Directshares
Plus500
BrokerDataNet earns affiliate commission from brokers listed on this site. This does not affect our ratings or editorial independence.
Overview
Directshares was founded in 2007 and is headquartered in Australia, while Plus500 was established in 2008 and is based in Israel. Directshares holds licences including The Portuguese Securities Market Commission (CMVM), while Plus500 is regulated by Plus500UK Ltd authorized & regulated by the FCA (#509909) among others. Directshares serves 10,000+ clients worldwide; Plus500 has 1,000,000+. Both brokers share the same minimum deposit of $100.
| Feature | Directshares | Plus500 |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $100 | $100 |
| Regulation | The Portuguese Securities Market Commission (CMVM) | Plus500UK Ltd authorized & regulated by the FCA (#509909), Plus500CY Ltd authorized & regulated by CySEC (#250/14), Plus500AU Pty Ltd (ACN 153301681), ASIC in Australia AFSL #417727, FMA in New Zealand, FSP #486026 and Authorised Financial Services Provider in South Africa FSP #47546 |
| Founded | 2007 | 2008 |
| Country | Australia | Israel |
| Clients | 10,000+ | 1,000,000+ |
Fees
Fees are a critical factor when choosing between Directshares and Plus500, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. Both require a minimum deposit of $100. Directshares charges withdrawal fees while Plus500 does not, a notable advantage for frequent withdrawers. Plus500 applies inactivity fees on dormant accounts; Directshares does not. Directshares charges deposit fees; Plus500 does not. Overall, Plus500 scores higher on fees in our assessment.
| Feature | Directshares | Plus500 |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $100 | $100 |
| Withdrawal Fees | Yes | No |
| Inactivity Fees | No | Yes |
| Deposit Fees | Yes | No |
| CFD Fees | No | No |
Platforms
Directshares offers MT4, MT5, cTrader, while Plus500 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 | Plus500 |
|---|---|---|
| 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, Tablet & Mobile apps |
Education & Research
Education and research tools help traders at every level make more informed decisions, and here's how Directshares and Plus500 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 | Plus500 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Plus500 supports 4 (bank transfer, credit/debit card, PayPal, Skrill). Plus500 uniquely supports PayPal and Skrill among the two brokers. Plus500 scores higher on deposit and withdrawal flexibility.
| Feature | Directshares | Plus500 |
|---|---|---|
| Bank Transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Credit Card | Yes | Yes |
| PayPal | No | Yes |
| Skrill | No | Yes |
| 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 Plus500 offer live chat support. Both provide phone support. Email support is available at both brokers. Directshares supports 2 languages and Plus500 supports 15, giving Plus500 broader global reach. Both brokers are comparable on support quality.
| Feature | Directshares | Plus500 |
|---|---|---|
| Live Chat | Yes | Yes |
| Phone Support | Yes | Yes |
| Email Support | Yes | Yes |
| Languages | English, and Chinese | English, French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, German, Dutch, Polish, Arabic, Hebrew, Danish, Norwegian, Czech, Slovak, Bulgarian and Chinese |