B

HDFC Securities

6.9/10
ICICI Direct logo

ICICI Direct

7/10
5/10RegulationTied5/10
10/10FeesTied10/10
9/10PlatformsTied9/10
10/10WinnerEducation & Research6/10
1.5/10Deposits & WithdrawalsTied1.5/10
10/10SupportTied10/10

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Overview

HDFC Securities was founded in 2000 and is headquartered in India, while ICICI Direct was established in 1994 and is based in India. Both brokers are regulated by Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), among other authorities. HDFC Securities serves 2,000,000+ clients worldwide; ICICI Direct has 2,000,000+. Both brokers share the same minimum deposit of $0.

ICICI Direct wins this category
FeatureHDFC SecuritiesICICI Direct
Min. Deposit$0$0
RegulationSecurities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), Member of the Bombay Stock ExchangeSecurities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), Member of the Bombay Stock Exchange
Founded20001994
CountryIndiaIndia
Clients2,000,000+2,000,000+

Fees

Fees are a critical factor when choosing between HDFC Securities and ICICI Direct, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. Both require a minimum deposit of $0. HDFC Securities charges withdrawal fees while ICICI Direct does not, a notable advantage for frequent withdrawers. ICICI Direct applies inactivity fees on dormant accounts; HDFC Securities does not. HDFC Securities charges deposit fees; ICICI Direct does not. The two brokers are broadly comparable on fee structure.

Tied
FeatureHDFC SecuritiesICICI Direct
Min. Deposit$0$0
Withdrawal FeesYesNo
Inactivity FeesNoYes
Deposit FeesYesNo
CFD FeesNoNo

Platforms

HDFC Securities offers MT4, MT5, cTrader, while ICICI Direct 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
FeatureHDFC SecuritiesICICI Direct
MT4YesYes
MT5YesYes
cTraderYesYes
Windows AppYesYes
iOS AppYesYes
Android AppYesYes
Trading PlatformsWeb Trader, Tablet & Mobile appsWeb Trader, Tablet & Mobile apps

Education & Research

Education and research tools help traders at every level make more informed decisions, and here's how HDFC Securities 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. HDFC Securities scores higher overall in education and research.

HDFC Securities wins this category
FeatureHDFC SecuritiesICICI Direct
Forex EducationYesNo
CFD EducationYesYes
Weekly WebinarsYesYes
Daily CommentaryYesYes
Trading CentralYesYes
AutochartistYesNo

Deposits & Withdrawals

Convenient deposit and withdrawal options reduce friction for traders, especially important when managing positions across time zones. HDFC Securities accepts 1 of the tracked payment methods (bank transfer), while ICICI Direct supports 1 (bank transfer). Both brokers support the same set of payment methods.

Tied
FeatureHDFC SecuritiesICICI Direct
Bank TransferYesYes
Credit CardNoNo
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 HDFC Securities and ICICI Direct offer live chat support. Both provide phone support. Email support is available at both brokers. Both brokers offer support in 13 languages. Both brokers are comparable on support quality.

Tied
FeatureHDFC SecuritiesICICI Direct
Live ChatYesYes
Phone SupportYesYes
Email SupportYesYes
LanguagesEnglish, Deutsch, Nederlands, Espanol, Francais, Italiano, Polski, Srpski, Norsk, Svenska, Cesky, Romana, TurkceEnglish, Deutsch, Nederlands, Espanol, Francais, Italiano, Polski, Srpski, Norsk, Svenska, Cesky, Romana, Turkce