Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of AvaTrade vs ActivTrades, 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.
AvaTrade and ActivTrades are both private brokers that are not publicly traded and are not banks. AvaTrade was founded in 2006, while ActivTrades has been around since 2001. In terms of trust, ForexBrokers.com gives AvaTrade a score of 96 out of 99, which places it in the highly trusted range, while ActivTrades scores 80 out of 99, which is still trusted but lower than AvaTrade.
Regulation is a key difference between the two. AvaTrade holds 4 Tier-1 licenses and 4 Tier-2 licenses, showing a wider set of top-tier approvals from regulators. ActivTrades holds 2 Tier-1 licenses and 1 Tier-2 license. For traders comparing online brokers, AvaTrade has the stronger regulatory profile and higher Trust Score, while ActivTrades offers a more modest level of oversight.
| Feature |
AvaTrade
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2006 | 2001 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 4 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 2 |
AvaTrade offers commissions and fees that are close to the industry average, with spreads of about 0.9 pips as of June 2024. That is a bit higher than some low-cost entry accounts at brokers like CMC Markets and Tickmill, but still competitive for many everyday traders. For qualified professional traders, AvaTrade’s Professional account can be even tighter, with spreads around 0.6 pips, which is in line with FP Markets. AvaTrade is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars for commissions and fees and ranks #14 out of 36 brokers at ForexBrokers.com.
ActivTrades also lands near the middle of the pack on pricing, with spreads that are slightly better than the industry average but not as low as the cheapest forex brokers. Its main Individual Account, along with Professional and Islamic Account options, uses the same spreads across account types, so the biggest difference is usually margin requirements rather than trading costs. ActivTrades says pricing can vary by asset and platform, and its EUR/USD spread was 0.98 pips in May 2024. ActivTrades is rated 4 out of 5 stars for commissions and fees and ranks #21 out of 36 brokers.
Overall, AvaTrade has the edge over ActivTrades for commissions and fees, thanks to a slightly better rating and a higher ranking. Both brokers offer pricing that is reasonable for many traders, but AvaTrade is the stronger choice if keeping spreads lower is a top priority.
| Feature |
AvaTrade
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | $0 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.93 | 1.08 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.61 | 0.92 |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
AvaTrade and ActivTrades both give traders access to forex as CFDs or spot contracts, plus copy trading and cryptocurrency CFDs, but neither broker lets clients buy delivered crypto outright. In terms of overall market access, ActivTrades lists slightly more tradeable symbols than AvaTrade, with 1,267 versus 1,260, while AvaTrade offers more forex pairs, 53 compared with ActivTrades’ 49. Both brokers also do not offer U.S.-listed exchange-traded securities such as Apple shares.
The main difference in their investment range is that ActivTrades also offers exchange-traded securities on international exchanges, such as Vodafone shares on the London Stock Exchange, while AvaTrade does not. Even so, both brokers are rated 4 out of 5 stars for Range of Investments, with ActivTrades ranked #25 out of 36 brokers by ForexBrokers.com and AvaTrade ranked #26, making their product lineups broadly similar overall.
| Feature |
AvaTrade
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1260 | 1267 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 53 | 49 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | No |
| Cryptocurrency (CFDs) | 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.
AvaTrade and ActivTrades both give traders plenty of platform choices, including free demo accounts for practice, their own in-house platform, web-based trading, Windows desktop downloads, copy trading, and support for both MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5. Each broker also lets users trade directly from charts, making it easier to act on price moves without switching screens.
For trading tools, the two brokers appear closely matched in the basics, though some charting and watchlist details are not clearly listed. Where they differ is in overall review scores and rankings: AvaTrade earns 4.5 out of 5 stars for Trading Platforms and Tools and ranks #13 out of 36 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while ActivTrades scores 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #26. That gives AvaTrade the edge for traders who want the stronger overall platform and tools setup.
| Feature |
AvaTrade
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 80 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
AvaTrade and ActivTrades both make mobile trading easy with iPhone and Android apps, plus price alerts and the ability to draw trendlines on charts. That means either broker can suit traders who want to follow the markets and place trades from a phone or tablet. In mobile app ratings, AvaTrade comes out ahead with 4.5 out of 5 stars and a rank of #13 out of 36 brokers, while ActivTrades holds a solid 4-star rating and ranks #21.
