Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
CFI vs OANDA
CFI vs OANDA: the differences
| Compare |  CFI |  OANDA |
|---|---|---|
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, CFDs, Crypto | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, CFDs, Crypto, BondsCovers more |
| Regulators | Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission, FCA | FCA, CFTC |
| Investor protection | EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 | FSCS up to GBP 85,000 |
| Retail accounts that lose money | 66% | 72% |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | No deposit fees | Not confirmed |
| Platforms | MT5, TradingView, CFI Multi Asset, CFI Trading App | Not confirmed |
| Maximum retail leverage | Not confirmed | 1:30 |
Same on both: Minimum deposit ($0).
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Key differences
- CFI scores higher overall: 9.6 vs 9.5.
- Regulators: only CFI offers Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission.
- Regulators: only OANDA offers CFTC.
- Founded is lower at OANDA: 1996 vs 1998.
- Markets: only OANDA offers Bonds.
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.
OANDA
OANDA fits traders who want to open an account without a minimum deposit and sit under regulators on both sides of the Atlantic. Its overall score is 8.4 with a cost score of 8.4, though the retail loss rate of 72% is a reminder that most balances do not survive the trading.
Score breakdown
| Area | CFI | OANDA |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.7 | 9.7 |
| Offer | 9.6Higher | 9.3 |
| Trust | 9.4 | 9.5Higher |
Which one suits you
Pick CFI if offer matter most.
Pick OANDA if markets matter most.
Side by side, item by item
| Markets | CFI | OANDA |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Forex | Yes | Yes |
| CFDs | Yes | Yes |
| Crypto | Yes | Yes |
| Bonds | No | Yes |
Licences and countries
| Country | CFI | OANDA |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | FCA 542574 | |
| Cyprus | Not confirmed | |
| United States | Not confirmed | CFTC 0325821 |
How they place
| Ranking | CFI | OANDA |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 34 of 490 | 42 of 490 |
| Forex brokers | 12 of 147 | 17 of 147 |
| Low-spread forex brokers | 10 of 145 | 15 of 145 |
| CFD brokers | 11 of 122 | 14 of 122 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | CFI | OANDA |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Demo account, Mobile app | Demo account, Mobile app |
| Pricing model | Commission free | Not confirmed |
| Legal entity | Credit Financier Invest (CFI) Ltd | OANDA TMS Brokers S.A. |
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | United States |
| Founded | 1998 | 1996Lower |
| Support channels | Not confirmed | Email, Phone |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | CFI | OANDA | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0below the median | $0below the median | $10 |
| Retail accounts that lose money | 66%below the median | 72%above the median | 70.375% |
Median across 99 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.
OANDA
Pros
- No minimum deposit: $0 means the account opens without putting money in first, and OANDA sits at the top of our minimum deposit ranking, ahead of Vantage and its $5.
- Regulated in Britain and the US: FCA and CFTC covers an FCA licence 542574 and a CFTC registration 0325821.
- UK balances sit under protection of FSCS up to GBP 85,000, which pays compensation if the firm cannot return the money.
Cons
- Support runs on email and phone only, which leaves anyone wanting a live chat desk looking at other brokers.
- A retail loss rate of 72% is no better than the site figure of 70.15%, so the risk sits at the sector norm.
- Retail leverage of 1:30 magnifies losses as quickly as gains, and a $0 entry point makes it easy to size positions too large.
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%.
OANDA
Who it suits
- Traders who want to open an account and start small: the minimum deposit of $0 removes the barrier to funding later.
- Anyone who checks regulators before depositing, since FCA and CFTC and protection of FSCS up to GBP 85,000 are both on record.
- Forex traders who also want shares, ETFs, CFDs, crypto and bonds under one roof: stocks, etfs and forex.
Who should look elsewhere
- Futures traders, who get a longer list at eToro, where stocks, etfs and forex adds futures to the stocks, etfs and forex on offer here.
- Traders who want nothing beyond shares, ETFs, forex, CFDs and crypto, since CFI's stocks, etfs and forex covers that core without the bonds.
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%.
OANDA
What is the minimum deposit for an OANDA account?+
OANDA lists a minimum deposit of $0, so you can open an account without funding it and add money later. On our minimum deposit ranking that places OANDA at position 1 of 213 brands, well clear of the field. Vantage, by contrast, asks for $5 before trading starts.
How is my money protected if something goes wrong?+
UK clients sit under investor protection of FSCS up to GBP 85,000, the compensation paid if the firm cannot return the balance. The regulator behind that cover is named in FCA and CFTC, and the FCA licence number is 542574. US clients fall under the CFTC registration, 0325821, which is a separate arrangement.