Directshares
selftrade
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Overview
Directshares was founded in 2007 and is headquartered in Australia, while selftrade was established in 2013 and is based in Australia. Directshares holds licences including The Portuguese Securities Market Commission (CMVM), while selftrade is regulated by Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) among others. Directshares serves 10,000+ clients worldwide; selftrade has 14,000,000+. The minimum deposit is $100 at Directshares and $250 at selftrade.
| Feature | Directshares | selftrade |
|---|---|---|
| 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-F304 |
| Founded | 2007 | 2013 |
| Country | Australia | Australia |
| Clients | 10,000+ | 14,000,000+ |
Fees
Fees are a critical factor when choosing between Directshares and selftrade, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. Directshares has a lower barrier to entry with a minimum deposit of $100 (vs $250 at selftrade). Both brokers charge withdrawal fees. Directshares charges deposit fees; selftrade does not. Overall, Directshares scores higher on fees in our assessment.
| Feature | Directshares | selftrade |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $100 | $250 |
| Withdrawal Fees | Yes | Yes |
| Inactivity Fees | No | No |
| Deposit Fees | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Fees | No | Yes |
Platforms
Directshares offers MT4, MT5, cTrader, while selftrade 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 | selftrade |
|---|---|---|
| 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 selftrade compare. Directshares runs regular live webinars; selftrade does not. Both provide video tutorials. Directshares publishes daily market commentary; selftrade 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 | selftrade |
|---|---|---|
| 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 selftrade supports 5 (bank transfer, credit/debit card, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller). selftrade uniquely supports PayPal and Skrill and Neteller among the two brokers. selftrade scores higher on deposit and withdrawal flexibility.
| Feature | Directshares | selftrade |
|---|---|---|
| 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 selftrade offer live chat support. Both provide phone support. Email support is available at both brokers. Directshares supports 2 languages and selftrade supports 8, giving selftrade broader global reach. Both brokers are comparable on support quality.
| Feature | Directshares | selftrade |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |