B
CM Trading logo

CM Trading

6.3/10
Directshares logo

Directshares

7.3/10
8/10WinnerRegulation6/10
0/10FeesWinner4/10
9/10PlatformsTied9/10
4/10Education & ResearchWinner10/10
4/10Deposits & WithdrawalsTied4/10
10/10SupportTied10/10

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Overview

CM Trading was founded in 2011 and is headquartered in Seychelles, while Directshares was established in 2007 and is based in Australia. CM Trading holds licences including Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA), while Directshares is regulated by The Portuguese Securities Market Commission (CMVM) among others. CM Trading serves 10,000+ clients worldwide; Directshares has 10,000+. The minimum deposit is $250 at CM Trading and $100 at Directshares.

Directshares wins this category
FeatureCM TradingDirectshares
Min. Deposit$250$100
RegulationFinancial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA)The Portuguese Securities Market Commission (CMVM)
Founded20112007
CountrySeychellesAustralia
Clients10,000+10,000+

Fees

Fees are a critical factor when choosing between CM Trading and Directshares, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. Directshares has a lower barrier to entry with a minimum deposit of $100 (vs $250 at CM Trading). Directshares charges withdrawal fees while CM Trading does not, giving CM Trading an edge for frequent withdrawers. CM Trading applies inactivity fees on dormant accounts; Directshares does not. Directshares charges deposit fees; CM Trading does not. Overall, Directshares scores higher on fees in our assessment.

Directshares wins this category
FeatureCM TradingDirectshares
Min. Deposit$250$100
Withdrawal FeesNoYes
Inactivity FeesYesNo
Deposit FeesNoYes
CFD FeesYesNo

Platforms

CM Trading offers MT4, MT5, cTrader, while Directshares supports MT4, MT5, cTrader. Both brokers provide mobile trading apps for iOS and Android. Both brokers support copy or social trading, catering to less hands-on investors. The two brokers are closely matched on platform offering.

Tied
FeatureCM TradingDirectshares
MT4YesYes
MT5YesYes
cTraderYesYes
Windows AppYesYes
iOS AppYesYes
Android AppYesYes
Trading PlatformsMT4, Mirror Trader, Sirix, Web Trader, 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 CM Trading and Directshares compare. Directshares runs regular live webinars; CM Trading does not. Both provide video tutorials. Directshares publishes daily market commentary; CM Trading does not. Both integrate third-party research tools. Directshares maintains an archive of past webinars for on-demand viewing. Directshares scores higher overall in education and research.

Directshares wins this category
FeatureCM TradingDirectshares
Forex EducationYesYes
CFD EducationNoYes
Weekly WebinarsNoYes
Daily CommentaryNoYes
Trading CentralNoYes
AutochartistYesYes

Deposits & Withdrawals

Convenient deposit and withdrawal options reduce friction for traders, especially important when managing positions across time zones. CM Trading 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
FeatureCM TradingDirectshares
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 CM Trading 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
FeatureCM TradingDirectshares
Live ChatYesYes
Phone SupportYesYes
Email SupportYesYes
LanguagesEnglish, and ChineseEnglish, and Chinese