Directshares
Fortrade
BrokerDataNet earns affiliate commission from brokers listed on this site. This does not affect our ratings or editorial independence.
Overview
Directshares was founded in 2007 and is headquartered in Australia, while Fortrade was established in 1992 and is based in UK. Directshares holds licences including The Portuguese Securities Market Commission (CMVM), while Fortrade is regulated by Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) FRN: 609970 among others. Directshares serves 10,000+ clients worldwide; Fortrade has 10,000+. The minimum deposit is $100 at Directshares and $1 at Fortrade.
| Feature | Directshares | Fortrade |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $100 | $1 |
| Regulation | The Portuguese Securities Market Commission (CMVM) | Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) FRN: 609970, National Bank of the Republic of Belarus (NBRB) FRN: 193075810, Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) ABN: 33 614 683 831 | AFSL: 493520, Canadian Investor Protection Fund (CIPF) CRN: BC1148613, Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) with CIF license number 385/20 |
| Founded | 2007 | 1992 |
| Country | Australia | UK |
| Clients | 10,000+ | 10,000+ |
Fees
Fees are a critical factor when choosing between Directshares and Fortrade, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. Fortrade has a lower barrier to entry with a minimum deposit of $1 (vs $100 at Directshares). Directshares charges withdrawal fees while Fortrade does not, a notable advantage for frequent withdrawers. Directshares charges deposit fees; Fortrade does not. Overall, Fortrade scores higher on fees in our assessment.
| Feature | Directshares | Fortrade |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $100 | $1 |
| Withdrawal Fees | Yes | No |
| Inactivity Fees | No | No |
| Deposit Fees | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Fees | No | Yes |
Platforms
Directshares offers MT4, MT5, cTrader, while Fortrade supports MT4, MT5, cTrader. Both brokers provide mobile trading apps for iOS and Android. Directshares supports social and copy trading features, which Fortrade does not offer. The two brokers are closely matched on platform offering.
| Feature | Directshares | Fortrade |
|---|---|---|
| MT4 | Yes | Yes |
| MT5 | Yes | Yes |
| cTrader | Yes | Yes |
| Windows App | Yes | Yes |
| iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | MT4,iOS,MacBook,iPhone | MT4, Binary, Tablet & Mobile apps |
Education & Research
Education and research tools help traders at every level make more informed decisions, and here's how Directshares and Fortrade compare. Directshares runs regular live webinars; Fortrade does not. Directshares has a video library; Fortrade does not. Directshares publishes daily market commentary; Fortrade does not. Directshares integrates third-party research tools (Trading Central, Autochartist); Fortrade does not. Directshares maintains an archive of past webinars for on-demand viewing. Directshares scores higher overall in education and research.
| Feature | Directshares | Fortrade |
|---|---|---|
| Forex Education | Yes | No |
| CFD Education | Yes | No |
| Weekly Webinars | Yes | No |
| Daily Commentary | Yes | No |
| Trading Central | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
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 Fortrade supports 4 (bank transfer, credit/debit card, PayPal, Neteller). Fortrade uniquely supports PayPal and Neteller among the two brokers. Fortrade scores higher on deposit and withdrawal flexibility.
| Feature | Directshares | Fortrade |
|---|---|---|
| Bank Transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Credit Card | Yes | Yes |
| PayPal | No | Yes |
| Skrill | No | No |
| Neteller | No | Yes |
Support
Responsive customer support matters most when you're locked out of your account or need urgent help with a trade. Both Directshares and Fortrade offer live chat support. Both provide phone support. Email support is available at both brokers. Directshares supports 2 languages and Fortrade supports 1, giving Directshares broader global reach. Both brokers are comparable on support quality.
| Feature | Directshares | Fortrade |
|---|---|---|
| Live Chat | Yes | Yes |
| Phone Support | Yes | Yes |
| Email Support | Yes | Yes |
| Languages | English, and Chinese | English |