Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of ActivTrades vs Spreadex, 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.
Choosing the right online broker can be a complex task, especially when comparing companies like ActivTrades and Spreadex. Founded in 2001, ActivTrades holds two Tier-1 licenses and boasts a Trust Score of 81 out of 99 from ForexBrokers.com, categorizing it as a trusted broker. Meanwhile, Spreadex, established in 1999, holds one Tier-1 license and has a Trust Score of 71, marking it as posing average risk. These scores reflect their financial soundness and regulatory compliance, crucial factors for those venturing into online trading.
Neither ActivTrades nor Spreadex are publicly traded nor operate as banks, which investors should take into account when evaluating them for trading purposes. Additionally, ActivTrades offers a Tier-2 license for further reassurance, while Spreadex does not hold any Tier-2 licenses. Overall, ActivTrades emerges as a reliable option with slightly stronger regulatory backing than Spreadex, offering peace of mind for those prioritizing security and trustworthiness in their trading journey.
| Feature |
ActivTrades
|
Spreadex
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2001 | 1999 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 0 |
When comparing ActivTrades and Spreadex for their commissions and fees, both brokers offer competitive spreads, but there are some differences in their offerings. ActivTrades provides a variety of account types, including Individual, Professional, and Islamic Accounts, with no specific account for high-volume traders. Their average spread for EUR/USD was reported at 0.98 pips. On the other hand, Spreadex noted an average spread of 0.81 pips for EUR/USD, with a minimum spread of 0.6 pips occurring 60% of the time during the month of January 2024.
ActivTrades was ranked #27 out of 62 brokers for commissions and fees by ForexBrokers.com and received a rating of 4 out of 5 stars. While there is no active trader pricing available and account types do not change the spread, the broker does offer Sharia-compliant options for Islamic traders. The effectiveness of their fee structure largely depends on the specific assets being traded and the platform in use, with spreads varying based on market conditions.
Similarly, Spreadex received a rating of 4 out of 5 stars for its commissions and fees, positioned at #30 in the ForexBrokers.com rankings. With competitively narrow spreads for major currency pairs, the broker delivers a viable option for those seeking tight spreads. However, like with ActivTrades, traders should be aware that actual spreads may widen during specific periods, such as the rollover. Overall, both ActivTrades and Spreadex demonstrate solid performance in terms of commissions and fees, though each has its particular strengths and considerations.
| Feature |
ActivTrades
|
Spreadex
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | 0 | $0 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.98 | 0.81 |
| 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 | No |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
When comparing ActivTrades and Spreadex, both platforms offer forex trading either as CFDs or spot contracts, providing flexibility for traders interested in currency pairs. ActivTrades presents a selection of 1267 tradeable symbols, whereas Spreadex boasts a much larger range with 10,000 symbols. In terms of forex pairs, ActivTrades offers 49 options while Spreadex slightly edges ahead with 52, giving forex enthusiasts a slightly wider choice. Although neither platform provides exchange-traded securities on U.S. exchanges, ActivTrades users can access international stocks like Vodafone, an option not available with Spreadex. This could make ActivTrades appealing to those focused on trading international equities.
Both brokers allow trading in cryptocurrency derivatives but do not offer actual cryptocurrency purchases. However, ActivTrades stands out with its copy trading feature, something Spreadex lacks. Spreadex receives a higher rating for their range of investments, earning a five-star rating versus ActivTrades' four-star ranking. Additionally, Spreadex is ranked higher by ForexBrokers.com at #13 out of 62 brokers, while ActivTrades is positioned at #31. These rankings indicate Spreadex's broader investment range, making it a strong contender for those seeking diverse trading options.
| Feature |
ActivTrades
|
Spreadex
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1267 | 10000 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 49 | 52 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | No |
| 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 trading platforms and tools, ActivTrades and Spreadex both offer unique features that cater to various trader needs. ActivTrades stands out with its availability of a free virtual demo account, providing a risk-free experience for new traders. While both brokers have proprietary platforms, ActivTrades offers additional Windows-based desktop and web-based trading platforms, alongside popular options like MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5). This is complemented by ActivTrades' support for copy trading, whereas Spreadex does not offer this feature.
In terms of charting tools, ActivTrades provides more technical flexibility with 15 drawing tools, compared to Spreadex's 11. Both brokers allow for direct trading from stock charts, ensuring swift transaction capabilities. ActivTrades also edges ahead in watch list customization, offering 11 fields compared to Spreadex's 8. Though both brokers receive an equal 4-star rating for trading platforms and tools, ActivTrades is ranked higher at #29, while Spreadex ranks #46 in this category out of 62 brokers on ForexBrokers.com.
| Feature |
ActivTrades
|
Spreadex
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | No |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | No |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | No |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | No |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 55 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 15 | 11 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 11 | 8 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
When comparing the mobile trading apps of ActivTrades and Spreadex, both platforms offer iPhone and Android apps, making them easily accessible for most users. Both brokers provide stock and forex price alerts, so you won't miss important market movements. However, ActivTrades edges ahead by offering 30 technical studies for chart analysis, while Spreadex does not specify their exact offerings. Additionally, both platforms allow users to draw trendlines and view multiple time frames on charts, enhancing your ability to analyze market trends.
