Directshares
lightspeed
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Overview
Directshares was founded in 2007 and is headquartered in Australia, while lightspeed was established in 2014 and is based in USA. Directshares holds licences including The Portuguese Securities Market Commission (CMVM), while lightspeed is regulated by Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) among others. Directshares serves 10,000+ clients worldwide; lightspeed has 142,500+. The minimum deposit is $100 at Directshares and $250 at lightspeed.
| Feature | Directshares | lightspeed |
|---|---|---|
| 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-F269 |
| Founded | 2007 | 2014 |
| Country | Australia | USA |
| Clients | 10,000+ | 142,500+ |
Fees
Fees are a critical factor when choosing between Directshares and lightspeed, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. Directshares has a lower barrier to entry with a minimum deposit of $100 (vs $250 at lightspeed). Both brokers charge withdrawal fees. lightspeed applies inactivity fees on dormant accounts; Directshares does not. Directshares charges deposit fees; lightspeed does not. Overall, Directshares scores higher on fees in our assessment.
| Feature | Directshares | lightspeed |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $100 | $250 |
| Withdrawal Fees | Yes | Yes |
| Inactivity Fees | No | Yes |
| Deposit Fees | Yes | No |
| CFD Fees | No | No |
Platforms
Directshares offers MT4, MT5, cTrader, while lightspeed 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 | lightspeed |
|---|---|---|
| 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, 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 lightspeed 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.
| Feature | Directshares | lightspeed |
|---|---|---|
| Forex Education | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Education | Yes | Yes |
| Weekly Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Daily Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Central | Yes | Yes |
| 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 lightspeed supports 5 (bank transfer, credit/debit card, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller). lightspeed uniquely supports PayPal and Skrill and Neteller among the two brokers. lightspeed scores higher on deposit and withdrawal flexibility.
| Feature | Directshares | lightspeed |
|---|---|---|
| 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 lightspeed offer live chat support. Both provide phone support. Email support is available at both brokers. Directshares supports 2 languages and lightspeed supports 8, giving lightspeed broader global reach. Both brokers are comparable on support quality.
| Feature | Directshares | lightspeed |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |