GCI Review 2024


2.3 / 5
GCI is #108 in our CFD broker rankings.

GCI offers online trading in 300+ tradable assets with up to 1:400 leverage.

$500
MT4, ActTrader
Forex, CFDs, indices, shares, commodities
4% interest on account balance
Wire Transfer, Perfect Money

Forex Trading

Trade dozens of leading online forex pairs.

Stock Trading

Trade online shares in global companies, including Facebook and Sony

CFD Trading

Trade in multiple online financial markets.

Awards

  • Best Forex Broker Europe 2015 - ForexExpo
  • Best Forex Customer Service 2015 - IFM
  • Best Forex Broker Europe 2014 - ForexExpo
  • Most Innovative Forex Broker Europe 2013 - International Finance
  • Best Forex Broker Europe 2012 - Global Banking & Finance Review

GCI Financial Ltd is an award-winning forex and CFD broker offering the MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and ActTrader platforms. Our review of the broker’s services covers the software downloads, available markets, demo accounts, and customer support. Find out if you should login and start trading with GCI.

GCI Financial Company Details

Founded in 2002, GCI Financial Ltd offers over 300 tradable financial assets and educational tools for both beginners and experienced traders. The company has clients from all over the world, including Europe, India, and Australia.

However, despite receiving multiple awards over the years, the broker is unregulated and it isn’t clear where its head office is based.

Trading Platforms

MetaTrader 4

GCI offers the MetaTrader 4 (MT4) trading platform – the leading system among traders of all levels. All of the broker’s tradable financial assets are available on MT4 along with multiple features:

The MT4 64-bit download is available from the broker’s website.

ActTrader

ActTrader is sophisticated forex software that offers trading across all available products. The platform comes with a range of tools:

ActTrader is available as a free download from the broker’s website.

ActTrader platform
ActTrader platform

Markets

GCI Financial offers over 300 instruments across several asset classes:

Spreads & Commission

Spreads start at 1 pip for the EUR/USD and around 2 pips for the GBP/USD and EUR/GBP. Typical spreads on major indices, such as the FTSE and Dax, start at 3 points. Spreads on gold and silver are 45 and 5 respectively.

Accounts are commission-free, so it’s just the spread to take into account. Overall, trading fees are around the industry norm.

Leverage

Across both MT4 and ActTrader, maximum leverage on currencies is 1:400 while on shares, it’s 1:20. Note, ESMA regulations limit leverage rates to 1:30 for residents from Europe.

Mobile Apps

GCI offers both the ActTrader and MetaTrader 4 platforms in mobile app versions, allowing traders to access the markets and manage their accounts from portable devices. Users have access to many of the same features as the desktop platforms.

The apps are compatible with both iOS and Android devices and can be downloaded for free from the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store. There is also a mobile website for ActTrader users, meaning clients can carry out trades from a mobile browser without having to download additional software.

GCI mobile trading
GCI mobile trading

Payment Methods

Deposits

Traders can fund their account using several fee-free methods:

The minimum deposit is $500 and there is no maximum deposit limit. Note some methods may charge their own commission fees.

Withdrawals

Withdrawals can be made via the same methods listed above. Traders will need to complete a withdrawal form (online or PDF) available from the client portal, and email it back to the broker. There are no withdrawal fees and most payment requests are processed within 24 hours.

Demo Account

GCI Financial offers demo accounts with both the MT4 and ActTrader platform downloads. Users can practice trading with $50,000 in virtual funds, with no financial risk. If you’re unsure whether to open an account after reading this review, the simulator account is a great way to test the broker’s financial services for yourself.

Bonuses & Promotions

GCI offers an exclusive promotion of 50% bonus margin on deposits over 10,000 USD or EUR. Deposits less than this will be subject to the regular 25% bonus margin.

The broker also offers 4% interest on your average daily balance which is credited at the end of each month. Traders should check the broker’s website for any changes or further revenue promotions.

Regulation

Despite winning multiple awards, GCI LLC is not regulated. This is a concern. Unregulated providers do not provide the same degree of security as fully licensed brokers. It also raises questions about whether GCI Financial is a scam. Customer reviews don’t suggest that is the case, but readers should be wary given the group’s lack of legitimate regulatory oversight.

Additional Features

GCI offers an education and resources centre, containing various trading tools to assist both beginner and expert traders. This includes daily news, e-learning resources, a currency calculator, forex charts, trading signals, and an economic calendar. The only problem is that much of the educational content and trading signals haven’t been updated in years.

Account Types

GCI’s account offering is based on the two platforms available: MetaTrader 4 and ActTrader. Both accounts require a $500 initial deposit and offer trading in forex, indices, metals, crude oil, individual shares, and commodities.

The ActTrader account requires 10,000 currency units per lot, whilst the MetaTrader account requires 100,000 currency units per lot. The MetaTrader account also gives you a choice of ECN or traditional execution, no requotes or delays, and NDD instant execution in major currencies.

Benefits

Benefits of trading with GCI include:

Drawbacks

Downsides to creating a GCI trading account include:

Trading Hours

Forex can be traded 24 hours a day, however for other assets, trading times vary:

Customer Support

GCI offers a customer support help desk in eight different languages, including English, German, Russian, and Japanese.

