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Founded in 1988 and based in Limassol, Cyprus Windsor Brokers is one of the oldest retail forex brokers in the industry. According to their website, Windsor’s guiding principal has always been “to facilitate investor’s access to the global markets and protect their funds from extreme market conditions.” With Windsor’s high amount of capital and long track record, investors can feel confident in Windsor’s ability to deliver on that promise.
Regulated by both the Cyprus Securities Exchange Commission (CySec), the International Financial Services Commission (IFSC) of Belize and the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in the UK, their capital adequacy ratio stands at a whopping 56%, (a full seven times the 8% minimum set by CySec).
A capital adequacy ratio is a good measure of a bank or financial firm’s capital and is generally a good indicator of the stability of a bank or financial firm.
Windsor offers its clients trading in forex currency pairs, precious metals, and a vast number of CFD instruments. Windsor Brokers services are not available to clients in the U.S., Belize, nor any member states of the European Union.
Top Features of Windsor Brokers
Instruments
Windsor offers trading in over 600,000 assets including stocks, options, futures, bonds, CFDs, mutual funds, and more. They offer over 45 forex pairs at relatively low spreads, global indices such as the S & P 500 and NASDAQ, commodities such as coffee, sugar, crude and corn, stock shares in major global corporations, energy CFDs, and treasury bonds.
Desktop Experience
One of the key advantages we found with Windsor Brokers is their multiple platforms, geared towards traders with a variety of different experience levels. Traders can choose between the Windsor MT4 platform, the Windsor’s proprietary (GWAZY) platform, or AMO (All Markets Online).
The MT4 Platform is one of the most popular trading platforms on the market and is ideal for both beginners and advanced traders looking for real-time charts, live quotes, and comprehensive news and analytics. Those familiar with MT4 know that it is an intuitive platform which connects users with management tools, expert advisors, and a variety of indicators with one-click trading.
Although there is no strict minimum deposit, Windsor Brokers recommends a minimum starting deposit of $500 for all MT4 accounts.
The Windsor AMO platform requires a minimum deposit of $5000 and gives you access to over 620,000 assets online. The AMO has advanced tools and algorithms, research, news, and market data, and a customizable workstation. In addition to the AMO desktop platform, there is also the AMO WebTrader, which has a simpler interface, many of the same features, and single-click ordering.
GWAZY, on the other hand, is specifically designed for beginning traders. Advertised as “the simplest trading platform ever created,” its interface is more straightforward and easy-to-use than either the MetaTrader4 or AMO platforms. GWAZY has clear, readable graphics, real-time data, and immediate execution.
Mobile Experience
MT4 for mobile allows you full account functionality, which allows you to track your trade history and account status with three chart types, nine timeframes, and 30 technical indicators. MT4 for mobile is available for use on both iOS and Android devices.
The AMO platform is also available for both iOS and Android devices, with full functionality, real-time streaming quotes and charts, and email notifications for price alerts. The mobile app is naturally not as sophisticated as the desktop experience, but we found it to be intuitive and easy to operate.
GWAZY is also available for mobile (both iOS and Android) and makes for a fast and robust version of the GWAZY platform.
Account Types
The smallest account options available are Micro and Mini accounts, which are market maker accounts, and are subject to certain restrictions. The minimum trade size for the Micro accounts begins at 0.05, while the Mini account begins at 0.5. Both accounts have a maximum open ticket limit of 30 lots.
The leverage available on these accounts differs as well, with the Micro account max leverage at 1:500 and the Mini account maxing out at 1:400.
Next is the Dynamic-Fixed Spread Account, which has slightly lower pips and may fluctuate according to market conditions.
The final three accounts are categorized for larger traders. These include the Standard, Mega, and Executive accounts, which carry minimum deposits of $2,500, $3,000, and $25,000 respectively.
Windsor’s Executive Account carries a minimum spread of 0.2 pips, with direct market access conditions, while the Standard and Mega accounts feature slightly higher spreads. We found that the Standard and Mega accounts had, overall, an inferior interface when compared with the premium Executive Account.
