Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of ActivTrades vs IronFX, 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 comparing online brokers ActivTrades and IronFX, their regulatory status is a key factor. ActivTrades, founded in 2001, holds two Tier-1 licenses, making it highly trusted in the industry. It also has one Tier-2 license, which adds another layer of reliability. Despite not being publicly traded or a bank, ActivTrades earns a trust score of 81 from ForexBrokers.com, placing it in the "trusted" category.
IronFX, established in 2010, holds three Tier-1 licenses, underscoring its trusted status. Although it lacks Tier-2 licenses, its trust score of 83 still classifies it as trusted by ForexBrokers.com. Like ActivTrades, IronFX is neither publicly traded nor a bank. This information can guide investors in gauging the credibility and reliability of these brokers in the competitive online trading landscape.
| Feature |
ActivTrades
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2001 | 2010 |
| 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 online brokers ActivTrades and IronFX in terms of commissions and fees, both have their unique features but also notable differences. ActivTrades offers spreads that are slightly better than the industry average, providing a competitive edge, whereas IronFX displays higher than average spreads for some account types. For instance, ActivTrades offers a target spread of 0.98 pips for the EUR/USD, whereas IronFX lists a typical spread of 1.8 pips for their Standard variable spread account. However, IronFX also provides a zero fixed-spread account that starts at zero with a $18 per lot commission, although the spreads can widen up to 3 pips overnight.
ActivTrades provides various account options including Individual, Professional, and Islamic Accounts, which cater to different trading needs, though it lacks a specific account for high-volume traders as well as active trader pricing. This flexibility allows traders to select an option that suits their practice, though the spreads remain consistent across account types. Meanwhile, IronFX's account structures could benefit from more competitive pricing, as indicated by the variations and widening spreads observed overnight.
In terms of ratings, both brokers receive 4 stars for their commissions and fees. However, ActivTrades holds a stronger position, ranking #28 out of 62 brokers in the Commissions and Fees category on ForexBrokers.com, while IronFX is ranked at #47. This distinction underscores the slight edge ActivTrades has regarding cost efficiency and value, particularly in its average spreads. Ultimately, the right choice between these two brokers will depend on the trader's specific needs and the types of assets they wish to trade.
| Feature |
ActivTrades
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | 0 | $50 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.98 | 1.2 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | Yes |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | No |
| 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.
When comparing the investment options available, ActivTrades and IronFX both provide forex trading as CFDs or spot contracts, catering to currency trading enthusiasts. ActivTrades boasts an extensive range of 1,267 tradeable symbols, while IronFX offers 340, providing ample opportunities for traders with varied interests. Particularly, ActivTrades presents a broad selection of international exchange-traded securities, allowing clients to invest in companies like Vodafone from the London Stock Exchange, whereas IronFX does not offer such options. Both platforms support copy trading and the trading of cryptocurrency derivatives, but neither allows clients to purchase actual cryptocurrencies.
In terms of forex pairs, IronFX leads with 83 pairs compared to ActivTrades' 49, which might appeal to traders focusing on currency markets. Despite this, ActivTrades earns a slightly higher rating of four stars out of five for its range of investments, compared to IronFX's 3.5 stars. According to ForexBrokers.com, ActivTrades is ranked 31st out of 62 brokers, while IronFX stands at 51st, reflecting ActivTrades' broader offering. Overall, both brokers provide diverse investment opportunities, but ActivTrades tends to have a wider array of tradeable symbols.
| Feature |
ActivTrades
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1267 | 340 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 49 | 83 |
| 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 the trading platforms and tools of ActivTrades and IronFX, both brokers provide simulated (paper) trading through free virtual demo accounts, giving aspiring traders a chance to practice risk-free. ActivTrades distinguishes itself by offering a proprietary trading platform developed in-house, whereas IronFX does not have a proprietary option, relying instead on standard platforms. Both brokers offer Windows-based desktop and web-based trading platforms, ensuring accessibility from various devices. Notably, ActivTrades supports both MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5), while IronFX is limited to MT4. Both brokers offer copy trading, but neither supports DupliTrade or ZuluTrade.
