B
Circle Markets logo

Circle Markets

6.3/10
Directshares logo

Directshares

7.3/10
4/10RegulationWinner6/10
4/10FeesTied4/10
9/10PlatformsTied9/10
6/10Education & ResearchWinner10/10
4/10Deposits & WithdrawalsTied4/10
10/10SupportTied10/10

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Overview

Circle Markets was founded in 2007 and is headquartered in New Zealand, while Directshares was established in 2007 and is based in Australia. Circle Markets holds licences including Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), while Directshares is regulated by The Portuguese Securities Market Commission (CMVM) among others. Circle Markets serves 10,000+ clients worldwide; Directshares has 10,000+. Both brokers share the same minimum deposit of $100.

Directshares wins this category
FeatureCircle MarketsDirectshares
Min. Deposit$100$100
RegulationFinancial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA)The Portuguese Securities Market Commission (CMVM)
Founded20072007
CountryNew ZealandAustralia
Clients10,000+10,000+

Fees

Fees are a critical factor when choosing between Circle Markets and Directshares, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. Both require a minimum deposit of $100. Both brokers charge withdrawal fees. Circle Markets charges deposit fees; Directshares does not. The two brokers are broadly comparable on fee structure.

Tied
FeatureCircle MarketsDirectshares
Min. Deposit$100$100
Withdrawal FeesYesYes
Inactivity FeesNoNo
Deposit FeesYesYes
CFD FeesNoNo

Platforms

Circle Markets offers MT4, MT5, cTrader, while Directshares supports MT4, MT5, cTrader. Both brokers provide mobile trading apps for iOS and Android. Directshares supports social and copy trading features, which Circle Markets does not offer. The two brokers are closely matched on platform offering.

Tied
FeatureCircle MarketsDirectshares
MT4YesYes
MT5YesYes
cTraderYesYes
Windows AppYesYes
iOS AppYesYes
Android AppYesYes
Trading PlatformsDesktop, Tablet & Mobile appsMT4,iOS,MacBook,iPhone

Education & Research

Education and research tools help traders at every level make more informed decisions, and here's how Circle Markets and Directshares 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. Directshares scores higher overall in education and research.

Directshares wins this category
FeatureCircle MarketsDirectshares
Forex EducationNoYes
CFD EducationYesYes
Weekly WebinarsYesYes
Daily CommentaryYesYes
Trading CentralYesYes
AutochartistNoYes

Deposits & Withdrawals

Convenient deposit and withdrawal options reduce friction for traders, especially important when managing positions across time zones. Circle Markets accepts 2 of the tracked payment methods (bank transfer, credit/debit card), while Directshares supports 2 (bank transfer, credit/debit card). Both brokers support the same set of payment methods.

Tied
FeatureCircle MarketsDirectshares
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 Circle Markets and Directshares 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
FeatureCircle MarketsDirectshares
Live ChatYesYes
Phone SupportYesYes
Email SupportYesYes
LanguagesEnglish, and ChineseEnglish, and Chinese