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Directshares logo

Directshares

7.3/10

instaforex

6.9/10
6/10RegulationTied6/10
4/10WinnerFees0/10
9/10PlatformsWinner10/10
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 instaforex was established in 2017 and is based in Russia. Directshares holds licences including The Portuguese Securities Market Commission (CMVM), while instaforex is regulated by BVI FSC among others. Directshares serves 10,000+ clients worldwide; instaforex has 12,000,000+. The minimum deposit is $100 at Directshares and $250 at instaforex.

Directshares wins this category
FeatureDirectsharesinstaforex
Min. Deposit$100$250
RegulationThe Portuguese Securities Market Commission (CMVM)BVI FSC, License Number SIBA/L/14/1082. FSC Saint Vincent, Reg. Number IBC22945. Saint Vincent, IBC24321
Founded20072017
CountryAustraliaRussia
Clients10,000+12,000,000+

Fees

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

Directshares wins this category
FeatureDirectsharesinstaforex
Min. Deposit$100$250
Withdrawal FeesYesNo
Inactivity FeesNoYes
Deposit FeesYesNo
CFD FeesNoNo

Platforms

Directshares offers MT4, MT5, cTrader, while instaforex 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. instaforex edges ahead on platform breadth and functionality in our scoring.

instaforex wins this category
FeatureDirectsharesinstaforex
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 instaforex 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
FeatureDirectsharesinstaforex
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 instaforex supports 5 (bank transfer, credit/debit card, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller). instaforex uniquely supports PayPal and Skrill and Neteller among the two brokers. instaforex scores higher on deposit and withdrawal flexibility.

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

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