For charting capabilities, ActivTrades and IronFX both provide 15 drawing tools, catering to the needs of technical analysts. However, the breadth of watchlist customization differs, with ActivTrades offering 11 columns compared to IronFX's 7. Furthermore, both brokers allow trading directly from stock charts, adding convenience to trade execution. In terms of overall ratings, ForexBrokers.com awards ActivTrades 4 stars for its trading platforms and tools, ranking it 30th out of 62 brokers. In contrast, IronFX receives 3.5 stars and ranks much lower at 60th, highlighting ActivTrades as the superior choice in this area.
| Feature |
ActivTrades
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | No |
| 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 IronFX, both offer comprehensive features that cater to traders on the go. For iPhone and Android users, both platforms provide dedicated mobile apps, ensuring accessibility across popular devices. Whether you're tracking stock or forex prices, both apps allow the setting of alerts, helping you stay informed about market shifts. While neither ActivTrades nor IronFX offers watchlist symbol syncing between the mobile app and online accounts, they both support the creation of watchlists with real-time quotes. Traders interested in technical analysis will appreciate the 30 technical studies available on each app, along with the ability to draw trendlines and view multiple time frames like daily or weekly charts.
The apps further excel by auto-saving any drawings on charts, allowing users to seamlessly switch between tasks without losing their progress. In terms of performance ratings and rankings, ActivTrades edges out IronFX, boasting four out of five stars for its mobile app compared to IronFX's 3.5 stars. Additionally, ActivTrades is ranked #19 out of 62 brokers in the Mobile Trading Apps category by ForexBrokers.com, whereas IronFX holds the #61 position. ActivTrades thus emerges as the slightly more favored option for mobile trading among the two, offering a well-rounded experience that appeals to both casual and seasoned traders.
| Feature |
ActivTrades
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| 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.
Both ActivTrades and IronFX offer daily market commentary and provide forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg and Reuters. While neither broker partners with Autochartist, they differ when it comes to other research tools. IronFX offers tools from Trading Central, which provide more technical analysis options, whereas ActivTrades does not. However, ActivTrades stands out by offering a sentiment-based trading tool that provides insights into long or short positions across currency pairs, a feature that IronFX lacks.
Both brokers support traders with an economic calendar to keep track of global news events. Despite the differences in tools, both ActivTrades and IronFX are rated four out of five stars for their research capabilities. In terms of overall research ranking by ForexBrokers.com, IronFX edges slightly ahead, securing the 28th spot compared to ActivTrades' 30th position out of 62 brokers.
| Feature |
ActivTrades
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| 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 it comes to educational resources for beginners, both ActivTrades and IronFX offer various materials to help new traders learn about forex and CFDs. They both provide at least 10 educational pieces, including articles and videos, focused on these financial markets. ActivTrades stands out by offering monthly online educational webinars, a feature IronFX lacks. If you miss a live session, both brokers give you the chance to catch up with a searchable archive of previously recorded webinars.
For those just starting their trading journey, each broker provides at least 10 beginner-friendly videos. However, ActivTrades goes a step further by also offering advanced educational videos, while IronFX does not. In terms of additional educational resources, IronFX includes an investor dictionary with over 50 investing terms, a feature missing from ActivTrades. Both brokers are well-rated in education, each earning 4 out of 5 stars, but ActivTrades ranks slightly higher at 38th out of 62 brokers, compared to IronFX's 44th position.
| Feature |
ActivTrades
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 IronFX. ActivTrades finished with an overall rank of #33, while IronFX finished with an overall rank of #48.
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
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 81 | 83 |
| Range of Investments |
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Both ActivTrades and IronFX do not offer the ability to purchase actual delivered cryptocurrency, but they do provide options for buying cryptocurrency derivatives, allowing investors to trade without owning the actual asset.
Both ActivTrades and IronFX do not support ACH or SEPA transfers for deposits and withdrawals and neither offer PayPal, but both brokers provide options for Skrill, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wires.
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 | ActivTrades | IronFX | |
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| Trust Score | 81 | 83 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | ActivTrades Review |
| Broker Screenshots | ActivTrades | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trading Platforms Gallery (click to expand) | |||
| Mobile Trading Gallery (click to expand) | |||
| Research Gallery (click to expand) | |||
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| Regulation | ActivTrades | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 81 | 83 | |
| Year Founded | 2001 | 2010 | |
| 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 | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1267 | 340 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 49 | 83 | |
| 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 | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.98 | 1.2 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | ActivTrades | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | 0 | $50 | |
| 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 | No |
| Trading Platforms | ActivTrades | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | No | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | ActivTrades | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | ActivTrades | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Overall | ActivTrades | IronFX | |
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| Trust Score | 81 | 83 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | ActivTrades Review |
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