ICICI Direct
Uphold
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Overview
ICICI Direct was founded in 1994 and is headquartered in India, while Uphold was established in 2013 and is based in United States. ICICI Direct holds licences including Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), while Uphold is regulated by FCA and FINCEN: Uphold Europe Limited among others. ICICI Direct serves 2,000,000+ clients worldwide; Uphold has 4,000,000+. The minimum deposit is $0 at ICICI Direct and $1 at Uphold.
| Feature | ICICI Direct | Uphold |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $0 | $1 |
| Regulation | Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), Member of the Bombay Stock Exchange | FCA and FINCEN: Uphold Europe Limited, Reg No. 09281410. Uphold HQ Inc. NMLS ID No. 1269875 |
| Founded | 1994 | 2013 |
| Country | India | United States |
| Clients | 2,000,000+ | 4,000,000+ |
Fees
Fees are a critical factor when choosing between ICICI Direct and Uphold, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. ICICI Direct has a lower barrier to entry with a minimum deposit of $0 (vs $1 at Uphold). Neither broker charges withdrawal fees. ICICI Direct applies inactivity fees on dormant accounts; Uphold does not. The two brokers are broadly comparable on fee structure.
| Feature | ICICI Direct | Uphold |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $0 | $1 |
| Withdrawal Fees | No | No |
| Inactivity Fees | Yes | No |
| Deposit Fees | No | No |
| CFD Fees | No | No |
Platforms
ICICI Direct offers MT4, MT5, cTrader, while Uphold supports a proprietary platform. Both brokers provide mobile trading apps for iOS and Android. ICICI Direct supports social and copy trading features, which Uphold does not offer. ICICI Direct edges ahead on platform breadth and functionality in our scoring.
| Feature | ICICI Direct | Uphold |
|---|---|---|
| MT4 | Yes | No |
| MT5 | Yes | No |
| cTrader | Yes | No |
| Windows App | Yes | Yes |
| iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | Web Trader, Tablet & Mobile apps | Web, Desktop & Mobile Apps |
Education & Research
Education and research tools help traders at every level make more informed decisions, and here's how ICICI Direct and Uphold compare. Both brokers run regular live webinars. Both provide video tutorials, including advanced content. ICICI Direct publishes daily market commentary; Uphold does not. ICICI Direct integrates third-party research tools (Trading Central); Uphold does not. Archived webinars are available at both brokers for self-paced learning. ICICI Direct scores higher overall in education and research.
| Feature | ICICI Direct | Uphold |
|---|---|---|
| Forex Education | No | No |
| CFD Education | Yes | No |
| Weekly Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Daily Commentary | Yes | No |
| Trading Central | Yes | No |
| 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 Uphold supports 2 (bank transfer, credit/debit card). Uphold uniquely supports credit/debit card among the two brokers. Uphold scores higher on deposit and withdrawal flexibility.
| Feature | ICICI Direct | Uphold |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Uphold offer live chat support. ICICI Direct offers phone support; Uphold does not. Email support is available at both brokers. ICICI Direct supports 13 languages and Uphold supports 1, giving ICICI Direct broader global reach. ICICI Direct scores higher overall on customer support in our assessment.
| Feature | ICICI Direct | Uphold |
|---|---|---|
| Live Chat | Yes | Yes |
| Phone Support | Yes | No |
| Email Support | Yes | Yes |
| Languages | English, Deutsch, Nederlands, Espanol, Francais, Italiano, Polski, Srpski, Norsk, Svenska, Cesky, Romana, Turkce | English |