Bell Direct
First Trade
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Overview
Bell Direct was founded in 1983 and is headquartered in New Zealand, while First Trade was established in 2008 and is based in USA. Bell Direct holds licences including Financial Markets Authority (FMA), while First Trade is regulated by Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) among others. Bell Direct serves 10,000+ clients worldwide; First Trade has 10,000+. The minimum deposit is $100 at Bell Direct and $5 at First Trade.
| Feature | Bell Direct | First Trade |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $100 | $5 |
| Regulation | Financial Markets Authority (FMA) | Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) |
| Founded | 1983 | 2008 |
| Country | New Zealand | USA |
| Clients | 10,000+ | 10,000+ |
Fees
Fees are a critical factor when choosing between Bell Direct and First Trade, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. Bell Direct has a lower barrier to entry with a minimum deposit of $100 (vs $5 at First Trade). First Trade charges withdrawal fees while Bell Direct does not, giving Bell Direct an edge for frequent withdrawers. Bell Direct applies inactivity fees on dormant accounts; First Trade does not. First Trade charges deposit fees; Bell Direct does not. Overall, First Trade scores higher on fees in our assessment.
| Feature | Bell Direct | First Trade |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $100 | $5 |
| Withdrawal Fees | No | Yes |
| Inactivity Fees | Yes | No |
| Deposit Fees | No | Yes |
| CFD Fees | Yes | No |
Platforms
Bell Direct offers MT5, cTrader, while First Trade supports MT4, MT5, cTrader. Both brokers provide mobile trading apps for iOS and Android. First Trade edges ahead on platform breadth and functionality in our scoring.
| Feature | Bell Direct | First Trade |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Education & Research
Education and research tools help traders at every level make more informed decisions, and here's how Bell Direct and First Trade 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. First Trade scores higher overall in education and research.
| Feature | Bell Direct | First Trade |
|---|---|---|
| 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 First Trade supports 2 (bank transfer, credit/debit card). Both brokers support the same set of payment methods.
| Feature | Bell Direct | First Trade |
|---|---|---|
| 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 First Trade 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 | First Trade |
|---|---|---|
| Live Chat | Yes | Yes |
| Phone Support | Yes | Yes |
| Email Support | Yes | Yes |
| Languages | English, and Chinese | English, and Chinese |