Bell Direct
Markets.com
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Overview
Bell Direct was founded in 1983 and is headquartered in New Zealand, while Markets.com was established in 2008 and is based in Cyprus. Bell Direct holds licences including Financial Markets Authority (FMA), while Markets.com is regulated by Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) among others. Bell Direct serves 10,000+ clients worldwide; Markets.com has 10,000+. The minimum deposit is $100 at Bell Direct and $250 at Markets.com.
| Feature | Bell Direct | Markets.com |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $100 | $250 |
| Regulation | Financial Markets Authority (FMA) | Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC), Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA), Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC) |
| Founded | 1983 | 2008 |
| Country | New Zealand | Cyprus |
| Clients | 10,000+ | 10,000+ |
Fees
Fees are a critical factor when choosing between Bell Direct and Markets.com, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. Bell Direct has a lower barrier to entry with a minimum deposit of $100 (vs $250 at Markets.com). Neither broker charges withdrawal fees. Bell Direct applies inactivity fees on dormant accounts; Markets.com does not. Overall, Bell Direct scores higher on fees in our assessment.
| Feature | Bell Direct | Markets.com |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $100 | $250 |
| Withdrawal Fees | No | No |
| Inactivity Fees | Yes | No |
| Deposit Fees | No | No |
| CFD Fees | Yes | No |
Platforms
Bell Direct offers MT5, cTrader, while Markets.com supports MT4, MT5, cTrader. Both brokers provide mobile trading apps for iOS and Android. Markets.com supports social and copy trading features, which Bell Direct does not offer. Markets.com edges ahead on platform breadth and functionality in our scoring.
| Feature | Bell Direct | Markets.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, Web Trader, 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 Markets.com compare. Bell Direct runs regular live webinars; Markets.com does not. Both provide video tutorials. Bell Direct publishes daily market commentary; Markets.com 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 | Markets.com |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Markets.com supports 3 (bank transfer, credit/debit card, PayPal). Markets.com uniquely supports PayPal among the two brokers. Markets.com scores higher on deposit and withdrawal flexibility.
| Feature | Bell Direct | Markets.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 Markets.com offer live chat support. Both provide phone support. Email support is available at both brokers. Bell Direct supports 2 languages and Markets.com supports 14, giving Markets.com broader global reach. Both brokers are comparable on support quality.
| Feature | Bell Direct | Markets.com |
|---|---|---|
| Live Chat | Yes | Yes |
| Phone Support | Yes | Yes |
| Email Support | Yes | Yes |
| Languages | English, and Chinese | Arabic, Chinese, Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Norwegian, Polish, Romanian, Russian, Spanish, and Turkish |