Ascot Securities
ICICI Direct
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Overview
Ascot Securities was founded in 1996 and is headquartered in Estonia, while ICICI Direct was established in 1994 and is based in India. Ascot Securities holds licences including Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC), while ICICI Direct is regulated by Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) among others. Ascot Securities serves 10,000+ clients worldwide; ICICI Direct has 2,000,000+. The minimum deposit is $25 at Ascot Securities and $0 at ICICI Direct.
| Feature | Ascot Securities | ICICI Direct |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $25 | $0 |
| Regulation | Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) | Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), Member of the Bombay Stock Exchange |
| Founded | 1996 | 1994 |
| Country | Estonia | India |
| Clients | 10,000+ | 2,000,000+ |
Fees
Fees are a critical factor when choosing between Ascot Securities and ICICI Direct, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. ICICI Direct has a lower barrier to entry with a minimum deposit of $0 (vs $25 at Ascot Securities). Ascot Securities charges withdrawal fees while ICICI Direct does not, a notable advantage for frequent withdrawers. Both brokers charge inactivity fees on dormant accounts, worth noting if you trade infrequently. Ascot Securities charges deposit fees; ICICI Direct does not. Overall, ICICI Direct scores higher on fees in our assessment.
| Feature | Ascot Securities | ICICI Direct |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $25 | $0 |
| Withdrawal Fees | Yes | No |
| Inactivity Fees | Yes | Yes |
| Deposit Fees | Yes | No |
| CFD Fees | Yes | No |
Platforms
Ascot Securities offers MT4, MT5, cTrader, while ICICI Direct 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 | ICICI Direct |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Web Trader, Tablet & Mobile apps |
Education & Research
Education and research tools help traders at every level make more informed decisions, and here's how Ascot Securities and ICICI Direct compare. ICICI Direct runs regular live webinars; Ascot Securities does not. Both provide video tutorials. ICICI Direct publishes daily market commentary; Ascot Securities does not. Both integrate third-party research tools. ICICI Direct maintains an archive of past webinars for on-demand viewing. ICICI Direct scores higher overall in education and research.
| Feature | Ascot Securities | ICICI Direct |
|---|---|---|
| Forex Education | Yes | No |
| CFD Education | No | Yes |
| Weekly Webinars | No | Yes |
| Daily Commentary | No | Yes |
| Trading Central | No | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
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 ICICI Direct supports 1 (bank transfer). Ascot Securities uniquely supports credit/debit card among the two brokers. Ascot Securities scores higher on deposit and withdrawal flexibility.
| Feature | Ascot Securities | ICICI Direct |
|---|---|---|
| Bank Transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Credit Card | Yes | No |
| 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 ICICI Direct offer live chat support. Both provide phone support. Email support is available at both brokers. Ascot Securities supports 2 languages and ICICI Direct supports 13, giving ICICI Direct broader global reach. Both brokers are comparable on support quality.
| Feature | Ascot Securities | ICICI Direct |
|---|---|---|
| Live Chat | Yes | Yes |
| Phone Support | Yes | Yes |
| Email Support | Yes | Yes |
| Languages | English, and Chinese | English, Deutsch, Nederlands, Espanol, Francais, Italiano, Polski, Srpski, Norsk, Svenska, Cesky, Romana, Turkce |