B

Amscot Stockbroking

3.9/10

Bell Direct

5.6/10
3/10RegulationTied3/10
0/10FeesWinner6/10
7/10PlatformsTied7/10
0/10Education & ResearchWinner6/10
4/10Deposits & WithdrawalsTied4/10
10/10SupportTied10/10

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Overview

Amscot Stockbroking was founded in 1853 and is headquartered in Austrailia, while Bell Direct was established in 1983 and is based in New Zealand. Amscot Stockbroking holds licences including Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications (Estonia), while Bell Direct is regulated by Financial Markets Authority (FMA) among others. Amscot Stockbroking serves 10,000+ clients worldwide; Bell Direct has 10,000+. The minimum deposit is $500 at Amscot Stockbroking and $100 at Bell Direct.

Bell Direct wins this category
FeatureAmscot StockbrokingBell Direct
Min. Deposit$500$100
RegulationMinistry of Economic Affairs and Communications (Estonia)Financial Markets Authority (FMA)
Founded18531983
CountryAustrailiaNew Zealand
Clients10,000+10,000+

Fees

Fees are a critical factor when choosing between Amscot Stockbroking and Bell Direct, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. Bell Direct has a lower barrier to entry with a minimum deposit of $100 (vs $500 at Amscot Stockbroking). Amscot Stockbroking charges withdrawal fees while Bell Direct does not, a notable advantage for frequent withdrawers. Bell Direct applies inactivity fees on dormant accounts; Amscot Stockbroking does not. Overall, Bell Direct scores higher on fees in our assessment.

Bell Direct wins this category
FeatureAmscot StockbrokingBell Direct
Min. Deposit$500$100
Withdrawal FeesYesNo
Inactivity FeesNoYes
Deposit FeesNoNo
CFD FeesNoYes

Platforms

Amscot Stockbroking offers MT5, cTrader, while Bell Direct supports MT5, cTrader. Both brokers provide mobile trading apps for iOS and Android. The two brokers are closely matched on platform offering.

Tied
FeatureAmscot StockbrokingBell Direct
MT4NoNo
MT5YesYes
cTraderYesYes
Windows AppYesYes
iOS AppYesYes
Android AppYesYes
Trading PlatformsIRESSTrader,IRESSInvestor,netIRESS,XPLANAndroid,WEB,Desktop,iPhone,Mac

Education & Research

Education and research tools help traders at every level make more informed decisions, and here's how Amscot Stockbroking and Bell Direct compare. Bell Direct runs regular live webinars; Amscot Stockbroking does not. Bell Direct has a video library; Amscot Stockbroking does not. Bell Direct publishes daily market commentary; Amscot Stockbroking does not. Bell Direct integrates third-party research tools (Trading Central); Amscot Stockbroking does not. Bell Direct maintains an archive of past webinars for on-demand viewing. Bell Direct scores higher overall in education and research.

Bell Direct wins this category
FeatureAmscot StockbrokingBell Direct
Forex EducationNoNo
CFD EducationNoYes
Weekly WebinarsNoYes
Daily CommentaryNoYes
Trading CentralNoYes
AutochartistNoNo

Deposits & Withdrawals

Convenient deposit and withdrawal options reduce friction for traders, especially important when managing positions across time zones. Amscot Stockbroking accepts 2 of the tracked payment methods (bank transfer, credit/debit card), while Bell Direct supports 2 (bank transfer, credit/debit card). Both brokers support the same set of payment methods.

Tied
FeatureAmscot StockbrokingBell Direct
Bank TransferYesYes
Credit CardYesYes
PayPalNoNo
SkrillNoNo
NetellerNoNo

Support

Responsive customer support matters most when you're locked out of your account or need urgent help with a trade. Both Amscot Stockbroking and Bell Direct offer live chat support. Both provide phone support. Email support is available at both brokers. Both brokers offer support in 2 languages. Both brokers are comparable on support quality.

Tied
FeatureAmscot StockbrokingBell Direct
Live ChatYesYes
Phone SupportYesYes
Email SupportYesYes
LanguagesEnglish, and ChineseEnglish, and Chinese