Bell Direct
Bridges Financial Services
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Overview
Bell Direct was founded in 1983 and is headquartered in New Zealand, while Bridges Financial Services was established in 2014 and is based in Australia. Bell Direct holds licences including Financial Markets Authority (FMA), while Bridges Financial Services is regulated by ABN 60 003 474 977 among others. Bell Direct serves 10,000+ clients worldwide; Bridges Financial Services has 10,000+. Both brokers share the same minimum deposit of $100.
| Feature | Bell Direct | Bridges Financial Services |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $100 | $100 |
| Regulation | Financial Markets Authority (FMA) | ABN 60 003 474 977, AFSL No. 240837 |
| Founded | 1983 | 2014 |
| Country | New Zealand | Australia |
| Clients | 10,000+ | 10,000+ |
Fees
Fees are a critical factor when choosing between Bell Direct and Bridges Financial Services, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. Both require a minimum deposit of $100. Bridges Financial Services charges withdrawal fees while Bell Direct does not, giving Bell Direct an edge for frequent withdrawers. Bell Direct applies inactivity fees on dormant accounts; Bridges Financial Services does not. Bridges Financial Services charges deposit fees; Bell Direct does not. Overall, Bell Direct scores higher on fees in our assessment.
| Feature | Bell Direct | Bridges Financial Services |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $100 | $100 |
| Withdrawal Fees | No | Yes |
| Inactivity Fees | Yes | No |
| Deposit Fees | No | Yes |
| CFD Fees | Yes | Yes |
Platforms
Bell Direct offers MT5, cTrader, while Bridges Financial Services supports MT4, MT5, cTrader. Both brokers provide mobile trading apps for iOS and Android. Bridges Financial Services supports social and copy trading features, which Bell Direct does not offer. Bridges Financial Services edges ahead on platform breadth and functionality in our scoring.
| Feature | Bell Direct | Bridges Financial Services |
|---|---|---|
| MT4 | No | Yes |
| MT5 | Yes | Yes |
| cTrader | Yes | Yes |
| Windows App | Yes | Yes |
| iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | Android,WEB,Desktop,iPhone,Mac | MetaTrader 4 |
Education & Research
Education and research tools help traders at every level make more informed decisions, and here's how Bell Direct and Bridges Financial Services 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. Bridges Financial Services scores higher overall in education and research.
| Feature | Bell Direct | Bridges Financial Services |
|---|---|---|
| Forex Education | No | Yes |
| CFD Education | Yes | Yes |
| Weekly Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Daily Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Central | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | Yes |
Deposits & Withdrawals
Convenient deposit and withdrawal options reduce friction for traders, especially important when managing positions across time zones. Bell Direct accepts 2 of the tracked payment methods (bank transfer, credit/debit card), while Bridges Financial Services supports 2 (bank transfer, credit/debit card). Both brokers support the same set of payment methods.
| Feature | Bell Direct | Bridges Financial Services |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Bell Direct and Bridges Financial Services 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 | Bell Direct | Bridges Financial Services |
|---|---|---|
| Live Chat | Yes | Yes |
| Phone Support | Yes | Yes |
| Email Support | Yes | Yes |
| Languages | English, and Chinese | English, and Chinese |