Shares.com Review

Trust

Shares.com Regulations

In our reviews, we examine the licenses and regulations of each entity operated by a broker, allowing us to compare their different levels of protection. We rank licenses by various regulatory bodies on a three-tier system, where Tier-1 licensing indicates the highest level of regulation.

This is what I discovered about Shares.com, which is a domain of ‘Capital Com Online Investments Ltd’:

• Capital Com Online Investments Ltd is licensed and regulated by the Securities Commission of the Bahamas (SCB) under license number SIA-F245. We rate SCB as a Tier-3 regulator.

Understanding the Regulatory Protections of Your Account

Brokers operate multiple entities globally, but regulatory protections vary. Some regulators enforce stricter financial standards than others, so traders should understand the safety measures of the entity with which they choose to open an account.

Here is what you need to be looking for in a broker in terms of safety mechanisms:

• Segregation of client funds. Keeping client funds in segregated bank accounts from the ones used for the broker’s corporate capital negates the risk of accounting errors. Client funds are kept in segregated accounts with Shares.com.
• Negative balance protection. This safety mechanism removes the risk of trading losses exceeding the account balance for retail clients. In other words, the losses you incur from trading are capped at the amount you have put in your trading account. The broker guarantees negative balance protection.
• Compensation scheme. A compensation scheme protects traders against the broker’s liabilities if the company becomes insolvent. Clients of Shares.com are not protected under a compensation scheme.
• Maximum leverage. Capping the maximum leverage restricts the extent of market exposure to retail traders. The higher the leverage, the higher the potential profits and potential losses. The maximum retail leverage with Shares.com is 1:200.

Stability and Transparency

In our Trust category assessments, we evaluate factors tied to stability and transparency, including the broker’s longevity, company size, and information transparency.

I reviewed Shares.com’s legal documents and assessed that everything was in order. Client protections are clearly outlined in the client agreement, which is easily accessible and written in an easy-to-understand way. Moreover, the broker displays live spread data on the website.

I also discovered that Shares.com has issued a ‘best execution policy,’ which is a legal mandate to provide traders with optimal price quotes under the prevailing market conditions. Additionally, the broker has a robust client categorization policy and complaints handling policy.

Is Shares.com Safe to Trade With?

I determined that Shares.com can be considered safe to trade with due to the following factors:

• Licensed and regulated
• Keeps client funds in segregated accounts
• Ensures negative balance protection
• Provides transparent legal documents

Fees

Shares.com Trading Fees

Shares.com Spreads

I tested Shares.com’s spreads on 20 January 2025 during the London and New York opens. The results are shown in the table below:

My findings indicate that broken down by asset class and compared to the industry average, Shares.com charges low-to-average spreads on share CFDs and indices, average spreads on commodities, low-to-high spreads on currency pairs, and high spreads on Bitcoin.

Shares.com Swaps

A swap fee is a trader’s cost for holding an open position overnight because of changing interest rates. Swap long refers to the charge deductible or credit receivable for holding a buy position open overnight. In turn, swap short relates to the charges/credits deductible or receivable for holding a selling position open overnight.

The values listed below are for one full base currency contract (100,000 units).

I assessed that Shares.com’s overnight charges align with the industry benchmark. However, swap fees change over time.

Shares.com Non-Trading Fees

Shares.com does not impose a handling fee on deposits or withdrawals, however, third-party banking fees may apply. On the other hand, the broker imposes a $10 inactivity fee on dormant accounts after six calendar months of inactivity. The fee is charged monthly until activity resumes or the account balance drops to zero.

Are Shares.com’s Fees Competitive?

During my tests, I experienced mixed fees. While Shares.com charges low EURUSD, DJI30, and DAX40 spreads, its GBPJPY and BTCUSD spreads exceed the industry average. On the other hand, the broker does not charge a handling fee for deposits or withdrawals.

Platforms and Tools

Shares.com Web Trader

I tested the Shares.com platform and found that it features multiple essential tools, such as trading from the chart, an alarm setting option, and a market depth tool. These allow traders to examine various market developments from different angles and seize the underlying trading opportunities in multiple ways. However, the platform does not feature one-click trading.

