Bell Direct
Circle Markets
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Overview
Bell Direct was founded in 1983 and is headquartered in New Zealand, while Circle Markets was established in 2007 and is based in New Zealand. Bell Direct holds licences including Financial Markets Authority (FMA), while Circle Markets is regulated by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) among others. Bell Direct serves 10,000+ clients worldwide; Circle Markets has 10,000+. Both brokers share the same minimum deposit of $100.
| Feature | Bell Direct | Circle Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $100 | $100 |
| Regulation | Financial Markets Authority (FMA) | Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) |
| Founded | 1983 | 2007 |
| Country | New Zealand | New Zealand |
| Clients | 10,000+ | 10,000+ |
Fees
Fees are a critical factor when choosing between Bell Direct and Circle Markets, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. Both require a minimum deposit of $100. Circle Markets charges withdrawal fees while Bell Direct does not, giving Bell Direct an edge for frequent withdrawers. Bell Direct applies inactivity fees on dormant accounts; Circle Markets does not. Circle Markets charges deposit fees; Bell Direct does not. Overall, Bell Direct scores higher on fees in our assessment.
| Feature | Bell Direct | Circle Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $100 | $100 |
| Withdrawal Fees | No | Yes |
| Inactivity Fees | Yes | No |
| Deposit Fees | No | Yes |
| CFD Fees | Yes | No |
Platforms
Bell Direct offers MT5, cTrader, while Circle Markets supports MT4, MT5, cTrader. Both brokers provide mobile trading apps for iOS and Android. Circle Markets edges ahead on platform breadth and functionality in our scoring.
| Feature | Bell Direct | Circle Markets |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Desktop, Tablet & Mobile apps |
Education & Research
Education and research tools help traders at every level make more informed decisions, and here's how Bell Direct and Circle Markets 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. The two brokers are evenly matched on educational content.
| Feature | Bell Direct | Circle Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Forex Education | No | No |
| CFD Education | Yes | Yes |
| Weekly Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Daily Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Central | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
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 Circle Markets supports 2 (bank transfer, credit/debit card). Both brokers support the same set of payment methods.
| Feature | Bell Direct | Circle Markets |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Circle Markets 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 | Circle Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Live Chat | Yes | Yes |
| Phone Support | Yes | Yes |
| Email Support | Yes | Yes |
| Languages | English, and Chinese | English, and Chinese |