B

Ascot Securities

6.5/10
Direct FX logo

Direct FX

6.9/10
6/10WinnerRegulation3/10
8/10FeesWinner10/10
9/10PlatformsTied9/10
4/10Education & ResearchWinner6/10
4/10Deposits & WithdrawalsTied4/10
10/10SupportTied10/10

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Overview

Ascot Securities was founded in 1996 and is headquartered in Estonia, while Direct FX was established in 2006 and is based in New Zealand. Ascot Securities holds licences including Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC), while Direct FX is regulated by Unregulated among others. Ascot Securities serves 10,000+ clients worldwide; Direct FX has 10,000+. The minimum deposit is $25 at Ascot Securities and $1 at Direct FX.

Direct FX wins this category
FeatureAscot SecuritiesDirect FX
Min. Deposit$25$1
RegulationCyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC)Unregulated
Founded19962006
CountryEstoniaNew Zealand
Clients10,000+10,000+

Fees

Fees are a critical factor when choosing between Ascot Securities and Direct FX, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. Direct FX has a lower barrier to entry with a minimum deposit of $1 (vs $25 at Ascot Securities). Ascot Securities charges withdrawal fees while Direct FX does not, a notable advantage for frequent withdrawers. Ascot Securities applies inactivity fees on dormant accounts; Direct FX does not. Ascot Securities charges deposit fees; Direct FX does not. Overall, Direct FX scores higher on fees in our assessment.

Direct FX wins this category
FeatureAscot SecuritiesDirect FX
Min. Deposit$25$1
Withdrawal FeesYesNo
Inactivity FeesYesNo
Deposit FeesYesYes
CFD FeesYesYes

Platforms

Ascot Securities offers MT4, MT5, cTrader, while Direct FX 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.

Tied
FeatureAscot SecuritiesDirect FX
MT4YesYes
MT5YesYes
cTraderYesYes
Windows AppYesYes
iOS AppYesYes
Android AppYesYes
Trading PlatformsDesktop,Android,iPhone/iPad,MacNot available

Education & Research

Education and research tools help traders at every level make more informed decisions, and here's how Ascot Securities and Direct FX compare. Direct FX runs regular live webinars; Ascot Securities does not. Both provide video tutorials. Direct FX publishes daily market commentary; Ascot Securities does not. Both integrate third-party research tools. Direct FX maintains an archive of past webinars for on-demand viewing. Direct FX scores higher overall in education and research.

Direct FX wins this category
FeatureAscot SecuritiesDirect FX
Forex EducationYesNo
CFD EducationNoYes
Weekly WebinarsNoYes
Daily CommentaryNoYes
Trading CentralNoYes
AutochartistYesNo

Deposits & Withdrawals

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

Tied
FeatureAscot SecuritiesDirect FX
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 Ascot Securities and Direct FX 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
FeatureAscot SecuritiesDirect FX
Live ChatYesYes
Phone SupportYesYes
Email SupportYesYes
LanguagesEnglish, and ChineseEnglish, and Chinese