Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of ActivTrades vs Markets4you, 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 Markets4you are both reputable names in the online brokerage industry, each established to provide a wide range of services for traders. ActivTrades, founded in 2001, has built its presence with a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 81, categorizing it as a trusted broker. The company is a private entity, not listed on any stock exchange, and does not operate as a bank. ActivTrades stands out with its regulatory protection, boasting two Tier-1 licenses, considered the most trusted by ForexBrokers.com, as well as one Tier-2 license.
In contrast, Markets4you began its operations in 2007 and has garnered a Trust Score of 61, placing it in the high-risk category. Like ActivTrades, Markets4you is not publicly traded and is not a bank. However, it does not hold any Tier-1 or Tier-2 licenses, highlighting a notable difference in regulatory standing. While both brokers serve traders with diverse offerings, ActivTrades' higher trust score and regulatory licenses underscore its stronger position in terms of safety and reliability.
| Feature |
ActivTrades
|
Markets4you
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2001 | 2007 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 0 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
ActivTrades offers a range of account types including Individual, Professional, and Islamic accounts, along with a demo account for practice. While it lacks a dedicated account for high-volume traders and active trader pricing, its spreads are slightly better than the industry average. The main advantage of the Professional Account is the lower margin requirements, not necessarily better spreads, which remain consistent across accounts. ActivTrades caters to traders seeking Sharia-compliant trading through its Islamic Account. The commissions and fees largely depend on the specific assets traded, with spreads for EUR/USD averaging around 0.98 pips as of May 2024. ActivTrades is rated 4 out of 5 stars for commissions and fees and is ranked 28th out of 62 brokers by ForexBrokers.com.
Markets4you, on the other hand, lacks available data on average spreads, posing a challenge for traders aiming to compare its cost-effectiveness thoroughly. With a rating of 3.5 stars for commissions and fees, Markets4you falls somewhat short of the economical benchmarks set by other competitive brokers such as ActivTrades. Its rank reflects this at 53rd out of the 62 brokers evaluated in the category by ForexBrokers.com.
In summary, when comparing these two brokers, ActivTrades generally offers more competitive spreads and a slightly higher rating for commissions and fees compared to Markets4you. ActivTrades' position higher on the ForexBrokers.com ranking reinforces its edge in offering better cost-related advantages for traders.
| Feature |
ActivTrades
|
Markets4you
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | 0 | $0 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.98 | N/A |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | 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.
ActivTrades and Markets4you both offer investors the ability to trade forex as either CFDs or spot contracts, catering to those interested in currency trading. For those seeking variety, ActivTrades provides access to 1267 tradeable symbols, significantly surpassing the 150 symbols available through Markets4you. Both platforms feature a solid selection of forex pairs, with ActivTrades offering 49 pairs compared to Markets4you’s 43. However, neither platform allows the purchase of exchange-traded securities on U.S. exchanges. While ActivTrades allows trading on international exchanges, giving access to stocks like Vodafone on the London Stock Exchange, Markets4you does not offer this feature. Both brokers provide opportunities for cryptocurrency derivatives trading, but not for purchasing actual cryptocurrencies or its non-CFD equivalents.
In terms of added services, both ActivTrades and Markets4you include copy trading options, appealing to traders interested in mirroring the strategies of successful investors. Despite these similarities, ActivTrades receives a higher rating, earning 4 stars for its range of investments, compared to Markets4you’s 3.5 stars. This distinction is also reflected in their rankings on ForexBrokers.com, where ActivTrades stands at #31, while Markets4you is positioned at #58 among 62 brokers. For those prioritizing a broader range of investment options, ActivTrades presents a more appealing choice.
| Feature |
ActivTrades
|
Markets4you
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1267 | 150 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 49 | 43 |
| 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 Markets4you, both brokers offer a wide array of features that cater to traders of all levels. They both provide free virtual demo accounts, which is excellent for beginners looking to practice without financial risk. Each offers a proprietary platform, alongside popular options like MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, ensuring flexibility and choice for users. For those who prefer desktop trading, both brokers have Windows-based platforms available, while web-based platforms cater to users who like to trade directly from their browsers. Copy trading is also supported by both, providing opportunities to follow and learn from experienced traders, although neither broker offers DupliTrade or ZuluTrade.
ActivTrades and Markets4you both excel with a solid selection of drawing tools, offering 15 options to enhance charting experiences. However, when it comes to watch list customization, ActivTrades provides a more thorough setup with 11 columns, compared to Markets4you's 7. Both brokers facilitate trading directly from stock charts, adding convenience and efficiency to the trading process. Rated at four stars each for their platforms and tools, ActivTrades ranks higher at #30, while Markets4you is positioned at #52 among 62 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com, suggesting a slight edge in overall platform sophistication for ActivTrades.
| Feature |
ActivTrades
|
Markets4you
|
|---|---|---|
| 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) | 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 Markets4you, both brokers cater to iPhone and Android users, offering convenient access to trading on the go. These apps provide essential features, such as stock and forex price alerts, the ability to draw trendlines on charts, and viewing multiple time frames, including daily, weekly, and intraday options. Users can also create watchlists with real-time quotes. However, neither app offers watchlist symbol syncing between the mobile app and their online accounts, which means any changes made on one platform need to be manually updated on the other.
