Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of ActivTrades vs BDSwiss, 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 BDSwiss are both online brokers catering to those interested in trading various financial instruments. ActivTrades, established in 2001, holds two highly trusted Tier-1 licenses and an additional Tier-2 license, indicating a strong regulatory standing. This reflects in its Trust Score of 81 out of 99 on ForexBrokers.com, placing it in the "trusted" category. Despite not being publicly traded or a bank, ActivTrades has established itself as a reliable choice for traders over the years.
On the other hand, BDSwiss was founded in 2012 and has secured a single highly trusted Tier-1 license but lacks any Tier-2 licenses. With a Trust Score of 73 out of 99, BDSwiss falls into the "average risk" category according to ForexBrokers.com. Like ActivTrades, it is neither publicly traded nor a bank. While BDSwiss has attracted a significant user base, its regulatory profile suggests a moderate level of trust compared to ActivTrades.
| Feature |
ActivTrades
|
BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2001 | 2012 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 2 |
When comparing ActivTrades and BDSwiss in terms of commissions and fees, both brokers hold distinct advantages and shortcomings. ActivTrades offers spreads that slightly exceed the industry average, though they fall short of the top low-cost forex brokers. With a primary Individual Account, alongside Professional and Islamic Accounts, ActivTrades provides options for varying trader needs. However, it lacks specialized account types for high-volume traders or specific active trader pricing. Importantly, ActivTrades’ spreads remain consistent across its account types, averaging 0.98 pips on the EUR/USD as of May 2024. The broker garners a 4-star rating for commissions and fees and ranks 28th out of 62 brokers on ForexBrokers.com.
BDSwiss, on the other hand, offers higher spreads which may deter traders seeking the lowest costs. The Classic account, with a spread of 1.5 pips on EUR/USD, stands on the pricier side. The Raw account offers a slightly better option with a 0.3 pips spread plus a $5 commission per side, bringing the total effective spread to 1.3. Meanwhile, the VIP account provides a spread of 1.2 pips. Despite these costs, BDSwiss achieves good order execution stats. Similar to ActivTrades, BDSwiss earns a 4-star rating for commissions and fees and ranks slightly lower at 30th out of 62 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com.
In summary, both ActivTrades and BDSwiss provide competitive offerings, though their fee structures cater to different trader profiles. ActivTrades may be the go-to for those prioritizing lower spreads, while BDSwiss might appeal to those valuing effective execution and specialized account types. Their ratings reflect comparable quality, yet individual trader needs and strategies will ultimately dictate which service is more advantageous.
| Feature |
ActivTrades
|
BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $10-$5000 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.98 | 1.6 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | 1.3 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | Yes |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | Yes |
| 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.
ActivTrades and BDSwiss both offer a wide array of trading options, particularly in forex trading where they provide CFD contracts. When it comes to the total number of tradeable symbols, ActivTrades takes the lead with 1267 available symbols compared to BDSwiss's 1081. However, BDSwiss edges out ActivTrades with a slightly higher number of tradeable forex pairs, offering 53 pairs to ActivTrades' 49. Neither broker provides the opportunity to trade exchange-traded securities on U.S. exchanges, but ActivTrades does allow trading on international exchanges, such as the London Stock Exchange, a feature that BDSwiss does not offer. Additionally, both platforms support copy trading and offer cryptocurrency derivatives, though not the actual delivery of cryptocurrencies.
In terms of ratings and rankings for their range of investments, both brokers hold a solid 4-star rating. In the broader context of brokers reviewed by ForexBrokers.com, ActivTrades is slightly ahead, ranking 31st out of 62 brokers, while BDSwiss is close behind at 34th. This makes both platforms competitive options for traders looking for a variety of investment opportunities, although ActivTrades might provide a slight edge for those interested in a broader range of symbols and international exchange options.
| Feature |
ActivTrades
|
BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1267 | 1081 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 49 | 53 |
| 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.
Both ActivTrades and BDSwiss provide a wide variety of platforms and tools to cater to different trader preferences. They both offer free virtual demo accounts, which are perfect for beginners wanting to try their skills in a risk-free environment. Each broker has developed its own proprietary platform, complementing the popular MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5) platforms available for Windows desktops, as well as web-based versions for trading through a browser. While both brokers facilitate copy trading, they do not support social trading platforms like DupliTrade and ZuluTrade. Charting enthusiasts will appreciate the fifteen drawing tools offered by both companies, alongside the handy feature of trading directly from stock charts. Notably, ActivTrades provides a more extensive selection of columns for creating tailored watch lists compared to BDSwiss.
