B
Directshares logo

Directshares

7.3/10

z.com

7.9/10
6/10RegulationWinner7/10
4/10FeesWinner10/10
9/10PlatformsTied9/10
10/10Education & ResearchTied10/10
4/10Deposits & WithdrawalsTied4/10
10/10SupportTied10/10

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Overview

Directshares was founded in 2007 and is headquartered in Australia, while z.com was established in 2008 and is based in UK. Directshares holds licences including The Portuguese Securities Market Commission (CMVM), while z.com is regulated by Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) among others. Directshares serves 10,000+ clients worldwide; z.com has 10,000+. The minimum deposit is $100 at Directshares and $50 at z.com.

z.com wins this category
FeatureDirectsharesz.com
Min. Deposit$100$50
RegulationThe Portuguese Securities Market Commission (CMVM)Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), Financial Services Authority (FSA), Securities and Futures Commission (SFC)
Founded20072008
CountryAustraliaUK
Clients10,000+10,000+

Fees

Fees are a critical factor when choosing between Directshares and z.com, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. Directshares has a lower barrier to entry with a minimum deposit of $100 (vs $50 at z.com). Both brokers charge withdrawal fees. Directshares charges deposit fees; z.com does not. Overall, z.com scores higher on fees in our assessment.

z.com wins this category
FeatureDirectsharesz.com
Min. Deposit$100$50
Withdrawal FeesYesYes
Inactivity FeesNoNo
Deposit FeesYesYes
CFD FeesNoYes

Platforms

Directshares offers MT4, MT5, cTrader, while z.com 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.

Tied
FeatureDirectsharesz.com
MT4YesYes
MT5YesYes
cTraderYesYes
Windows AppYesYes
iOS AppYesYes
Android AppYesYes
Trading PlatformsMT4,iOS,MacBook,iPhoneDesktop,Android,Tablet,iPhone

Education & Research

Education and research tools help traders at every level make more informed decisions, and here's how Directshares and z.com 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. The two brokers are evenly matched on educational content.

Tied
FeatureDirectsharesz.com
Forex EducationYesYes
CFD EducationYesYes
Weekly WebinarsYesYes
Daily CommentaryYesYes
Trading CentralYesYes
AutochartistYesYes

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 z.com supports 2 (bank transfer, credit/debit card). Both brokers support the same set of payment methods.

Tied
FeatureDirectsharesz.com
Bank TransferYesYes
Credit CardYesYes
PayPalNoNo
SkrillNoNo
NetellerNoNo

Support

Responsive customer support matters most when you're locked out of your account or need urgent help with a trade. Both Directshares and z.com offer live chat support. Both provide phone support. Email support is available at both brokers. Both brokers offer support in 2 languages. Both brokers are comparable on support quality.

Tied
FeatureDirectsharesz.com
Live ChatYesYes
Phone SupportYesYes
Email SupportYesYes
LanguagesEnglish, and ChineseEnglish, and Chinese