Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of ActivTrades vs ATFX, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Between 51% and 89% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
ActivTrades and ATFX are both online brokers that provide trading services, but they differ significantly in regulatory standing. Founded in 2001, ActivTrades holds two Tier-1 licenses and one Tier-2 license, giving it a Trust Score of 81 from ForexBrokers.com, which classifies it as a trusted broker. Although not publicly traded or a bank, ActivTrades has established a solid reputation over its lengthy tenure in the industry.
On the other hand, ATFX, established in 2017, boasts four Tier-1 licenses and two Tier-2 licenses, earning a slightly higher Trust Score of 85, indicating a trusted status as well. Like ActivTrades, ATFX is neither publicly traded nor operates as a bank. With more Tier-1 licenses, ATFX stands out in terms of regulatory strength, offering a reassuring layer of trust for traders. Whether you're new to online trading or considering a new broker, understanding these regulatory aspects can be essential in making an informed choice.
| Feature |
ActivTrades
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2001 | 2017 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 4 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 2 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
ActivTrades offers several account types, including Individual, Professional, and Islamic Accounts, catering to different trading needs but without special pricing for high-volume traders. The spreads at ActivTrades are slightly better than the industry average, though not as competitive as the best low-cost forex brokers, with average spreads for the EUR/USD at 0.98 pips as of May 2024. Spreads may fluctuate during trading sessions and especially widen during rollover periods. As an online broker, ActivTrades is rated 4 out of 5 stars for commissions and fees and ranks #28 out of 62 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com, indicating a moderately favorable cost structure.
On the other hand, ATFX doesn't offer specific average spread data, making it harder to assess the cost predictability for users. Rated 3 out of 5 stars for commissions and fees by ForexBrokers.com, ATFX stands at #59 out of 62 brokers in the Commissions and Fees category. This signals relatively less competitive pricing compared to ActivTrades, which could be a consideration for budget-conscious traders.
In summary, while both brokers offer various account options without active trader pricing, ActivTrades appears to offer slightly more favorable spread conditions than ATFX. ActivTrades also holds a higher ranking and star rating from ForexBrokers.com for its commissions and fees, suggesting an edge over ATFX when it comes to cost-effectiveness in forex trading.
| Feature |
ActivTrades
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | 0 | $500 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.98 | N/A |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | No |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
When comparing the range of investments offered by ActivTrades and ATFX, one can find notable differences and similarities. ActivTrades distinguishes itself with a wider range of tradeable symbols, offering 1,267 compared to ATFX’s 150. This broader selection includes 49 tradeable forex pairs, while ATFX offers 44. Both platforms provide forex trading as CFDs or spot contracts, but ActivTrades widens its appeal by allowing trading in exchange-traded securities on international exchanges, while ATFX does not have this feature. In addition, both brokers offer cryptocurrency derivatives, though neither supports the purchase of actual cryptocurrencies.
Moreover, both ActivTrades and ATFX allow copy trading, making them appealing to those interested in mirroring successful strategies. However, when it comes to their overall assessed performance in the range of investments category, ActivTrades slightly edges out with a rating of 4 stars, compared to ATFX’s 3.5. Additionally, ActivTrades holds a higher rank of 31 out of 62 brokers, while ATFX stands at 57, according to ForexBrokers.com. This suggests that for investors seeking a broader array of trading options, ActivTrades may offer a more comprehensive platform than ATFX.
| Feature |
ActivTrades
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1267 | 150 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 49 | 44 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | No | No |
| Cryptocurrency (Derivative) | Yes | Yes |
| Disclaimers | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). |
Dive deeper: Best Copy Trading Platforms.
When comparing ActivTrades and ATFX for their trading platforms and tools, both brokers offer a variety of features that cater to the needs of traders. Both provide access to simulated trading through free virtual demo accounts, along with widely-used platforms such as MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5). Traders with either broker can benefit from web-based platforms, Windows-based desktop platforms, and the ability to trade directly from stock charts. However, ActivTrades takes a slight edge by offering a proprietary platform developed in-house, whereas ATFX does not. Both firms support copy trading, but neither offers DupliTrade or ZuluTrade. For charting, traders with both brokers can use up to 15 drawing tools.
ActivTrades outshines ATFX in a few areas, demonstrating its robust offering in technical indicators and customization for watch lists; ActivTrades provides 11 fields for watch lists compared to ATFX's 7. These features contribute to ActivTrades receiving a higher rating of 4 stars out of five for Trading Platforms and Tools, edging out ATFX's 3.5 stars. Additionally, according to ForexBrokers.com, ActivTrades ranks #30 among 62 brokers for this category, substantially ahead of ATFX, which stands at #61. This distinction reflects ActivTrades' focus on delivering a comprehensive trading environment for its users.
| Feature |
ActivTrades
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | No |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 15 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 11 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Both ActivTrades and ATFX provide iPhone and Android apps, making it convenient for traders who prefer mobile trading. They offer users the ability to receive stock or forex price alerts, create real-time watchlists, and draw trendlines on charts with multiple time frames available. In terms of technical studies available for charting on their mobile applications, ActivTrades stands out with 30 options compared to just 7 offered by ATFX. However, neither broker offers watchlist symbol syncing between the mobile app and the user's online account. Both apps automatically save chart drawings, which is a useful feature for those who want to keep their technical analysis consistent.
