Directshares
Markets.com
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Overview
Directshares was founded in 2007 and is headquartered in Australia, while Markets.com was established in 2008 and is based in Cyprus. Directshares holds licences including The Portuguese Securities Market Commission (CMVM), while Markets.com is regulated by Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) among others. Directshares serves 10,000+ clients worldwide; Markets.com has 10,000+. The minimum deposit is $100 at Directshares and $250 at Markets.com.
| Feature | Directshares | Markets.com |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $100 | $250 |
| Regulation | The Portuguese Securities Market Commission (CMVM) | Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC), Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA), Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC) |
| Founded | 2007 | 2008 |
| Country | Australia | Cyprus |
| Clients | 10,000+ | 10,000+ |
Fees
Fees are a critical factor when choosing between Directshares and Markets.com, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. Directshares has a lower barrier to entry with a minimum deposit of $100 (vs $250 at Markets.com). Directshares charges withdrawal fees while Markets.com does not, a notable advantage for frequent withdrawers. Directshares charges deposit fees; Markets.com does not. Overall, Directshares scores higher on fees in our assessment.
| Feature | Directshares | Markets.com |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $100 | $250 |
| Withdrawal Fees | Yes | No |
| Inactivity Fees | No | No |
| Deposit Fees | Yes | No |
| CFD Fees | No | No |
Platforms
Directshares offers MT4, MT5, cTrader, while Markets.com 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 | Markets.com |
|---|---|---|
| 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, Web Trader, Tablet & Mobile apps |
Education & Research
Education and research tools help traders at every level make more informed decisions, and here's how Directshares and Markets.com compare. Directshares runs regular live webinars; Markets.com does not. Both provide video tutorials. Directshares publishes daily market commentary; Markets.com 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 | Markets.com |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Markets.com supports 3 (bank transfer, credit/debit card, PayPal). Markets.com uniquely supports PayPal among the two brokers. Markets.com scores higher on deposit and withdrawal flexibility.
| Feature | Directshares | Markets.com |
|---|---|---|
| Bank Transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Credit Card | Yes | Yes |
| PayPal | No | Yes |
| 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 Markets.com offer live chat support. Both provide phone support. Email support is available at both brokers. Directshares supports 2 languages and Markets.com supports 14, giving Markets.com broader global reach. Both brokers are comparable on support quality.
| Feature | Directshares | Markets.com |
|---|---|---|
| Live Chat | Yes | Yes |
| Phone Support | Yes | Yes |
| Email Support | Yes | Yes |
| Languages | English, and Chinese | Arabic, Chinese, Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Norwegian, Polish, Romanian, Russian, Spanish, and Turkish |