Directshares
ifc markets
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Overview
Directshares was founded in 2007 and is headquartered in Australia, while ifc markets was established in 2016 and is based in Cyprus. Directshares holds licences including The Portuguese Securities Market Commission (CMVM), while ifc markets is regulated by Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) among others. Directshares serves 10,000+ clients worldwide; ifc markets has 60,000+. The minimum deposit is $100 at Directshares and $250 at ifc markets.
| Feature | Directshares | ifc markets |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $100 | $250 |
| Regulation | The 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-F259 |
| Founded | 2007 | 2016 |
| Country | Australia | Cyprus |
| Clients | 10,000+ | 60,000+ |
Fees
Fees are a critical factor when choosing between Directshares and ifc markets, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. Directshares has a lower barrier to entry with a minimum deposit of $100 (vs $250 at ifc markets). Directshares charges withdrawal fees while ifc markets does not, a notable advantage for frequent withdrawers. ifc markets applies inactivity fees on dormant accounts; Directshares does not. Directshares charges deposit fees; ifc markets does not. Overall, Directshares scores higher on fees in our assessment.
| Feature | Directshares | ifc markets |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $100 | $250 |
| Withdrawal Fees | Yes | No |
| Inactivity Fees | No | Yes |
| Deposit Fees | Yes | No |
| CFD Fees | No | Yes |
Platforms
Directshares offers MT4, MT5, cTrader, while ifc markets supports MT5, cTrader. Both brokers provide mobile trading apps for iOS and Android. Directshares supports social and copy trading features, which ifc markets does not offer. Directshares edges ahead on platform breadth and functionality in our scoring.
| Feature | Directshares | ifc markets |
|---|---|---|
| MT4 | Yes | No |
| 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, 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 ifc markets compare. Directshares runs regular live webinars; ifc markets does not. Both provide video tutorials. Directshares publishes daily market commentary; ifc markets 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.
| Feature | Directshares | ifc markets |
|---|---|---|
| Forex Education | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Education | Yes | No |
| Weekly Webinars | Yes | No |
| Daily Commentary | Yes | No |
| Trading Central | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes |
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 ifc markets supports 5 (bank transfer, credit/debit card, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller). ifc markets uniquely supports PayPal and Skrill and Neteller among the two brokers. ifc markets scores higher on deposit and withdrawal flexibility.
| Feature | Directshares | ifc markets |
|---|---|---|
| Bank Transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Credit Card | Yes | Yes |
| PayPal | No | Yes |
| Skrill | No | Yes |
| 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 ifc markets offer live chat support. Both provide phone support. Email support is available at both brokers. Directshares supports 2 languages and ifc markets supports 8, giving ifc markets broader global reach. Both brokers are comparable on support quality.
| Feature | Directshares | ifc markets |
|---|---|---|
| Live Chat | Yes | Yes |
| Phone Support | Yes | Yes |
| Email Support | Yes | Yes |
| Languages | English, and Chinese | English, Spanish, Polish, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, and Arabic |