
AvaTrade
Bell Direct
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Overview
AvaTrade was founded in 2006 and is headquartered in The British Virgin Islands, while Bell Direct was established in 1983 and is based in New Zealand. AvaTrade holds licences including Central Bank of Ireland, while Bell Direct is regulated by Financial Markets Authority (FMA) among others. AvaTrade serves 200,000+ clients worldwide; Bell Direct has 10,000+. The minimum deposit is $250 at AvaTrade and $100 at Bell Direct.
| Feature | AvaTrade | Bell Direct |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $250 | $100 |
| Regulation | Central Bank of Ireland, Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC), Financial Services Authority (FSA), Financial Stability Board (FSB), British Virgin Islands Financial Services Commission (BVI) | Financial Markets Authority (FMA) |
| Founded | 2006 | 1983 |
| Country | The British Virgin Islands | New Zealand |
| Clients | 200,000+ | 10,000+ |
Fees
Fees are a critical factor when choosing between AvaTrade 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 $250 at AvaTrade). Neither broker charges withdrawal fees. Bell Direct applies inactivity fees on dormant accounts; AvaTrade does not. Overall, Bell Direct scores higher on fees in our assessment.
| Feature | AvaTrade | Bell Direct |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $250 | $100 |
| Withdrawal Fees | No | No |
| Inactivity Fees | No | Yes |
| Deposit Fees | No | No |
| CFD Fees | No | Yes |
Platforms
AvaTrade offers MT4, MT5, cTrader, while Bell Direct supports MT5, cTrader. Both brokers provide mobile trading apps for iOS and Android. AvaTrade supports social and copy trading features, which Bell Direct does not offer. AvaTrade edges ahead on platform breadth and functionality in our scoring.
| Feature | AvaTrade | Bell Direct |
|---|---|---|
| MT4 | Yes | No |
| MT5 | Yes | Yes |
| cTrader | Yes | Yes |
| Windows App | Yes | Yes |
| iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | MT4, Mac, Mirror Trader, ZuluTrade, Web Trader, Tablet & Mobile apps | Android,WEB,Desktop,iPhone,Mac |
Education & Research
Education and research tools help traders at every level make more informed decisions, and here's how AvaTrade and Bell Direct compare. Bell Direct runs regular live webinars; AvaTrade does not. Both provide video tutorials. Bell Direct publishes daily market commentary; AvaTrade does not. Both integrate third-party research tools. Bell Direct maintains an archive of past webinars for on-demand viewing. Bell Direct scores higher overall in education and research.
| Feature | AvaTrade | Bell 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. AvaTrade accepts 4 of the tracked payment methods (bank transfer, credit/debit card, PayPal, Neteller), while Bell Direct supports 2 (bank transfer, credit/debit card). AvaTrade uniquely supports PayPal and Neteller among the two brokers. AvaTrade scores higher on deposit and withdrawal flexibility.
| Feature | AvaTrade | Bell Direct |
|---|---|---|
| Bank Transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Credit Card | Yes | Yes |
| PayPal | Yes | No |
| Skrill | No | 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 AvaTrade and Bell Direct offer live chat support. Both provide phone support. Email support is available at both brokers. AvaTrade supports 6 languages and Bell Direct supports 2, giving AvaTrade broader global reach. Both brokers are comparable on support quality.
| Feature | AvaTrade | Bell Direct |
|---|---|---|
| Live Chat | Yes | Yes |
| Phone Support | Yes | Yes |
| Email Support | Yes | Yes |
| Languages | English, Italian, German, French, Greek, and Hebrew | English, and Chinese |