Directa

What Directa does

Directa SIM S.p.A. is a privately held Italian online trading broker founded in 1995 and headquartered in Turin, regulated by CONSOB and Banca d'Italia and adherent to the Italian Fondo Nazionale di Garanzia. The company serves over 120,000 retail self-directed investors, offering access to Italian (MTA, IDEM, SEDEX, ETF Plus), European (Euronext, XETRA, EUREX, SIX Swiss, LMAX), and US (NYSE, NASDAQ, AMEX, CME) regulated markets across equities, ETFs, bonds, futures, options, CFDs (forex, commodities, indices, cryptocurrencies), and certificates. Its core technology is a fully in-house developed multi-platform stack including dLite (browser-based, multi-device), Libera, Darwin 2, Classic, OptionRuler (options strategy tool), TouchTrader (iOS), and the Directa App, with API access for third-party integration and biometric authentication on mobile.

Directa operates a product-led growth model: accounts are opened fully online in approximately five minutes with no account opening, maintenance, or closure fees, and revenue is generated primarily through per-transaction commissions ($9 per US equity execution, 2.5 EUR per MIBO options contract, 0.003% on index/commodity/Forex CFDs, 0.2% on crypto CFDs), tiered volume discounts for active traders, a small subscription layer (~$15/month for real-time CME/EUREX quotes), and zero-commission ETFs and certificates used as acquisition tools. A distinguishing service is the Regime Amministrato, in which Directa acts as tax substitute, automatically calculating and paying capital gains taxes to the Agenzia delle Entrate. Go-to-market relies on the Directa Academy, podcasts, webinars, events, SEO-optimized educational content, and a 2024-vintage paid acquisition buildout across Meta, Google, Microsoft, and TikTok, with no physical branches or intermediary bank distribution.

Name

Directa

Legal name

DIRECTA S.I.M. S.p.A.

Website

https://directa.it

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Directa SIM is a Turin-based, CONSOB- and Banca d'Italia-regulated Italian online broker serving 120,000+ retail self-directed investors with in-house multi-platform trading (dLite, Libera, Darwin 2, mobile) across Italian, European, and US markets, earning revenue through commissions, subscriptions, and zero-commission ETFs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Online Brokerage

NAICS

Securities and Commodity Contracts Intermediation and Brokerage (5231), Commodity Contracts Intermediation (52316)

SIC

Security Brokers, Dealers & Flotation Companies (6211), Commodity Contracts Brokers & Dealers (6221)

akta.pro primary industry

Electronic/Direct Market Access (DMA) & Sponsored Access (FSACAFAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Retail FX/CFD Broker Trading Venues (FSAFADAD), FX Electronic Trading Platforms (Spot/Forwards/Swaps) (FSAFANAC), Brokerages & On/Off-Ramps (fiat rails, instant buy/sell) (FSAPADAG), Margin Trading & Collateralized Borrowing (Exchange-Operated) (FSADAAAL)

Keywords

• Online trading broker
• Retail brokerage
• Equity trading
• Options trading
• CFD trading

Headquarters

HQ city

Torino

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Trading Commissions: Directa earns commissions on every trade executed across supported markets. Commission structures vary by market: US equities (NYSE, NASDAQ, AMEX) at $9 per execution, OTC at $15; Italian and European markets at percentage-based rates; futures at flat rates per contract; CFDs at 0.003% of notional value with minimums. Volume-based pricing provides tiered discounts for high-frequency traders.
2. Zero-Commission Instruments: Certain instruments (specific ETFs and Certificates) are offered commission-free, used as a customer acquisition and retention tool. The company generates revenue through other instrument classes and higher-volume trading activity.
3. Subscription/Quotation Fees: Fee-based real-time quotation services for certain markets (CME, EUREX, XETRA, EuroTLX, LMAX) at monthly rates (e.g., $15/month for CME/EUREX futures quotations). Free real-time quotes are provided for Italian equities, indices, and US markets.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Directa is a regulated Italian online broker (SIM) that enables retail investors to trade across Italian, European and US regulated markets through proprietary web, desktop and mobile trading platforms. It offers execution in equities, ETFs, bonds, futures, options, CFDs (forex, indices, commodities, cryptocurrencies) and certificates, with API access, the Regime Amministrato tax-substitute service, PAC in ETF systematic investing, and zero-commission ETF and certificate trading.

