Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of FP Markets 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.
FP Markets and ActivTrades are both prominent online brokers with a strong presence in the trading world. Founded in 2005, FP Markets holds two Tier-1 licenses and one Tier-2 license, reflecting its solid regulatory backing. While not publicly traded or a bank, FP Markets boasts a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 89 out of 99, classifying it as a trusted broker according to industry standards.
Established in 2001, ActivTrades also holds two Tier-1 licenses and one Tier-2 license, indicating a reliable regulatory structure. Like FP Markets, ActivTrades is neither publicly traded nor a bank. It holds a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 81, placing it within the trusted category, though slightly lower than FP Markets. Both brokers provide trustworthy services, but FP Markets carries a slightly higher trust rating among traders.
| Feature |
FP Markets
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2005 | 2001 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 2 |
When it comes to commissions and fees, FP Markets stands out with its competitive structure, particularly for its ECN account offering. Known for its attractive pricing via the MetaTrader and cTrader platforms, FP Markets shines with a five-star rating and ranks #6 in ForexBrokers.com's Commissions and Fees category. The Raw ECN account showcases impressive spreads averaging 0.1 pips, translating to 0.8 pips once commissions are included, positioning it as a cost-effective choice for traders. Although the Iress ViewPoint option is less economical—aimed at active traders with substantial account balances—it offers benefits like Direct Market Access (DMA) and full depth of book visibility. Despite the platform and data fees tied to Iress accounts, FP Markets provides a more budget-friendly Iress Investor account, albeit with limited features.
Conversely, ActivTrades offers moderate pricing with its main "Individual Account" and additional Professional and Islamic account types. Although the broker is rated four stars and ranked #27 for its commissions and fees, ActivTrades provides spreads that are slightly better than the industry norm but not as appealing as the best low-cost options. The spreads for EUR/USD average at approximately 0.98 pips as of May 2024. The broker does not specifically cater to high-volume traders with active trader pricing, and its Professional Account mainly serves to offer lower margin requirements rather than improved spreads.
Both brokers appeal to different segments of traders with their distinct pricing models. For traders seeking top-notch, cost-effective commission-based accounts, FP Markets may be the ideal choice. Meanwhile, ActivTrades suits those looking for average pricing and an all-around service with an emphasis on different account types suitable for various trading needs, including Sharia-compliant options.
| Feature |
FP Markets
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 AUD | 0 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.2 | 0.98 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.7 | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | 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 FP Markets and ActivTrades, both online brokers offer forex trading as CFDs, but they differ in the range of investments they provide. FP Markets boasts an impressive array of 10,000 tradeable symbols, which notably includes 71 forex pairs. In contrast, ActivTrades offers 1,267 tradeable symbols and provides access to 49 forex pairs. This broader selection at FP Markets is reflected in its higher range of investment rating of 4.5 stars, positioning it at No. 18 out of 62 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com, whereas ActivTrades has a slightly lower rating of 4 stars, ranking it at No. 31.
While both brokers allow clients to engage in cryptocurrency derivatives and support copy trading, their offerings diverge when it comes to exchange-traded securities. FP Markets does not offer exchange-traded securities on either U.S. or international exchanges. In comparison, ActivTrades enables clients to invest in international exchange-traded securities, although it does not provide access to U.S. markets. Both platforms, however, do not allow for direct investment in actual cryptocurrencies, focusing instead on derivatives for those digital assets.
| Feature |
FP Markets
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 10000 | 1267 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 71 | 49 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | Yes |
| 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.
FP Markets and ActivTrades both provide extensive options to traders, with each broker offering a range of platforms and tools. They both support popular platforms like MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, which are favored by many traders for their comprehensive features. Additionally, each broker has developed its own in-house trading platform and offers Windows-based desktop and web-based browser platforms, making them versatile in terms of accessibility. Both FP Markets and ActivTrades allow traders to use copy trading strategies and offer demo accounts for simulated trading experience. However, neither broker supports platforms like DupliTrade or ZuluTrade.
When it comes to trading tools, FP Markets provides a wider selection of drawing tools, with 17 available, while ActivTrades offers 15. Moreover, ActivTrades offers more fields for watch lists with 11 columns compared to FP Markets' 7. Traders can execute trades directly from stock charts on both platforms, streamlining the trading process. In terms of individual ratings, both brokers are well-regarded with four-star ratings for their trading platforms and tools. However, FP Markets is slightly ahead in rankings by ForexBrokers.com, coming in at number 23 out of 62 brokers, compared to ActivTrades' position at number 29.
| Feature |
FP Markets
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| 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) | 17 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 11 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Both FP Markets and ActivTrades offer their clients mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, catering to those who need the flexibility to trade on the go. Users of both platforms can enjoy real-time stock and forex price alerts, the ability to draw trendlines on charts, and the option to view different time frames, giving traders the tools they need for in-depth market analysis. The functionality extends to creating watchlists with live data, although neither broker provides the convenience of watchlist symbol syncing between the mobile app and online account.
