B
Directshares logo

Directshares

7.3/10
fort financial services logo

fort financial services

8.6/10
6/10RegulationWinner10/10
4/10WinnerFees1/10
9/10PlatformsTied9/10
10/10Education & ResearchTied10/10
4/10Deposits & WithdrawalsWinner10/10
10/10SupportTied10/10

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Overview

Directshares was founded in 2007 and is headquartered in Australia, while fort financial services was established in 2012 and is based in USA. Directshares holds licences including The Portuguese Securities Market Commission (CMVM), while fort financial services is regulated by Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) among others. Directshares serves 10,000+ clients worldwide; fort financial services has 10,000+. The minimum deposit is $100 at Directshares and $250 at fort financial services.

fort financial services wins this category
FeatureDirectsharesfort financial services
Min. Deposit$100$250
RegulationThe Portuguese Securities Market Commission (CMVM)Financial 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-F231
Founded20072012
CountryAustraliaUSA
Clients10,000+10,000+

Fees

Fees are a critical factor when choosing between Directshares and fort financial services, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. Directshares has a lower barrier to entry with a minimum deposit of $100 (vs $250 at fort financial services). Directshares charges withdrawal fees while fort financial services does not, a notable advantage for frequent withdrawers. Directshares charges deposit fees; fort financial services does not. Overall, Directshares scores higher on fees in our assessment.

Directshares wins this category
FeatureDirectsharesfort financial services
Min. Deposit$100$250
Withdrawal FeesYesNo
Inactivity FeesNoNo
Deposit FeesYesNo
CFD FeesNoNo

Platforms

Directshares offers MT4, MT5, cTrader, while fort financial services 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
FeatureDirectsharesfort financial services
MT4YesYes
MT5YesYes
cTraderYesYes
Windows AppYesYes
iOS AppYesYes
Android AppYesYes
Trading PlatformsMT4,iOS,MacBook,iPhoneMT4, 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 Directshares and fort financial services 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.

Tied
FeatureDirectsharesfort financial services
Forex EducationYesYes
CFD EducationYesYes
Weekly WebinarsYesYes
Daily CommentaryYesYes
Trading CentralYesYes
AutochartistYesYes

Deposits & Withdrawals

Convenient deposit and withdrawal options reduce friction for traders, especially important when managing positions across time zones. Directshares accepts 2 of the tracked payment methods (bank transfer, credit/debit card), while fort financial services supports 5 (bank transfer, credit/debit card, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller). fort financial services uniquely supports PayPal and Skrill and Neteller among the two brokers. fort financial services scores higher on deposit and withdrawal flexibility.

fort financial services wins this category
FeatureDirectsharesfort financial services
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 Directshares and fort financial services offer live chat support. Both provide phone support. Email support is available at both brokers. Directshares supports 2 languages and fort financial services supports 8, giving fort financial services broader global reach. Both brokers are comparable on support quality.

Tied
FeatureDirectsharesfort financial services
Live ChatYesYes
Phone SupportYesYes
Email SupportYesYes
LanguagesEnglish, and ChineseEnglish, Spanish, Polish, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, and Arabic