The platform also has a robust ‘Discover’ mode that helps traders observe currently rising, falling, or highly volatile trading instruments. They can also assess the prevailing market bias across different markets and industries and how other traders position themselves.

Shares.com Platform Features

Shares.com is available only for web trading and supports 19 languages, including English, French, Spanish, German, Arabic, Chinese, and more. The platform’s features include:

• Alerts-Setting Option: Traders can set alerts for when the price of a given instrument falls/rises to a predetermined level, which could potentially signal a viable entry opportunity.
• Watchlist Customization: Traders can populate watchlists with their favorite instruments and track market changes more easily.
• Trading from the Chart: Traders can place conventional trading orders directly from the chart, specifying the entry price, volume level, stop and take-profit levels, and more.
• Guaranteed Stops: Guaranteed stop-loss (GSL) orders ensure exact trade termination at a predetermined price level without the risk of slippage. GSLs are indispensable for high-precision trading and/or high-volume trading. You can read more about the cost of using GSLs here.

Charts

The Shares.com web trader offers high-definition, scalable charts, making it easy and enjoyable to analyze price movements with precision.

I have broken down the available analytical tools and chart configurations below:

• 107 technical indicators: These include trend-based and volume-based indicators and oscillators that analyze price action and assess market sentiment, helping predict market movements.
• 64 drawing tools: Tools like Fibonacci retracement levels and Elliott waves allow identifying price patterns, support/resistance levels, and breakout points.
• 8 timeframes: For multi-timeframe analysis, enabling detailed price action analysis.
• 16 chart types: Price action can be displayed as line, bars, or candlesticks, offering diverse perspectives on trading opportunities.

In my view, the chart screen is undoubtedly one of the most vital components of any trading platform. It provides traders with essential tools and configurations to analyze price action and identify trading opportunities. Equally important is the ability to seamlessly scale price action, offering a clearer and more detailed perspective on market movements.

Orders

Traders can open new positions from the chart by selecting their preferred instrument and choosing between ‘Sell’ and ‘Buy’. Additionally, they can access a price depth tool, as indicated in the image above.

I have broken down the three primary order types on the Shares.com web trader below:

• Market Orders: Used for immediate entry at the best available price. They guarantee volume filling, though the entry price may differ from the requested price.
• Limit Orders: Guarantee exact price entries but won’t be filled if the price doesn’t reach the trigger level.
• Stop Orders: They are used to support open positions by limiting the maximum loss that can be incurred if the market turns in the opposite direction. A stop-loss order is placed at a fixed price below or above the spot price. If the market does indeed turn and triggers the stop-loss, it will transform into a market order and get filled at the best possible price.

Shares.com Platform: My Key Takeaways

The Shares.com web trader has a pleasant and intuitive design and features advanced charting capabilities and a market sentiment gauge. The platform boasts high-definition charts, guaranteed stop-loss orders, and hundreds of analytical tools. However, the web platform does not feature one-click trading and has a relatively narrow range of timeframes.

Shares.com Trading App

The Shares.com app is available for both IOS and Android, enabling quick and easy access to the market on the go. It is very useful for opening, terminating, and adjusting open positions.

You can also use the app to place market, limit, and stop orders, as well as to adjust the exposure of your open trades.

Shares.com App: My Key Takeaways

The Shares.com app is a convenient tool in the trader’s arsenal. It retains the versatility of its web trader counterpart and helps users stay on top of the latest market developments, no matter where they are. The app also has other essential features, such as one-tap trading, facilitating fast order execution.

Shares.com Execution Model

Shares.com operates as a market maker that serves as a principal to client orders. The broker fills client orders by trading against the client. In other words, Shares.com sells against buyers and buys against sellers.

Tradable Instruments

I found that Shares.com offers a wider and more diverse selection of asset classes than the industry average, surpassing many other brokers.

What Are CFDs?

Contracts for Difference (CFDs) are financial derivative instruments that allow traders to speculate on the price movements of an asset without owning the asset itself.