In terms of ratings, both ActivTrades and BDSwiss earn four out of five stars for their trading platforms and tools. However, BDSwiss holds a slightly better rank, coming in at number 24 out of 62 brokers, whereas ActivTrades is ranked at number 30 in the same category, according to ForexBrokers.com. Overall, while both brokers have similar offerings, these subtle differences might influence a trader’s choice depending on their specific needs and trading style.
| Feature |
ActivTrades
|
BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes |
| 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.
When comparing the mobile trading apps of ActivTrades and BDSwiss, both brokers provide their clients with convenient iPhone and Android apps. Users benefit from essential features such as stock and forex price alerts and the capability to draw trendlines on charts. Each app supports 30 technical studies to aid in technical analysis, and both offer multiple time frames, from daily to intraday views. Watchlists can be created with real-time quotes on either platform, although neither provides syncing of watchlist symbols across devices, requiring users to manually update lists on each device.
The user experience for both apps is commendable; both are rated four out of five stars in the Mobile Trading Apps category. However, ActivTrades holds a slight edge in the competitive landscape, ranking 19th out of 62 brokers, while BDSwiss ranks 24th. Both apps provide auto-saving for chart drawings, enhancing the ease of use for traders on the go. Despite these similarities, ActivTrades' mobile app achieves a marginally higher standing in rankings, making it a slightly more popular choice among users according to ForexBrokers.com.
| Feature |
ActivTrades
|
BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 30 |
| 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 BDSwiss, both brokers provide daily market commentary and have economic calendars to keep traders informed about global events. ActivTrades stands out with its access to forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, enhancing its information depth. In contrast, BDSwiss doesn't offer news from these traditional leaders but compensates by providing technical analysis tools from Autochartist and Trading Central, which ActivTrades lacks. Furthermore, ActivTrades includes a sentiment-based trading tool showing the ratio of long or short positions across instruments, a feature not available with BDSwiss.
Even though both brokers are rated four stars for research quality, there are distinctive differences in their offerings that may sway an investor's choice. BDSwiss slightly edges out ActivTrades in the ForexBrokers.com research rankings, placing at #24 out of 62 brokers, while ActivTrades is ranked #30. The unique tools and information access provided by each might make one preferable over the other depending on a trader's specific needs for advanced analytics and reliable news sources.
| Feature |
ActivTrades
|
BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 comparing the educational resources of ActivTrades and BDSwiss for beginners, both platforms provide substantial opportunities to learn about forex and CFDs. Each offers more than ten educational pieces, such as articles, videos, and webinars dedicated to these subjects. Whether you're a novice seeking knowledge or an experienced trader looking to refine your skills, ActivTrades and BDSwiss provide monthly online webinars and include searchable archives of past events. Each broker also boasts at least ten beginner-targeted educational videos, helping newcomers to trading find their footing.
Despite their similarities in educational content and a uniform rating of four stars for education, BDSwiss holds an edge by offering an investor dictionary with over 50 investing term definitions, which ActivTrades does not. Furthermore, BDSwiss is ranked higher overall in the Education category by ForexBrokers.com, standing at #19 compared to ActivTrades' rank of #38 out of 62 brokers. This might influence those looking for a more foundational grasp of trading terms and concepts. Nonetheless, both brokers cater well to beginners and present a solid collection of resources to enhance one's trading journey.
| Feature |
ActivTrades
|
BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| 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 BDSwiss. ActivTrades finished with an overall rank of #33, while BDSwiss finished with an overall rank of #36.
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
|
BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 81 | 73 |
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Neither ActivTrades nor BDSwiss offers the ability to buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrency, but both platforms provide options to invest in cryptocurrency derivatives.
When comparing online brokers ActivTrades and BDSwiss, both offer Skrill, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wire options for depositing or withdrawing funds, but BDSwiss additionally provides ACH or SEPA transfers, whereas neither broker supports PayPal transactions.
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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2 of 5| Overall Rating | ActivTrades | BDSwiss | |
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| Trust Score | 81 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | ActivTrades Review | BDSwiss Review |
| Broker Screenshots | ActivTrades | BDSwiss | |
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| Regulation | ActivTrades | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 81 | 73 | |
| Year Founded | 2001 | 2012 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | No | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 2 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | ActivTrades | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| 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 | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | No | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | No | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | ActivTrades | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1267 | 1081 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 49 | 53 | |
| 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 | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.98 | 1.6 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | 1.3 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | No |
| Funding | ActivTrades | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $10-$5000 | |
| 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 | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | ActivTrades | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| 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 | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 30 | |
| 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 | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | No | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | ActivTrades | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | BDSwiss Review |
| Overall | ActivTrades | BDSwiss | |
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| Trust Score | 81 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | ActivTrades Review | BDSwiss Review |
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