ICICI Direct
selftrade
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Overview
ICICI Direct was founded in 1994 and is headquartered in India, while selftrade was established in 2013 and is based in Australia. ICICI Direct holds licences including Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), while selftrade is regulated by Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) among others. ICICI Direct serves 2,000,000+ clients worldwide; selftrade has 14,000,000+. The minimum deposit is $0 at ICICI Direct and $250 at selftrade.
| Feature | ICICI Direct | selftrade |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $0 | $250 |
| Regulation | Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), Member of the Bombay Stock Exchange | 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-F304 |
| Founded | 1994 | 2013 |
| Country | India | Australia |
| Clients | 2,000,000+ | 14,000,000+ |
Fees
Fees are a critical factor when choosing between ICICI Direct and selftrade, 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 selftrade). selftrade charges withdrawal fees while ICICI Direct does not, giving ICICI Direct an edge for frequent withdrawers. ICICI Direct applies inactivity fees on dormant accounts; selftrade does not. selftrade charges deposit fees; ICICI Direct does not. Overall, ICICI Direct scores higher on fees in our assessment.
| Feature | ICICI Direct | selftrade |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $0 | $250 |
| Withdrawal Fees | No | Yes |
| Inactivity Fees | Yes | No |
| Deposit Fees | No | Yes |
| CFD Fees | No | Yes |
Platforms
ICICI Direct offers MT4, MT5, cTrader, while selftrade 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 | selftrade |
|---|---|---|
| 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, 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 ICICI Direct and selftrade compare. ICICI Direct runs regular live webinars; selftrade does not. Both provide video tutorials. ICICI Direct publishes daily market commentary; selftrade 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 | selftrade |
|---|---|---|
| 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 selftrade supports 5 (bank transfer, credit/debit card, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller). selftrade uniquely supports credit/debit card and PayPal and Skrill and Neteller among the two brokers. selftrade scores higher on deposit and withdrawal flexibility.
| Feature | ICICI Direct | selftrade |
|---|---|---|
| Bank Transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Credit Card | No | Yes |
| PayPal | No | Yes |
| Skrill | No | Yes |
| Neteller | No | Yes |
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 selftrade offer live chat support. Both provide phone support. Email support is available at both brokers. ICICI Direct supports 13 languages and selftrade supports 8, giving ICICI Direct broader global reach. Both brokers are comparable on support quality.
| Feature | ICICI Direct | selftrade |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | English, Spanish, Polish, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, and Arabic |