Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of ActivTrades vs Eightcap, 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 Eightcap are two reputable online brokers with distinct regulatory profiles. ActivTrades, established in 2001, holds two Tier-1 licenses, which indicates a high level of trust according to ForexBrokers.com. Additionally, they possess one Tier-2 license, classifying them as trusted. Their Trust Score is 81 out of 99, placing them in the trusted category. Although they are not publicly traded nor operate as a bank, they remain a solid choice for those seeking a reliable trading platform.
Founded in 2009, Eightcap boasts a robust regulatory framework with three Tier-1 licenses, reflecting a high level of trust. Unlike ActivTrades, Eightcap does not hold any Tier-2 licenses but still earns a superior Trust Score of 85 out of 99, placing them higher on the trust scale. Similar to ActivTrades, Eightcap is neither publicly traded nor a banking institution, yet offers a secure environment for online traders.
| Feature |
ActivTrades
|
Eightcap
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2001 | 2009 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 3 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
When comparing the commissions and fees of ActivTrades and Eightcap, both brokers offer competitive options, but their structures and pricing can influence trading costs differently. ActivTrades has a standard account option called the "Individual Account" along with Professional and Islamic accounts. While its spreads are slightly better than average, they’re not the best in the low-cost forex space. The average spread for the EUR/USD pair is around 0.98 pips, although this can change based on trading conditions. ActivTrades is rated 4 stars for commissions and fees, ranking 28th out of 62 brokers.
On the other hand, Eightcap provides two main account choices: the commission-based Raw account and the spread-only Standard account. The Raw account advertises an average spread of 0.06 pips, but with a commission of $3.50 per side, the effective cost is approximately 0.76 pips. This pricing is under the industry average of 0.8 pips, though not the most budget-friendly. Eightcap is also rated 4 stars for its commissions and fees, achieving a slightly higher ranking of 26th out of 62 brokers.
Both brokers maintain a solid reputation in terms of their rates, yet each has unique attributes that might appeal to different trading strategies. ActivTrades could be more appealing for those looking for a straightforward account setup without active trader pricing, while Eightcap might attract traders comfortable with commission-based pricing for potentially lower effective spreads.
| Feature |
ActivTrades
|
Eightcap
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | 0 | $100 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.98 | 1.0 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | 0.76 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | No |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| 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 ActivTrades and Eightcap in terms of the available range of investments, both brokers facilitate forex trading through CFDs or spot contracts. ActivTrades offers a larger selection of tradeable symbols, with 1,267 available compared to Eightcap's 736. However, Eightcap leads with a slightly higher number of tradeable forex pairs, providing access to 56 pairs, while ActivTrades offers 49. A distinct advantage for ActivTrades is its provision of exchange-traded securities on international exchanges, enabling clients to purchase shares like those of Vodafone on the London Stock Exchange, a feature not available with Eightcap. Both brokers support copy trading and cryptocurrency derivatives but neither offers the ability to purchase actual delivered cryptocurrencies.
In terms of the range of investments, ActivTrades is considered more comprehensive, receiving a rating of 4 out of 5 stars, compared to Eightcap's 3.5 stars. According to ForexBrokers.com, ActivTrades ranks 31st out of 62 brokers in this category, ahead of Eightcap, which sits at 40th place. This indicates that while both brokers provide comparable fundamental trading features, ActivTrades offers a broader array of investment opportunities, particularly for those interested in international stock markets.
| Feature |
ActivTrades
|
Eightcap
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1267 | 736 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 49 | 56 |
| 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 trading platforms and tools, both ActivTrades and Eightcap offer compelling features for traders. ActivTrades distinguishes itself with a proprietary platform developed in-house, whereas Eightcap does not offer such a platform. Both brokers support popular platforms like MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, providing a familiar trading environment for users. Simulated trading is available from both brokers through free virtual demo accounts, helping beginners and experienced traders alike to practice strategies without financial risks. Additionally, both brokers provide web-based trading as well as downloadable desktop platforms for Windows, making them accessible across different device preferences.
In terms of visual analysis tools, both brokers offer 15 drawing tools, allowing traders to customize their charts effectively. However, ActivTrades edges ahead with 11 columns for watch lists compared to Eightcap’s 7, providing more fields to track market movements closely. Both brokers allow trading directly from stock charts and engage in copy trading, offering flexibility in executing trading strategies. While both brokers are rated 4 stars for their trading platforms and tools, ActiveTrades ranks slightly higher in the ForexBrokers.com list at #30 compared to Eightcap's #38, indicating a slight edge in platform offerings and functionalities.
| Feature |
ActivTrades
|
Eightcap
|
|---|---|---|
| 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.
