Directshares
td ameritrade
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Overview
Directshares was founded in 2007 and is headquartered in Australia, while td ameritrade was established in 2016 and is based in Malta. Directshares holds licences including The Portuguese Securities Market Commission (CMVM), while td ameritrade is regulated by Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) among others. Directshares serves 10,000+ clients worldwide; td ameritrade has 10,000+. The minimum deposit is $100 at Directshares and $250 at td ameritrade.
| Feature | Directshares | td ameritrade |
|---|---|---|
| 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-F319 |
| Founded | 2007 | 2016 |
| Country | Australia | Malta |
| Clients | 10,000+ | 10,000+ |
Fees
Fees are a critical factor when choosing between Directshares and td ameritrade, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. Directshares has a lower barrier to entry with a minimum deposit of $100 (vs $250 at td ameritrade). Directshares charges withdrawal fees while td ameritrade does not, a notable advantage for frequent withdrawers. Directshares charges deposit fees; td ameritrade does not. Overall, Directshares scores higher on fees in our assessment.
| Feature | Directshares | td ameritrade |
|---|---|---|
| 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 td ameritrade supports MT4, MT5, cTrader. Both brokers provide mobile trading apps for iOS and Android. Directshares supports social and copy trading features, which td ameritrade does not offer. The two brokers are closely matched on platform offering.
| Feature | Directshares | td ameritrade |
|---|---|---|
| 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 td ameritrade compare. Directshares runs regular live webinars; td ameritrade does not. Directshares has a video library; td ameritrade does not. Directshares publishes daily market commentary; td ameritrade does not. Directshares integrates third-party research tools (Trading Central, Autochartist); td ameritrade does not. Directshares maintains an archive of past webinars for on-demand viewing. Directshares scores higher overall in education and research.
| Feature | Directshares | td ameritrade |
|---|---|---|
| Forex Education | Yes | No |
| CFD Education | Yes | No |
| Weekly Webinars | Yes | No |
| Daily Commentary | Yes | No |
| Trading Central | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
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 td ameritrade supports 5 (bank transfer, credit/debit card, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller). td ameritrade uniquely supports PayPal and Skrill and Neteller among the two brokers. td ameritrade scores higher on deposit and withdrawal flexibility.
| Feature | Directshares | td ameritrade |
|---|---|---|
| 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 td ameritrade offer live chat support. Both provide phone support. Email support is available at both brokers. Directshares supports 2 languages and td ameritrade supports 8, giving td ameritrade broader global reach. Both brokers are comparable on support quality.
| Feature | Directshares | td ameritrade |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |