Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Markets.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.
Markets.com, established in 1999, and ActivTrades, founded in 2001, are both private online trading platforms that are not listed on any stock exchange and do not operate as banks. When it comes to regulation, Markets.com holds three Tier-1 licenses, which are deemed highly reliable, and one Tier-2 license that signifies a level of trust. This contributes to an impressive ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 93 out of 99, categorizing it as a highly trusted broker.
On the other hand, ActivTrades has secured two Tier-1 licenses along with one Tier-2 license. Despite having fewer top-tier licenses compared to Markets.com, ActivTrades still manages to earn a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 81, making it a trusted option among users. Both platforms present themselves as secure choices for online trading, but Markets.com slightly edges out with higher trust built over its longer operational history.
| Feature |
Markets.com
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1999 | 2001 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 3 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 2 |
Markets.com is rated 3.5 out of 5 stars for its commissions and fees, according to ForexBrokers.com, where it holds the 49th position out of 62 evaluated brokers. The platform does not provide detailed average spread data, creating some uncertainty for traders seeking transparency in cost evaluation. Despite the lack of specific spread information, the broker's services still attract users aiming for general online trading needs.
In contrast, ActivTrades earns a higher rating of 4 out of 5 stars in the same category, positioning it at 27th place out of 62 brokers. This broker stands out for offering slightly better-than-average spreads, even though they don't match up to the lowest-cost forex competitors. ActivTrades presents various account options, including Individual, Professional, and Islamic Accounts, allowing for flexibility based on trading needs and religious considerations. It's important to note that spreads can vary during trading hours and are particularly variable during the rollover period.
While ActivTrades provides average spread data, such as a 0.98 pip spread for the EUR/USD, actual trading costs can fluctuate based on asset choices and the trading platform. Markets.com, on the other hand, does not offer specific average spread details, which might be a factor for cost-minded traders. Overall, traders interested in lower fees and more detailed spread information might lean towards ActivTrades, while those who prioritize general ease of use might opt for Markets.com.
| Feature |
Markets.com
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | 0 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | N/A | 0.98 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No |
| 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 Markets.com and ActivTrades for their range of investments, both brokers provide a solid selection of tradeable symbols and forex pairs. Markets.com offers a more extensive list with 2,179 tradeable symbols and 57 forex pairs, while ActivTrades provides 1,267 symbols and 49 forex pairs. Both platforms offer forex trading as CFDs or spot contracts and support cryptocurrency derivatives, though not actual cryptocurrencies. The availability of exchange traded securities varies; ActivTrades allows access to international exchanges like the London Stock Exchange for purchasing actual stocks, unlike Markets.com. Despite these differences, both brokers embrace the trend of copy trading, helping clients mimic successful trades with ease.
For investors seeking a broad array of options, both Markets.com and ActivTrades are commendable choices as reflected in their four-star ratings for the range of investments. Markets.com slightly edges out with its broader offering, ranking #29 in a review of investment ranges compared to ActivTrades at #31 out of 62 brokers. This minor ranking difference highlights Markets.com's wider array of tradeable options, making it a bit more favorable for those who prioritize diversity in financial instruments.
| Feature |
Markets.com
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 2179 | 1267 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 57 | 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.
Markets.com and ActivTrades both offer a comprehensive range of trading tools and platforms that cater to various trading needs. Both brokers provide simulated trading through free virtual demo accounts, enabling users to practice and refine their strategies. Their proprietary platforms have been developed in-house, ensuring that users have a tailored experience. Additionally, they provide a Windows-based desktop download trading platform and a web-based platform for trading through browsers. Both Markets.com and ActivTrades offer popular third-party platforms like MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, alongside the copy trading feature, though neither supports DupliTrade or ZuluTrade.
When it comes to charting tools, Markets.com offers fewer drawing tools compared to ActivTrades, with 4 and 15, respectively. Additionally, ActivTrades provides the convenience of trading directly from a stock chart, a feature not offered by Markets.com. In terms of watch lists, ActivTrades surpasses Markets.com with 11 fields compared to 6. Despite these differences, both brokers receive a solid 4-star rating for their trading platforms and tools. Interestingly, Markets.com is ranked 26th, whereas ActivTrades is closely trailing at 29th out of 62 brokers evaluated by ForexBrokers.com.
| Feature |
Markets.com
|
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) | 89 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 4 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | No | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 6 | 11 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Choosing between the mobile trading apps of Markets.com and ActivTrades is a matter of understanding your specific trading needs. Both platforms offer iPhone and Android apps, allowing traders to monitor stocks and forex with ease. Each app provides essential features such as price alerts and the ability to draw trendlines on charts. Notably, Markets.com supports watchlist symbol syncing between the mobile app and a user's online account, a feature that ActivTrades lacks. Additionally, both platforms allow the creation of watchlists with real-time quotes. Despite offering a similar star rating of 4 out of 5 for their mobile trading apps, differences in functionality could be a deciding factor for potential users.
