B
Directshares logo

Directshares

7.3/10
gcm forex logo

gcm forex

7.6/10
6/10RegulationWinner10/10
4/10WinnerFees0/10
9/10PlatformsTied9/10
10/10WinnerEducation & Research4/10
4/10Deposits & WithdrawalsWinner10/10
10/10SupportTied10/10

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Overview

Directshares was founded in 2007 and is headquartered in Australia, while gcm forex was established in 2017 and is based in USA. Directshares holds licences including The Portuguese Securities Market Commission (CMVM), while gcm forex is regulated by Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) among others. Directshares serves 10,000+ clients worldwide; gcm forex has 142,500+. The minimum deposit is $100 at Directshares and $250 at gcm forex.

gcm forex wins this category
FeatureDirectsharesgcm forex
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-F248
Founded20072017
CountryAustraliaUSA
Clients10,000+142,500+

Fees

Fees are a critical factor when choosing between Directshares and gcm forex, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. Directshares has a lower barrier to entry with a minimum deposit of $100 (vs $250 at gcm forex). Both brokers charge withdrawal fees. Directshares charges deposit fees; gcm forex does not. Overall, Directshares scores higher on fees in our assessment.

Directshares wins this category
FeatureDirectsharesgcm forex
Min. Deposit$100$250
Withdrawal FeesYesYes
Inactivity FeesNoNo
Deposit FeesYesYes
CFD FeesNoYes

Platforms

Directshares offers MT4, MT5, cTrader, while gcm forex 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
FeatureDirectsharesgcm forex
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 gcm forex compare. Directshares runs regular live webinars; gcm forex does not. Both provide video tutorials. Directshares publishes daily market commentary; gcm forex 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
FeatureDirectsharesgcm forex
Forex EducationYesYes
CFD EducationYesNo
Weekly WebinarsYesNo
Daily CommentaryYesNo
Trading CentralYesNo
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 gcm forex supports 5 (bank transfer, credit/debit card, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller). gcm forex uniquely supports PayPal and Skrill and Neteller among the two brokers. gcm forex scores higher on deposit and withdrawal flexibility.

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

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