Which broker is better for Barbados traders in 2026? Expert analysis across 12 categories.
For retail traders in Barbados, choosing between Global Prime and EasyMarkets requires understanding how each broker serves the local market. Global Prime, with a 3.6/5 score, is known for its low-cost trading environment, offering tight spreads and fast execution — ideal for active traders. EasyMarkets, scoring 3.4/5, provides a more beginner-friendly experience with fixed spreads and a simple platform. Both brokers accept deposits in USD via Bank Transfer, Skrill, Neteller, and USDT TRC20, which are popular in Barbados. The local financial regulator oversees compliance, ensuring a secure trading environment. This comparison highlights key differences in costs, platforms, and services to help Barbados traders make an informed decision.
| Instrument | Global Prime | EasyMarkets | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUR/USD avg spread | 0.09 pips + $3.5/lot | 0.0 pips + $3.5/lot | EasyMarkets |
| XAU/USD (Gold) | $0.14 typical | $0.12 typical | EasyMarkets |
| GBP/USD avg spread | 0.29 pips | 0.23 pips | EasyMarkets |
| Standard acc spread | from 1.0 pips | from 0.8 pips | EasyMarkets |
| ECN commission | $3.5/lot/side | $3.5/lot/side | Tie |
| Min deposit | $0 | $25 | Global Prime |
Global Prime offers variable spreads starting from 0.0 pips on major forex pairs, with a commission of $3.50 per lot. For Barbados traders trading standard lots, this results in lower overall costs compared to EasyMarkets, which uses fixed spreads averaging 1.2 pips on EUR/USD with no commission. Over 100 trades per month, Global Prime can save Barbados traders up to $200 in spread costs. However, EasyMarkets’ fixed spreads provide predictability, which may appeal to traders who prefer stable costs.
| Account Type | Global Prime | EasyMarkets |
|---|---|---|
| Standard account | ✓ | ✓ |
| ECN / Raw spread | ✓ | ✓ |
| Islamic (swap-free) | ✗ | ✓ |
| Demo account | ✓ | ✓ |
| PAMM / MAM account | ✗ | ✗ |
| Zero spread account | ✓ | ✗ |
| Copy trading | ✗ | ✗ |
| Min deposit | $0 | $25 |
| Entity / Asset | Global Prime | EasyMarkets |
|---|---|---|
| Barbados (offshore) | Up to 1:500 | Up to 1:2000 |
| Forex major pairs | 1:500 | 1:2000 |
| Gold (XAU/USD) | 1:200 | 1:200 |
| Indices | 1:100 | 1:100 |
| Cryptocurrencies | 1:2 to 1:10 | 1:2 to 1:10 |
| Asset Class | Global Prime | EasyMarkets | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex pairs | 90+ | 65+ | Global Prime |
| Gold (XAU/USD) | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Oil (WTI/Brent) | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Stock indices | ✗ | 20+ indices | Global Prime |
| Crypto CFDs | ✗ | 20+ | Global Prime |
| Stocks / Share CFDs | ✗ | ✗ | EasyMarkets |
| ETFs | ✗ | ✗ | Tie |
| Platform | Global Prime | EasyMarkets |
|---|---|---|
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | ✓ | ✗ |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | ✗ | ✗ |
| cTrader | ✗ | ✗ |
| TradingView | ✗ | ✗ |
| Expert Advisors (EAs) | ✓ | ✗ |
| Scalping allowed | ✓ | ✓ |
| Hedging allowed | ✓ | ✓ |
Global Prime provides MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and its proprietary web platform, both optimized for fast execution and advanced charting — suitable for Barbados traders who use technical analysis. EasyMarkets offers its own web-based platform and mobile app, which are simpler and include risk management tools like dealCancellation. For Barbados traders prioritizing advanced features, Global Prime's MT4 is superior, while EasyMarkets suits beginners.
| Factor | Global Prime | EasyMarkets | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Execution model | ECN/STP | True ECN | EasyMarkets |
| Avg execution speed | ~30ms | ~40ms | Global Prime |
| Slippage | Very low | Very low | Tie |
| Requotes | Very rare | Very rare | Tie |
| Scalping allowed | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| EA / Bot trading | ✓ | ✗ | Tie |
Global Prime uses ECN/STP execution with no requotes and average execution speeds of 30-50 milliseconds. EasyMarkets uses market maker execution with fixed spreads, which can result in slippage during volatile periods. For Barbados traders seeking fast, reliable execution, Global Prime is superior, especially for scalping or news trading.
