Bell Direct
Core Spreads
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Overview
Bell Direct was founded in 1983 and is headquartered in New Zealand, while Core Spreads was established in 2014 and is based in London. Bell Direct holds licences including Financial Markets Authority (FMA), while Core Spreads is regulated by Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) among others. Bell Direct serves 10,000+ clients worldwide; Core Spreads has 10,000+. The minimum deposit is $100 at Bell Direct and $1 at Core Spreads.
| Feature | Bell Direct | Core Spreads |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $100 | $1 |
| Regulation | Financial Markets Authority (FMA) | Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) |
| Founded | 1983 | 2014 |
| Country | New Zealand | London |
| Clients | 10,000+ | 10,000+ |
Fees
Fees are a critical factor when choosing between Bell Direct and Core Spreads, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. Core Spreads has a lower barrier to entry with a minimum deposit of $1 (vs $100 at Bell Direct). Neither broker charges withdrawal fees. Bell Direct applies inactivity fees on dormant accounts; Core Spreads does not. Core Spreads charges deposit fees; Bell Direct does not. Overall, Core Spreads scores higher on fees in our assessment.
| Feature | Bell Direct | Core Spreads |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $100 | $1 |
| Withdrawal Fees | No | No |
| Inactivity Fees | Yes | No |
| Deposit Fees | No | Yes |
| CFD Fees | Yes | No |
Platforms
Bell Direct offers MT5, cTrader, while Core Spreads supports MT4, MT5, cTrader. Both brokers provide mobile trading apps for iOS and Android. Core Spreads edges ahead on platform breadth and functionality in our scoring.
| Feature | Bell Direct | Core Spreads |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | MT4, Web Trader, 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 Core Spreads compare. Bell Direct runs regular live webinars; Core Spreads does not. Both provide video tutorials. Bell Direct publishes daily market commentary; Core Spreads 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 | Bell Direct | Core Spreads |
|---|---|---|
| Forex Education | No | Yes |
| CFD Education | Yes | No |
| Weekly Webinars | Yes | No |
| Daily Commentary | Yes | No |
| Trading Central | Yes | No |
| 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 Core Spreads supports 2 (bank transfer, credit/debit card). Both brokers support the same set of payment methods.
| Feature | Bell Direct | Core Spreads |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Core Spreads 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 | Core Spreads |
|---|---|---|
| Live Chat | Yes | Yes |
| Phone Support | Yes | Yes |
| Email Support | Yes | Yes |
| Languages | English, and Chinese | English, and Chinese |