RCG Markets vs TD Ameritrade | Our Analysis & Comparison in 2024

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RCG Markets and TD Ameritrade are Forex and CFD brokers offering online trading services to traders and investors worldwide. Both brokers are regulated by top-tier regulatory authorities. RCG Markets is regulated by 3 regulatory authorities , including the SEC, FINRA, and FCA. On the other hand, TD Ameritrade is regulated by 3 regulatory authorities, including SEC, FINRA, SIPC. These two brokers offer almost similar services. However, each broker has its strengths and weaknesses.

In this article, we will compare RCG Markets with TD Ameritrade regarding trading platforms, regulations, tradable assets, fees, customer support, and overall trading experience score. We will also explore if RCG Markets is better than TD Ameritrade. This comparison lets you understand which broker is better for your trading style and preferences.

RCG Markets

Established in 2018, RCG Markets is a South Africa-based forex and CFD broker that offers online trading services. While licensed by the South Africa Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA: FSP49769), it lacks regulation from other major regulatory bodies. The broker offers a wide range of trading instruments including forex, indices, shares, commodities, and energies. The broker provides access to the MT4 platform with competitive spreads and commissions.

RCG Markets Overview
  • Founded In: 2018
  • Minimum Deposit: R100
  • Maximum Leverage: 1:3000
  • Regulations:SEC, FINRA, and FCA
  • Trading platform: MT4, MT5
  • Account Types: Classic, Raw, ECN, Royal100
  • Payment Options: Bank Wire (BankTransfer/SWIFT), VISA, MasterCard, AdvCash, BitPay, bitwallet, ecoPayz, ePayments, FasaPay, Help2Pay, Neteller, Payfinder, Skrill, SticPay, TransfterMate, TroniPay, UnionPay, Uphold
  • US Traders: Not Accept

TD Ameritrade

Founded in 1971 as Ameritrade, TD Ameritrade is a well-known American online brokerage firm that offers a wide range of financial services including stocks, Forex,  options, ETFs Mutual Funds, fixed income and other investment products  TD Ameritrade went through a couple of acquisitions and mergers. In 2006, it acquired the US operations of TD Waterhouse, followed by the acquisition of Scottrade in 2017. Finally, in 2020, Charles Schwab Corporation acquired TD Ameritrade. TD Ameritrade provides access to both US and non-US traders to trade on this platform. 

TD Ameritrade At a Glance

TD Ameritrade At a Glance
  • Founded In: 1978
  • Minimum Deposit: $0
  • Maximum Leverage: 1:50
  • Regulations: SEC , FINRA , SIPC
  • Trading platform: Web Platforms, thinkorswim desktop, thinkorswim® web, Mobile Trading
  • Account Types: Standard, Retirement, Education and Specialty accounts.
  • Payment Options: Bank Wire (BankTransfer/SWIFT), ACH (Automated Clearing House), Check, Physical Stock Certificates, Transfer from Existing Broker
  • US Clients : Accepted

RCG Markets vs TD Ameritrade: Side By Side Comparison

RCG Markets
TD Ameritrade
Product
Product
RCG Markets
TD Ameritrade
Founded In
Founded In
2018
1978
Founded By
Founded By
Not Found
John Joseph Ricketts
Headquarters
Headquarters
Gauteng, South Africa
Omaha, United State
Regulations
Regulations
FSCA
SEC, FINRA, SIPC.
Min Deposit
Min Deposit
R50
None
Max Leverage
Max Leverage
1:2000
50:1
Tradable Assets
Tradable Assets
Forex, indices, Shares, Commodities, and Energies
Stocks,Options,ETFs,Mutual Funds,Futures,Forex,Margin Trading,Bonds & Fixed Income.
Fees
Fees
Spread from 1.5 pips, commissions $7/round lot
Commission from $7 to $9.99
Platforms and Tools
Platforms and Tools
MT4, MT5
Web ,Mobile , thinkorswim Trading Platforms
US Traders
US Traders
Not Allowed
Allowed

RCG Markets vs: TD Ameritrade Features

RCG Markets

  • Trading Instruments: A wide range of trading instruments including Forex, Indices, Shares, Commodities, and Energies. 
  • Maximum Leverage: The maximum leverage of RCG Markets is as high as 2000:1. However, leverage may vary based on tradable assets and account types
  • Minimum Deposit: The minimum deposit of RCF markets is as low as R50
  • Account Types: Four ( RCG Classic Account, RCG RAW, RCG ECN Account, ROYAL 100) 
  • Trading Fees: Spread starting from 1.5 pips for the RCG Classic Account and RCG Royal Account; commission of $7 for the RCG ECN Account. No commission and no spread for the RCG Raw Account
  • PAMM/ MAM:  Not Available
  • Scalping: Allowed 
  • News Trading: Allowed
  • EA/ Robot Trading: Allowed