Regardless of the size of their account, clients are welcome to use an MT4 account or AMO account platform for any of these. With the MT4 account, there are spreads available as low as 0.2 pips, commission-free CFD trading, and negative balance protection.
The AMO account has low commissions, low margin rates, and gives you access to over 120 markets in 26 countries, with a total of over 620,000 assets.
Users who are interested in testing out the company’s services should get a free demo account with virtual money. Users can play with up to $100.00 in virtual money to experience how the trading conditions and interface work.
Protections
All Windsor Brokers accounts are protected by the IFSC of Belize, CySec of Cyprus, and the FCA in the UK, along with a valid license to operate in the EU under the European Economic Area (EEA) agreement.
For those unfamiliar, CySec is one of the world’s top regulatory organizations, and has been hugely successful in countering financial scams, and is also supported by the Markets in Financial Instruments Derivatives (MiFID), which sets the norms for the safe operation of non-banking financial firms in the region.
Windsor Brokers (BZ) Ltd is licensed by the International Financial Service Commission of Belize for providing Brokerage, Consultancy, Advisory Services, as well as trading in securities. |
Windsor Brokers Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (licence number 030/04), the supervisory and regulatory authority for investment services in Cyprus. CySEC is a member of the European Securities and Markets Authorities. |
The CySec also makes it compulsory for member firms to adhere to strict transparency laws, which are supported by auditing practices and independent financial scrutiny.
This combination of protections ensures fund segregation in top-tier banks, as well as membership in the Investor Compensation Fund, which insures up to 20,000 EUR in case of default. In other words, Windsor Brokers is regulated by a combination of regulatory bodies, and with their long history in the industry, clients should feel secure with Windsor Brokers handling of their investments.
Payment Methods
Windsor supports a range of payments including Skrill, Webmoney, Neteller, China UnionPay, Western Union, credit/debit cards, and bank wire transfer. Fees on transactions differ significantly, with a maximum of 3% on debit/credit card deposits and Skrill transfers.
Deposits by credit card must be withdrawn back to the same credit card if requested within six months of the time of deposit.
Analysis
Windsor Brokers has a good number of analysis tools available to their clients, which you can browse these on their website here. These tools include access to their analysis team, trading ideas, and daily technical outlooks on current market trends.
Education
Windsor’s education section has a variety of tools available, including technical analyses and daily market reports, prepared by their in-house analysts.
Account holders get exclusive access to daily newsletters, a market calendar, tutorial videos, and a full analysis in the Traders’ Room. Live webinars are available throughout the year.
Topics include Fibonacci numbers, candlestick trading, and risk control, as well as a series of videos on everything from trading psychology to forex strategies, geared towards both beginning and advanced traders.
WindsorBrokers.com Prices
Windsor Brokers recommends a starting deposit of $500, but traders are allowed to begin with as trading little as $100. Windsor Brokers does not take a commission on any of their CFD trading, and their spreads are quite low (starting at 0.2 pips).
Criticism of WindsorBrokers.com
As one of the elder statesmen in the forex trading industry, it is easy to see Windsor Brokers as old-fashioned, but there is a reason that they’ve been in business for so long. Windsor Brokers has chosen the “slow and steady” approach and has seen lesser firms come and go while they have kept on operating. Their low spreads and surfeit of protections make them a great choice to trade with.
Customer Support
Windsor Brokers offers customer support 24 hours a day, 5 days a week via phone, email, and live chat. Customer support is offered in a variety of languages including French, Spanish, German, Italian, Polish, Greek, Chinese, Romanian, Serbian, Farsi, and Arabic.
Because of their long history in the industry (since 1988) and their high amount of capital, Windsor Brokers is a solid choice for online trading. Users familiar with MetaTrader will have no time learning to use their MT4 interface, and the same is true for professional traders who prefer the AMO platform.
Whether you’re a beginning trader, an experienced trader, or just curious about finding out more about how all of this works, Windsor Brokers is a great choice.
A trustworthy, easy-to-use online broker that gives you the opportunity to experience the thrill of trading CFDs, forex, and other instruments, Windsor Brokers allows you to trade while educating yourself and keeping your investments safe.