Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of OANDA 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.
Founded in 1996, OANDA stands out for its trustworthiness in the online brokerage world. Despite not being publicly traded or a bank, OANDA achieves a high level of confidence with a Trust Score of 93 out of 99 from ForexBrokers.com, categorizing it as highly trusted. A key factor contributing to this top rating is its possession of seven Tier-1 licenses, which signals a strong reputation for reliability in the industry.
On the other hand, ActivTrades, established in 2001, holds a Trust Score of 81 from ForexBrokers.com, marking it as a trusted broker but not reaching the same heights as OANDA. While it is also neither publicly traded nor a banking institution, ActivTrades backs its credibility with two Tier-1 licenses and an additional Tier-2 license. This structure provides a sturdy base for reliability, although it does not match the extensive regulatory oversights that OANDA boasts.
| Feature |
OANDA
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1996 | 2001 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 2 |
OANDA and ActivTrades are two notable online brokers often compared for their commissions and fees. OANDA stands out for its transparent fee structure but does not typically rank among the cheapest options. Its primary advantage lies in its automated execution, particularly favorable for traders who appreciate efficiency in order processing. OANDA's forex trading costs are notably high with spreads on its default and core pricing being higher compared to leading discount brokers. On average, the non-core pricing spread was 1.61 pips on the EUR/USD pair as of July 2024. Although core pricing offers lower spreads of 0.4 pips, a commission of $5 per $100,000 is also charged, making the all-in cost slightly better at 1.4 pips. OANDA earns a four-star rating, ranking 34th out of 62 brokers for commissions and fees according to ForexBrokers.com.
ActivTrades, on the other hand, presents a slightly more cost-friendly choice with spreads that are competitive though not the lowest in the market. It offers multiple account types but lacks a specialized high-volume trader account or active trader pricing. The broker's average spread for the EUR/USD pair was 0.98 pips as of May 2024. This broker appeals to standard and professional traders alike, with an Islamic Account option available for those seeking Sharia compliance. While its spreads fluctuate throughout the trading session, ActivTrades maintains a comprehensive approach to addressing various trader needs. It also has a four-star rating and ranks 27th in commissions and fees among the same group of brokers.
In summary, both brokers offer competitive features, but their value largely depends on your specific trading needs. OANDA scores relatively well with effective execution and transparency but at potentially steeper costs. ActivTrades provides slightly more favorable spreads, especially on popular currency pairs, making it a worthwhile option for those sensitive to pricing yet not requiring special trader incentives. Each broker's ranking and star rating further highlight their strong points in the crowded brokerage arena.
| Feature |
OANDA
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | 0 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.61 | 0.98 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.61 | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | 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 it comes to the variety of investments, both OANDA and ActivTrades offer a strong set of options, though they cater to slightly different preferences. OANDA provides 3,928 tradeable symbols and shines with its range of 68 forex pairs, allowing traders plenty of choices in the currency markets. Moreover, it supports both CFD and spot contract trading in forex. For cryptocurrency enthusiasts, OANDA enables the purchase of actual cryptocurrencies as well as derivatives. However, it doesn't provide access to exchange-traded securities on either U.S. or international exchanges, which limits its offerings in traditional stocks.
ActivTrades, on the other hand, offers 1,267 tradeable symbols with 49 forex pairs available, and equally supports CFDs in forex trading. While it doesn't match OANDA's forex pair count, it compensates by offering exchange-traded securities on international exchanges, a feature that might appeal to those interested in global stock markets. Like OANDA, ActivTrades supports copy trading and offers cryptocurrency derivatives, but lacks the option to buy actual cryptocurrencies. Both brokers are rated four stars for their range of investments but are slightly differently ranked by ForexBrokers.com, with OANDA at #27 and ActivTrades at #31.
| Feature |
OANDA
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 3928 | 1267 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 68 | 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) | Yes | 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.
Both OANDA and ActivTrades provide traders with comprehensive online platforms and tools, catering to a wide array of trading needs. Each broker offers a proprietary platform and supports the popular MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5), ensuring traders have multiple options for executing trades. They both provide Windows desktop downloads and web-based platforms, allowing users to trade wherever they are most comfortable. In addition, both brokers include simulated trading with virtual demo accounts and offer copy trading capabilities, providing valuable opportunities for beginners to learn and for experienced traders to test strategies risk-free.
The distinction between OANDA and ActivTrades becomes evident in their charting tools and watch list features. OANDA impressively provides 431 drawing tools, significantly more than ActivTrades' 15. When it comes to watch lists, ActivTrades leads with 11 columns for fields compared to OANDA’s 6. Both brokers allow trading directly from stock charts, enhancing the efficiency of their platforms. In terms of ratings, OANDA and ActivTrades are both awarded four stars for their trading platforms and tools. However, according to ForexBrokers.com, OANDA ranks 16th, whereas ActivTrades is positioned 29th, out of 62 brokers, indicating a stronger overall performance by OANDA in this category.
| Feature |
OANDA
|
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) | 81 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 431 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 6 | 11 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
OANDA and ActivTrades both offer comprehensive mobile trading apps available on iPhone and Android. They share several key features that cater to traders, such as price alerts for stocks and forex, the ability to create watchlists with real-time quotes, and options to draw trendlines and view multiple time frames on charts. Both apps provide 30 technical studies for charting, and automatically save your drawings, although they do not support watchlist symbol syncing with online accounts. This means you would have to manually update watchlists across platforms.
