B
Directshares logo

Directshares

7.3/10
zulutrade logo

zulutrade

8.4/10
6/10RegulationWinner10/10
4/10WinnerFees0/10
9/10PlatformsTied9/10
10/10Education & ResearchTied10/10
4/10Deposits & WithdrawalsWinner10/10
10/10SupportTied10/10

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Overview

Directshares was founded in 2007 and is headquartered in Australia, while zulutrade was established in 2019 and is based in Geneva. Directshares holds licences including The Portuguese Securities Market Commission (CMVM), while zulutrade is regulated by Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) among others. Directshares serves 10,000+ clients worldwide; zulutrade has 10,000+. The minimum deposit is $100 at Directshares and $250 at zulutrade.

zulutrade wins this category
FeatureDirectshareszulutrade
Min. Deposit$100$250
RegulationThe 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-F334
Founded20072019
CountryAustraliaGeneva
Clients10,000+10,000+

Fees

Fees are a critical factor when choosing between Directshares and zulutrade, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. Directshares has a lower barrier to entry with a minimum deposit of $100 (vs $250 at zulutrade). Directshares charges withdrawal fees while zulutrade does not, a notable advantage for frequent withdrawers. Directshares charges deposit fees; zulutrade does not. Overall, Directshares scores higher on fees in our assessment.

Directshares wins this category
FeatureDirectshareszulutrade
Min. Deposit$100$250
Withdrawal FeesYesNo
Inactivity FeesNoNo
Deposit FeesYesYes
CFD FeesNoYes

Platforms

Directshares offers MT4, MT5, cTrader, while zulutrade 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
FeatureDirectshareszulutrade
MT4YesYes
MT5YesYes
cTraderYesYes
Windows AppYesYes
iOS AppYesYes
Android AppYesYes
Trading PlatformsMT4,iOS,MacBook,iPhoneMT4, 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 zulutrade 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
FeatureDirectshareszulutrade
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 zulutrade supports 5 (bank transfer, credit/debit card, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller). zulutrade uniquely supports PayPal and Skrill and Neteller among the two brokers. zulutrade scores higher on deposit and withdrawal flexibility.

zulutrade wins this category
FeatureDirectshareszulutrade
Bank TransferYesYes
Credit CardYesYes
PayPalNoYes
SkrillNoYes
NetellerNoYes

Support

Responsive customer support matters most when you're locked out of your account or need urgent help with a trade. Both Directshares and zulutrade offer live chat support. Both provide phone support. Email support is available at both brokers. Directshares supports 2 languages and zulutrade supports 8, giving zulutrade broader global reach. Both brokers are comparable on support quality.

Tied
FeatureDirectshareszulutrade
Live ChatYesYes
Phone SupportYesYes
Email SupportYesYes
LanguagesEnglish, and ChineseEnglish, Spanish, Polish, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, and Arabic