101Investing Experience 2021 - Serious Broker or Pure Scam?

Overall Rating: 
5/5 stars

Quality

speed

cost

101 Investing is a CFD broker based in Limassol (Cyprus). Investors can trade CFDs on shares, foreign exchange, indices, commodities and cryptocurrencies here. Many investors wonder whether 101 Investing is reputable.

Automated trading with the broker is possible via the Bitcoin Up trading robot. Bitcoin Up is an automated trading robot that was launched back in 2015 and became popular in the wake of the crypto boom in 2017. The trading robot can trade, open and close trades on behalf of investors.

What is the 101Investing experience as a user of the platform? Here is our detailed 101Investing review.

101Investing

The key data on 101Investing at a glance

101 Investing

Key data

Seat

Cyprus

regulation

Yes, CySEC

Payment methods

Cryptos, Bank Transfer, Neteller, Skrill, Credit Card

Assets

Forex, stocks, cryptos, commodities, indices

Demo account

Yes

Minimum deposit

$ 250

Max. Leverage

1: 500

Trading platform

MT4

Fixed spreads

no

Trading commission

no

App

Yes

US customers accepted

no

101Investing Test: What is 101Investing?

101Investing is an online broker based in Cyprus that was founded in 2016. The broker is a subsidiary of the popular online platform FXBFI. The parent company "FXBFI Broker Financial Invest Ltd." offers its customers extensive trading products. It is an officially regulated broker, authorised and licensed by CySEC under licence number 315/16.

With the 101Investing broker, FXBFI primarily targets trading beginners who are looking for a simple and user-friendly trading platform. The CFD broker offers its users a good range of services with features such as free demo accounts, high leverage, a wide range of tradable assets with different platforms and courteous customer service - all at transparent fees.

CFD trading at 101Investing offers the advantage of trading contracts for difference on underlying assets with leverage. In addition, profits can be made by taking short positions (short selling) even when prices are falling. However, CFDs are risky and highly speculative financial instruments.

Advantages and disadvantages of 101Investing at a glance

Pros:

  • Licensed broker regulated by CySEC
  • Large range of over 1000 CFDs in 5 asset classes
  • Trading with cryptocurrencies possible
  • Support of the MetaTrader 4 trading software
  • Automated trading with Bitcoin Up possible
  • Mobile app for Android available

Cons:

  • Higher trading fees than some competitors
  • Customer service only Mon-Fri
  • Little training material available
  • Mobile app for iOS only in development

Offer of the 101Investing App

101Investing is a broker that specialises exclusively in CFD trading and makes the most exciting markets accessible to investors in the form of this flexible financial instrument. In total, more than 350 CFDs on shares, forex, indices, commodities and cryptocurrencies are offered.

CFDs are derivatives, it is a financial contract where the buyer and seller agree to exchange the difference in value in the price of an underlying asset between the opening and closing time.

CFDs can be traded with leverage, traded profitably on any price movement (by taking the appropriate position) and free you from the need to organise physical storage of the underlying asset.

Offer of the 101Investing App

Cryptocurrencies

At 101Investing, investors can trade CFDs on leading cryptocurrencies, whereby in addition to Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Ripple and other well-known coins, a total of over 50 cryptocurrencies are available for trading. You can trade with a 1:2 leverage.

The following spreads and trading conditions apply:

101 Investing

Crypto CFDs

Spread

floating

Leverage


up to 1: 2

Trading hours


00:00 - 23:59 (7 days a week)

selection


More than 50 crypto CFDs

Commodities

Commodities can also be traded in CFD form, with a total of 17 of the most popular and most traded commodities to choose from. These CFDs cover all expected categories, namely

Precious metals: gold, silver, copper, aluminium, palladium, platinum
Energies: crude oil, natural gas
Agricultural commodities: Wheat, rice, cocoa, coffee, sugar, orange juice, soybeans, wheat, cotton, corn, cocoa.
Commodity CFDs can be traded with a maximum leverage of 1:30 (private traders) or even 1:125 (professional traders, separate proof required). The following conditions apply:

101 Investing

Commodity CFDs

Spread coffee

from 0.3

Spread copper

from 0.0041

Spread platinum

from 3.1

Spread sugar

from 0.23

Spread cocoa

from 30

Leverage

up to 1: 125 (with a "Pro" account)

Trading hours

Depending on the raw material

selection

17 commodity CFDs

Forex

Am internationalen Forex-Markt, der mit über 5 Billionen US-Dollar täglichem Handelsvolumen der liquideste aller Finanzmärkte ist, werden internationale Währungen in Devisenpaaren gelistet und ausgetauscht.