For instance, taking a long position in gold would result in a profit for the trader if the price goes up or, respectively, a loss if the price goes down. The opposite would be true for a short position in gold.

A key advantage of trading CFDs is the ability to enter and exit the market almost instantly, enabling traders to capitalize on even minor price fluctuations in the derivative.

What CFDs Can You Trade With Shares.com?

Shares.com Instruments: My Key Takeaways

I found Shares.com’s selection of tradable instruments to be both wide and diverse. The broker offers a variety of lower-risk securities, such as ETFs, which are ideal for hedging market exposure. Additionally, it provides futures contracts, catering to swing traders seeking longer-term opportunities. Notably, Shares.com is among the few brokers that offer currency pairs for weekend trading, adding flexibility for traders.

Customer Support

Customer Support Channels

Customer Support Test

When we test a broker’s customer support, we evaluate the agent’s knowledge of their own website, how long it takes them to respond to questions, and how detailed their answers are.

I conducted my test on 24 June at around 09.28 CET via live chat. An agent connected to the chat within a few seconds and was polite and fairly knowledgeable. His answers were prompt and straight to the point. He also had a strong command of the English language.

Deposit and Withdrawal

Shares.com Deposits

Shares.com Withdrawals

Account Types and Terms

Shares.com Account Opening Process

To create an account with Shares.com, follow these easy steps:

1. Click ‘Sign Up’ at the top-right corner of the main page.
2. Provide your email address and choose a password.
3. State your nationality and country of residence.
4. Provide further personal details.
5. Confirm your email address.
6. Upload proof of ID and address.

Shares.com Account Types

Shares.com’s one-size-fits-all trading account is pretty accessible because of its $20 deposit requirement. At the same rate, its pricing mechanism – floating spreads and zero commissions – benefits casual traders. I also appreciated the combination of a 100% margin call and a 50% stop-out.

Demo Accounts

Shares.com offers a demo account that introduces traders to the broker’s services and allows them to tweak their strategies in a risk-free environment. The market is continually evolving and never static, so it is important to hone your skills in a safe environment. You can set up a demo account for yourself before or alongside your live CFD account.

Islamic Accounts

Shares.com offers Islamic accounts for swap-free trading under Shariah law. Clients must contact the broker’s customer support to request further assistance.

What is CFD Leverage?

Leverage determines a trader’s overall market exposure. When trading Contracts for Difference (CFDs), positions can be opened for a fraction of their value because of leverage. Essentially, the broker lends the trader money so that they can open bigger positions. Leverage multiplies the profits a trader generates from winning positions but also the losses incurred from failed trades.

Maximum Leverage By Asset Class

In the table below, I have listed the maximum retail leverage available with Shares.com for CFD instruments from different asset classes:

Shares.com Restricted Countries

Shares.com does not accept as clients residents of Afghanistan, Barbados, Belgium, Belarus, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Canada, China (PRC only; not HK, Taiwan), Congo, Cuba, Eritrea, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Kosovo, Libya, Mali, Myanmar, North Korea, Palestine, Palau, Philippines, Russian Federation, Senegal, Somalia, South Sudan, the USA & Territories (Guam, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands).

Research

The ‘Discover’ market sentiment informs users of daily gainers and losers and of the most volatile trading instruments at present.

However, Shares.com clients need to rely on external sources for market reviews, trading analyses, featured trading ideas, and an economic calendar.

Education

The Bottom Line

Shares.com is a forex and CFD broker powered by Capital.com, a global leader in the financial trading industry. Established in 2022, Shares.com is regulated by the Securities Commission of the Bahamas (SCB) and offers over 3,000 tradable instruments, generally at competitive fees.

The broker provides a powerful and versatile web trading platform, ideal for conducting in-depth technical analyses. It also supports weekend trading and offers guaranteed stop-loss orders, enhancing its appeal to active traders.

However, Shares.com falls short in educational and research content, and its customer support proved unreliable during our tests.

In conclusion, Shares.com is a strong choice for experienced day traders and swing traders, but is less suitable for beginners.

FAQ