Directshares
Robinhood
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Overview
Directshares was founded in 2007 and is headquartered in Australia, while Robinhood was established in 2013 and is based in USA. Directshares holds licences including The Portuguese Securities Market Commission (CMVM), while Robinhood is regulated by Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) among others. Directshares serves 10,000+ clients worldwide; Robinhood has 10,000,000+. The minimum deposit is $100 at Directshares and $0 at Robinhood.
| Feature | Directshares | Robinhood |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $100 | $0 |
| Regulation | The Portuguese Securities Market Commission (CMVM) | Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), Financial Supervision Commission (FSC) |
| Founded | 2007 | 2013 |
| Country | Australia | USA |
| Clients | 10,000+ | 10,000,000+ |
Fees
Fees are a critical factor when choosing between Directshares and Robinhood, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. Robinhood has a lower barrier to entry with a minimum deposit of $0 (vs $100 at Directshares). Directshares charges withdrawal fees while Robinhood does not, a notable advantage for frequent withdrawers. Directshares charges deposit fees; Robinhood does not. Overall, Robinhood scores higher on fees in our assessment.
| Feature | Directshares | Robinhood |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $100 | $0 |
| Withdrawal Fees | Yes | No |
| Inactivity Fees | No | No |
| Deposit Fees | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Fees | No | Yes |
Platforms
Directshares offers MT4, MT5, cTrader, while Robinhood supports a proprietary platform. Both brokers provide mobile trading apps for iOS and Android. Both brokers support copy or social trading, catering to less hands-on investors. Directshares edges ahead on platform breadth and functionality in our scoring.
| Feature | Directshares | Robinhood |
|---|---|---|
| MT4 | Yes | No |
| MT5 | Yes | No |
| cTrader | Yes | No |
| 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 Robinhood 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 | Robinhood |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Robinhood supports 1 (bank transfer). Directshares uniquely supports credit/debit card among the two brokers. Directshares scores higher on deposit and withdrawal flexibility.
| Feature | Directshares | Robinhood |
|---|---|---|
| Bank Transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Credit Card | Yes | No |
| 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 Robinhood offer live chat support. Directshares offers phone support; Robinhood does not. Email support is available at both brokers. Directshares supports 2 languages and Robinhood supports 13, giving Robinhood broader global reach. Directshares scores higher overall on customer support in our assessment.
| Feature | Directshares | Robinhood |
|---|---|---|
| Live Chat | Yes | Yes |
| Phone Support | Yes | No |
| Email Support | Yes | Yes |
| Languages | English, and Chinese | English, Deutsch, Nederlands, Espanol, Francais, Italiano, Polski, Srpski, Norsk, Svenska, Cesky, Romana, Turkce |