When it comes to advanced charting features, ActivTrades holds a clear edge. It offers 30 technical studies in its mobile app compared to the limited default options on Markets.com. Moreover, ActivTrades facilitates viewing multiple time frames such as daily, weekly, and intraday, and it automatically saves chart drawings—capabilities not available with Markets.com. Ranked #19 out of 62 for mobile trading apps by ForexBrokers.com, ActivTrades outpaces Markets.com, which ranks at #33. For those seeking in-depth charting tools and automatic chart updates, ActivTrades offers a compelling choice, whereas Markets.com delivers a solid experience with seamless syncing of watchlists across devices.
| Feature |
Markets.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 | (default on MT4, none on Markets app) | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | No | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | No | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When it comes to market research, both Markets.com and ActivTrades provide daily market commentary and access to forex news from prominent sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones. However, neither broker offers tools from Autochartist or Trading Central, which might be a consideration if those resources are important to you. A stand-out feature for both platforms is their sentiment-based trading tool, which offers insights into the market's long or short positions. Additionally, both brokers provide an economic calendar that keeps users informed about important global news events.
While the capabilities of Markets.com and ActivTrades align closely, their rankings differ according to ForexBrokers.com. Markets.com secures a higher position at 17th place, whereas ActivTrades ranks 30th out of 62 brokers for research. Both platforms receive a solid rating of four stars for their research offerings, reflecting a commendable level of service for gathering market insights. For traders seeking well-rounded market commentary and news access, either of these brokers would be a viable choice.
| Feature |
Markets.com
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| 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 beginner traders, Markets.com and ActivTrades each bring something unique to the table. Both platforms excel in delivering regular live webinars, ensuring consistent learning opportunities for their clients. Additionally, they provide a wide collection of beginner and advanced educational videos that cater to traders of varying skill levels. However, a key difference emerges in the availability of recorded content: ActivTrades offers a searchable archive of past webinars, allowing users to revisit lessons at their convenience—something that Markets.com does not provide. Both brokers lack a comprehensive investor dictionary, but they maintain strong customer ratings with 4 out of 5 stars for their educational offerings.
In terms of rankings, Markets.com takes a slight edge, securing the 34th spot out of 62 brokers reviewed by ForexBrokers.com, while ActivTrades stands at position 38. Despite the ranking difference, ActivTrades provides a broader selection of over ten educational pieces specifically focused on forex or CFDs, a feature not documented for Markets.com. For beginners eager to learn about online trading, both brokers present valuable resources, but users seeking a more extensive library of forex and CFD education might find ActivTrades slightly more appealing.
| Feature |
Markets.com
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | No | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | No | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | No | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 62 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that Markets.com is better than ActivTrades. Markets.com finished with an overall rank of #23, while ActivTrades finished with an overall rank of #33.
Thanks to its web-based MarketsX platform, Markets.com is easy to use and new trader friendly. However, Markets.com is pricey and lacks the feature-rich trading tools required to compete with the best trading platforms.
| Feature |
Markets.com
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ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 93 | 81 |
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Both Markets.com and ActivTrades do not offer the ability to buy actual delivered cryptocurrency, but they both enable trading in cryptocurrency derivatives.
Both Markets.com and ActivTrades lack ACH and SEPA transfer options but support Skrill, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wires for account deposits and withdrawals, with neither offering PayPal as a transaction method.
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 | Markets.com | ActivTrades | |
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| Trust Score | 93 | 81 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | ActivTrades Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Markets.com | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trading Platforms Gallery (click to expand) | |||
| Mobile Trading Gallery (click to expand) | |||
| Research Gallery (click to expand) | |||
| Education Gallery (click to expand) |
| Regulation | Markets.com | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 93 | 81 | |
| Year Founded | 1999 | 2001 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 3 | 2 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 2 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Markets.com | 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) | Markets.com | 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 | Markets.com | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 2179 | 1267 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 57 | 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 | Markets.com | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | N/A | 0.98 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | Yes | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Markets.com | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | 0 | |
| 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 | Markets.com | 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 | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Markets.com | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | No | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 6 | 11 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 89 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 4 | 15 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | No | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Markets.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 | (default on MT4, none on Markets app) | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | No | Yes |
| Research | Markets.com | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Markets.com | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | No | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | No | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | No | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | Markets.com | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/JPY | Yes | Yes | |
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CAD | Yes | Yes | |
| NZD/USD | No | Yes | |
| AUD/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| Review | ActivTrades Review |
| Overall | Markets.com | ActivTrades | |
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| Trust Score | 93 | 81 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | ActivTrades Review |
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