Bell Direct
Interactive Investor
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 Interactive Investor was established in 1995 and is based in UK. Bell Direct holds licences including Financial Markets Authority (FMA), while Interactive Investor is regulated by Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) among others. Bell Direct serves 10,000+ clients worldwide; Interactive Investor has 10,000+. The minimum deposit is $100 at Bell Direct and $1 at Interactive Investor.
| Feature | Bell Direct | Interactive Investor |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $100 | $1 |
| Regulation | Financial Markets Authority (FMA) | Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) |
| Founded | 1983 | 1995 |
| Country | New Zealand | UK |
| Clients | 10,000+ | 10,000+ |
Fees
Fees are a critical factor when choosing between Bell Direct and Interactive Investor, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. Interactive Investor has a lower barrier to entry with a minimum deposit of $1 (vs $100 at Bell Direct). Neither broker charges withdrawal fees. Both brokers charge inactivity fees on dormant accounts, worth noting if you trade infrequently. Overall, Interactive Investor scores higher on fees in our assessment.
| Feature | Bell Direct | Interactive Investor |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $100 | $1 |
| Withdrawal Fees | No | No |
| Inactivity Fees | Yes | Yes |
| Deposit Fees | No | No |
| CFD Fees | Yes | No |
Platforms
Bell Direct offers MT5, cTrader, while Interactive Investor supports MT4, MT5, cTrader. Both brokers provide mobile trading apps for iOS and Android. Interactive Investor supports social and copy trading features, which Bell Direct does not offer. Interactive Investor edges ahead on platform breadth and functionality in our scoring.
| Feature | Bell Direct | Interactive Investor |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Web Trader, ProTrader, 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 Interactive Investor compare. Bell Direct runs regular live webinars; Interactive Investor does not. Both provide video tutorials. Bell Direct publishes daily market commentary; Interactive Investor 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 | Interactive Investor |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Interactive Investor supports 2 (bank transfer, credit/debit card). Both brokers support the same set of payment methods.
| Feature | Bell Direct | Interactive Investor |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Interactive Investor 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 | Interactive Investor |
|---|---|---|
| Live Chat | Yes | Yes |
| Phone Support | Yes | Yes |
| Email Support | Yes | Yes |
| Languages | English, and Chinese | English, and Chinese |