First Trade
ICICI Direct
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Overview
First Trade was founded in 2008 and is headquartered in USA, while ICICI Direct was established in 1994 and is based in India. First Trade holds licences including Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), while ICICI Direct is regulated by Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) among others. First Trade serves 10,000+ clients worldwide; ICICI Direct has 2,000,000+. The minimum deposit is $5 at First Trade and $0 at ICICI Direct.
| Feature | First Trade | ICICI Direct |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $5 | $0 |
| Regulation | Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) | Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), Member of the Bombay Stock Exchange |
| Founded | 2008 | 1994 |
| Country | USA | India |
| Clients | 10,000+ | 2,000,000+ |
Fees
Fees are a critical factor when choosing between First Trade and ICICI Direct, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. ICICI Direct has a lower barrier to entry with a minimum deposit of $0 (vs $5 at First Trade). First Trade charges withdrawal fees while ICICI Direct does not, a notable advantage for frequent withdrawers. ICICI Direct applies inactivity fees on dormant accounts; First Trade does not. First Trade charges deposit fees; ICICI Direct does not. The two brokers are broadly comparable on fee structure.
| Feature | First Trade | ICICI Direct |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $5 | $0 |
| Withdrawal Fees | Yes | No |
| Inactivity Fees | No | Yes |
| Deposit Fees | Yes | No |
| CFD Fees | No | No |
Platforms
First Trade offers MT4, MT5, cTrader, while ICICI Direct supports MT4, MT5, cTrader. Both brokers provide mobile trading apps for iOS and Android. ICICI Direct supports social and copy trading features, which First Trade does not offer. The two brokers are closely matched on platform offering.
| Feature | First Trade | ICICI Direct |
|---|---|---|
| MT4 | Yes | Yes |
| MT5 | Yes | Yes |
| cTrader | Yes | Yes |
| Windows App | Yes | Yes |
| iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | MT4,WEB | Web Trader, Tablet & Mobile apps |
Education & Research
Education and research tools help traders at every level make more informed decisions, and here's how First Trade and ICICI Direct 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. First Trade scores higher overall in education and research.
| Feature | First Trade | ICICI Direct |
|---|---|---|
| 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. First Trade accepts 2 of the tracked payment methods (bank transfer, credit/debit card), while ICICI Direct supports 1 (bank transfer). First Trade uniquely supports credit/debit card among the two brokers. First Trade scores higher on deposit and withdrawal flexibility.
| Feature | First Trade | ICICI Direct |
|---|---|---|
| Bank Transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Credit Card | Yes | No |
| 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 First Trade and ICICI Direct offer live chat support. Both provide phone support. Email support is available at both brokers. First Trade supports 2 languages and ICICI Direct supports 13, giving ICICI Direct broader global reach. Both brokers are comparable on support quality.
| Feature | First Trade | ICICI Direct |
|---|---|---|
| Live Chat | Yes | Yes |
| Phone Support | Yes | Yes |
| Email Support | Yes | Yes |
| Languages | English, and Chinese | English, Deutsch, Nederlands, Espanol, Francais, Italiano, Polski, Srpski, Norsk, Svenska, Cesky, Romana, Turkce |