Directshares
OptionWeb
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Overview
Directshares was founded in 2007 and is headquartered in Australia, while OptionWeb was established in 2012 and is based in Cyprus. Directshares holds licences including The Portuguese Securities Market Commission (CMVM), while OptionWeb is regulated by Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) among others. Directshares serves 10,000+ clients worldwide; OptionWeb has 10,000+. The minimum deposit is $100 at Directshares and $200 at OptionWeb.
| Feature | Directshares | OptionWeb |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $100 | $200 |
| Regulation | The Portuguese Securities Market Commission (CMVM) | Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) |
| Founded | 2007 | 2012 |
| Country | Australia | Cyprus |
| Clients | 10,000+ | 10,000+ |
Fees
Fees are a critical factor when choosing between Directshares and OptionWeb, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. Directshares has a lower barrier to entry with a minimum deposit of $100 (vs $200 at OptionWeb). Directshares charges withdrawal fees while OptionWeb does not, a notable advantage for frequent withdrawers. Directshares charges deposit fees; OptionWeb does not. Overall, OptionWeb scores higher on fees in our assessment.
| Feature | Directshares | OptionWeb |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $100 | $200 |
| Withdrawal Fees | Yes | No |
| Inactivity Fees | No | No |
| Deposit Fees | Yes | No |
| CFD Fees | No | No |
Platforms
Directshares offers MT4, MT5, cTrader, while OptionWeb supports MT5, cTrader. Both brokers provide mobile trading apps for iOS and Android. Directshares supports social and copy trading features, which OptionWeb does not offer. Directshares edges ahead on platform breadth and functionality in our scoring.
| Feature | Directshares | OptionWeb |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Binary, Tablet & Mobile apps |
Education & Research
Education and research tools help traders at every level make more informed decisions, and here's how Directshares and OptionWeb compare. Directshares runs regular live webinars; OptionWeb does not. Both provide video tutorials. Directshares publishes daily market commentary; OptionWeb 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 | OptionWeb |
|---|---|---|
| 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 OptionWeb supports 2 (bank transfer, credit/debit card). Both brokers support the same set of payment methods.
| Feature | Directshares | OptionWeb |
|---|---|---|
| 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 OptionWeb 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 | OptionWeb |
|---|---|---|
| Live Chat | Yes | Yes |
| Phone Support | Yes | Yes |
| Email Support | Yes | Yes |
| Languages | English, and Chinese | English, and Chinese |