In terms of overall user ratings and rankings, ActivTrades scores a 4-star rating for its mobile trading app, while ATFX trails slightly with 3.5 stars. According to ForexBrokers.com, ActivTrades holds the 19th position out of 62 brokers for its mobile trading capabilities, showcasing its competitive edge. On the other hand, ATFX ranks at 62, indicating there might be room for improvement in their mobile trading offerings compared to competitors. Whether it's through ActivTrades' richer set of technical studies or ATFX's straightforward functionality, both apps cater to traders seeking effective mobile solutions, but with noticeable differences in features and ratings.
| Feature |
ActivTrades
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 7 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When comparing the market research offerings of ActivTrades and ATFX, ActivTrades provides a substantial array of services. It delivers daily market commentary and forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, which is a service missing from ATFX. On the technical side, while ATFX utilizes tools from companies like Autochartist and Trading Central for enhanced trading strategies, ActivTrades does not support these specific resources. However, ActivTrades offers a sentiment-based trading tool that presents a ratio of long and short positions across various instruments, a feature ATFX lacks. Both brokers offer economic calendars to keep traders informed of global news events but neither provides research tools from companies like TipRanks or Acuity Trading.
In terms of overall research ratings, ActivTrades is awarded 4 out of 5 stars, while ATFX receives 3 stars. This discrepancy is reflected in their rankings by ForexBrokers.com, where ActivTrades is positioned at 30th out of 62 brokers for its research offerings, whereas ATFX falls further down the list at 54th. The differences in information sources and tools available at each broker highlight ActivTrades as having a slightly stronger research platform, contributing to its higher rating and better industry standing.
| Feature |
ActivTrades
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | No | Yes |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | Yes |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When it comes to educational resources for beginners, both ActivTrades and ATFX provide a solid selection of materials related to forex and CFDs, each offering more than 10 pieces such as articles, videos, and archived webinars. ActivTrades stands out by providing monthly online educational webinars, helping users delve deeper into market insights and strategies. In comparison, ATFX does not offer these regular webinars, which could limit the ongoing educational engagement for its users.
Additionally, while both brokers have a searchable archive of recorded webinars and at least 10 beginner-level trading videos, ActivTrades goes further by providing advanced videos for experienced traders. Meanwhile, ATFX caters with an investor dictionary, offering definitions for over 50 key investing terms, a feature not available with ActivTrades. ActivTrades is rated slightly higher in education with 4 stars compared to ATFX’s 3 stars; however, ATFX holds a better ranking at #28 versus ActivTrades' #38 out of 62 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com. This suggests that while ActivTrades offers more comprehensive educational content, ATFX provides some unique learning tools that could appeal to different user preferences.
| Feature |
ActivTrades
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | No | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 62 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that ActivTrades is better than ATFX. ActivTrades finished with an overall rank of #33, while ATFX finished with an overall rank of #51.
ActivTrades is a long-standing brand that offers a proprietary trading platform, ActivTrader, and support for the award-winning TradingView and MetaTrader (MT4 and MT5) platforms. ActivTrades also delivers a selection of custom add-ons, indicators, and trading tools for traders who prefer to use MetaTrader. Drawbacks for trading with ActivTrades include a smaller selection of tradeable symbols and fewer educational resources than what’s available from the best forex brokers.
| Feature |
ActivTrades
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 81 | 85 |
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Both ActivTrades and ATFX do not provide the option to purchase actual delivered cryptocurrency, but they do offer the ability to buy cryptocurrency derivatives.
Both ActivTrades and ATFX do not support ACH or SEPA transfers or PayPal for deposits or withdrawals, but they both offer options such as Skrill, Visa or Mastercard, and bank wires for funding accounts.
Please note:
We review each broker’s overall global offering – a “Yes” checkmark in our Compare Tool does not guarantee the availability of any specific features in your country of residence. To verify the availability of any features within your country of residence, please contact the broker directly.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | ActivTrades | ATFX | |
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| Trust Score | 81 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | ActivTrades Review |
| Broker Screenshots | ActivTrades | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trading Platforms Gallery (click to expand) | |||
| Mobile Trading Gallery (click to expand) | |||
| Research Gallery (click to expand) | |||
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| Regulation | ActivTrades | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 81 | 85 | |
| Year Founded | 2001 | 2017 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | No | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 4 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 2 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | ActivTrades | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | No | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | No | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | No | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | ActivTrades | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | No | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | ActivTrades | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1267 | 150 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 49 | 44 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | No | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (Derivative) | Yes | Yes | |
| Disclaimers | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). |
| Cost | ActivTrades | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.98 | N/A | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | ActivTrades | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | 0 | $500 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | ActivTrades | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | No | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | ActivTrades | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 11 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 15 | 15 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | ActivTrades | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 7 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | ActivTrades | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | No | Yes | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | ActivTrades | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | No | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | ActivTrades | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/JPY | Yes | Yes | |
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CAD | Yes | Yes | |
| NZD/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| AUD/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| Review | ActivTrades Review |
| Overall | ActivTrades | ATFX | |
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| Trust Score | 81 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | ActivTrades Review |
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