ICICI Direct
Skilling
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Overview
ICICI Direct was founded in 1994 and is headquartered in India, while Skilling was established in 2016 and is based in Cyprus. ICICI Direct holds licences including Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), while Skilling is regulated by Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) among others. ICICI Direct serves 2,000,000+ clients worldwide; Skilling has 5,000+. The minimum deposit is $0 at ICICI Direct and $100 at Skilling.
| Feature | ICICI Direct | Skilling |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $0 | $100 |
| Regulation | Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), Member of the Bombay Stock Exchange | Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC), CIF license number 357/18, Financial Services Authority (FSA) under license No. SD042 |
| Founded | 1994 | 2016 |
| Country | India | Cyprus |
| Clients | 2,000,000+ | 5,000+ |
Fees
Fees are a critical factor when choosing between ICICI Direct and Skilling, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. ICICI Direct has a lower barrier to entry with a minimum deposit of $0 (vs $100 at Skilling). Neither broker charges withdrawal fees. ICICI Direct applies inactivity fees on dormant accounts; Skilling does not. Overall, ICICI Direct scores higher on fees in our assessment.
| Feature | ICICI Direct | Skilling |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $0 | $100 |
| Withdrawal Fees | No | No |
| Inactivity Fees | Yes | No |
| Deposit Fees | No | No |
| CFD Fees | No | No |
Platforms
ICICI Direct offers MT4, MT5, cTrader, while Skilling 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 | Skilling |
|---|---|---|
| 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, 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 Skilling 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.
| Feature | ICICI Direct | Skilling |
|---|---|---|
| Forex Education | No | No |
| CFD Education | Yes | Yes |
| Weekly Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Daily Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Central | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
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 Skilling supports 2 (bank transfer, credit/debit card). Skilling uniquely supports credit/debit card among the two brokers. Skilling scores higher on deposit and withdrawal flexibility.
| Feature | ICICI Direct | Skilling |
|---|---|---|
| Bank Transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Credit Card | No | Yes |
| 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 ICICI Direct and Skilling offer live chat support. Both provide phone support. Email support is available at both brokers. ICICI Direct supports 13 languages and Skilling supports 2, giving ICICI Direct broader global reach. Both brokers are comparable on support quality.
| Feature | ICICI Direct | Skilling |
|---|---|---|
| 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, and Chinese |