Broker comparison

Headway vs InstaForex Comparison

Compare trading conditions, commissions and platforms of Forex brokers Headway and InstaForex. Find out which broker is best for you.

VS summaryScores and ranking at a glance
Headway
Rating
4.4/5
Rank
#63
Register

Trading CFDs carries high risks. You may lose all invested funds

InstaForexHigher ranked
Rating
4.2/5
Rank
#34
Register

71.99% of retail investors lose money when trading CFDs with this broker

  • Conditions, fees and platforms compared
  • Ratings and ranking positions checked
  • Based on our review methodology
How we compare brokers
Updated

We test brokers on real accounts using our own methodology, evaluating the quality of order execution, trading conditions, platforms and customer support.

Who is better - Headway or InstaForex?

Quick comparison

Key differences between the brokers

Below, we show only the differences in trading conditions covered in our reviews. These may include the minimum deposit, available markets, platforms and account types. Compare these details with your requirements.

Methodology

Ratings and ranks

InstaForex ranks higher in the editorial ranking.
Headway
Rating: 4.4/5Rank: #63
InstaForex
Rating: 4.2/5Rank: #34

Headway

Minimum deposit · EUR
10 EUR
Different platforms
None listed
Different markets
None listed

InstaForex

Minimum deposit · EUR
1 EUR
Different platforms
  • InstaForex Webtrader
Different markets
  • Soft Commodities
  • ETF

This material is not personalized financial advice. Terms and service availability vary by country.

Full broker ranking

Comparison Table of Headway and InstaForex

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Overview: comparison of Headway, InstaForex
BrokerHeadwayInstaForex
Foundation Year20212007
Regulated in CountriesSouth AfricaBritish Virgin Islands, Cyprus, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Minimum Deposit
  • 10 EUR
  • 1 USD
  • 1 EUR
  • 1 RUB
  • 1 USD
Spreadfrom 0 pointsfrom 0 points
Max Leverage1:20001:1000
Trading Assets (CFDs)
  • Forex
  • Precious Metals
  • Energy Carriers
  • Indices
  • Stocks
  • Cryptocurrency
  • Forex
  • Precious Metals
  • Energy Carriers
  • Soft Commodities
  • Indices
  • Stocks
  • ETF
  • Cryptocurrency
Trading Platforms
  • MetaTrader 4
  • MetaTrader 5
  • MetaTrader 5
  • MetaTrader 4
  • InstaForex Webtrader
ReviewHeadway ReviewInstaForex Review

Headway Review

Headway Logo
RegisterTrading CFDs carries high risks. You may lose all invested funds
Countries of registration:
Regulators:
Trading Assets
Forex Precious Metals Energy Carriers Indices Stocks Cryptocurrency
Trading Platforms
MetaTrader 4MetaTrader 5

Headway is a broker with accessible starting conditions, a low minimum deposit, competitive fees, and a fairly wide range of instruments. Its strengths include a Cent account from $1, tight spreads, low commission on the Pro account, support for MT4/MT5, the availability of Copytrade, and convenient ways to deposit and withdraw funds. At the same time, the broker still lags behind larger competitors in the strength of regulation, depth of analytics, and overall reputation, since it is a young company with an FSCA license.

Headway is best suited for beginner traders who need a low entry threshold, as well as retail traders looking for low-cost trading in Forex, stocks, and cryptocurrencies. The broker may also be interesting for those who want to use copy trading or start with a small amount of capital. However, traders who prioritize the strongest possible regulation, advanced analytics, and the widest possible product lineup may find Headway less suitable.

Pros and Cons of Headway

Pros

  1. Low entry threshold: a Cent account is available with a deposit from $1.
  2. Tight spreads and low trading commissions.
  3. Cent, Standard, and Pro accounts are available, as well as a demo account and an Islamic account.
  4. Wide range of instruments, especially stocks, cryptocurrencies, and Forex.
  5. Many deposit and withdrawal methods with no broker-side fees.

Cons

  1. Regulation is limited to an FSCA license, with no Tier-1 jurisdictions.
  2. A young company with a relatively short operating history.
  3. Analytics and education are only at a basic level.
  4. According to reviews, the quality of customer support is not always consistent.

InstaForex Review

InstaForex Logo
Register71.99% of retail investors lose money when trading CFDs with this broker
Countries of registration:
Regulators:
Trading Assets
Forex Precious Metals Energy Carriers Soft Commodities Indices Stocks ETF Cryptocurrency
Trading Platforms
MetaTrader 5MetaTrader 4InstaForex Webtrader

InstaForex is a popular broker that offers a wide range of trading instruments and specialized accounts. The unique possibility of accruing interest on the account balance, ForexCopy's automatic transaction copying service, and support for cryptocurrency trading make InstaForex an attractive choice for a variety of traders. Customer support is available round the clock, and account replenishment does not charge any commission, which is a significant plus.

InstaForex is suitable for beginner traders and investors interested in passive income through PAMM accounts, as well as for those looking for innovative features such as cryptocurrency trading and automatic trade copying.

Pros and Cons of InstaForex

Pros

  1. Large selection of trading instruments.
  2. PAMM accounts and the ForexCopy automatic trade copying service for passive income.
  3. 24/7 efficient customer support.
  4. Wide range of methods for depositing and withdrawing funds.
  5. Decent analytical section.

Cons

  1. Trading commissions are above average.
  2. No trading accounts with market execution of orders (ECN or STP).
  3. Broker commission on fund withdrawals.

Reliability

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Reliability: comparison of Headway, InstaForex
BrokerHeadwayInstaForex
Reliability
4/5
4/5
Foundation Year20212007
Regulated in CountriesSouth AfricaBritish Virgin Islands, Cyprus, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Regulators

Headway

Headway is a moderately reliable broker with an FSCA license, but in terms of regulatory strength and reputation it lags behind companies with Tier-1 licenses and a longer operating history.

Pros

  1. Has an active FSCA license
  2. The legal entity is clearly disclosed

Cons

  1. No strong Tier-1 regulation
  2. A young company without a long track record

InstaForex

InstaForex operates through multiple legal entities regulated by various financial authorities. However, it should be noted that these are not the strictest or most authoritative market regulators.

Account Opening

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Account Opening: comparison of Headway, InstaForex
BrokerHeadwayInstaForex
Account Opening
5/5
5/5
Minimum Deposit
  • 1 USD
  • 10 EUR
  • 1 USD
  • 1 EUR
  • 1 RUB

Headway

Opening an account with Headway is convenient and fairly fast. The registration procedure is simple, the interface is clear, and the overall process meets the expectations of most modern traders.

Pros

  1. Simple registration
  2. User-friendly interface
  3. Quick start

InstaForex

Given the lack of minimum deposit requirements and the option to bypass verification for certain funding methods, it can be said that opening an account with InstaForex is maximally convenient and accessible.

Account Types

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Account Types: comparison of Headway, InstaForex
BrokerHeadwayInstaForex
Account Types
5/5
5/5
Trading Accounts
  • Cent
  • Standard
  • Pro
  • Insta.Standard
  • Insta.Eurica
  • Cent.Standard
  • Cent.Eurica
Minimum Deposit
  • 1 USD
  • 10 EUR
  • 1 USD
  • 1 EUR
  • 1 RUB
Spreadfrom 0 pointsfrom 0 points
Max Leverage1:20001:1000
Trading Assets (CFDs)
  • Forex
  • Precious Metals
  • Energy Carriers
  • Indices
  • Stocks
  • Cryptocurrency
  • Forex
  • Precious Metals
  • Energy Carriers
  • Soft Commodities
  • Indices
  • Stocks
  • ETF
  • Cryptocurrency
Trading Platforms
  • MetaTrader 4
  • MetaTrader 5
  • MetaTrader 5
  • MetaTrader 4
  • InstaForex Webtrader
Demo Account
Swap-free Account

Headway

Headway offers a fairly diverse range of accounts that suits beginners, retail traders, and more experienced users.

