B

Bell Direct

5.6/10

SpreadCo

6.1/10
3/10RegulationWinner7/10
6/10WinnerFees4/10
7/10PlatformsWinner9/10
6/10WinnerEducation & Research4/10
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 SpreadCo was established in 2005 and is based in London. Bell Direct holds licences including Financial Markets Authority (FMA), while SpreadCo is regulated by Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) among others. Bell Direct serves 10,000+ clients worldwide; SpreadCo has 10,000+. Both brokers share the same minimum deposit of $100.

SpreadCo wins this category
FeatureBell DirectSpreadCo
Min. Deposit$100$100
RegulationFinancial Markets Authority (FMA)Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)
Founded19832005
CountryNew ZealandLondon
Clients10,000+10,000+

Fees

Fees are a critical factor when choosing between Bell Direct and SpreadCo, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. Both require a minimum deposit of $100. SpreadCo charges withdrawal fees while Bell Direct does not, giving Bell Direct an edge for frequent withdrawers. Bell Direct applies inactivity fees on dormant accounts; SpreadCo does not. SpreadCo charges deposit fees; Bell Direct does not. Overall, Bell Direct scores higher on fees in our assessment.

Bell Direct wins this category
FeatureBell DirectSpreadCo
Min. Deposit$100$100
Withdrawal FeesNoYes
Inactivity FeesYesNo
Deposit FeesNoYes
CFD FeesYesYes

Platforms

Bell Direct offers MT5, cTrader, while SpreadCo supports MT4, MT5, cTrader. Both brokers provide mobile trading apps for iOS and Android. SpreadCo supports social and copy trading features, which Bell Direct does not offer. SpreadCo edges ahead on platform breadth and functionality in our scoring.

SpreadCo wins this category
FeatureBell DirectSpreadCo
MT4NoYes
MT5YesYes
cTraderYesYes
Windows AppYesYes
iOS AppYesYes
Android AppYesYes
Trading PlatformsAndroid,WEB,Desktop,iPhone,MacWeb 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 SpreadCo compare. Bell Direct runs regular live webinars; SpreadCo does not. Both provide video tutorials. Bell Direct publishes daily market commentary; SpreadCo 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.

Bell Direct wins this category
FeatureBell DirectSpreadCo
Forex EducationNoYes
CFD EducationYesNo
Weekly WebinarsYesNo
Daily CommentaryYesNo
Trading CentralYesNo
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 SpreadCo supports 2 (bank transfer, credit/debit card). Both brokers support the same set of payment methods.

Tied
FeatureBell DirectSpreadCo
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 SpreadCo 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 DirectSpreadCo
Live ChatYesYes
Phone SupportYesYes
Email SupportYesYes
LanguagesEnglish, and ChineseEnglish, and Chinese