B

Bell Direct

5.6/10

IKON Finance

7.5/10
3/10RegulationWinner8/10
6/10FeesTied6/10
7/10PlatformsWinner9/10
6/10Education & ResearchWinner10/10
4/10Deposits & WithdrawalsTied4/10
10/10SupportTied10/10

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Overview

Bell Direct was founded in 1983 and is headquartered in New Zealand, while IKON Finance was established in 2011 and is based in London. Bell Direct holds licences including Financial Markets Authority (FMA), while IKON Finance is regulated by Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) among others. Bell Direct serves 10,000+ clients worldwide; IKON Finance has 10,000+. The minimum deposit is $100 at Bell Direct and $200 at IKON Finance.

IKON Finance wins this category
FeatureBell DirectIKON Finance
Min. Deposit$100$200
RegulationFinancial Markets Authority (FMA)Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)
Founded19832011
CountryNew ZealandLondon
Clients10,000+10,000+

Fees

Fees are a critical factor when choosing between Bell Direct and IKON Finance, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. Bell Direct has a lower barrier to entry with a minimum deposit of $100 (vs $200 at IKON Finance). Neither broker charges withdrawal fees. Both brokers charge inactivity fees on dormant accounts, worth noting if you trade infrequently. The two brokers are broadly comparable on fee structure.

Tied
FeatureBell DirectIKON Finance
Min. Deposit$100$200
Withdrawal FeesNoNo
Inactivity FeesYesYes
Deposit FeesNoNo
CFD FeesYesNo

Platforms

Bell Direct offers MT5, cTrader, while IKON Finance supports MT4, MT5, cTrader. Both brokers provide mobile trading apps for iOS and Android. IKON Finance edges ahead on platform breadth and functionality in our scoring.

IKON Finance wins this category
FeatureBell DirectIKON Finance
MT4NoYes
MT5YesYes
cTraderYesYes
Windows AppYesYes
iOS AppYesYes
Android AppYesYes
Trading PlatformsAndroid,WEB,Desktop,iPhone,MacMT4, ZuluTrade, 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 IKON Finance 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. IKON Finance scores higher overall in education and research.

IKON Finance wins this category
FeatureBell DirectIKON Finance
Forex EducationNoYes
CFD EducationYesYes
Weekly WebinarsYesYes
Daily CommentaryYesYes
Trading CentralYesYes
AutochartistNoYes

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 IKON Finance supports 2 (bank transfer, credit/debit card). Both brokers support the same set of payment methods.

Tied
FeatureBell DirectIKON Finance
Bank TransferYesYes
Credit CardYesYes
PayPalNoNo
SkrillNoNo
NetellerNoNo

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 IKON Finance 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.

Tied
FeatureBell DirectIKON Finance
Live ChatYesYes
Phone SupportYesYes
Email SupportYesYes
LanguagesEnglish, and ChineseEnglish, and Chinese