Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Swissquote 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.
When comparing the online brokers Swissquote and ActivTrades, several key differences emerge in terms of reliability and regulatory oversight. Swissquote, founded in 1996 and publicly traded, also operates as a bank. It holds a stellar ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 99, indicating it is highly trusted. Swissquote boasts 5 Tier-1 licenses, which signify the highest level of trust, alongside 2 Tier-2 licenses that further bolster its reliable status.
On the other hand, ActivTrades, established in 2001, is a private entity and not a bank. It carries a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 81, categorizing it as a trusted broker but with a slightly lower trust level than Swissquote. ActivTrades holds 2 Tier-1 licenses, suggesting a high degree of trust, and 1 Tier-2 license. While both brokers offer a secure experience, Swissquote's higher trust score and additional licenses highlight its reputation for reliability.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1996 | 2001 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | Yes | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 5 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 2 |
When it comes to comparing online brokers Swissquote and ActivTrades, their commissions and fees structures offer distinct advantages and considerations. Swissquote, with its appeal of being part of a Swiss banking conglomerate, comes at a slight premium. While offering multiple account types across its U.K., Switzerland, and Luxembourg entities, Swissquote often falls short of the lowest-cost forex brokers. In the U.K., the Elite account is favored for active traders thanks to lower spreads starting from 0.6 pips and a $5 charge per round-turn trade. In Luxembourg, similar accounts come with spreads ranging from 0.8 to 1.5 pips depending on the account type, while Switzerland offers spreads starting from 1.1 pips for its Prime account. Swissquote earns a rating of 3.5 stars for commissions and fees and ranks 52nd out of 62 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com.
In contrast, ActivTrades provides a more streamlined approach with its Individual, Professional, and Islamic account options. Although there isn’t a specialized account for high-volume traders or active trader pricing, the broker’s spreads are slightly better than the industry average. ActivTrades lists its average spread for the EUR/USD at 0.98 pips. The differentiation between account types primarily lies in margin requirements, rather than varied spreads. This emphasis on spread consistency can be beneficial for traders seeking predictability across their trading sessions. ActivTrades scores 4 stars for its commissions and fees, placing it 27th out of 62 brokers as rated by ForexBrokers.com.
For traders seeking lower trading costs, ActivTrades presents a competitive option with consistently better spread offerings than Swissquote. While Swissquote boasts the prestige of Swiss banking, its higher thresholds for lower spreads may deter cost-conscious traders. Ultimately, choosing between Swissquote and ActivTrades will depend on one’s trading style, account requirements, and appetite for associated costs. With higher scores and ranking, ActivTrades provides an appealing alternative for those prioritizing cost-efficiency in their trading endeavors.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $1000 | 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 | 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.
Swissquote and ActivTrades both offer forex trading through CFDs or spot contracts, catering to a variety of traders. When it comes to the number of tradable symbols, Swissquote provides a choice of 472 symbols, while ActivTrades surpasses this with 1267 options. For those interested specifically in forex pairs, Swissquote offers 80 pairs compared to the 49 provided by ActivTrades. Both brokers include the feature of copy trading to align with modern trading tactics. However, a notable difference is that Swissquote provides the opportunity to purchase actual cryptocurrency, unlike ActivTrades, which only offers cryptocurrency derivatives.
Swissquote stands out by offering direct investments in exchange-traded securities on U.S. as well as international exchanges, allowing clients to purchase shares like Apple and Vodafone directly. In contrast, ActivTrades does not support the purchase of U.S. exchange securities, but does allow access to international equities. Rated 5 stars for its range of investments and ranking second among 62 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, Swissquote offers a comprehensive trading experience. ActivTrades, while offering a broad selection, has earned 4 stars and ranks 31st, indicating a solid but slightly more limited range of investment options compared to Swissquote.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 472 | 1267 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 80 | 49 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | 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.
Swissquote and ActivTrades both provide comprehensive trading platforms that cater to the diverse needs of traders. Each broker offers a virtual demo account, allowing users to experience simulated trading without financial risk. They also provide proprietary platforms developed in-house and ensure compatibility with popular software like MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5. Both Swissquote and ActivTrades offer trading platforms accessible via a Windows-based desktop download and browser-based web interfaces. For those interested in social trading, both brokers offer copy trading, though neither supports DupliTrade or ZuluTrade.
When it comes to charting tools, Swissquote stands out with 75 drawing tools compared to ActivTrades’ 15, providing more options for technical analysis. Both brokers allow trading directly from a stock chart and offer customizable watch lists with 11 columns each. In terms of user ratings, Swissquote is slightly favored, receiving 4.5 stars for its trading platforms and tools against ActivTrades’ 4 stars. This is reflected in their rankings by ForexBrokers.com, where Swissquote holds the 12th position while ActivTrades is ranked 29th among 62 brokers. These factors make Swissquote a slightly more preferred choice for traders seeking extensive platform features.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
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) | 86 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 75 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 11 | 11 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Swissquote and ActivTrades both provide comprehensive mobile trading apps compatible with iPhone and Android devices, allowing users to engage in trading seamlessly. Both platforms support stock or forex price alerts, ensuring traders stay informed on market movements. When it comes to technical analysis, each app offers 30 technical studies, and users can easily draw trendlines and switch between various time frames such as daily, weekly, or intraday. Additionally, both Swissquote and ActivTrades apps allow for the creation of watchlists with real-time quotes and automatically save any chart drawings.
Despite these similarities, there are some distinctions in user experience ratings and rankings. Swissquote earns a higher rating of 4.5 stars compared to ActivTrades' 4 stars. This slight edge is reflected in their rankings by ForexBrokers.com, where Swissquote is positioned at #11 out of 62 brokers, while ActivTrades stands at #19. However, both apps fall short in offering watchlist symbol syncing between the mobile app and online account, a feature that could enhance flexibility for traders on the go.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
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.
When comparing Swissquote and ActivTrades for market research tools, both brokers provide daily market commentary and deliver forex news from esteemed sources like Bloomberg and Reuters. However, Swissquote takes a step ahead by incorporating Autochartist's technical analysis tools, while ActivTrades does not offer this feature. Furthermore, even though neither broker uses Trading Central or offers market research from TipRanks, ActivTrades differentiates itself by providing a sentiment-based trading tool, which Swissquote lacks.
Both brokers facilitate their clients with an economic calendar that highlights current and future global events, providing timely insights into various economies. According to ForexBrokers.com, both Swissquote and ActivTrades receive an impressive 4-star rating for their research offerings. However, when stacked against 62 brokers in total, Swissquote secures a higher rank at #16, compared to ActivTrades' position at #30. This insight may guide traders in assessing which platform better suits their research needs with respect to the unique tools and resources each offers.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
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 | No | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
Both Swissquote and ActivTrades provide a solid range of educational materials for those starting out in forex or CFD trading. Each broker offers more than ten educational pieces, including articles, videos, and archived webinars, ensuring beginners have ample content to explore at their own pace. Both platforms also host online webinars monthly, with the added benefit of providing a searchable archive of past sessions, which is a fantastic tool for continuous learning. When it comes to beginner-friendly video lessons, both brokers provide a wealth of resources, with Swissquote having a slight edge due to its comprehensive investor dictionary catering to new traders.
For more advanced traders, Swissquote and ActivTrades each offer a suite of over ten advanced tutorial videos, allowing traders to deepen their expertise. While both brokers are rated four stars for their educational offerings, there is a noteworthy difference in their rankings by ForexBrokers.com, where Swissquote is positioned at #21, distinctly ahead of ActivTrades, which is at #38. Although ActivTrades falls short in providing an extensive investor dictionary, both brokers still offer ample resources to equip traders of all experience levels.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
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 Swissquote is better than ActivTrades. Swissquote finished with an overall rank of #11, while ActivTrades finished with an overall rank of #33.
Traders choose Swissquote for its quality research and vast multi-asset offering – as long as they are willing to pay a premium to have their brokerage account held with a Swiss bank.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 81 |
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Swissquote allows users to purchase actual (delivered) cryptocurrencies and offers cryptocurrency derivatives, whereas ActivTrades only provides access to cryptocurrency derivatives without the option to buy the actual (delivered) cryptocurrencies.
When comparing online brokers Swissquote and ActivTrades, Swissquote offers more flexibility by providing ACH or SEPA transfers, PayPal, Skrill, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wire options for depositing or withdrawing account funds, whereas ActivTrades supports only Skrill, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wires, lacking ACH, SEPA, and PayPal options.
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 | Swissquote | ActivTrades | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 81 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Swissquote Review | ActivTrades Review |
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| Regulation | Swissquote | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 81 | |
| Year Founded | 1996 | 2001 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 5 | 2 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 2 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Swissquote | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | Yes | 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). | Yes | No |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Swissquote | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | Swissquote | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 472 | 1267 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 80 | 49 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | 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 | Swissquote | 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 | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Swissquote | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $1000 | 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 | Swissquote | 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 | Swissquote | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 11 | 11 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 86 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 75 | 15 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Swissquote | 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 | Swissquote | 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 | No | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Swissquote | 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 | Swissquote | 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 | Swissquote Review | ActivTrades Review |
| Overall | Swissquote | ActivTrades | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 81 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Swissquote Review | ActivTrades Review |
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