This 2025 review of ActivTrades examines everything from its trading costs and regulation to educational resources and user experience, helping you decide whether ActivTrades is the right fit for your trading needs.
Founded in 2001 and headquartered in London, ActivTrades is a multi-asset broker regulated by the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), Portuguese Securities Market Commission (CMVM), Securities Commission of the Bahamas (SCB), and the Financial Services Commission (FSC) of Mauritius.
The broker offers a wide range of CFDs with tight spreads and fast execution. It also supports multiple popular third-party trading platforms, including its proprietary platform, ActivTrader.
ActivTrades Overview
ActivTrades Overview
ActivTrades
- Minimum Deposit$0
- SpreadLow
- Trading FeeFree
- Deposit FeeVaries
- Withdrawal FeeVaries
- Account OpeningWithin 24 hours
Pros and Cons
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Commission-free trading and competitive spreads
- Regulated by major authorities such as the FCA
- Supports a wide range of trading platforms
- Modern and user-friendly platform
Cons
- Inactivity and currency conversion fees
- Deposit and withdrawal fees for certain methods
- Educational resources lack structure
- Withdrawal processing can be slow
Account Types
Account Types
ActivTrades offers two types of trading accounts: Individual and Professional. Spreads remain tight across both account types, but the Professional account grants access to a higher maximum leverage, subject to eligibility criteria.
It offers an Islamic account for Muslim traders, and demo accounts are available for practice.
ActivTrades Fees, Spreads, and Commissions
ActivTrades Fees, Spreads, and Commissions
Trading Fees
ActivTrades is recognized for its low fees for forex trading and certain CFDs, such as stock CFDs. The broker operates on a spread-only model, meaning that no separate commissions are charged. Spreads for all accounts start from 0.5 pips. For stock CFD trading, a commission of $0.02 per share applies, with a minimum charge of $1.
Deposit, Withdrawal, and Other Account Fees
While ActivTrades generally does not levy deposit or withdrawal fees directly, there are certain exceptions. Deposits made via debit/credit cards incur a 0.5% fee for clients in the UK and European Economic Area, and 1.5% for non-EEA clients.
For withdrawals, some bank transfers may involve charges, specifically $12.50 for USD bank transfers and a £9 fee for transfers from the Bahamian entity. An inactivity fee of £10 per month is applied if an account remains unused for over one year and retains a balance.
Furthermore, a currency conversion fee of 0.3% is charged when the profit or loss from a closed trade is converted into a base currency that differs from the instrument's quote currency.
Trading Platforms Available on ActivTrades
Trading Platforms Available on ActivTrades
ActivTrades offers a comprehensive selection of trading platforms, including its proprietary solution and popular third-party options, all accessible via desktop, mobile, and web browsers.
| Trading Platforms | Availability |
|---|---|
| MetaTrader 4 | |
| MetaTrader 5 | |
| cTrader | |
| TradingView | |
| NinjaTrader | |
| Proprietary Platform | |
| Mobile App |
Assets You Can Trade on ActivTrades
Assets You Can Trade on ActivTrades
ActivTrades is a CFD broker with over 1,200 financial instruments. Traders can gain exposure to various underlying assets, such as stocks, forex, cryptocurrencies, bonds, and more, through these CFDs. Here’s how it compares to other CFD brokers, such as AAAFx and Eightcap:
*Comparison between CFD brokers only
*Comparison between CFD brokers only
Looking for something else? Compare tradable assets, features, and more at a glance with our powerful broker comparison tool.
COMPARE BROKERSDeposit and Withdrawal
Deposit and Withdrawal
Funding Methods
Funding Methods
ActivTrades supports funding through:
- Debit / Credit Card
Funding Methods
You can deposit funds via:
- Debit/credit cards
- Bank transfers
- E-wallets such as Neteller, Skrill, Apple Pay, and Google Pay
Deposits via debit/credit cards and e-wallets are typically credited to your account within 30 minutes, while bank transfers usually take 3-5 business days.
