ICICI Direct
umarkets
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Overview
ICICI Direct was founded in 1994 and is headquartered in India, while umarkets was established in 2018 and is based in Bulgaria. ICICI Direct holds licences including Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), while umarkets is regulated by Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) among others. ICICI Direct serves 2,000,000+ clients worldwide; umarkets has 10,000+. The minimum deposit is $0 at ICICI Direct and $250 at umarkets.
| Feature | ICICI Direct | umarkets |
|---|---|---|
| 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-F333 |
| Founded | 1994 | 2018 |
| Country | India | Bulgaria |
| Clients | 2,000,000+ | 10,000+ |
Fees
Fees are a critical factor when choosing between ICICI Direct and umarkets, 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 umarkets). umarkets charges withdrawal fees while ICICI Direct does not, giving ICICI Direct an edge for frequent withdrawers. Both brokers charge inactivity fees on dormant accounts, worth noting if you trade infrequently. Overall, ICICI Direct scores higher on fees in our assessment.
| Feature | ICICI Direct | umarkets |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $0 | $250 |
| Withdrawal Fees | No | Yes |
| Inactivity Fees | Yes | Yes |
| Deposit Fees | No | No |
| CFD Fees | No | No |
Platforms
ICICI Direct offers MT4, MT5, cTrader, while umarkets 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 | umarkets |
|---|---|---|
| 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 umarkets compare. ICICI Direct runs regular live webinars; umarkets does not. Both provide video tutorials. ICICI Direct publishes daily market commentary; umarkets 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 | umarkets |
|---|---|---|
| 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 umarkets supports 5 (bank transfer, credit/debit card, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller). umarkets uniquely supports credit/debit card and PayPal and Skrill and Neteller among the two brokers. umarkets scores higher on deposit and withdrawal flexibility.
| Feature | ICICI Direct | umarkets |
|---|---|---|
| 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 umarkets offer live chat support. Both provide phone support. Email support is available at both brokers. ICICI Direct supports 13 languages and umarkets supports 8, giving ICICI Direct broader global reach. Both brokers are comparable on support quality.
| Feature | ICICI Direct | umarkets |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |