Barclays
Bell Direct
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Overview
Barclays was founded in 2011 and is headquartered in United Kingdom, while Bell Direct was established in 1983 and is based in New Zealand. Barclays holds licences including Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), while Bell Direct is regulated by Financial Markets Authority (FMA) among others. Barclays serves 10,000+ clients worldwide; Bell Direct has 10,000+. The minimum deposit is $0 at Barclays and $100 at Bell Direct.
| Feature | Barclays | Bell Direct |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $0 | $100 |
| Regulation | Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) | Financial Markets Authority (FMA) |
| Founded | 2011 | 1983 |
| Country | United Kingdom | New Zealand |
| Clients | 10,000+ | 10,000+ |
Fees
Fees are a critical factor when choosing between Barclays and Bell Direct, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. Barclays has a lower barrier to entry with a minimum deposit of $0 (vs $100 at Bell Direct). Neither broker charges withdrawal fees. Bell Direct applies inactivity fees on dormant accounts; Barclays does not. Overall, Barclays scores higher on fees in our assessment.
| Feature | Barclays | Bell Direct |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $0 | $100 |
| Withdrawal Fees | No | No |
| Inactivity Fees | No | Yes |
| Deposit Fees | No | No |
| CFD Fees | No | Yes |
Platforms
Barclays offers MT4, MT5, cTrader, while Bell Direct supports MT5, cTrader. Both brokers provide mobile trading apps for iOS and Android. Barclays edges ahead on platform breadth and functionality in our scoring.
| Feature | Barclays | 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 | Desktop, 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 Barclays and Bell Direct compare. Both brokers run regular live webinars. Both provide video tutorials, including advanced content. Daily market commentary is available from both brokers. Both integrate third-party research tools including Trading Central. Archived webinars are available at both brokers for self-paced learning. Barclays scores higher overall in education and research.
| Feature | Barclays | Bell Direct |
|---|---|---|
| Forex Education | Yes | No |
| CFD Education | Yes | Yes |
| Weekly Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Daily Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Central | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
Deposits & Withdrawals
Convenient deposit and withdrawal options reduce friction for traders, especially important when managing positions across time zones. Barclays 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.
| Feature | Barclays | Bell Direct |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Barclays 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.
| Feature | Barclays | Bell Direct |
|---|---|---|
| Live Chat | Yes | Yes |
| Phone Support | Yes | Yes |
| Email Support | Yes | Yes |
| Languages | English, and Chinese | English, and Chinese |