Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of FOREX.com 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.
When choosing a trading platform, understanding the level of trust and security a broker offers is crucial. FOREX.com, established in 1999, stands out with its impressive ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 99, indicating it's highly trusted. The company is publicly traded, which often adds a layer of transparency, and it holds 7 Tier-1 licenses, the highest number in the industry, showcasing its strong regulatory standing. Although it’s not a bank, the platform is considered a secure choice for online trading.
In contrast, ActivTrades, founded in 2001, has a Trust Score rating of 81, placing it in the trusted category. Although not publicly traded, ActivTrades holds 2 Tier-1 licenses and 1 Tier-2 license, providing a solid regulatory framework, though not as extensive as FOREX.com. Like its counterpart, ActivTrades is not a bank, but it remains a viable option for traders looking for a platform with a trusted track record.
| Feature |
FOREX.com
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1999 | 2001 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 2 |
FOREX.com is recognized for its diverse account offerings and transparent execution statistics. However, it can be slightly more expensive than the industry average, unless you're trading internationally. In the U.S., the Standard account presents higher average spreads of 1.4 pips for the EUR/USD. For those seeking tighter spreads, the RAW account stands out, offering ultra-low spreads of 0.13 pips for EUR/USD. While this RAW account includes a commission, active traders can benefit from volume-based rebates, making it a strategic choice for high-volume traders. FOREX.com has earned a 4.5-star rating and secures the 13th spot out of 62 brokers in the Commissions and Fees category.
ActivTrades, on the other hand, offers competitive spreads that are slightly better than the industry average, with an attractive EUR/USD spread of 0.98 pips. While the broker lacks specific account types aimed at high-volume traders and active trader pricing, it provides a robust selection of account options, including Individual, Professional, and Islamic Accounts. Although the commission structure varies depending on the assets traded, ActivTrades ensures that spreads remain consistent across different account types. With its 4-star rating and ranking of 27 out of 62 in the category, ActivTrades is a reliable option for those seeking straightforward pricing and lower spreads.
In summary, while FOREX.com caters well to traders seeking a variety of execution methods and spreads tailored to high-volume trading, ActivTrades is appealing for those looking for consistent, slightly below-average spread costs without the complexity of active trader programs. Both brokers offer distinct advantages, with FOREX.com excelling in account diversity and ActivTrades shining in straightforward spread transparency.
| Feature |
FOREX.com
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | 0 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.4 | 0.98 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.9 | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
When comparing FOREX.com and ActivTrades in terms of their available range of investments, both brokers offer forex trading as CFDs or spot contracts. However, FOREX.com provides a wider selection with 5,500 tradeable symbols and 91 forex pairs compared to ActivTrades, which offers 1,267 tradeable symbols and 49 forex pairs. Neither platform supports exchange-traded securities on U.S. exchanges. While FOREX.com does not offer access to international exchange-traded securities, ActivTrades does, allowing clients to purchase shares like Vodafone on the London Stock Exchange.
Both brokers offer cryptocurrency derivatives but do not provide the option to buy actual cryptocurrencies. ActivTrades distinguishes itself by offering copy trading, a feature absent from FOREX.com. In ratings and rankings, FOREX.com shines with a 5-star rating for its range of investments and holds a strong position at #7 out of 62 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com. Meanwhile, ActivTrades holds a respectable 4-star rating and ranks at #31, suggesting a solid yet slightly more limited selection compared to FOREX.com.
| Feature |
FOREX.com
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 5500 | 1267 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 91 | 49 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | 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 choosing between FOREX.com and ActivTrades for trading platforms and tools, both brokers offer enticing options. FOREX.com and ActivTrades each provide a proprietary platform, along with popular third-party options like MetaTrader 4 and 5. This flexibility allows traders to customize their experience based on preferences. Both brokers also offer Windows-based desktop and web-based trading platforms, making their tools accessible whether you're at home or on the go. Additionally, they provide free virtual demo accounts so users can practice trades without risk. However, unlike FOREX.com, ActivTrades includes the feature of copy trading, which can appeal to those interested in replicating the strategies of successful traders.
For traders inclined towards detailed analysis, FOREX.com offers an expansive range of 239 drawing tools, significantly more than ActivTrades' 15. This difference may influence those who rely heavily on technical analysis. Watch list customization is another area where they differ, with FOREX.com offering 20 columns for a more tailored experience compared to ActivTrades' 11. While both brokers enable trading directly from a stock chart, FOREX.com has earned a 5-star rating for its trading platforms and tools, positioning it 7th among 62 brokers on ForexBrokers.com. ActivTrades, rated 4 stars and ranked 29th, may still appeal to traders looking for specific features, but FOREX.com leads in overall platform diversity and user satisfaction.
| Feature |
FOREX.com
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 88 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 239 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 20 | 11 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
When comparing the mobile trading apps offered by FOREX.com and ActivTrades, both platforms cater to iPhone and Android users, providing apps that enable stock or forex price alerts. While each app supports drawing trendlines and viewing multiple time frames on charts, FOREX.com stands out by offering 88 technical studies for chart analysis compared to ActivTrades' 30. Furthermore, FOREX.com allows for watchlist symbol syncing across devices, a feature ActivTrades currently does not support. Users of both apps can create watchlists with real-time quotes, with the added benefit of auto-saving chart drawings on both platforms.
