activtrades
Directshares
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Overview
activtrades was founded in 2011 and is headquartered in United States, while Directshares was established in 2007 and is based in Australia. activtrades holds licences including Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), while Directshares is regulated by The Portuguese Securities Market Commission (CMVM) among others. activtrades serves 12,000,000+ clients worldwide; Directshares has 10,000+. The minimum deposit is $250 at activtrades and $100 at Directshares.
| Feature | activtrades | Directshares |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $250 | $100 |
| Regulation | Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC), Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA), Pepperstone Markets Limited is incorporated in The Bahamas (number 177174 B), Licensed by the Securities Commission of The Bahamas (SCB) number SIA-F218 | The Portuguese Securities Market Commission (CMVM) |
| Founded | 2011 | 2007 |
| Country | United States | Australia |
| Clients | 12,000,000+ | 10,000+ |
Fees
Fees are a critical factor when choosing between activtrades and Directshares, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. Directshares has a lower barrier to entry with a minimum deposit of $100 (vs $250 at activtrades). Both brokers charge withdrawal fees. activtrades applies inactivity fees on dormant accounts; Directshares does not. activtrades charges deposit fees; Directshares does not. Overall, Directshares scores higher on fees in our assessment.
| Feature | activtrades | Directshares |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $250 | $100 |
| Withdrawal Fees | Yes | Yes |
| Inactivity Fees | Yes | No |
| Deposit Fees | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Fees | Yes | No |
Platforms
activtrades offers MT4, MT5, cTrader, while Directshares supports MT4, MT5, cTrader. Both brokers provide mobile trading apps for iOS and Android. Both brokers support copy or social trading, catering to less hands-on investors. The two brokers are closely matched on platform offering.
| Feature | activtrades | Directshares |
|---|---|---|
| MT4 | Yes | Yes |
| MT5 | Yes | Yes |
| cTrader | Yes | Yes |
| Windows App | Yes | Yes |
| iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | MT4, MT5, Mac, ZuluTrade, Web Trader, cTrader, Tablet & Mobile apps | MT4,iOS,MacBook,iPhone |
Education & Research
Education and research tools help traders at every level make more informed decisions, and here's how activtrades and Directshares compare. Both brokers run regular live webinars. Both provide video tutorials, including advanced content. Daily market commentary is available from both brokers. Both integrate third-party research tools including Trading Central. Archived webinars are available at both brokers for self-paced learning. The two brokers are evenly matched on educational content.
| Feature | activtrades | Directshares |
|---|---|---|
| Forex Education | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Education | Yes | Yes |
| Weekly Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Daily Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Central | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes |
Deposits & Withdrawals
Convenient deposit and withdrawal options reduce friction for traders, especially important when managing positions across time zones. activtrades accepts 5 of the tracked payment methods (bank transfer, credit/debit card, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller), while Directshares supports 2 (bank transfer, credit/debit card). activtrades uniquely supports PayPal and Skrill and Neteller among the two brokers. activtrades scores higher on deposit and withdrawal flexibility.
| Feature | activtrades | Directshares |
|---|---|---|
| Bank Transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Credit Card | Yes | Yes |
| PayPal | Yes | No |
| Skrill | Yes | No |
| Neteller | Yes | No |
Support
Responsive customer support matters most when you're locked out of your account or need urgent help with a trade. Both activtrades and Directshares offer live chat support. Both provide phone support. Email support is available at both brokers. activtrades supports 8 languages and Directshares supports 2, giving activtrades broader global reach. Both brokers are comparable on support quality.
| Feature | activtrades | Directshares |
|---|---|---|
| Live Chat | Yes | Yes |
| Phone Support | Yes | Yes |
| Email Support | Yes | Yes |
| Languages | English, Spanish, Polish, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, and Arabic | English, and Chinese |