B

Bell Direct

5.6/10

Vanguard Investments

6.9/10
3/10RegulationWinner5/10
6/10FeesWinner10/10
7/10PlatformsWinner9/10
6/10Education & ResearchTied6/10
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 Vanguard Investments was established in 2008 and is based in United States. Bell Direct holds licences including Financial Markets Authority (FMA), while Vanguard Investments is regulated by Office of the Comptroller of the Currency among others. Bell Direct serves 10,000+ clients worldwide; Vanguard Investments has 10,000+. The minimum deposit is $100 at Bell Direct and $0 at Vanguard Investments.

Vanguard Investments wins this category
FeatureBell DirectVanguard Investments
Min. Deposit$100$0
RegulationFinancial Markets Authority (FMA)Office of the Comptroller of the Currency
Founded19832008
CountryNew ZealandUnited States
Clients10,000+10,000+

Fees

Fees are a critical factor when choosing between Bell Direct and Vanguard Investments, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. Vanguard Investments has a lower barrier to entry with a minimum deposit of $0 (vs $100 at Bell Direct). Vanguard Investments charges withdrawal fees while Bell Direct does not, giving Bell Direct an edge for frequent withdrawers. Both brokers charge inactivity fees on dormant accounts, worth noting if you trade infrequently. Overall, Vanguard Investments scores higher on fees in our assessment.

Vanguard Investments wins this category
FeatureBell DirectVanguard Investments
Min. Deposit$100$0
Withdrawal FeesNoYes
Inactivity FeesYesYes
Deposit FeesNoNo
CFD FeesYesNo

Platforms

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

Vanguard Investments wins this category
FeatureBell DirectVanguard Investments
MT4NoYes
MT5YesYes
cTraderYesYes
Windows AppYesYes
iOS AppYesYes
Android AppYesYes
Trading PlatformsAndroid,WEB,Desktop,iPhone,MacMT4,Desktop,Android,iPhone,Mac

Education & Research

Education and research tools help traders at every level make more informed decisions, and here's how Bell Direct and Vanguard Investments 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. The two brokers are evenly matched on educational content.

Tied
FeatureBell DirectVanguard Investments
Forex EducationNoNo
CFD EducationYesYes
Weekly WebinarsYesYes
Daily CommentaryYesYes
Trading CentralYesYes
AutochartistNoNo

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 Vanguard Investments supports 2 (bank transfer, credit/debit card). Both brokers support the same set of payment methods.

Tied
FeatureBell DirectVanguard Investments
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 Vanguard Investments 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 DirectVanguard Investments
Live ChatYesYes
Phone SupportYesYes
Email SupportYesYes
LanguagesEnglish, and ChineseEnglish, and Chinese