On charting features, FP Markets offers its MetaTrader default studies, while ActivTrades provides an impressive 30 technical studies. Both platforms auto-save chart drawings to streamline the trading experience. When evaluated by ForexBrokers.com, FP Markets slightly edges out ActivTrades, ranking 18th as compared to ActivTrades' 19th place out of 62 brokers for their mobile trading apps, despite both sharing a four-star rating. This close performance suggests that traders choosing between the two might base their decision on specific feature preferences or platform compatibility.
| Feature |
FP Markets
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | MetaTrader (Default) | 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.
Both FP Markets and ActivTrades cater to traders seeking detailed market research, each providing daily market commentary and forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg and Reuters. FP Markets further enhances their offerings with tools such as Autochartist and Trading Central, which provide extra layers of technical and fundamental analysis to aid traders. Meanwhile, ActivTrades does not include these specific tools but matches FP Markets in sentiment analysis, displaying the ratio of long and short positions across currency pairs.
An economic calendar is available at both brokers, keeping traders informed of significant global news events. Although FP Markets and ActivTrades both achieve a commendable four stars for their research offerings, FP Markets holds a slightly higher rank than ActivTrades in this category, being positioned at #25 compared to ActivTrades' #30, according to ForexBrokers.com. This slight edge may appeal to traders who prioritize comprehensive research tools to inform their trading strategies.
| Feature |
FP Markets
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | 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, both FP Markets and ActivTrades offer similar advantages with a variety of learning materials. FP Markets stands out by providing a comprehensive array of resources, including a minimum of 10 educational pieces that cover crucial topics through articles, videos, and archived webinars. Furthermore, they cater to both newer and advanced traders by offering at least 10 educational videos specifically designed for each group, alongside regular online webinars and a searchable archive of past sessions. A special highlight for FP Markets is their investor dictionary with definitions for over 50 investing terms, making it easier for beginners to build their financial vocabulary.
ActivTrades matches FP Markets in terms of the number of educational pieces available, ensuring that beginners have access to over 10 informative resources, regular live webinars, and a searchable archive of previous webinars. Beginners can benefit from their selection of over 10 educational videos tailored for those new to trading. Advanced traders are also not left out, as ActivTrades offers a similar suite of videos for those with more experience. However, the absence of an investor dictionary might be a slight setback for newcomers requiring a glossary. In terms of educational quality, both brokers are rated 4 out of 5 stars, but FP Markets takes a slight lead in rankings, coming in at #23 versus ActivTrades’ #38 according to ForexBrokers.com.
| Feature |
FP Markets
|
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 FP Markets is better than ActivTrades. FP Markets finished with an overall rank of #19, while ActivTrades finished with an overall rank of #33.
FP Markets shines as a low-cost broker for trading forex and CFDs – as long as you use the MetaTrader platform. The Iress platform suite offers well over 9,000 tradeable symbols, but it’s mostly a share trading platform – and is generally a much pricier option.
| Feature |
FP Markets
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ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 89 | 81 |
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Both FP Markets and ActivTrades do not offer the option to buy actual delivered cryptocurrency, but they do provide the ability to trade cryptocurrency derivatives, allowing investors to speculate on price movements without owning the physical asset.
Comparing FP Markets and ActivTrades, both brokers lack ACH and SEPA transfer options, support Visa, Mastercard, and bank wires, but FP Markets uniquely offers PayPal, while both provide Skrill services for deposits and withdrawals.
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 | FP Markets | ActivTrades | |
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| Trust Score | 89 | 81 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | FP Markets Review | ActivTrades Review |
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| Regulation | FP Markets | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 89 | 81 | |
| Year Founded | 2005 | 2001 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 2 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 2 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | FP Markets | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | 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) | No | Yes | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | No | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | FP Markets | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | No | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | FP Markets | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 10000 | 1267 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 71 | 49 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | Yes | |
| 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 | FP Markets | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.2 | 0.98 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.7 | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | Yes | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | FP Markets | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 AUD | 0 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | 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 | FP Markets | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | FP Markets | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 11 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 17 | 15 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | FP Markets | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | MetaTrader (Default) | 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 | FP Markets | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | FP Markets | 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 | FP Markets | 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 | FP Markets Review | ActivTrades Review |
| Overall | FP Markets | ActivTrades | |
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| Trust Score | 89 | 81 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | FP Markets Review | ActivTrades Review |
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