The main differences show up in charting and account syncing. AvaTrade offers watchlist syncing across mobile and web, so changes stay matched on both sides, and it provides 73 technical studies in its app versus 30 at ActivTrades. On the other hand, ActivTrades can auto-save chart drawings, which AvaTrade does not. Overall, AvaTrade has the edge for features and app quality, while ActivTrades still covers the mobile trading basics well.
| Feature |
AvaTrade
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 73 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | No | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
AvaTrade and ActivTrades both give traders access to forex news from major sources, a sentiment tool, and an economic calendar for tracking upcoming events. Each also earns a 4-star rating for research from ForexBrokers.com. In addition, AvaTrade includes Trading Central tools, which can help with technical analysis and trade ideas, while ActivTrades does not offer that specific feature.
The main difference is that ActivTrades provides daily market commentary, while AvaTrade does not. Neither broker offers Autochartist, TipRanks, or Acuity Trading tools. Overall, ActivTrades edges ahead in the research category, ranking #26 out of 36 brokers versus AvaTrade’s #28, though both offer a fairly similar range of market research tools for everyday traders.
| Feature |
AvaTrade
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | No | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central | Yes | No |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When it comes to beginner-friendly learning tools, both AvaTrade and ActivTrades give new traders plenty to work with. Each broker offers forex and CFDs education with at least 10 learning pieces, plus monthly client webinars and a solid library of beginner videos and advanced videos for those who want to keep learning. Both are also rated 4 out of 5 stars for Education, so each one provides a good starting point for someone who wants help understanding trading basics and building skills over time.
That said, AvaTrade stands out more in this area overall. ForexBrokers.com ranks AvaTrade #2 out of 36 brokers for Education, while ActivTrades is ranked #30 out of 36. So although both brokers cover the key educational needs of beginners, AvaTrade appears to offer a stronger learning experience and is likely the better choice for traders who want more guidance and easier access to educational content.
| Feature |
AvaTrade
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 63 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that AvaTrade is better than ActivTrades. AvaTrade finished with an overall rank of #15, while ActivTrades finished with an overall rank of #28.
AvaTrade is a trusted global brand best known for offering an extensive selection of trading platforms for forex and CFD traders, along with strong educational resources and copy trading support.
| Feature |
AvaTrade
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ActivTrades
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|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 96 | 80 |
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AvaTrade vs ActivTrades: neither broker offers the ability to buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrency, but both support trading cryptocurrency CFDs.
AvaTrade vs ActivTrades: both brokers do not support ACH or SEPA transfers, both offer bank wire and Skrill for deposits and withdrawals, only AvaTrade supports PayPal, and Visa/Mastercard availability is not specified for either.
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 | AvaTrade | ActivTrades | |
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| Trust Score | 96 | 80 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | AvaTrade Review | ActivTrades Review |
| Broker Screenshots | AvaTrade | ActivTrades | |
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| Regulation | AvaTrade | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 96 | 80 | |
| Year Founded | 2006 | 2001 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | ||
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 2 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 4 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 1 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 2 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | AvaTrade | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (FSA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | No | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | No | ||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | No | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | AvaTrade | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or CMA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No |
| Investments | AvaTrade | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1260 | 1267 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 53 | 49 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (CFDs) | 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 | AvaTrade | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.93 | 1.08 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.61 | 0.92 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Agency | No | No | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | AvaTrade | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | $0 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | AvaTrade | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | AvaTrade | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 80 | 30 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | AvaTrade | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 73 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | AvaTrade | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | No | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | AvaTrade | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | AvaTrade | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | AvaTrade Review | ActivTrades Review |
| Overall | AvaTrade | ActivTrades | |
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| Trust Score | 96 | 80 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | AvaTrade Review | ActivTrades Review |
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