Directshares
Interactive Investor
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Overview
Directshares was founded in 2007 and is headquartered in Australia, while Interactive Investor was established in 1995 and is based in UK. Directshares holds licences including The Portuguese Securities Market Commission (CMVM), while Interactive Investor is regulated by Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) among others. Directshares serves 10,000+ clients worldwide; Interactive Investor has 10,000+. The minimum deposit is $100 at Directshares and $1 at Interactive Investor.
| Feature | Directshares | Interactive Investor |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $100 | $1 |
| Regulation | The Portuguese Securities Market Commission (CMVM) | Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) |
| Founded | 2007 | 1995 |
| Country | Australia | UK |
| Clients | 10,000+ | 10,000+ |
Fees
Fees are a critical factor when choosing between Directshares and Interactive Investor, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. Interactive Investor has a lower barrier to entry with a minimum deposit of $1 (vs $100 at Directshares). Directshares charges withdrawal fees while Interactive Investor does not, a notable advantage for frequent withdrawers. Interactive Investor applies inactivity fees on dormant accounts; Directshares does not. Directshares charges deposit fees; Interactive Investor does not. Overall, Interactive Investor scores higher on fees in our assessment.
| Feature | Directshares | Interactive Investor |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $100 | $1 |
| Withdrawal Fees | Yes | No |
| Inactivity Fees | No | Yes |
| Deposit Fees | Yes | No |
| CFD Fees | No | No |
Platforms
Directshares offers MT4, MT5, cTrader, while Interactive Investor 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.
| Feature | Directshares | Interactive Investor |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Web Trader, ProTrader, Tablet & Mobile apps |
Education & Research
Education and research tools help traders at every level make more informed decisions, and here's how Directshares and Interactive Investor compare. Directshares runs regular live webinars; Interactive Investor does not. Both provide video tutorials. Directshares publishes daily market commentary; Interactive Investor 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 | Interactive Investor |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Interactive Investor supports 2 (bank transfer, credit/debit card). Both brokers support the same set of payment methods.
| Feature | Directshares | Interactive Investor |
|---|---|---|
| Bank Transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Credit Card | Yes | Yes |
| PayPal | No | No |
| Skrill | No | No |
| Neteller | No | No |
Support
Responsive customer support matters most when you're locked out of your account or need urgent help with a trade. Both Directshares and Interactive Investor offer live chat support. Both provide phone support. Email support is available at both brokers. Both brokers offer support in 2 languages. Both brokers are comparable on support quality.
| Feature | Directshares | Interactive Investor |
|---|---|---|
| Live Chat | Yes | Yes |
| Phone Support | Yes | Yes |
| Email Support | Yes | Yes |
| Languages | English, and Chinese | English, and Chinese |