Directshares
Uphold
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Overview
Directshares was founded in 2007 and is headquartered in Australia, while Uphold was established in 2013 and is based in United States. Directshares holds licences including The Portuguese Securities Market Commission (CMVM), while Uphold is regulated by FCA and FINCEN: Uphold Europe Limited among others. Directshares serves 10,000+ clients worldwide; Uphold has 4,000,000+. The minimum deposit is $100 at Directshares and $1 at Uphold.
| Feature | Directshares | Uphold |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $100 | $1 |
| Regulation | The Portuguese Securities Market Commission (CMVM) | FCA and FINCEN: Uphold Europe Limited, Reg No. 09281410. Uphold HQ Inc. NMLS ID No. 1269875 |
| Founded | 2007 | 2013 |
| Country | Australia | United States |
| Clients | 10,000+ | 4,000,000+ |
Fees
Fees are a critical factor when choosing between Directshares and Uphold, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. Uphold has a lower barrier to entry with a minimum deposit of $1 (vs $100 at Directshares). Directshares charges withdrawal fees while Uphold does not, a notable advantage for frequent withdrawers. Directshares charges deposit fees; Uphold does not. Overall, Uphold scores higher on fees in our assessment.
| Feature | Directshares | Uphold |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $100 | $1 |
| Withdrawal Fees | Yes | No |
| Inactivity Fees | No | No |
| Deposit Fees | Yes | No |
| CFD Fees | No | No |
Platforms
Directshares offers MT4, MT5, cTrader, while Uphold supports a proprietary platform. Both brokers provide mobile trading apps for iOS and Android. Directshares supports social and copy trading features, which Uphold does not offer. Directshares edges ahead on platform breadth and functionality in our scoring.
| Feature | Directshares | Uphold |
|---|---|---|
| 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, Desktop & Mobile Apps |
Education & Research
Education and research tools help traders at every level make more informed decisions, and here's how Directshares and Uphold compare. Both brokers run regular live webinars. Both provide video tutorials, including advanced content. Directshares publishes daily market commentary; Uphold does not. Directshares integrates third-party research tools (Trading Central, Autochartist); Uphold does not. Archived webinars are available at both brokers for self-paced learning. Directshares scores higher overall in education and research.
| Feature | Directshares | Uphold |
|---|---|---|
| Forex Education | Yes | No |
| CFD Education | Yes | No |
| Weekly Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| 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 Uphold supports 2 (bank transfer, credit/debit card). Both brokers support the same set of payment methods.
| Feature | Directshares | Uphold |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Uphold offer live chat support. Directshares offers phone support; Uphold does not. Email support is available at both brokers. Directshares supports 2 languages and Uphold supports 1, giving Directshares broader global reach. Directshares scores higher overall on customer support in our assessment.
| Feature | Directshares | Uphold |
|---|---|---|
| Live Chat | Yes | Yes |
| Phone Support | Yes | No |
| Email Support | Yes | Yes |
| Languages | English, and Chinese | English |