One notable difference is in how each app handles saved drawings. ActivTrades automatically saves chart drawings, offering a seamless user experience, while Spreadex falls short in this aspect. Another important feature is the ability to create watchlists with real-time quotes, which both brokers provide. However, neither supports syncing watchlists between mobile devices and online accounts. Both apps have received a 4-star rating for mobile trading, but ActivTrades is rated higher in the ForexBrokers.com rankings, coming in at #19 compared to Spreadex's #49 out of 62 brokers.
| Feature |
ActivTrades
|
Spreadex
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | N/A |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | No |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
Both ActivTrades and Spreadex offer comprehensive market research options for traders, including daily market commentary and access to forex news from notable sources such as Bloomberg and Reuters. However, neither broker provides technical analysis tools from companies like Autochartist or Trading Central. While both platforms offer sentiment-based trading tools that display the ratio of long and short positions across various instruments, neither partner with research tool companies like TipRanks or Acuity Trading.
For traders who rely on tracking economic events, both ActivTrades and Spreadex provide an economic calendar with global news events. In terms of user ratings, both brokers receive a commendable four-star rating for research. However, in a comparison of 62 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, ActivTrades holds a slight edge, ranked at #30, just ahead of Spreadex at #31.
| Feature |
ActivTrades
|
Spreadex
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 beginners, ActivTrades and Spreadex both offer a solid selection of materials. Both brokers provide a minimum of 10 educational pieces focused on forex or CFDs, ensuring newcomers have access to essential learning tools. ActivTrades takes a step further by offering online client webinars every month, along with a searchable archive of past sessions for convenient access. While Spreadex lacks these webinar features, it offers an investor dictionary featuring over 50 investing terms, which can be very useful for beginners building their financial vocabulary.
In terms of video content, both brokers furnish at least 10 beginner-focused educational videos. However, ActivTrades distinguishes itself by also providing over 10 advanced educational videos tailored to experienced traders, whereas Spreadex does not. Despite their differences, both brokers achieve a 4-star rating for education. Nevertheless, ActivTrades holds a higher rank at #38 compared to Spreadex at #45, according to ForexBrokers.com. This indicates that while both brokers cater well to beginners, ActivTrades offers a broader range of advanced educational opportunities.
| Feature |
ActivTrades
|
Spreadex
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
| 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 Spreadex. ActivTrades finished with an overall rank of #33, while Spreadex finished with an overall rank of #39.
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
|
Spreadex
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
|
| Trust Score | 81 | 71 |
| Range of Investments |
|
|
| Commissions & Fees |
|
|
| Platform & Tools |
|
|
| Research |
|
|
| Mobile Trading |
|
|
| Education |
|
|
Both ActivTrades and Spreadex allow users to trade in cryptocurrency derivatives but do not offer the option to buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrencies.
When comparing the online brokers ActivTrades and Spreadex, neither offers ACH or SEPA transfers nor PayPal for account transactions, but ActivTrades supports Skrill deposits and withdrawals, which Spreadex does not, while both brokers allow Visa, Mastercard, and bank wire options for managing account funds.
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 | ActivTrades | Spreadex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Commissions & Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Platform & Tools |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 81 | 71 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | ActivTrades Review | Spreadex Review |
| Broker Screenshots | ActivTrades | Spreadex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trading Platforms Gallery (click to expand) | |||
| Mobile Trading Gallery (click to expand) | |||
| Research Gallery (click to expand) | |||
| Education Gallery (click to expand) |
| Regulation | ActivTrades | Spreadex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 81 | 71 | |
| Year Founded | 2001 | 1999 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | No | No | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 0 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | ActivTrades | Spreadex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes | |
| 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 | Spreadex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Spreadex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1267 | 10000 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 49 | 52 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | No | |
| 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 | Spreadex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.98 | 0.81 | |
| 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 | Spreadex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | 0 | $0 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | ActivTrades | Spreadex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | No | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | No | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | No | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | ActivTrades | Spreadex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | No | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 11 | 8 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 55 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 15 | 11 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | ActivTrades | Spreadex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | N/A | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | ActivTrades | Spreadex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | ActivTrades | Spreadex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | No | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | ActivTrades | Spreadex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Spreadex Review |
| Overall | ActivTrades | Spreadex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Commissions & Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Platform & Tools |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 81 | 71 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | ActivTrades Review | Spreadex Review |
IG
CMC Markets
FOREX.com
XTB
eToro
AvaTrade
Plus500
Pepperstone
FP Markets
Tickmill