Cyprus | Not confirmed | |
| Latvia | Not confirmed | LV_LV PSD_EMI LV_FCMC!723 |
| United Kingdom | Not confirmed |
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
Mintos
- mintos.com: 13 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- euclid.eba.europa.eu: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- help.mintos.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | CFI | Mintos |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Demo account, Mobile app | Crypto, Mobile app |
| Pricing model | Commission free | Commission free |
| Legal entity | Credit Financier Invest (CFI) Ltd | SIA Mintos Payments |
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | Latvia |
| Founded | 1998Lower | 2015 |
| Support channels | Not confirmed | Email, Help centre, Community |
P2P lending
| Fact | CFI | Mintos |
|---|---|---|
| Target return | Not confirmed | 9.2% |
| Minimum investment | Not confirmed | €50 |
| Secondary market | Not confirmed | Yes |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | CFI | Mintos | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Account fee | Not confirmed | €0at the median | €0 |
| Inactivity fee | Not confirmed | €4.90above the median | €2.45 |
| Retail accounts that lose money | 66%lowest quarter | Not confirmed | 72.05% |
| Currency conversion fee | Not confirmed | 0.5%above the median | 0.45% |
| Interest on cash | Not confirmed | 2.5%below the median | 3% |
Median across 52 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.
Mintos
Pros
- The account fee is €0, and Mintos ranks at 1 of 138 brands on that measure
- Investing is commission-free, and the minimum investment is €50
- A secondary market is available, so loans can be sold before they mature
Cons
- Card deposits cost Free bank transfer withdrawal; 2% card deposits, so topping up is dearer than a bank transfer
- An inactivity fee of €4.90 applies, against an inactivity fee position of 33 of 56
- The minimum deposit of €50 sits far above a site minimum deposit median of €4.64
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%.
Mintos
Who it suits
- Investors who want to lend to businesses and earn a target return of 9.2%
- Lenders who want a secondary market to sell a loan before it matures
- Euro-based investors who accept that defaults can reduce returns
Who should look elsewhere
- Share traders, who should look at eToro with a commission-free model and a wider market list
- Anyone wanting to start with a very small sum, since CFI takes a minimum deposit of $0
- Lenders who need a guaranteed buyback, as the return of 9.2% is a target rather than a promise
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%.
Mintos
What fees does Mintos charge on an account?+
The account fee is €0, and the platform is commission-free, so there is no dealing charge on an investment. The charges that apply are a currency conversion fee of 0.5%, card deposit costs set out as Free bank transfer withdrawal; 2% card deposits, and an inactivity fee of €4.90.
How much do I need to put in to start lending?+
The minimum deposit is €50, and the smallest single investment is €50. The two figures are close, so funding to the deposit minimum is enough to purchase a loan. For scale, the site median for a minimum investment is €25.
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