| Safety Factor | Global Prime | EasyMarkets |
|---|---|---|
| Primary regulator | ASIC | CySEC |
| Top-tier regulated | ✓ | ✓ |
| Investor protection | ✗ | ✓ |
| Segregated funds | ✓ | ✓ |
| Neg. balance protection | ✓ | ✓ |
Global Prime is regulated by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) and the Vanuatu Financial Services Commission (VFSC). EasyMarkets is regulated by the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) and the Financial Services Authority (FSA) in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. For Barbados traders, both brokers comply with the local financial regulator’s requirements, but neither is directly licensed in Barbados. This means traders should rely on the brokers' offshore licenses and reputation.
| Payment Method | Global Prime | EasyMarkets |
|---|---|---|
| Bank Wire Transfer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Visa / Mastercard | ✓ | ✓ |
| Skrill | ✗ | ✓ |
| Neteller | ✗ | ✓ |
| USDT / Crypto | ✓ | ✗ |
| Withdrawal time | Global Prime processes withdrawals instantly on their end, but the time to receive your funds depends on your payment method: bank wire transfers take 1 to 5 business days, credit or debit cards take 1 to 10 days, and e-wallets are instant once completed. | Cards 1-2 business days; e-wallets instant-1 business day; bank wire 3-10 business days; overall back-office processing within 1 business day (24h) |
Barbados traders can fund their accounts using Bank Transfer, Skrill, Neteller, and USDT TRC20 at both Global Prime and EasyMarkets. Global Prime processes deposits instantly with no fees, while EasyMarkets may charge a small fee for Skrill and Neteller (up to 2%). Withdrawals at Global Prime are free and processed within 1-2 business days via the same methods. EasyMarkets also offers free withdrawals but may take 2-5 days for bank transfers. USDT TRC20 is available at both, with no additional blockchain fees. Minimum deposits are $200 for Global Prime and $100 for EasyMarkets.
| Islamic Account Feature | Global Prime | EasyMarkets |
|---|---|---|
| Swap-free available | ✗ | ✓ |
| Admin fee instead of swap | On some instruments | On some instruments |
| MT4 / MT5 supported | ✓ | ✓ |
| How to apply | Contact support | Contact support |
Both Global Prime and EasyMarkets offer Islamic (swap-free) accounts for Barbados Muslim traders. Global Prime provides swap-free accounts on request, with no interest charged on overnight positions, but may apply a small administrative fee after a holding period. EasyMarkets offers a dedicated Islamic account with full swap-free conditions and no extra fees. For Barbados traders observing Sharia law, EasyMarkets’ option is more straightforward, though Global Prime’s request-based approach is also compliant.
| Support Feature | Global Prime | EasyMarkets | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Live chat | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Phone support | ✓ | ✗ | Tie |
| Email support | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| 24/7 support | ✗ | ✗ | Tie |
| Response time (chat) | <2 minutes | <3 minutes | Global Prime |
Global Prime offers 24/5 live chat and email support in English, with response times under 1 hour during market hours. EasyMarkets provides 24/5 support via live chat, phone, and email, with multilingual agents. For Barbados traders in the Atlantic time zone, both brokers offer adequate support, but EasyMarkets’ phone support adds convenience for urgent issues.
| Mobile Feature | Global Prime | EasyMarkets | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| iOS App Store rating | 4.5 stars | 4.3 stars | Global Prime |
| Google Play rating | 4.3 stars | 4.2 stars | Global Prime |
| Biometric login | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Push notifications | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Full charting on mobile | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| TradingView mobile | ✗ | ✗ | Tie |
| Resource | Global Prime | EasyMarkets | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Video tutorials | ✗ | 50+ videos | EasyMarkets |
| Webinars (live) | ✗ | Monthly | Tie |
| Economic calendar | ✗ | ✓ | Tie |
| Market analysis | Daily | Basic | Global Prime |
Choose Global Prime if you...
Choose EasyMarkets if you...
For Barbados retail traders, Global Prime scores higher overall (3.6 vs 3.4) and offers better value with tighter spreads, faster execution, and fee-free deposits via Bank Transfer, Skrill, Neteller, and USDT TRC20. EasyMarkets is a solid alternative for beginners who prefer fixed spreads and a simpler platform. Both brokers comply with the local financial regulator, ensuring a secure trading environment. If you trade actively and prioritize low costs, Global Prime is the recommended choice. For a more guided experience, EasyMarkets may suit you better.