Product overview

Directa SIM is an Italian online trading broker founded in 1995, offering a comprehensive multi-platform ecosystem for trading across Italian, European, and US markets. The core offering consists of proprietary trading platforms (dLite, Libera, Darwin 2, Classic, Directa App) accessible via web and mobile devices, complemented by specialized tools (OptionRuler, TouchTrader) and API access for automated trading. Users can trade stocks, ETFs, bonds, futures, options, CFDs (forex, commodities, indices, cryptocurrencies), and certificates. The platform integrates zero-commission ETF/certificate trading, PAC in ETF automatic investing, and a fiscal administration service (Regime Amministrato) handling tax calculations. Educational resources include Directa Academy, webinars, and podcasts. Markets covered include MTA, IDEM, SEDEX, ETF Plus, MOT, XETRA, EUREX, SIX Swiss, LMAX Exchange, NYSE, NASDAQ, AMEX, and CME.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• dLite: A lightweight, multi-device trading platform accessible via browser without installation, also available as a mobile app.
• Darwin 2
• Libera
• Classic
• Directa Academy
• OptionRuler
• TouchTrader
• dGO

Products and services

• Directa SIM Online Trading Brokerage Account Core brokerage account giving retail investors access to Italian (MTA, IDEM, SEDEX, ETF Plus), European (Euronext, XETRA, EUREX, SIX Swiss, LMAX) and US (NYSE, NASDAQ, AMEX, CME) regulated markets, with zero account opening, maintenance and closure costs and the Regime Amministrato tax-substitute service.
• dLite Trading Platform
• Libera Trading Platform
• Darwin 2 Trading Platform
• Classic Trading Platform
• Directa App (dLite Mobile)
• TouchTrader Mobile App
• Directa API
• PAC in ETF Systematic Investment Plan
• Zero Commission ETFs and Certificates
• USA Markets Trading Service Direct access to US equity markets (NYSE, NASDAQ, AMEX, OTC) from a single EUR account with $9 fixed commission per trade, automatic EUR/USD conversion at market rates, leverage up to 5x, and extended pre-market and post-market trading hours.
• IDEM Derivatives Trading (Futures and Options)
• LMAX Exchange Trading (FX, Commodities and Crypto CFDs) Access to LMAX Exchange MTF in London providing 40+ forex currency pairs, commodity CFDs and 12 cryptocurrency CFDs with a true market book, typical 1 pip spread on EUR/USD, and commissions of 0.003% on FX/commodities and 0.2% on crypto CFDs.
• Regime Amministrato Tax Administration Service
• Directa Academy Educational Platform
• Directa Podcast

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 120,000 investors chose Directa as their sole online broker
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• IG Group: Global retail-focused CFD and spread betting broker with deep Italian/European presence. Comparable in retail CFD/FX product set, proprietary platform technology, and regulated multi-jurisdiction footprint.
• DEGIRO: Pan-European low-cost online broker serving self-directed retail investors across multiple EU markets including Italy. Directly comparable business model, low-commission pricing, and multi-asset platform approach.
• eToro: Global multi-asset retail broker with strong CFD, equity, and crypto offering and a large Italian customer base. Directly comparable in retail CFD/forex/crypto exposure and self-serve platform model.
• Trade Republic: European neobroker offering commission-free trading, savings plans, and crypto to retail investors, with growing Italy presence. Comparable on retail self-directed multi-asset trading and digital onboarding, and a key competitive threat.
• XTB: European-listed retail broker offering stocks, ETFs, CFDs, and FX across multiple EU jurisdictions including Italy. Comparable product breadth (CFDs, equities, FX) and retail commission-based revenue model.
• Banca Sella: Italian bank-broker providing online trading and investment products to retail and small business customers. Comparable to Directa in Italian retail self-directed trading, regulatory framework, and multi-asset product offering.
• FinecoBank: Italy's leading direct bank and online broker, offering self-directed trading, advisory, and banking products to retail investors. Closest domestic competitor to Directa with overlapping product set, Italian regulatory status, and retail self-directed customer base.

Broad incumbents

• Interactive Brokers: Large global multi-asset broker serving active retail and professional traders across Italian, European, and US markets. Comparable on multi-market access, API connectivity, and active trader pricing, but at much larger scale and with broader institutional footprint.
• Saxo Bank: European-headquartered multi-asset broker and trading platform provider serving retail and institutional clients. Comparable on multi-market (Italian/European/US) access, proprietary platform, and API connectivity, though with a more affluent client base.

Emerging players

• Scalable Capital: European neobroker offering commission-free trading, savings plans, and broker-managed products with growing Italy presence. Comparable retail self-directed focus, PAC/savings plan product, and competitive zero-commission positioning targeting the same Italian investor demographic.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/playlist?list=PLRkNv9aK7O-u_2j3s7A0tfbctuok_VwAE
• Xx.com/directasim
• Facebookfacebook.com/directasim
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/directa-sim

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Directa