Directshares
Xtrade
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Overview
Directshares was founded in 2007 and is headquartered in Australia, while Xtrade was established in 2003 and is based in Australia. Directshares holds licences including The Portuguese Securities Market Commission (CMVM), while Xtrade is regulated by Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) among others. Directshares serves 10,000+ clients worldwide; Xtrade has 10,000+. The minimum deposit is $100 at Directshares and $1 at Xtrade.
| Feature | Directshares | Xtrade |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $100 | $1 |
| Regulation | The Portuguese Securities Market Commission (CMVM) | Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) |
| Founded | 2007 | 2003 |
| Country | Australia | Australia |
| Clients | 10,000+ | 10,000+ |
Fees
Fees are a critical factor when choosing between Directshares and Xtrade, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. Xtrade has a lower barrier to entry with a minimum deposit of $1 (vs $100 at Directshares). Directshares charges withdrawal fees while Xtrade does not, a notable advantage for frequent withdrawers. Directshares charges deposit fees; Xtrade does not. Overall, Xtrade scores higher on fees in our assessment.
| Feature | Directshares | Xtrade |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $100 | $1 |
| Withdrawal Fees | Yes | No |
| Inactivity Fees | No | No |
| Deposit Fees | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Fees | No | Yes |
Platforms
Directshares offers MT4, MT5, cTrader, while Xtrade supports MT4, MT5, cTrader. Both brokers provide mobile trading apps for iOS and Android. Directshares supports social and copy trading features, which Xtrade does not offer. The two brokers are closely matched on platform offering.
| Feature | Directshares | Xtrade |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Not available |
Education & Research
Education and research tools help traders at every level make more informed decisions, and here's how Directshares and Xtrade compare. Directshares runs regular live webinars; Xtrade does not. Directshares has a video library; Xtrade does not. Directshares publishes daily market commentary; Xtrade does not. Directshares integrates third-party research tools (Trading Central, Autochartist); Xtrade does not. Directshares maintains an archive of past webinars for on-demand viewing. Directshares scores higher overall in education and research.
| Feature | Directshares | Xtrade |
|---|---|---|
| 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 uniquely supports bank transfer and credit/debit card among the two brokers. Directshares scores higher on deposit and withdrawal flexibility.
| Feature | Directshares | Xtrade |
|---|---|---|
| Bank Transfer | Yes | Not available |
| Credit Card | Yes | Not available |
| PayPal | No | Not available |
| Skrill | No | Not available |
| Neteller | No | Not available |
Support
Responsive customer support matters most when you're locked out of your account or need urgent help with a trade. Both Directshares and Xtrade offer live chat support. Both provide phone support. Email support is available at both brokers. Directshares offers multilingual support. Both brokers are comparable on support quality.
| Feature | Directshares | Xtrade |
|---|---|---|
| Live Chat | Yes | Yes |
| Phone Support | Yes | Yes |
| Email Support | Yes | Yes |
| Languages | English, and Chinese | Not available |