Bell Direct
Uphold
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Overview
Bell Direct was founded in 1983 and is headquartered in New Zealand, while Uphold was established in 2013 and is based in United States. Bell Direct holds licences including Financial Markets Authority (FMA), while Uphold is regulated by FCA and FINCEN: Uphold Europe Limited among others. Bell Direct serves 10,000+ clients worldwide; Uphold has 4,000,000+. The minimum deposit is $100 at Bell Direct and $1 at Uphold.
| Feature | Bell Direct | Uphold |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $100 | $1 |
| Regulation | Financial Markets Authority (FMA) | FCA and FINCEN: Uphold Europe Limited, Reg No. 09281410. Uphold HQ Inc. NMLS ID No. 1269875 |
| Founded | 1983 | 2013 |
| Country | New Zealand | United States |
| Clients | 10,000+ | 4,000,000+ |
Fees
Fees are a critical factor when choosing between Bell Direct and Uphold, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. Uphold has a lower barrier to entry with a minimum deposit of $1 (vs $100 at Bell Direct). Neither broker charges withdrawal fees. Bell Direct applies inactivity fees on dormant accounts; Uphold does not. Overall, Uphold scores higher on fees in our assessment.
| Feature | Bell Direct | Uphold |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $100 | $1 |
| Withdrawal Fees | No | No |
| Inactivity Fees | Yes | No |
| Deposit Fees | No | No |
| CFD Fees | Yes | No |
Platforms
Bell Direct offers MT5, cTrader, while Uphold supports a proprietary platform. Both brokers provide mobile trading apps for iOS and Android. Bell Direct edges ahead on platform breadth and functionality in our scoring.
| Feature | Bell Direct | Uphold |
|---|---|---|
| MT4 | No | No |
| MT5 | Yes | No |
| cTrader | Yes | No |
| Windows App | Yes | Yes |
| iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | Android,WEB,Desktop,iPhone,Mac | Web, Desktop & Mobile Apps |
Education & Research
Education and research tools help traders at every level make more informed decisions, and here's how Bell Direct and Uphold compare. Both brokers run regular live webinars. Both provide video tutorials, including advanced content. Bell Direct publishes daily market commentary; Uphold does not. Bell Direct integrates third-party research tools (Trading Central); Uphold does not. Archived webinars are available at both brokers for self-paced learning. Bell Direct scores higher overall in education and research.
| Feature | Bell Direct | Uphold |
|---|---|---|
| Forex Education | No | No |
| CFD Education | Yes | No |
| Weekly Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Daily Commentary | Yes | No |
| Trading Central | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | No | No |
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 Uphold supports 2 (bank transfer, credit/debit card). Both brokers support the same set of payment methods.
| Feature | Bell Direct | Uphold |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Uphold offer live chat support. Bell Direct offers phone support; Uphold does not. Email support is available at both brokers. Bell Direct supports 2 languages and Uphold supports 1, giving Bell Direct broader global reach. Bell Direct scores higher overall on customer support in our assessment.
| Feature | Bell Direct | Uphold |
|---|---|---|
| Live Chat | Yes | Yes |
| Phone Support | Yes | No |
| Email Support | Yes | Yes |
| Languages | English, and Chinese | English |