Both ActivTrades and Markets4you provide 30 technical studies for charting within their mobile apps, ensuring a comprehensive trading experience. Notably, ActivTrades and Markets4you apps auto-save any drawings made on stock or forex charts, which adds to the ease of use. Based on reviews, both brokers have been rated 4 out of 5 stars for their mobile trading apps. However, ActivTrades stands out with a ranking of #19 out of 62 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com, while Markets4you is ranked at #50, indicating a stronger performance by ActivTrades in terms of mobile trading app offerings.
| Feature |
ActivTrades
|
Markets4you
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 Markets4you provide daily market commentary and forex news from top-tier sources such as Bloomberg and Reuters, helping traders stay informed about the latest market developments. Although neither broker offers market research from TipRanks or research tools from Acuity Trading, such as Signal Centre, both brokers include an economic calendar that showcases current and upcoming global news events. ActivTrades, however, stands out with its sentiment-based trading tool, which provides insights into the ratio of long and short positions across various currency pairs—something Markets4you does not offer.
While ActivTrades does not utilize technical analysis or fundamental research tools from companies like Autochartist or Trading Central, these features are available with Markets4you, giving traders additional options for technical insights. When it comes to overall research ratings, ActivTrades receives a commendable 4-star rating and ranks 30th among 62 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com. In comparison, Markets4you holds a 3.5-star rating and ranks 47th, indicating that traders may find a slightly more comprehensive research experience with ActivTrades.
| Feature |
ActivTrades
|
Markets4you
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | Yes |
| 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 comparing ActivTrades and Markets4you for educational resources tailored to beginners, ActivTrades stands out with a comprehensive array of learning tools. Both brokers provide more than 10 educational pieces, including articles, videos, and archived webinars focused on forex and CFDs. However, ActivTrades goes a step further by offering at least one live educational webinar every month, while Markets4you does not provide this opportunity. Additionally, ActivTrades gives its clients access to a searchable archive of past webinars, aligning with Markets4you in this regard.
For beginners, ActivTrades offers an impressive collection of over 10 educational videos that cover essential trading topics, whereas Markets4you falls short in providing a similar range for novices. ActivTrades also caters to experienced traders with a selection of advanced educational videos, something Markets4you lacks. Neither broker offers an extensive investor dictionary. In terms of ratings, ActivTrades earns 4 stars for its educational offerings, compared to Markets4you's 3.5 stars. Despite this, Markets4you is ranked higher in the Education category by ForexBrokers.com, coming in at #26, while ActivTrades is ranked at #38.
| Feature |
ActivTrades
|
Markets4you
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| 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 ActivTrades is better than Markets4you. ActivTrades finished with an overall rank of #33, while Markets4you finished with an overall rank of #55.
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
|
Markets4you
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 81 | 61 |
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Both ActivTrades and Markets4you provide the functionality to trade cryptocurrency derivatives, but neither offers the option to purchase actual, delivered cryptocurrency.
Both ActivTrades and Markets4you provide similar funding options, allowing clients to use Skrill, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wires for deposits and withdrawals, but neither supports ACH, SEPA transfers, 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 | ActivTrades | Markets4you | |
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| Trust Score | 81 | 61 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | ActivTrades Review |
| Broker Screenshots | ActivTrades | Markets4you | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trading Platforms Gallery (click to expand) | |||
| Mobile Trading Gallery (click to expand) | |||
| Research Gallery (click to expand) | |||
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| Regulation | ActivTrades | Markets4you | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 81 | 61 | |
| Year Founded | 2001 | 2007 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | No | No | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 0 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | ActivTrades | Markets4you | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | No | 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) | Yes | No | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | No | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | No | No |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | ActivTrades | Markets4you | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Markets4you | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1267 | 150 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 49 | 43 | |
| 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 | Markets4you | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.98 | N/A | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | ActivTrades | Markets4you | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | 0 | $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 | ActivTrades | Markets4you | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | ActivTrades | Markets4you | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Markets4you | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Markets4you | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | Yes | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | ActivTrades | Markets4you | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | No | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | ActivTrades | Markets4you | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD | Yes | No | |
| USD/JPY | Yes | No | |
| EUR/USD | Yes | No | |
| USD/CHF | Yes | No | |
| USD/CAD | Yes | No | |
| NZD/USD | Yes | No | |
| AUD/USD | Yes | No | |
| Review | ActivTrades Review |
| Overall | ActivTrades | Markets4you | |
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| Trust Score | 81 | 61 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | ActivTrades Review |
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