Despite these similarities, OANDA leads in overall ratings and rankings for mobile trading apps. With a perfect 5-star rating, it is ranked #7 among 62 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, pointing to a strong user experience and reliability. Meanwhile, ActivTrades, although also feature-rich, has a 4-star rating and is ranked #19 in the same category. Traders might prefer OANDA for its higher rating and superior standing, indicating a more favorable experience recognized by users and experts alike.
| Feature |
OANDA
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 OANDA and ActivTrades provide daily market commentary and access to forex news from renowned sources like Bloomberg and Reuters. Both brokers have sentiment-based trading tools to help investors gauge market positions. While OANDA utilizes tools from Autochartist for technical and fundamental analysis, ActivTrades does not offer this feature. Both brokers fall short with Trading Central and Acuity Trading tools, as well as research from TipRanks.
OANDA and ActivTrades also offer economic calendars to keep traders tuned into global news events. Despite offering similar features, OANDA edges out ActivTrades in research tools, earning a perfect five-star rating compared to ActivTrades' four stars. When considering their ranks among 62 brokers evaluated by ForexBrokers.com, OANDA holds the impressive number five spot, while ActivTrades comes in at number 30. This positions OANDA as a more resource-rich choice for research activities.
| Feature |
OANDA
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | 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 evaluating the educational resources for beginners offered by OANDA and ActivTrades, both brokers provide a comprehensive selection of materials. Whether you're interested in articles, videos, or archived webinars focused on forex or CFDs, both platforms have you covered with more than ten educational pieces available. Each broker ensures ongoing learning by hosting at least one educational webinar monthly and provides access to an archive of these sessions for future reference. This makes it easy for traders to find and revisit essential learning resources at their convenience.
For those just starting out or looking to polish their skills, both OANDA and ActivTrades offer educational videos tailored to beginner traders, as well as advanced content for more experienced individuals. However, a difference emerges in the availability of an investor dictionary; OANDA provides a comprehensive glossary of over 50 investing terms, while ActivTrades does not offer this feature. Reflecting these offerings, OANDA scores a 5-star rating for education, ranking at #22 among 62 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, whereas ActivTrades receives a 4-star rating and is ranked #38. This comparison highlights OANDA's slightly superior position regarding resources for educating new traders.
| Feature |
OANDA
|
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 OANDA is better than ActivTrades. OANDA finished with an overall rank of #12, while ActivTrades finished with an overall rank of #33.
A trusted global brand, OANDA stands out for its reputation and quality market research. Its regulatory track record is strong, and its support for third-party features bolsters its overall offering.
| Feature |
OANDA
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
|
| Trust Score | 93 | 81 |
| Range of Investments |
|
|
| Commissions & Fees |
|
|
| Platform & Tools |
|
|
| Research |
|
|
| Mobile Trading |
|
|
| Education |
|
|
When comparing online brokers, OANDA allows users to buy actual delivered cryptocurrency and cryptocurrency derivatives, whereas ActivTrades only offers the ability to buy cryptocurrency derivatives and not actual delivered cryptocurrency.
In comparing online brokers OANDA and ActivTrades, OANDA supports a wider range of deposit and withdrawal options including ACH, SEPA transfers, and PayPal, which ActivTrades does not offer, while 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.
Select Brokers
↓×Compare
0 of 5| Overall Rating | OANDA | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Commissions & Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Platform & Tools |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 93 | 81 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | OANDA Review | ActivTrades Review |
| Broker Screenshots | OANDA | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trading Platforms Gallery (click to expand) |
| ||
| Mobile Trading Gallery (click to expand) |
| ||
| Research Gallery (click to expand) |
| ||
| Education Gallery (click to expand) |
|
| Regulation | OANDA | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 93 | 81 | |
| Year Founded | 1996 | 2001 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 2 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 2 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | OANDA | 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) | OANDA | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | OANDA | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 3928 | 1267 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 68 | 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) | Yes | 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 | OANDA | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.61 | 0.98 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.61 | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | OANDA | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | 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 | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | OANDA | 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 | OANDA | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 6 | 11 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 81 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 431 | 15 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | OANDA | 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 | 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 | OANDA | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | OANDA | 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 | OANDA | 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 | OANDA Review | ActivTrades Review |
| Overall | OANDA | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Commissions & Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Platform & Tools |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 93 | 81 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | OANDA Review | ActivTrades Review |
IG
CMC Markets
FOREX.com
XTB
eToro
AvaTrade
Plus500
Pepperstone
FP Markets
Tickmill