ActivTrades supports 5 base currencies: EUR, USD, GBP, CHF, and SEK. A currency conversion fee of 0.3% applies if the account’s base currency differs from the quote currency of the traded instrument.
Withdrawals typically take 1-3 business days, or 3-5 business days for bank transfers. No internal fees are charged.
Educational Resources & Research Tools on ActivTrades
Educational Resources & Research Tools on ActivTrades
Research Tools
Research materials primarily consist of articles within the analysis portal, featuring a Weekly Outlook series, Market Analysis, and Macro Analysis articles. Video content includes a weekly Monday Market Matters webinar series, which is archived on YouTube.
Furthermore, an FXStreet news feed is integrated into its platforms. While the research content is of high quality, its quantity falls short compared to leading forex brokers.
Educational Resources
The educational content could be expanded to include more advanced trading strategies. It is also poorly structured, and there is no clear structured learning path for beginners. Additionally, the Weekly Outlook video series appears to have been discontinued.
ActivTrades Customer Support
ActivTrades Customer Support
Support Channels
Customer support is accessible 24/5 via live chat, email, and phone. Some user reviews report that responses from support agents lack depth or seem templated. Live chat response times are generally quick, though email queries may take longer to resolve. ActivTrades also provides an extensive FAQ section.
Language Support
Support is available in 14 languages, including but not limited to:
- English
- French
- Spanish
- German
- Italian
- Polish
Safety and Regulations
Safety and Regulations
ActivTrades is regulated by multiple financial authorities, including:
- FCA (Tier 1 regulator)
- CMVM
- SCB
- FSC
The broker implements industry-standard encryption and multi-factor authentication for fraud prevention. Client funds are held in segregated accounts, and negative balance protection is provided.
Furthermore, ActivTrades has secured additional insurance protection of up to $1 million per client from Lloyd’s of London, which covers all clients regardless of their governing entity.
User Experience and Interface
User Experience and Interface
Desktop Navigation and Performance
The ActivTrader web platform provides a smooth and user-friendly experience. Its intuitive and well-organized design makes it accessible to beginners. While the platform offers a simple and minimalistic approach, it has the potential for further enhancement in terms of advanced features.
The MetaTrader platforms available via ActivTrades are augmented with proprietary indicators and custom tools. Overall, the user experience is smooth, though a minor issue observed is occasional charting lag during peak market hours.
Mobile Navigation and Performance
The ActivTrades Online Trading app is intuitive and incorporates TradingView charts alongside FXStreet news headlines. The platforms offer a two-step login process, and mobile devices support biometric authentication for convenience.
Final Verdict
Final Verdict
ActivTrades is recognized as a trusted and well-rounded broker, suitable for both beginners and experienced traders. It offers a broad selection of trading instruments and supports multiple popular third-party trading platforms, including its proprietary ActivTrader.
Its low trading fees, competitive spreads, and commission-free model position it as a cost-effective option for many traders. The broker is robustly regulated by Tier-1 authorities like the FCA, maintains segregated client funds, provides negative balance protection, and offers additional insurance through Lloyd's of London.
However, ActivTrades does have some limitations. While most deposits are free, debit/credit card deposits incur fees, and withdrawals can be slow, with certain methods also charging fees.
Is ActivTrades the Right Broker for You?
It represents a strong option for traders seeking a safe, intuitive, and cost-effective broker. It’s particularly well-suited for experienced traders who prioritize flexibility across multiple platforms and a comprehensive range of products.
Its absence of a minimum deposit and intuitive design make it accessible to newer traders. However, they may need to seek external resources for more structured learning due to the existing limitations in educational content.
Who Should Trade with ActivTrades?
ActivTrades is ideal for experienced traders who value multi-platform flexibility and a broad product range. It is also a good choice for beginners owing to its user-friendly ActivTrader platform, competitive fees, and approachable trading environment, provided they are aware of the educational resource limitations. Muslim traders will find the Islamic account option to be a valuable feature.