B

Bell Direct

5.6/10

Charter Prime

7.3/10
3/10RegulationWinner7/10
6/10FeesTied6/10
7/10PlatformsWinner9/10
6/10Education & ResearchWinner10/10
4/10Deposits & WithdrawalsTied4/10
10/10SupportTied10/10

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Overview

Bell Direct was founded in 1983 and is headquartered in New Zealand, while Charter Prime was established in 2012 and is based in Australia. Bell Direct holds licences including Financial Markets Authority (FMA), while Charter Prime is regulated by Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) among others. Bell Direct serves 10,000+ clients worldwide; Charter Prime has 10,000+. The minimum deposit is $100 at Bell Direct and $200 at Charter Prime.

Charter Prime wins this category
FeatureBell DirectCharter Prime
Min. Deposit$100$200
RegulationFinancial Markets Authority (FMA)Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)
Founded19832012
CountryNew ZealandAustralia
Clients10,000+10,000+

Fees

Fees are a critical factor when choosing between Bell Direct and Charter Prime, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. Bell Direct has a lower barrier to entry with a minimum deposit of $100 (vs $200 at Charter Prime). Neither broker charges withdrawal fees. Bell Direct applies inactivity fees on dormant accounts; Charter Prime does not. Charter Prime charges deposit fees; Bell Direct does not. The two brokers are broadly comparable on fee structure.

Tied
FeatureBell DirectCharter Prime
Min. Deposit$100$200
Withdrawal FeesNoNo
Inactivity FeesYesNo
Deposit FeesNoYes
CFD FeesYesYes

Platforms

Bell Direct offers MT5, cTrader, while Charter Prime supports MT4, MT5, cTrader. Both brokers provide mobile trading apps for iOS and Android. Charter Prime supports social and copy trading features, which Bell Direct does not offer. Charter Prime edges ahead on platform breadth and functionality in our scoring.

Charter Prime wins this category
FeatureBell DirectCharter Prime
MT4NoYes
MT5YesYes
cTraderYesYes
Windows AppYesYes
iOS AppYesYes
Android AppYesYes
Trading PlatformsAndroid,WEB,Desktop,iPhone,MacMetaTrader 4

Education & Research

Education and research tools help traders at every level make more informed decisions, and here's how Bell Direct and Charter Prime 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. Charter Prime scores higher overall in education and research.

Charter Prime wins this category
FeatureBell DirectCharter Prime
Forex EducationNoYes
CFD EducationYesYes
Weekly WebinarsYesYes
Daily CommentaryYesYes
Trading CentralYesYes
AutochartistNoYes

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 Charter Prime supports 2 (bank transfer, credit/debit card). Both brokers support the same set of payment methods.

Tied
FeatureBell DirectCharter Prime
Bank TransferYesYes
Credit CardYesYes
PayPalNoNo
SkrillNoNo
NetellerNoNo

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 Charter Prime 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.

Tied
FeatureBell DirectCharter Prime
Live ChatYesYes
Phone SupportYesYes
Email SupportYesYes
LanguagesEnglish, and ChineseEnglish, and Chinese