ICICI Direct
Markets.com
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Overview
ICICI Direct was founded in 1994 and is headquartered in India, while Markets.com was established in 2008 and is based in Cyprus. ICICI Direct holds licences including Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), while Markets.com is regulated by Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) among others. ICICI Direct serves 2,000,000+ clients worldwide; Markets.com has 10,000+. The minimum deposit is $0 at ICICI Direct and $250 at Markets.com.
| Feature | ICICI Direct | Markets.com |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $0 | $250 |
| Regulation | Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), Member of the Bombay Stock Exchange | Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC), Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA), Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC) |
| Founded | 1994 | 2008 |
| Country | India | Cyprus |
| Clients | 2,000,000+ | 10,000+ |
Fees
Fees are a critical factor when choosing between ICICI Direct and Markets.com, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. ICICI Direct has a lower barrier to entry with a minimum deposit of $0 (vs $250 at Markets.com). Neither broker charges withdrawal fees. ICICI Direct applies inactivity fees on dormant accounts; Markets.com does not. Overall, ICICI Direct scores higher on fees in our assessment.
| Feature | ICICI Direct | Markets.com |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $0 | $250 |
| Withdrawal Fees | No | No |
| Inactivity Fees | Yes | No |
| Deposit Fees | No | No |
| CFD Fees | No | No |
Platforms
ICICI Direct offers MT4, MT5, cTrader, while Markets.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.
| Feature | ICICI Direct | Markets.com |
|---|---|---|
| MT4 | Yes | Yes |
| MT5 | Yes | Yes |
| cTrader | Yes | Yes |
| Windows App | Yes | Yes |
| iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | Web Trader, Tablet & Mobile apps | MT4, MT5, Web Trader, Tablet & Mobile apps |
Education & Research
Education and research tools help traders at every level make more informed decisions, and here's how ICICI Direct and Markets.com compare. ICICI Direct runs regular live webinars; Markets.com does not. Both provide video tutorials. ICICI Direct publishes daily market commentary; Markets.com does not. Both integrate third-party research tools. ICICI Direct maintains an archive of past webinars for on-demand viewing. ICICI Direct scores higher overall in education and research.
| Feature | ICICI Direct | Markets.com |
|---|---|---|
| Forex Education | No | Yes |
| CFD Education | Yes | No |
| Weekly Webinars | Yes | No |
| Daily Commentary | Yes | No |
| Trading Central | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | No | Yes |
Deposits & Withdrawals
Convenient deposit and withdrawal options reduce friction for traders, especially important when managing positions across time zones. ICICI Direct accepts 1 of the tracked payment methods (bank transfer), while Markets.com supports 3 (bank transfer, credit/debit card, PayPal). Markets.com uniquely supports credit/debit card and PayPal among the two brokers. Markets.com scores higher on deposit and withdrawal flexibility.
| Feature | ICICI Direct | Markets.com |
|---|---|---|
| Bank Transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Credit Card | No | Yes |
| PayPal | No | Yes |
| 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 ICICI Direct and Markets.com offer live chat support. Both provide phone support. Email support is available at both brokers. ICICI Direct supports 13 languages and Markets.com supports 14, giving Markets.com broader global reach. Both brokers are comparable on support quality.
| Feature | ICICI Direct | Markets.com |
|---|---|---|
| Live Chat | Yes | Yes |
| Phone Support | Yes | Yes |
| Email Support | Yes | Yes |
| Languages | English, Deutsch, Nederlands, Espanol, Francais, Italiano, Polski, Srpski, Norsk, Svenska, Cesky, Romana, Turkce | Arabic, Chinese, Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Norwegian, Polish, Romanian, Russian, Spanish, and Turkish |