In terms of ratings and rankings, FOREX.com receives a shining 5-star rating for its mobile trading apps and ranks 3rd out of 62 brokers by ForexBrokers.com. In comparison, ActivTrades has a respectable 4-star rating and holds the 19th spot in the same ranking. This suggests that while both apps offer valuable features, FOREX.com’s mobile app is generally perceived as more feature-rich and user-friendly by industry reviewers.
| Feature |
FOREX.com
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 88 | 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 market research offerings between FOREX.com and ActivTrades, both brokers provide daily market commentary and access to forex news from highly regarded sources like Bloomberg and Reuters. However, FOREX.com stands out with additional features such as access to Trading Central's technical analytics, a valuable asset for traders seeking detailed analysis. Both brokers offer sentiment-based trading tools that provide the ratio of long and short positions across various instruments, and they both include an economic calendar to keep traders informed of upcoming global news events. Notably, neither broker offers market research from companies like Autochartist, TipRanks, or Acuity Trading.
In terms of ratings, FOREX.com is awarded a research rating of 4.5 stars out of five, ranking #9 out of 62 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com. ActivTrades, on the other hand, has a slightly lower research rating of 4 stars, placing it at #30 in the same list. This highlights FOREX.com’s advantage in market research capabilities, offering a more comprehensive suite of tools and resources to support traders in making informed decisions.
| Feature |
FOREX.com
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | 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 in the world of forex and CFDs trading, both FOREX.com and ActivTrades stand out as viable options by providing ample educational tools tailored to traders at different levels. Each platform offers entry-level traders over ten educational pieces, which include articles, videos, and archived webinars. They both host at least one educational webinar a month, with FOREX.com and ActivTrades allowing access to a library of previously recorded webinars, making it easy for learners to find helpful materials at their convenience. Each broker also provides over ten beginner-level educational videos, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of trading basics.
While both platforms offer advanced educational content, FOREX.com has the upper hand by providing an investor dictionary with over fifty investment terms — a feature not currently available with ActivTrades. As a result of these offerings, FOREX.com is highly rated with 4.5 stars and ranks #4 out of 62 brokers for education by ForexBrokers.com. Meanwhile, ActivTrades also provides substantial educational resources but receives a slightly lower rating of 4 stars and ranks #38. This makes FOREX.com a more attractive option for beginners aiming to deepen their knowledge with structured and easily accessible educational content.
| Feature |
FOREX.com
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| 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) | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 62 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that FOREX.com is better than ActivTrades. FOREX.com finished with an overall rank of #5, while ActivTrades finished with an overall rank of #33.
FOREX.com is a trusted brand that delivers an excellent trading experience for forex and CFDs traders across the globe. It offers a wide range of markets and provides an impressive suite of proprietary platforms – alongside limited access to MetaTrader.
| Feature |
FOREX.com
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
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| Trust Score | 99 | 81 |
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Both FOREX.com and ActivTrades do not offer the ability to buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrency but do provide options for trading cryptocurrency derivatives.
When comparing the online brokers FOREX.com and ActivTrades, FOREX.com offers diverse options for depositing and withdrawing funds including ACH or SEPA transfers, PayPal, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wires, whereas ActivTrades provides Visa, Mastercard, Skrill, and bank wire options but does not support ACH, SEPA, or PayPal.
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 | FOREX.com | ActivTrades | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 81 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | FOREX.com Review | ActivTrades Review |
| Broker Screenshots | FOREX.com | ActivTrades | |
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| Regulation | FOREX.com | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 81 | |
| Year Founded | 1999 | 2001 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 2 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 2 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | FOREX.com | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | Yes | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | FOREX.com | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | No | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | FOREX.com | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 5500 | 1267 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 91 | 49 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | 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 | FOREX.com | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.4 | 0.98 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.9 | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | FOREX.com | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | 0 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | FOREX.com | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | FOREX.com | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 20 | 11 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 88 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 239 | 15 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | FOREX.com | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 88 | 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 | FOREX.com | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | FOREX.com | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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) | Yes | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | FOREX.com | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | FOREX.com Review | ActivTrades Review |
| Overall | FOREX.com | ActivTrades | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 81 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | FOREX.com Review | ActivTrades Review |
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