Dabei entfällt der größte Teil des Handels auf die wichtigsten globalen Währungen US-Dollar (USD), Euro (EUR), Japanische Yen (JPY), Britische Pfund (GBP), Schweizer Franken (CHF), Kanadische Dollar (CAD) und Australische Dollar (AUD), welche auch als Gruppe der „Major Pairs“ bezeichnet werden. Weniger beliebte Devisenpaare werden zu den „Minor Pairs“ oder gar „Exotic Pairs“ gezählt.

Bei 101Investing können neben allen Major Pairs auch Minor Pairs mit Währungen wie der Schwedischen Krona (SEK), Danish Krone (DKK), Russischen Rubel (RUB) oder Polnischen Zloty (PLN) gehandelt werden. Für professionelle Händler mit Pro-Konto gilt bei allen Forex-Paaren ein maximaler 1:500 Hebel.

101 Investing

Forex CFDs

Spreads major pairs

0.7-5 pips

Spreads minor pairs

from 0.0041

Leverage

up to 1: 500 (with a "Pro" account)

Trading hours

Depending on the currency pair

selection

More than 45 Forex CFDs

Shares

101Investing also offers its investors access to the New York Stock Exchange. A total of more than 75 equity CFDs from renowned global players are offered at favourable conditions. Among them are such well-known companies as Alibaba, Apple, Chevron, Facebook, Google, Hewlett-Packard, Intel, Nike, Pfizer, Philip Morris International, Sony, Tesla and others.

If you are looking, you are unfortunately in the wrong place. Only equity CFDs of companies listed on New York Wall Street are offered, whereby these can be traded by professional traders with 1:50 leverage.

101 Investing

Stock CFDs

Spread

from 0.21

Leverage

up to 1:50 (with a "Pro" account)

Trading hours

16:30 - 23:00 (5 days a week)

selection

More than 75 share CFDs

Indices

Indices bundle the shares of companies listed on a stock exchange, or companies in a particular industry, and aggregate them into a collective value. In this respect, looking at an index provides a good overall picture of how the share prices of the listed companies have developed over this period.

Many investors prefer to invest in an index instead of specific companies in order to spread risk and still be able to profit from a solid market development. The best-known stock indices in the world are those traded on the stock exchanges in New York, London, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Frankfurt and Paris.

All these indices can be traded at 101Investing in the form of a CFD, with a maximum leverage of 1:20. A total of 15 index CFDs are offered for trading, including the CAC 40, DAX 30, DOW 30, Euro Stox 50, FTSE 100, Hong Kong 50, Nasdaq 100 and the SP 500.

101 Investing

Index CFDs

Spread

0.3-3%

Maximum leverage

1:20

selection

15 index CFDs

101Investing registration: CFD trading in just a few steps

Bitcoin Up LogoIn order to start CFD trading at 101Investing, investors must first open an account with the broker. If you want to use automatic trading, you also need an account with Bitcoin Up.

We explain exactly how this process works in the following 3-step instructions:

Step 1: Open an account with 101Investing

In order to start trading, an account must first be opened with the broker. Those who want to trade the markets with automated trading also need to register an account with BitcoinUp. The registration process with both providers is simple and can be completed in a few minutes.

Simply fill out the registration form on the homepage and provide information such as first name, last name, email address and telephone number, then submit the data to the provider.

Both 101Investing and Bitcoin Up use the modern RSA encryption protocol for secure data transmission, and the strict requirements of the General Data Protection Regulation (DSGVO) are also followed. User data is secure, privacy remains protected.

Step 2: Deposit minimum amount

After opening the trading account at 101Investing, the deposit into the account is required. A variety of deposit methods are supported such as credit card, bank transfer, PayPal or e-wallets like Skrill.

The minimum amount required for a deposit is 250 EUR. We strongly recommend investors to transfer only the minimum amount at first and to familiarise themselves with the broker and the online trading platform.

Step 3: Start online trading

As soon as the deposit amount has been credited to the trading account, you can start trading. To do this, log in to the online trading platform (WebTrader), open the desired market and buy (or sell - "short") the preferred investment instrument in just a few clicks.

In your portfolio, you can view your current trading positions at any time, determine profit or loss in real time and - if desired - also close the open trade again.

101Investing Trading Platforms

Online trading should not only be profitable, but also enjoyable and easy to do. Key to this is a choice of user-friendly trading platforms, with mobile trading on smartphones also necessary to trade the markets anytime, anywhere.