TD Ameritrade

  • Trading Instruments: 4,700+ trading instruments including Stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, options, fixed income, futures, and forex, as well as margin lending and cash management services
  • Maximum Leverage: 50:1. Offers both leverage and non-leverage assets. 
  • Minimum Deposit: TD Ameritrade does not require a minimum deposit to open a trading account 
  • Account Type: Brokerage and Trading, Retirement Account, Education and Custodian, charitable giving, lending, Small business retirements, Checking and Savings, Robo and Dedicated Advice, credit cards, Annuities, Trust and Estate, Insurance
  • Trading Fees: TD Ameritrade offers a $0 account minimum with no charges for trading stocks and ETFs. Bond trades are $1 per bond, and most options contracts cost $0.65 each. Mutual fund trades typically cost around $50, but the firm also provides access to over 3,600 no-transaction-fee funds
  • PAMM/MAM: Not Available
  • News Trading: Allowed
  • Scalping: Allowed
  • Automated Trading: Allowed

RCG Markets vs TD Ameritrade: Pros and Cons

RCG MarketsPros & Cons

Pros
  • Regulated by FSCA.
  • Offers popular trading platform (MT4).
  • The maximum leverage is as high as 2000:1.
  • Allows EA trading, scalping, and News trading.
  • Spreads starting from as low as 0 pips.
  • Offers multiple account types.
  • Provides ECN Executions.
  • A wide range of trading instruments are offered including Forex, Indices, Shares, Commodities, and Energies.
Cons
  • Lack of Regulatory Oversight (Only regulated by FSCA in South Africa).
  • The demo account is only valid for 14 days.
  • Limited Trading Platforms.
  • Limited research and educational resources.
  • No Social Trading Options.

TD Ameritrade Pros & Cons

Pros
  • ETF, non-penny stock, and options trades are commission-free
  • Expansive trading tools and resources for all types of investors
  • Low trading fees (free stock and ETF trading)
  • Regulated by FINRA, SIBC 
  • Part of Charles Schwab Corporation since October 2020, with a combined 28 million clients and $6 trillion in assets.
  • The company does not charge fees for trading in American and Canadian stocks, options, and ETFs.
  • There is a large selection of investments from which to choose
Cons
  • Broker-assisted trades are somewhat costly
  • No direct crypto Trading 
  • Forex trading via thinkorswim, a trading platform where you can trade forex
  • No MT4, MT5, cTraders  trading platforms are offered 
  • Fractional shares are not offered
  • Accounts mostly limited to US residents
  • As a U.S.-only forex broker, TD Ameritrade does not offer copy trading or MetaTrader (MT4).

RCG Marketss Vs TD Ameritrade: Our Scores and Ratings

We rated both brokers, RCG Markets and TD Ameritrade, on a scale of 1 to 10, with 0.1 increments. To achieve a comprehensive rating, we broadly grouped all services offered by brokers into 6 macro categories and assigned percentage weights to them. Each macro category is subdivided into several data points which contributes to the total score of 1.0-10.0 assigned to each macro category. Since all categories are not equally important, our weight percentage plays a significant role in assessing the broker accurately. For example, Regulation and Security contributes a total weight of 40% to the whole ratings because this is the most important rating category. To learn more, read our methodology.

RCG Markets:

7
RCG Markets Scores
Regulation and Security (40%)5
Fees and Commissions (20%)9
Trading (15%)9
Trading tools (10%)7
Customer Support (10%)8
Trading Education (5%)7

TD Ameritrade

8.8
TD Ameritrade Score
Regulation and Security (40%)9
Fees and Commissions (20%)9
Trading (15%)9
Trading tools (10%)8
Customer Support (10%)8
Trading Education (5%)7

Final Verdict :

RCG and Dukascopy are regulated forex and CFD brokers in the industry. They offer similar trading services. Both brokers allow scalping, hedging, EA trading, and Copy trading. The minimum order size for both of them is 0.01. 

However, there are a few areas where you may find some differences. For example, the minimum deposit for RCG is R100., whereas the minimum deposit for Dukascopy is $0. Additionally, the maximum leverage for RCG is 1:3000. In contrast, the maximum leverage for Dukascopy is up to 1:50. RCG offers passive investment programs like MAM and PAMM, while Dukascopy does not have any passive investment programs.

Our score for RCG is 7, and for Dukascopy, it is 8.8 So, if you are looking for the most trusted forex brokers with MAM and PAMM services, you may choose RCG. However, if you prefer another forex brokers that offer similar services, you may choose Dukascopy.

Written by

Jason Paine is a forex trader, researcher, and tech enthusiast. He is passionate about financial markets and cutting-edge technology. With a dynamic 16-year trading career, he's on a mission to guide fellow traders. Having navigated diverse forex brokers, Jason shares his insights at Brokersway to bridge the gap between traders and the right brokerage.

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