Ascot Securities
Directshares
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Overview
Ascot Securities was founded in 1996 and is headquartered in Estonia, while Directshares was established in 2007 and is based in Australia. Ascot Securities holds licences including Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC), while Directshares is regulated by The Portuguese Securities Market Commission (CMVM) among others. Ascot Securities serves 10,000+ clients worldwide; Directshares has 10,000+. The minimum deposit is $25 at Ascot Securities and $100 at Directshares.
| Feature | Ascot Securities | Directshares |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $25 | $100 |
| Regulation | Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) | The Portuguese Securities Market Commission (CMVM) |
| Founded | 1996 | 2007 |
| Country | Estonia | Australia |
| Clients | 10,000+ | 10,000+ |
Fees
Fees are a critical factor when choosing between Ascot Securities and Directshares, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. Directshares has a lower barrier to entry with a minimum deposit of $100 (vs $25 at Ascot Securities). Both brokers charge withdrawal fees. Ascot Securities applies inactivity fees on dormant accounts; Directshares does not. Ascot Securities charges deposit fees; Directshares does not. Overall, Ascot Securities scores higher on fees in our assessment.
| Feature | Ascot Securities | Directshares |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $25 | $100 |
| Withdrawal Fees | Yes | Yes |
| Inactivity Fees | Yes | No |
| Deposit Fees | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Fees | Yes | No |
Platforms
Ascot Securities 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 | Ascot Securities | Directshares |
|---|---|---|
| MT4 | Yes | Yes |
| MT5 | Yes | Yes |
| cTrader | Yes | Yes |
| Windows App | Yes | Yes |
| iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | Desktop,Android,iPhone/iPad,Mac | MT4,iOS,MacBook,iPhone |
Education & Research
Education and research tools help traders at every level make more informed decisions, and here's how Ascot Securities and Directshares compare. Directshares runs regular live webinars; Ascot Securities does not. Both provide video tutorials. Directshares publishes daily market commentary; Ascot Securities does not. Both integrate third-party research tools. Directshares maintains an archive of past webinars for on-demand viewing. Directshares scores higher overall in education and research.
| Feature | Ascot Securities | Directshares |
|---|---|---|
| Forex Education | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Education | No | Yes |
| Weekly Webinars | No | Yes |
| Daily Commentary | No | Yes |
| Trading Central | No | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes |
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 Directshares supports 2 (bank transfer, credit/debit card). Both brokers support the same set of payment methods.
| Feature | Ascot Securities | Directshares |
|---|---|---|
| Bank Transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Credit Card | Yes | Yes |
| PayPal | No | No |
| Skrill | No | No |
| Neteller | No | No |
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 Directshares 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.
| Feature | Ascot Securities | Directshares |
|---|---|---|
| Live Chat | Yes | Yes |
| Phone Support | Yes | Yes |
| Email Support | Yes | Yes |
| Languages | English, and Chinese | English, and Chinese |