Bell Direct
Forex.com
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Overview
Bell Direct was founded in 1983 and is headquartered in New Zealand, while Forex.com was established in 2001 and is based in United States. Bell Direct holds licences including Financial Markets Authority (FMA), while Forex.com is regulated by Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) among others. Bell Direct serves 10,000+ clients worldwide; Forex.com has 150,000+. The minimum deposit is $100 at Bell Direct and Typical at Forex.com.
| Feature | Bell Direct | Forex.com |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $100 | Typical |
| Regulation | Financial Markets Authority (FMA) | Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), Cayman Islands Monetary Authority (CIMA), Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC), National Futures Association (NFA) |
| Founded | 1983 | 2001 |
| Country | New Zealand | United States |
| Clients | 10,000+ | 150,000+ |
Fees
Fees are a critical factor when choosing between Bell Direct and Forex.com, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. Bell Direct has a lower barrier to entry with a minimum deposit of $100 (vs Typical at Forex.com). Forex.com charges withdrawal fees while Bell Direct does not, giving Bell Direct an edge for frequent withdrawers. Both brokers charge inactivity fees on dormant accounts, worth noting if you trade infrequently. Forex.com charges deposit fees; Bell Direct does not. Overall, Bell Direct scores higher on fees in our assessment.
| Feature | Bell Direct | Forex.com |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $100 | Typical |
| Withdrawal Fees | No | Yes |
| Inactivity Fees | Yes | Yes |
| Deposit Fees | No | Yes |
| CFD Fees | Yes | Yes |
Platforms
Bell Direct offers MT5, cTrader, while Forex.com supports MT4, MT5, cTrader. Both brokers provide mobile trading apps for iOS and Android. Forex.com supports social and copy trading features, which Bell Direct does not offer. Forex.com edges ahead on platform breadth and functionality in our scoring.
| Feature | Bell Direct | Forex.com |
|---|---|---|
| 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, MT5, WebTrader, Advantage Trader Pro, TradingView, Tablet and mobile apps |
Education & Research
Education and research tools help traders at every level make more informed decisions, and here's how Bell Direct and Forex.com 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 | Forex.com |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Forex.com supports 3 (bank transfer, credit/debit card, PayPal). Forex.com uniquely supports PayPal among the two brokers. Forex.com scores higher on deposit and withdrawal flexibility.
| Feature | Bell Direct | Forex.com |
|---|---|---|
| Bank Transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Credit Card | Yes | Yes |
| PayPal | No | Yes |
| 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 Forex.com offer live chat support. Both provide phone support. Email support is available at both brokers. Bell Direct supports 2 languages and Forex.com supports 3, giving Forex.com broader global reach. Both brokers are comparable on support quality.
| Feature | Bell Direct | Forex.com |
|---|---|---|
| Live Chat | Yes | Yes |
| Phone Support | Yes | Yes |
| Email Support | Yes | Yes |
| Languages | English, and Chinese | English, Chinese, Arabic |