The broker can be contacted via:

Unfortunately, it can take a while to get through to live chat support.

Security

The MetaTrader platform is protected with industry-standard Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) encryption. It is not clear from the website what levels of security the ActTrader platform has. GCI does, however, have a privacy policy on the website detailing their data collection processes.

GCI Verdict

GCI offers a decent breadth of tradeable financial assets on the MetaTrader 4 and ActTrader platforms. The broker also offers commission-free accounts as well as a fully-featured demo account. However, the outdated education centre and the lack of regulatory oversight may deter some traders.

Top 3 Alternatives to GCI

Compare GCI with the top 3 similar brokers that accept traders from your location.

  1. IG – Founded in 1974, IG is part of IG Group Holdings Plc, a publicly traded (LSE: IGG) brokerage. The brand-US offers spread betting, CFD and forex trading across an almost unrivalled selection of 17,000+ markets, with a range of user-friendly platforms and investing apps. For 50 years, IG has maintained its position as an industry leader, excelling in all key areas for traders.
    Go to IG
  2. Interactive Brokers – Interactive Brokers (IBKR) is a premier brokerage for experienced traders, providing access to 150 markets in 33 countries, along with a suite of comprehensive investment services. With over 40 years of experience, this Nasdaq-listed firm adheres to stringent regulations by the SEC, FCA, CIRO, and SFC, amongst others, and is one of the most trusted brokers for trading around the globe.
    Go to Interactive Brokers
  3. World Forex – World Forex is an offshore broker registered in St Vincent and the Grenadines, offering commission-free trading with a $1 minimum deposit and 1:1000 leverage. Digital contracts are also available, offering beginners a straightforward way to speculate on popular financial markets.
    Go to World Forex

GCI Comparison Table

Compare GCI With Similar Brokers
GCI IG Interactive Brokers World Forex
Rating 2.3 4.4 4.3 4
Markets Forex, CFDs, indices, shares, commodities CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, ETFs, Futures, Options, Crypto, Spread Betting Stocks, Options, Futures, Forex, Funds, Bonds, ETFs, Mutual Funds, CFDs, Cryptocurrencies Forex, CFD Stocks, Metals, Energies, Cryptos, Digital Contracts
Demo Account Yes Yes Yes Yes
Minimum Deposit $500 $0 $0 $1
Minimum Trade 0.01 Lots 0.01 Lots $100 0.01 Lots
Regulators FCA, ASIC, NFA, CFTC, DFSA, BaFin, MAS, FSCA FCA, SEC, FINRA, CBI, CIRO, SFC, MAS, MNB SVGFSA
Bonus 4% interest on account balance 100% Deposit Bonus
Education No Yes Yes No
Platforms MT4, ActTrader Web, ProRealTime, L2 Dealer, MT4, AutoChartist, TradingCentral Trader Workstation (TWS), IBKR Desktop, GlobalTrader, Mobile, Client Portal, AlgoTrader, OmniTrader, eSignal, TradingCentral MT4, MT5
Leverage 1:400 1:30 (Retail), 1:250 (Pro) 1:50 1:1000
Payment Methods 2 6 6 10
Visit Visit Visit Visit
Review IG
Review
Interactive Brokers
Review
World Forex
Review

Compare Trading Instruments

Compare the markets and instruments offered by GCI and its competitors. Please note, some markets may only be available via CFDs or other derivatives.

Compare GCI Trading Instruments
GCI IG Interactive Brokers World Forex
CFD Yes Yes Yes Yes
Forex Yes Yes Yes Yes
Stocks Yes Yes Yes Yes
Commodities Yes Yes Yes Yes
Oil No Yes No Yes
Gold Yes Yes Yes Yes
Copper No Yes No No
Silver No Yes No Yes
Corn No No No No
Crypto No Yes Yes Yes
Futures No Yes Yes No
Options No Yes Yes No
ETFs No Yes Yes No
Bonds No Yes Yes No
Warrants No Yes Yes No
Spreadbetting No Yes No No
Volatility Index No Yes No No

GCI vs Other Brokers

Compare GCI with any other broker by selecting the other broker below.

 

Customer Reviews

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GCI offers online trading in 300+ tradable assets with up to 1:400 leverage.

FAQ

Is GCI Financial a scam?

GCI Financial Ltd is currently unregulated. With that said, online customer reviews don’t suggest that the broker is a scam. Still, we always recommend opening an account with a licensed provider first.

What assets does GCI offer?

GCI offers over 300 tradeable instruments in forex, indices, shares, metals, commodities, and CFDs.

How can I make a deposit at GCI?

Deposits can be made via wire transfer, Perfect Money, Skrill, or Neteller. You can deposit funds from within your account portal and the minimum payment accepted is $500.

Does GCI offer a demo account?

Yes, GCI offers a demo account with both the MetaTrader 4 and ActTrader platforms. Users have access to $50,000 in virtual funds to practice trading.

What is the maximum leverage offered at GCI?

GCI offers maximum leverage of 1:400 with live accounts. For trading in online shares, leverage is capped at 1:20.