B
Direct FX logo

Direct FX

6.9/10
huobi logo

huobi

8.7/10
3/10RegulationWinner10/10
10/10WinnerFees1/10
9/10PlatformsWinner10/10
6/10Education & ResearchWinner10/10
4/10Deposits & WithdrawalsWinner10/10
10/10SupportTied10/10

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Overview

Direct FX was founded in 2006 and is headquartered in New Zealand, while huobi was established in 2013 and is based in China. Direct FX holds licences including Unregulated, while huobi is regulated by Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) among others. Direct FX serves 10,000+ clients worldwide; huobi has 10,000+. The minimum deposit is $1 at Direct FX and $250 at huobi.

huobi wins this category
FeatureDirect FXhuobi
Min. Deposit$1$250
RegulationUnregulatedFinancial Conduct Authority (FCA), Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC), Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA), Pepperstone Markets Limited is incorporated in The Bahamas (number 177174 B), Licensed by the Securities Commission of The Bahamas (SCB) number SIA-F257
Founded20062013
CountryNew ZealandChina
Clients10,000+10,000+

Fees

Fees are a critical factor when choosing between Direct FX and huobi, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. Direct FX has a lower barrier to entry with a minimum deposit of $1 (vs $250 at huobi). Neither broker charges withdrawal fees. Direct FX charges deposit fees; huobi does not. Overall, Direct FX scores higher on fees in our assessment.

Direct FX wins this category
FeatureDirect FXhuobi
Min. Deposit$1$250
Withdrawal FeesNoNo
Inactivity FeesNoNo
Deposit FeesYesNo
CFD FeesYesNo

Platforms

Direct FX offers MT4, MT5, cTrader, while huobi supports MT4, MT5, cTrader, a proprietary platform. Both brokers provide mobile trading apps for iOS and Android. Both brokers support copy or social trading, catering to less hands-on investors. huobi edges ahead on platform breadth and functionality in our scoring.

huobi wins this category
FeatureDirect FXhuobi
MT4YesYes
MT5YesYes
cTraderYesYes
Windows AppYesYes
iOS AppYesYes
Android AppYesYes
Trading PlatformsNot availableMT4, MT5, Mac, ZuluTrade, Web Trader, cTrader, Tablet & Mobile apps

Education & Research

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

huobi wins this category
FeatureDirect FXhuobi
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. Direct FX accepts 2 of the tracked payment methods (bank transfer, credit/debit card), while huobi supports 5 (bank transfer, credit/debit card, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller). huobi uniquely supports PayPal and Skrill and Neteller among the two brokers. huobi scores higher on deposit and withdrawal flexibility.

huobi wins this category
FeatureDirect FXhuobi
Bank TransferYesYes
Credit CardYesYes
PayPalNoYes
SkrillNoYes
NetellerNoYes

Support

Responsive customer support matters most when you're locked out of your account or need urgent help with a trade. Both Direct FX and huobi offer live chat support. Both provide phone support. Email support is available at both brokers. Direct FX supports 2 languages and huobi supports 8, giving huobi broader global reach. Both brokers are comparable on support quality.

Tied
FeatureDirect FXhuobi
Live ChatYesYes
Phone SupportYesYes
Email SupportYesYes
LanguagesEnglish, and ChineseEnglish, Spanish, Polish, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, and Arabic