At 101Investing, you can trade manually both directly in the desktop browser (Webtrader), with the specialised trading software MetaTrader 4 and with a dedicated mobile app:

Webtrader

The 101Investing WebTrader can be opened directly in the browser, no installation is required. The WebTrader impresses with a user-friendly interface, which can be easily operated through the navigation bar on the right edge of the screen.

As an alternative to WebTrader, which is based on MetaTrader, the standalone software MetaTrader 4 can be downloaded and installed on desktop devices, iOS and Android. The software is particularly recommended for desktop PCs in order to be able to access the entire range of functions of the programme even more easily.

Particularly beneficial are the extensive trading tools, flexible price charts with several chart types and the drawing tools and over 30 indicators with which insightful technical analyses of existing price charts can be carried out.

Other practical and popular tools include Expert Advisors, individual indicators, current market news, support for micro lot trading, trading signals and the possibility of installing further plug-ins via the MetaTrader Shop.

Mobile App

MetaTrader 4 is also available as a mobile app for smartphones (iOS/Android), so that investors can trade at any time, no matter where they are.

The fully-fledged trading platform also offers the full range of functions on mobile devices.

Designed for Forex trading, comprehensive price charts, trading tools, order history, market news and dozens of trading tools can be used for any CFD traded.

The account types of 101Investing

101Investing offers four different account models. Available are:

Silver
Gold
Platinum
Per

The minimum deposit is USD 250 for all account types and the maximum leverage is 1:500 for the gold and platinum version for professional clients. The silver account allows a leverage of 1:30 for both private clients and professionals.

All four account models offer hedging and Islamic swap-free terms. The gold and platinum accounts offer a swap discount of 25% and 50% respectively. The two accounts have some additional features, such as access to video tutorials and webinars. In addition, a personal account manager is available and the user is constantly informed about news.

Here is an overview of the individual account types:

silver

gold

platinum

Per

  • Hedging
  • FX leverage 1:30 (for pro and retail customers)
  • Fifth decimal place
  • Personal supervisor
  • Swap discount
  • Free VPS
  • Investment news updates
  • Base currencies: EUR / USD, GBP / USD. USD / JPY, AUD / USD, USD / CAD, USD / CHF, EUR / GBP, NZD / USD and others
  • Hedging
  • FX leverage 1: 400/1: 500
  • Fifth decimal place
  • Personal supervisor
  • Swap discount 25%
  • Free VPS
  • Investment news updates
  • Base currencies: EUR / USD, GBP / USD. USD / JPY, AUD / USD, USD / CAD, USD / CHF, EUR / GBP, NZD / USD and others
  • Hedging
  • FX leverage 1: 400/1: 500
  • Fifth decimal place
  • Personal supervisor
  • Swap discount 50%
  • Free VPS
  • Investment news updates
  • Base currencies: EUR / USD, GBP / USD. USD / JPY, AUD / USD, USD / CAD, USD / CHF, EUR / GBP, NZD / USD and others
    • Individualized
    • VIP
    • Professional trader account

    Anyone interested in the Pro account must contact customer support for more information.

    101Investing Fees

    Excellent online brokers are not only user-friendly and easy to operate, they also offer a transparent and fair fee structure. Especially for active online traders, it is important to know how high the trading and transaction fees of the online broker are, as they can negatively affect the profitability of trading.

    101Investing does without commissions and finances itself purely through low spreads, i.e. mark-ups on the buying and selling price of an investment instrument. In addition, there are further fees such as swap fees as well as inactivity fees and withdrawal fees.

    The amount of the spreads depends on the asset and its liquidity, whereby the amount is acceptable if there are also cheaper providers on the market.

    The collection of inactivity fees at 101Investing already starts after 61 days (80 EUR) of inactivity, the amount of the fees increases with each further month of inactivity. Even though an incentive for active trading is understandable, the level of these fees is definitely very disappointing and unusual in the market.
    We find it particularly bad that 101Investing charges massive withdrawal fees of EUR 50 per approved withdrawal, which is still a horrendous 5% even for a withdrawal of EUR 1,000. Withdrawals of less than EUR 100 are possible, but come with even higher fees.
    Here is a table showing the 101Investing fees:

    Trade with multiple cryptocurrencies

    101 Investing

    fees

    commission

    No

    Account management fee

    No

    Inactivity fee between 61 - 90 days

    80 €

    Inactivity fee between 91-180 days

    € 120

    Inactivity fee between 181 - 270 days

    € 200

    Inactivity fee from 271 days

    500 €

    Withdrawal fee for active accounts

    No fee for withdrawals of more than € 100

    Withdrawal fee for inactive accounts

    50 €

    The customer service of 101Investing

    101 Investing's customer service is available Monday to Friday from 7am to 5pm GMT and can be reached in a number of ways:

    Live chat (on the website on the right)
    Online contact form (see contact on the website)
    E-mail ([email protected])
    Telephone (+357 800 927 40)

    The 101Investing experience has shown that you wait longer in the live chat than is usual on other platforms.

