Circle Markets
ICICI Direct
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Overview
Circle Markets was founded in 2007 and is headquartered in New Zealand, while ICICI Direct was established in 1994 and is based in India. Circle Markets holds licences including Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), while ICICI Direct is regulated by Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) among others. Circle Markets serves 10,000+ clients worldwide; ICICI Direct has 2,000,000+. The minimum deposit is $100 at Circle Markets and $0 at ICICI Direct.
| Feature | Circle Markets | ICICI Direct |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $100 | $0 |
| Regulation | Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) | Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), Member of the Bombay Stock Exchange |
| Founded | 2007 | 1994 |
| Country | New Zealand | India |
| Clients | 10,000+ | 2,000,000+ |
Fees
Fees are a critical factor when choosing between Circle Markets and ICICI Direct, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. ICICI Direct has a lower barrier to entry with a minimum deposit of $0 (vs $100 at Circle Markets). Circle Markets charges withdrawal fees while ICICI Direct does not, a notable advantage for frequent withdrawers. ICICI Direct applies inactivity fees on dormant accounts; Circle Markets does not. Circle Markets charges deposit fees; ICICI Direct does not. Overall, ICICI Direct scores higher on fees in our assessment.
| Feature | Circle Markets | ICICI Direct |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $100 | $0 |
| Withdrawal Fees | Yes | No |
| Inactivity Fees | No | Yes |
| Deposit Fees | Yes | No |
| CFD Fees | No | No |
Platforms
Circle Markets offers MT4, MT5, cTrader, while ICICI Direct supports MT4, MT5, cTrader. Both brokers provide mobile trading apps for iOS and Android. ICICI Direct supports social and copy trading features, which Circle Markets does not offer. The two brokers are closely matched on platform offering.
| Feature | Circle Markets | ICICI Direct |
|---|---|---|
| MT4 | Yes | Yes |
| MT5 | Yes | Yes |
| cTrader | Yes | Yes |
| Windows App | Yes | Yes |
| iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | Desktop, Tablet & Mobile apps | Web Trader, Tablet & Mobile apps |
Education & Research
Education and research tools help traders at every level make more informed decisions, and here's how Circle Markets and ICICI Direct 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.
| Feature | Circle Markets | ICICI Direct |
|---|---|---|
| Forex Education | No | No |
| CFD Education | Yes | Yes |
| Weekly Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Daily Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Central | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
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 ICICI Direct supports 1 (bank transfer). Circle Markets uniquely supports credit/debit card among the two brokers. Circle Markets scores higher on deposit and withdrawal flexibility.
| Feature | Circle Markets | ICICI Direct |
|---|---|---|
| Bank Transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Credit Card | Yes | No |
| 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 Circle Markets and ICICI Direct offer live chat support. Both provide phone support. Email support is available at both brokers. Circle Markets supports 2 languages and ICICI Direct supports 13, giving ICICI Direct broader global reach. Both brokers are comparable on support quality.
| Feature | Circle Markets | ICICI Direct |
|---|---|---|
| Live Chat | Yes | Yes |
| Phone Support | Yes | Yes |
| Email Support | Yes | Yes |
| Languages | English, and Chinese | English, Deutsch, Nederlands, Espanol, Francais, Italiano, Polski, Srpski, Norsk, Svenska, Cesky, Romana, Turkce |