Directshares
XM
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Overview
Directshares was founded in 2007 and is headquartered in Australia, while XM was established in 2009 and is based in Cyprus. Directshares holds licences including The Portuguese Securities Market Commission (CMVM), while XM is regulated by International Financial Services Commission(IFSC) among others. Directshares serves 10,000+ clients worldwide; XM has 3,500,000+. The minimum deposit is $100 at Directshares and $5 at XM.
| Feature | Directshares | XM |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $100 | $5 |
| Regulation | The Portuguese Securities Market Commission (CMVM) | International Financial Services Commission(IFSC), Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC), Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC) |
| Founded | 2007 | 2009 |
| Country | Australia | Cyprus |
| Clients | 10,000+ | 3,500,000+ |
Fees
Fees are a critical factor when choosing between Directshares and XM, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. Directshares has a lower barrier to entry with a minimum deposit of $100 (vs $5 at XM). Directshares charges withdrawal fees while XM does not, a notable advantage for frequent withdrawers. XM applies inactivity fees on dormant accounts; Directshares does not. Directshares charges deposit fees; XM does not. Overall, XM scores higher on fees in our assessment.
| Feature | Directshares | XM |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $100 | $5 |
| Withdrawal Fees | Yes | No |
| Inactivity Fees | No | Yes |
| Deposit Fees | Yes | No |
| CFD Fees | No | No |
Platforms
Directshares offers MT4, MT5, cTrader, while XM 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 | XM |
|---|---|---|
| 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, 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 XM 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. Directshares scores higher overall in education and research.
| Feature | Directshares | XM |
|---|---|---|
| Forex Education | Yes | No |
| CFD Education | Yes | Yes |
| Weekly Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Daily Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Central | Yes | Yes |
| 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 XM supports 3 (bank transfer, credit/debit card, Neteller). XM uniquely supports Neteller among the two brokers. XM scores higher on deposit and withdrawal flexibility.
| Feature | Directshares | XM |
|---|---|---|
| Bank Transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Credit Card | Yes | Yes |
| PayPal | No | No |
| Skrill | No | No |
| 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 XM offer live chat support. Both provide phone support. Email support is available at both brokers. Directshares supports 2 languages and XM supports 20, giving XM broader global reach. Both brokers are comparable on support quality.
| Feature | Directshares | XM |
|---|---|---|
| Live Chat | Yes | Yes |
| Phone Support | Yes | Yes |
| Email Support | Yes | Yes |
| Languages | English, and Chinese | Arabic, Chinese, English, French, German, Greek, Hindi, Hungarian, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Malay, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swedish, Thai, and Turkish |