    The security of the platform

    There is no doubt that 101Investing is reputable. The broker is regulated by the Cypriot financial supervisory authority CySEC. Anyone who wants to log in to 101Investing can rely on a number of security standards, such as Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) encryption on the MetaTrader platform, strict firewalls and industry-standard data protection.

    101Investing's servers are based in SAS 70-approved data centres, and money transfers must meet Level 1 PCI compliance.

    Training opportunities at 101Investing

    When it comes to continuing education, 101Investing offers its clients many things, including:

    Videos
    Tutorials
    Webinars
    Courses
    eBooks
    Stock Reports
    Trading signals
    Economic signals

    On the CFD broker's website, there is a "Training" section. Below this term, sub-topics are listed, for example tutorials and courses, webinars and also videos, eBooks and economic calendars.

    Is 101Investing reputable or scam?

    101Investing is a reputable and regulated online broker based in the Cypriot financial metropolis of Limassol. As a subsidiary of the recognised financial investment company FXBFI Broker Financial Invest Ltd, the broker is regulated by the Cypriot financial supervisory authority CySEC under licence number 315/16.

    Through the regulation of this financial authority of an EU country, compliance with strict security and transparency guidelines is proven and continuously monitored. Investors can be confident that they can turn to an EU authority in case of questions and complaints.

    101Investing is also a member of the Investor Compensation Fund (ICF), which means that customer deposits are subject to statutory deposit protection of up to EUR 20,000. User deposits are kept in separate accounts, separate from the company's operating funds. Compliance with valid guidelines such as MiFID II, AML and KYC regulations is ensured.

    Nevertheless, it is objectionable that 101Investing charges its users extremely high costs for inactivity and withdrawals, which we would not expect from a reputable broker. This point in particular is repeatedly reported in negative 101Investing experiences on the internet.

    Overall, 101Investing is reputable and legitimate, there is no reason to believe that 101Investing is a scam.

    Conclusion of our 101Investing experience

    101Investing is a reputable, licensed CFD broker that offers more than 350 CFDs on stocks, forex, indices, commodities and cryptocurrencies. Investors can trade both in the WebTrader, via desktop software or via the smartphone app of the manufacturer MetaTrader 4.

    A practical feature is the possibility to trade automatically with the broker's automated trading robot Bitcoin Up, without having to constantly monitor the prices and market opportunities yourself. An account with Bitcoin Up is required for this.

    Alternative to 101Investing: eToro

    Even though 101Investing offers an acceptable trading experience, the high costs do give a negative aftertaste. Therefore, we recommend our users to choose the multiple award-winning, popular and user-friendly online trading platform eToro as an alternative.

    The revolutionary social trading function, excellent customer service, state regulation and licensing, as well as a fair and transparent fee model round off the extensive offering. An unlimited demo account can be used free of charge at any time.

    Buy cryptos with eToro

    FAQ

    What is 101Investing?

    101Investing is a CFD broker that allows investors to trade various assets.

    Is 101Investing a reputable provider?

    Yes. 101Investing is regulated by the Cypriot financial supervisory authority CySEC. Fraud is therefore impossible. Nevertheless, you should not invest your entire fortune straight away.

    What does 101Investing offer?

    Traders can trade over 250 CFD assets on this platform - a comprehensive offer!

    Can investors also trade with cryptos at 101 Investing?

    Yes, with CFDs. Real coins cannot be bought, but the broker offers CFD trading with cryptocurrencies, where falling or rising prices can be speculated on.

    About the author

    Hi there, my name is Zalman Weinberg. I'm enthusiast with over 7 years of experience in cryptocurrencies and blockchain. Professional Trader providing Blockchain solutions to Startups and Enterprises. Expert in all cryptocurrency exchange APIs (BitMEX, Bittrex, Binance, Bitfinex, Kraken, Poloniex, Gdax etc.). I have also worked with multiple Forex broker APIs.

    This site is registered on wpml.org as a development site.