Pros

  1. Cent, Standard, and Pro are available
  2. A demo account is available
  3. Copytrade and an Islamic account are available

InstaForex

InstaForex accounts offer sufficiently flexible conditions to meet the needs of most traders.

Pros

  1. Cent and Islamic accounts are available
  2. PAMM accounts and copy trading services are provided

Cons

  1. No market execution of orders

Commissions

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Commissions: comparison of Headway, InstaForex
BrokerHeadwayInstaForex
Commissions
4.5/5
2.2/5
Spreadfrom 0 pointsfrom 0 points
Average Spread (EURUSD)0.8
Commissionper 1 lot$1.50per 1 lot$3.00

Headway

Headway's fees are low: the broker offers tight spreads, very low commission on the Pro account, and fee-free withdrawals, although swaps remain average for the market.

Pros

  1. Tight spreads
  2. Low commission on Pro
  3. No withdrawal fee

Cons

  1. Swaps are average for the market

InstaForex

InstaForex offers its clients trading commissions above average compared to other brokers.

Pros

  1. Transaction commission slightly below market average
  2. Commission rebates (rebate) are available

Cons

  1. Inactivity fee is charged
  2. Withdrawal fees may apply
  3. Wide spreads

Deposit and Withdrawal

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Deposit and Withdrawal: comparison of Headway, InstaForex
BrokerHeadwayInstaForex
Rating
4.5/5
4.7/5
Account Funding Methods
  • Online wallets
  • Bank Transfer
  • Visa
  • Mastercard
  • Skrill
  • Neteller
  • YooMoney
  • PayCo
  • AstroPay
  • Swift
  • Visa
  • Mastercard

Headway

Deposits and withdrawals at Headway are well organized: many payment methods are available, the broker does not charge fees, and transactions are processed fairly quickly.

Pros

  1. Wide selection of methods
  2. No broker fees
  3. Fast processing of transactions

Cons

  1. The set of methods depends on the country
  2. A verified account is required for cards
  3. External network/payment-system fees may apply

InstaForex

InstaForex provides various flexible options for depositing and withdrawing funds, although some fees may be higher than those of some competitors. This disadvantage is offset by the company's offer of advantageous deposit bonuses.

Markets and Products

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Markets and Products: comparison of Headway, InstaForex
BrokerHeadwayInstaForex
Markets and Products
4.5/5
5/5
Forex56108
Precious Metals38
Energy Carriers36
Indices3221
Stocks2921448
Cryptocurrency5872
Soft Commodities-13
ETF-67

Headway

Headway offers a fairly wide range of markets and instruments, especially stocks, cryptocurrencies, and Forex. However, the lineup is not fully comprehensive: the broker does not provide CFDs on soft commodities.

Pros

  1. Wide selection of stocks
  2. Many cryptocurrencies
  3. Synthetic instruments are available

Cons

  1. No CFDs on soft commodities
  2. Limited metals and energy instruments

InstaForex

A wide range of trading instruments is available on InstaForex, including 110 currency pairs and various Contracts for Difference (CFDs).

Trading Platforms

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Trading Platforms: comparison of Headway, InstaForex
BrokerHeadwayInstaForex
Rating
4.5/5
5/5
Trading Platforms
  • MetaTrader 4
  • MetaTrader 5
  • MetaTrader 5
  • MetaTrader 4
  • InstaForex Webtrader

Headway

Headway offers a convenient and functional set of platforms based on MT4 and MT5, complemented by web versions and its own mobile app. The selection is solid, though it lacks some niche professional alternatives.

Pros

  1. MetaTrader 4 and 5 are available
  2. Web versions are available
  3. There is a mobile app

Cons

  1. No cTrader or TradingView

InstaForex

InstaForex offers a wide selection of platforms, which can satisfy the needs of the overwhelming majority of traders.

Analytics

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Analytics: comparison of Headway, InstaForex
BrokerHeadwayInstaForex
Rating
3.5/5
5/5

Headway

Headway's analytics are basic: an economic calendar, news, and a blog are available, but it lacks expert forecasts, signals, and additional tools for full analytical support.

