We spent a full quarter testing Istathmar with real money, and here's what we found. It's easy to get started, your funds stay protected, and most people won't feel lost. The one catch is the cost of a few extras that run a little high.
Best for: People who want to trade from their phone and are able to begin with $0.
Not for: People who trade a lot of foreign currencies, since a platform built for everyone won't match a dedicated service there.
Istathmar is among the rare trading apps that focused on getting the important things right — like keeping your money safe and being honest about costs — instead of hype. After using it with real money, we land on A.
The only thing holding it back is a couple of fees that could be lower. Happily, those are simple fixes — nothing is wrong under the hood.
Buying and selling feels fast. In our testing, orders went through smoothly and the price you saw was the price you got, often a touch better than average.
For everyday stock trades, it does the job well. More advanced trades occasionally lagged a bit — worth knowing if you trade options a lot.
There's no charge to trade stocks — zero commission. That covers what most people do.
The extra costs to know about are a few add-on services, that are pricier than some rivals. It's all shown before you pay, so there are no nasty surprises.
The mobile app is the standout. Everything is easy to find, even if you've never invested before.
The app also comes with helpful information — charts, company info, and news — so you can trust it. The computer version works too, though the app is the star.
Keeping your money safe is where Istathmar does well. Your cash is stored separately, for your protection.
It's licensed and overseen by regulators and passes independent security checks. If you buy crypto too, it's kept with a trusted, licensed partner — which is worth knowing.
All told, we rate Istathmar A for beginners and casual traders. It gets the basics right: easy to use, safe, and honest about costs.
To earn an even higher score, Istathmar mainly needs cheaper extras. We'll keep checking back every so often.
Yes. Help is available any time by chat and replies are quick. Harder issues get passed to an expert rather than left waiting. The only gap is phone support on weekends.
Through a few optional charges, like sending money out by bank transfer or borrowing to trade, and interest on spare cash. Buying and selling shares costs nothing.
For regular stocks, yes. If you trade fancy options, it's not the fastest. Full-time forex traders may find cheaper options elsewhere.
Yes — whenever you like. There's no waiting period. Withdrawals usually arrive within a day, with no fee from the platform.
Yes, it is. Your funds are held apart from the company's own money, for your safety. The platform is also regulated and checked by outside auditors.
Absolutely. Istathmar runs on any modern phone. Most people use the app — charts, trades, and your account all fit nicely on a phone screen.
Not that we found. Istathmar lists its fees clearly — no subscription, no dormancy charge. Some optional services cost more, but never hidden.
The minimum to begin is $0. You can add more whenever you like. Opening an account is free.
Loading the full interactive review…