B
Coinbase logo

Coinbase

7.2/10
Directshares logo

Directshares

7.3/10
7/10WinnerRegulation6/10
8/10WinnerFees4/10
9/10PlatformsTied9/10
4/10Education & ResearchWinner10/10
4/10Deposits & WithdrawalsTied4/10
10/10SupportTied10/10

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Overview

Coinbase was founded in 1989 and is headquartered in United States, while Directshares was established in 2007 and is based in Australia. Coinbase holds licences including Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), while Directshares is regulated by The Portuguese Securities Market Commission (CMVM) among others. Coinbase serves 10,000+ clients worldwide; Directshares has 10,000+. Both brokers share the same minimum deposit of $100.

Directshares wins this category
FeatureCoinbaseDirectshares
Min. Deposit$100$100
RegulationFinancial Conduct Authority (FCA)The Portuguese Securities Market Commission (CMVM)
Founded19892007
CountryUnited StatesAustralia
Clients10,000+10,000+

Fees

Fees are a critical factor when choosing between Coinbase and Directshares, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. Both require a minimum deposit of $100. Directshares charges withdrawal fees while Coinbase does not, giving Coinbase an edge for frequent withdrawers. Directshares charges deposit fees; Coinbase does not. Overall, Coinbase scores higher on fees in our assessment.

Coinbase wins this category
FeatureCoinbaseDirectshares
Min. Deposit$100$100
Withdrawal FeesNoYes
Inactivity FeesNoNo
Deposit FeesNoYes
CFD FeesNoNo

Platforms

Coinbase 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
FeatureCoinbaseDirectshares
MT4YesYes
MT5YesYes
cTraderYesYes
Windows AppYesYes
iOS AppYesYes
Android AppYesYes
Trading PlatformsiPhone/iPad,iOS,MT4,iOS,MacBook,iPhone

Education & Research

Education and research tools help traders at every level make more informed decisions, and here's how Coinbase and Directshares compare. Directshares runs regular live webinars; Coinbase does not. Both provide video tutorials. Directshares publishes daily market commentary; Coinbase 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
FeatureCoinbaseDirectshares
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. Coinbase 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
FeatureCoinbaseDirectshares
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 Coinbase 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
FeatureCoinbaseDirectshares
Live ChatYesYes
Phone SupportYesYes
Email SupportYesYes
LanguagesEnglish, and ChineseEnglish, and Chinese