Bell Direct
Fortrade
BrokerDataNet earns affiliate commission from brokers listed on this site. This does not affect our ratings or editorial independence.
Overview
Bell Direct was founded in 1983 and is headquartered in New Zealand, while Fortrade was established in 1992 and is based in UK. Bell Direct holds licences including Financial Markets Authority (FMA), while Fortrade is regulated by Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) FRN: 609970 among others. Bell Direct serves 10,000+ clients worldwide; Fortrade has 10,000+. The minimum deposit is $100 at Bell Direct and $1 at Fortrade.
| Feature | Bell Direct | Fortrade |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $100 | $1 |
| Regulation | Financial Markets Authority (FMA) | Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) FRN: 609970, National Bank of the Republic of Belarus (NBRB) FRN: 193075810, Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) ABN: 33 614 683 831 | AFSL: 493520, Canadian Investor Protection Fund (CIPF) CRN: BC1148613, Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) with CIF license number 385/20 |
| Founded | 1983 | 1992 |
| Country | New Zealand | UK |
| Clients | 10,000+ | 10,000+ |
Fees
Fees are a critical factor when choosing between Bell Direct and Fortrade, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. Fortrade 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; Fortrade does not. Fortrade charges deposit fees; Bell Direct does not. Overall, Fortrade scores higher on fees in our assessment.
| Feature | Bell Direct | Fortrade |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $100 | $1 |
| Withdrawal Fees | No | No |
| Inactivity Fees | Yes | No |
| Deposit Fees | No | Yes |
| CFD Fees | Yes | Yes |
Platforms
Bell Direct offers MT5, cTrader, while Fortrade supports MT4, MT5, cTrader. Both brokers provide mobile trading apps for iOS and Android. Fortrade edges ahead on platform breadth and functionality in our scoring.
| Feature | Bell Direct | Fortrade |
|---|---|---|
| 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, Binary, 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 Fortrade compare. Bell Direct runs regular live webinars; Fortrade does not. Bell Direct has a video library; Fortrade does not. Bell Direct publishes daily market commentary; Fortrade does not. Bell Direct integrates third-party research tools (Trading Central); Fortrade does not. Bell Direct maintains an archive of past webinars for on-demand viewing. Bell Direct scores higher overall in education and research.
| Feature | Bell Direct | Fortrade |
|---|---|---|
| Forex Education | No | No |
| CFD Education | Yes | No |
| Weekly Webinars | Yes | No |
| Daily Commentary | Yes | No |
| Trading Central | Yes | No |
| 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 Fortrade supports 4 (bank transfer, credit/debit card, PayPal, Neteller). Fortrade uniquely supports PayPal and Neteller among the two brokers. Fortrade scores higher on deposit and withdrawal flexibility.
| Feature | Bell Direct | Fortrade |
|---|---|---|
| Bank Transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Credit Card | Yes | Yes |
| PayPal | No | Yes |
| Skrill | No | No |
| Neteller | No | Yes |
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 Fortrade offer live chat support. Both provide phone support. Email support is available at both brokers. Bell Direct supports 2 languages and Fortrade supports 1, giving Bell Direct broader global reach. Both brokers are comparable on support quality.
| Feature | Bell Direct | Fortrade |
|---|---|---|
| Live Chat | Yes | Yes |
| Phone Support | Yes | Yes |
| Email Support | Yes | Yes |
| Languages | English, and Chinese | English |