Bell Direct
ThinkMarkets
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 ThinkMarkets was established in 2010 and is based in Australia & United Kingdom. Bell Direct holds licences including Financial Markets Authority (FMA), while ThinkMarkets is regulated by the Japanese Financial Services Agency (JFSA) with license no. 0250 among others. Bell Direct serves 10,000+ clients worldwide; ThinkMarkets has 475,000+. The minimum deposit is $100 at Bell Direct and $0 at ThinkMarkets.
| Feature | Bell Direct | ThinkMarkets |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $100 | $0 |
| Regulation | Financial Markets Authority (FMA) | the Japanese Financial Services Agency (JFSA) with license no. 0250, the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) with license no. 215/13, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA 629628) in the UK, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC 424700), the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) in South Africa and the Financial Services Authority (FSA SD060) Seychelles. TF Global Markets (UK) Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, FRN 629628. TF GLobal Markets (Aust) Limited is the holder of Australian Financial Services Licence number 424700. TF GLobal Markets (South Africa) (Pty) Ltd is an authorised financial services provider (FSP No 49835). TF Global Markets Int Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority, Firm Reference Number SD060 Seychelles |
| Founded | 1983 | 2010 |
| Country | New Zealand | Australia & United Kingdom |
| Clients | 10,000+ | 475,000+ |
Fees
Fees are a critical factor when choosing between Bell Direct and ThinkMarkets, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. ThinkMarkets has a lower barrier to entry with a minimum deposit of $0 (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, ThinkMarkets scores higher on fees in our assessment.
| Feature | Bell Direct | ThinkMarkets |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $100 | $0 |
| Withdrawal Fees | No | No |
| Inactivity Fees | Yes | Yes |
| Deposit Fees | No | No |
| CFD Fees | Yes | Yes |
Platforms
Bell Direct offers MT5, cTrader, while ThinkMarkets supports MT4, MT5, a proprietary platform. Bell Direct offers a mobile trading app; mobile availability for ThinkMarkets is limited. ThinkMarkets supports social and copy trading features, which Bell Direct does not offer. Bell Direct edges ahead on platform breadth and functionality in our scoring.
| Feature | Bell Direct | ThinkMarkets |
|---|---|---|
| MT4 | No | Yes |
| MT5 | Yes | Yes |
| cTrader | Yes | No |
| Windows App | Yes | No |
| iOS App | Yes | No |
| Android App | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | Android,WEB,Desktop,iPhone,Mac | MT4, MT5 and ThinkTrader |
Education & Research
Education and research tools help traders at every level make more informed decisions, and here's how Bell Direct and ThinkMarkets 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. ThinkMarkets scores higher overall in education and research.
| Feature | Bell Direct | ThinkMarkets |
|---|---|---|
| Forex Education | No | Yes |
| CFD Education | Yes | Yes |
| Weekly Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Daily Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Central | Yes | Yes |
| 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 ThinkMarkets supports 5 (bank transfer, credit/debit card, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller). ThinkMarkets uniquely supports PayPal and Skrill and Neteller among the two brokers. ThinkMarkets scores higher on deposit and withdrawal flexibility.
| Feature | Bell Direct | ThinkMarkets |
|---|---|---|
| Bank Transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Credit Card | Yes | Yes |
| PayPal | No | Yes |
| Skrill | No | Yes |
| 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 ThinkMarkets offer live chat support. Both provide phone support. Email support is available at both brokers. Bell Direct supports 2 languages and ThinkMarkets supports 13, giving ThinkMarkets broader global reach. Both brokers are comparable on support quality.
| Feature | Bell Direct | ThinkMarkets |
|---|---|---|
| Live Chat | Yes | Yes |
| Phone Support | Yes | Yes |
| Email Support | Yes | Yes |
| Languages | English, and Chinese | English, Portuguese, Vietnamese, Chinese, Czech, Greek, Indonesian, Thai, Malay, Italian, Arabic, German, Spanish and Japanese |