Pros

  1. An economic calendar is available
  2. News and a blog are available

Cons

  1. Little expert analysis
  2. No trading signals
  3. No Autochartist or calculators

InstaForex

A strong point of InstaForex is its robust analytical section for beginners. The company's analysts publish daily market forecasts, breakdowns of trading situations, and important economic news.

Education

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Education: comparison of Headway, InstaForex
BrokerHeadwayInstaForex
Rating
3.5/5
4.5/5

Headway

Headway's education is primarily suited to beginners: there is a basic course and a blog, but in depth and variety the section falls short of brokers with a more developed educational ecosystem.

Pros

  1. A beginners' course is available
  2. Supplemented by the blog

Cons

  1. Few learning formats
  2. No webinars or video tutorials
  3. Materials are basic

InstaForex

InstaForex provides high-quality and diverse educational materials (video tutorials, courses, webinars), benefiting beginners and advanced traders. However, access to the entire training course is open only to owners of trading accounts.

Customer Support

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Customer Support: comparison of Headway, InstaForex
BrokerHeadwayInstaForex
Rating
4/5
5/5
Email Support
Hotline Phones
Social Media

Headway

Headway's customer support looks accessible and convenient: there are many contact channels and support operates 24/7, but according to reviews, service quality is not always consistent.

Pros

  1. Many contact channels
  2. Online chat available
  3. 24/7 support

Cons

  1. Mixed customer reviews
  2. Response quality is not always consistent
  3. Not all issues are resolved equally quickly

InstaForex

The technical support of InstaForex demonstrates good customer service, offering various ways to connect and prompt responses to client inquiries.

Comparisons of Headway and InstaForex with other brokers

Conclusion

When choosing between InstaForex and Headway, match their platforms, markets, account types and funding terms to your needs.

Before opening an account, verify fees, regulation, support and service availability for your country in the sections above.

FAQ

Which broker is better: Headway or InstaForex?

InstaForex ranks higher than Headway in our editorial ranking. That does not make it a universal choice: compare fees, markets, platforms, account types and support.

Which broker is better for beginners: Headway or InstaForex?

Beginners should compare availability in their country, account types, minimum deposit, trading platforms and customer support.

Who has lower typical trading costs (spreads/commissions) — Headway or InstaForex?

It depends on the instrument and account type. Compare the live conditions in the “Commissions” section on this page — we break down the nuances category by category.

What trading platforms are available with Headway and InstaForex?

Headway: MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5. InstaForex: MetaTrader 5, MetaTrader 4, InstaForex Webtrader. See the “Platforms” section for details and selection tips.

What markets can you trade with Headway and InstaForex?

Headway: Forex, Precious Metals, Energy Carriers, Indices, Stocks, Cryptocurrency. InstaForex: Forex, Precious Metals, Energy Carriers, Soft Commodities, Indices, Stocks, ETF, Cryptocurrency. Full lists and differences are in the “Markets” section.

What account types are offered by Headway and InstaForex?

Headway: Cent, Standard, Pro. InstaForex: Insta.Standard, Insta.Eurica, Cent.Standard, Cent.Eurica. See “Account Types” for a side-by-side comparison.

What deposit and withdrawal methods are supported by Headway and InstaForex?

Headway: Online wallets, Bank Transfer, Visa, Mastercard. InstaForex: Skrill, Neteller, YooMoney, PayCo, AstroPay, Swift, Visa, Mastercard. Check method-specific fees/settlement times.

Which broker is safer — Headway or InstaForex — and how was this assessed?

We consider regulation, corporate transparency, fund protection, and incident history. See the “Reliability” section for our findings.

Nikolay is an experienced specialist in financial markets and co-founder of IamForexTrader. He has been successfully trading Forex since 2014 and has been actively involved in the cryptocurrency market since 2017.

He develops investment strategies adaptable to any level of experience and has been actively investing in stocks, bonds and ETFs since 2018.