When comparing the mobile trading platforms of ActivTrades and Eightcap, both brokers offer apps for iPhone and Android users, ensuring accessibility across popular devices. They also provide essential features such as stock and forex price alerts, the ability to draw trendlines, view multiple time frames, and auto-save chart drawings. In terms of technical studies for charting, both apps are well-equipped, offering 30 different studies, enabling users to perform in-depth technical analysis conveniently from their mobile devices.
A notable distinction between the two is the watchlist symbol syncing feature; Eightcap supports this, allowing seamless integration between mobile and desktop watchlists, while ActivTrades does not. Both brokers let users create watchlists with real-time quotes. Despite these differences, each app is rated four stars for mobile trading. However, ActivTrades is ranked higher at #19 by ForexBrokers.com compared to Eightcap's #38, perhaps influencing traders seeking a more favorably ranked platform.
| Feature |
ActivTrades
|
Eightcap
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | Yes |
| 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 it comes to daily market commentary, both ActivTrades and Eightcap deliver up-to-date insights. However, ActivTrades goes a step further by offering forex news from well-regarded sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones, which Eightcap unfortunately doesn't provide. Neither broker offers technical or fundamental research tools from companies like Autochartist or Trading Central, but they both supply sentiment-based trading tools that highlight the balance of long and short positions. Another similarity is their economic calendars, which present essential global news events for informed trading decisions.
While neither broker offers tools from TipRanks or Acuity Trading, ActivTrades gains an edge in their overall research rating with 4 stars compared to Eightcap’s 3.5 stars. According to ForexBrokers.com, ActivTrades is ranked #30 out of 62 brokers for their research offerings, whereas Eightcap finds itself at #39 in the same list. This distinction underlines ActivTrades' slight advantage in providing traders with more comprehensive resources for informed trading.
| Feature |
ActivTrades
|
Eightcap
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes |
| 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 Eightcap provide valuable materials for those looking to learn about forex and CFDs. Both brokers offer a minimum of 10 educational pieces, which could be articles, videos, or archived webinars, ensuring a strong foundation for newcomers. ActivTrades shines with monthly online webinars and a comprehensive archive of recorded sessions, enhancing the learning experience. Eightcap, while offering an archive, does not conduct monthly live sessions. For visual learners, both platforms offer more than 10 beginner-focused videos.
Regarding advanced educational content, ActivTrades again has the upper hand with a collection of videos tailored for seasoned traders, while Eightcap does not. Eightcap, however, provides an investor dictionary with over 50 investing term definitions, which ActivTrades lacks. Rating-wise, ActivTrades scores 4 stars for education, slightly ahead of Eightcap's 3.5 stars. In rankings among 62 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, ActivTrades is positioned at #38, slightly better than Eightcap's #40. Overall, both brokers present useful educational opportunities, but ActivTrades offers a more diverse range for both beginner and advanced traders.
| Feature |
ActivTrades
|
Eightcap
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 Eightcap. ActivTrades finished with an overall rank of #33, while Eightcap finished with an overall rank of #38.
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
|
Eightcap
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
|
| Trust Score | 81 | 85 |
| Range of Investments |
|
|
| Commissions & Fees |
|
|
| Platform & Tools |
|
|
| Research |
|
|
| Mobile Trading |
|
|
| Education |
|
|
Both ActivTrades and Eightcap provide the option to trade cryptocurrency derivatives, but neither platform supports the purchase of actual (delivered) cryptocurrency.
When comparing online brokers ActivTrades and Eightcap regarding deposit and withdrawal options, neither offers ACH or SEPA transfers, but while Eightcap supports PayPal, ActivTrades does not; both brokers, however, provide the convenience of using Skrill, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wires for 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.
Select Brokers
↓×Compare
0 of 5| Overall Rating | ActivTrades | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Commissions & Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Platform & Tools |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 81 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | ActivTrades Review | Eightcap Review |
| Broker Screenshots | ActivTrades | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trading Platforms Gallery (click to expand) |
| ||
| Mobile Trading Gallery (click to expand) |
| ||
| Research Gallery (click to expand) |
| ||
| Education Gallery (click to expand) |
|
| Regulation | ActivTrades | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 81 | 85 | |
| Year Founded | 2001 | 2009 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | No | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 3 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | ActivTrades | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| 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 | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1267 | 736 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 49 | 56 | |
| 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 | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.98 | 1.0 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | 0.76 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | ActivTrades | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | 0 | $100 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| 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 | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | Yes | |
| 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 | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | ActivTrades | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Eightcap Review |
| Overall | ActivTrades | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Commissions & Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Platform & Tools |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 81 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | ActivTrades Review | Eightcap Review |
IG
CMC Markets
FOREX.com
XTB
eToro
AvaTrade
Plus500
Pepperstone
FP Markets
Tickmill