Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Trading 212 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.
Trading 212 vs ActivTrades: Trading 212 (founded 2004) and ActivTrades (founded 2001) are both online brokers that are not publicly traded and are not banks. Per ForexBrokers.com, Trading 212 holds 3 Tier-1 licenses (highly trusted) and 0 Tier-2 licenses, earning a Trust Score of 82/99. ActivTrades holds 2 Tier-1 licenses and 1 Tier-2 license, with a Trust Score of 80/99.
On ForexBrokers.com’s scale, scores of 80–89 are “trusted” (90–99 highly trusted, 70–79 average risk, 60–69 high risk, below 59 not trusted). Both brokers land in the trusted range, with Trading 212 showing a slight edge in Tier-1 licensing and overall score, while ActivTrades complements its Tier-1 coverage with one Tier-2 license.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2004 | 2001 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 3 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 2 |
Trading 212 and ActivTrades both earn 4 out of 5 stars for commissions and fees, but ActivTrades edges ahead in the rankings, placing #21 out of 36 brokers compared with Trading 212 at #27 out of 36. Trading 212 promotes zero-commission trading on its CFD account, but traders still pay the spread on CFDs and forex. Its average EUR/USD spread was 2.7 pips in April 2025, which is well above the industry average and makes it a pricier choice for forex and CFD trading than many leading competitors.
ActivTrades also charges through the spread rather than a separate commission on most trades, and its pricing is generally a bit better than the industry average. Based on average EUR/USD spread data provided by the broker, ActivTrades came in at 0.98 pips in May 2024, which is much lower than Trading 212’s figure. While ActivTrades does not offer special pricing for active traders, its spreads are more competitive overall, making it the stronger pick for cost-conscious traders.
In simple terms, both brokers are fairly close on star rating, but ActivTrades is the cheaper option for many forex and CFD traders. Trading 212 may appeal to beginners who like the idea of zero commission, but its wider spreads can add up quickly. If lower trading costs are the main goal, ActivTrades has the better fee structure of the two.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | €1 | $0 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 2.7 | 1.08 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 2.7 | 0.92 |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
When it comes to range of investments, Trading 212 offers more choice than ActivTrades. Trading 212 has about 13,000 tradeable symbols and 180 forex pairs, compared with ActivTrades’ 1,267 symbols and 49 forex pairs. Both brokers support forex trading as CFDs or spot contracts, and both offer international exchange-traded securities. However, only Trading 212 lets clients buy U.S.-listed shares like Apple as real, exchange-traded securities, while ActivTrades does not.
Trading 212 also stands out for crypto access, since it offers both actual cryptocurrency and crypto CFDs, while ActivTrades offers crypto CFDs only. On the other hand, ActivTrades supports copy trading, which Trading 212 does not. Overall, Trading 212 scores higher for range of investments, with a 5-star rating and a #15 ranking out of 36 brokers from ForexBrokers.com, versus ActivTrades’ 4-star rating and #25 ranking.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 13000 | 1267 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 180 | 49 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | Yes | No |
| Cryptocurrency (CFDs) | 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.
Trading 212 and ActivTrades both give you a web-based trading platform and a free demo account, so beginners can practice before risking real money. Each also lets you trade directly from a chart, which makes it easier to place trades while watching price action. In ForexBrokers.com’s Trading Platforms and Tools category, both brokers are rated 4 out of 5 stars, but Trading 212 is ranked higher overall at #19 out of 36 brokers, compared with ActivTrades at #26.
The main difference is in platform choice and extra tools. Trading 212 keeps things simpler and does not offer a desktop download platform, its own in-house platform, MT4, MT5, or copy trading. ActivTrades, by contrast, offers all of those options, including its own platform, Windows desktop software, MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, and copy trading. If you want more platform variety and advanced trading tools, ActivTrades has the edge; if you prefer a more straightforward browser-based setup, Trading 212 is a solid fit.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | No | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | No | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 102 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Trading 212 and ActivTrades both offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, so traders can manage accounts on the go with either broker. Each app also supports stock or forex price alerts, trendline drawing on charts, and auto-saving those drawings, making it easier to track trades and review market moves from a phone or tablet. Both apps are also rated 4 out of 5 stars for mobile trading.
The bigger difference is in charting and watchlist syncing. Trading 212 gives mobile users 104 technical studies, compared with 30 at ActivTrades, which may matter more to active chart watchers. Trading 212 also syncs watchlists between the mobile app and online account, while ActivTrades does not. In ForexBrokers.com’s Mobile Trading Apps ranking, Trading 212 places #17 out of 36 brokers, ahead of ActivTrades at #21.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 104 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When comparing Trading 212 and ActivTrades for market research, both brokers give traders access to forex news from top sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones, along with a sentiment tool and an economic calendar for tracking major global events. Neither broker offers research tools from Autochartist, Trading Central, TipRanks, or Acuity Trading. The main difference is that ActivTrades also provides daily market commentary, while Trading 212 does not, which may make ActivTrades more useful for traders who want regular market updates.
Overall, ActivTrades comes out slightly ahead in market research. It is rated 4 out of 5 stars for Research and ranks #26 out of 36 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, compared with Trading 212’s 3.5 stars and #32 ranking. For traders looking for a bit more in the way of market insight and commentary, ActivTrades has the edge, while Trading 212 still covers the core research basics well.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | No | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central | No | No |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When comparing Trading 212 and ActivTrades for beginner-friendly learning materials, both brokers give new traders plenty of video content to work through. Each offers at least 10 beginner trading videos and at least 10 advanced videos, so users can move from the basics to more detailed topics at their own pace. Trading 212 also provides forex or CFDs education, with enough material focused on those subjects to meet the 10-piece mark. ActivTrades does too, and it stands out by also offering online educational client webinars at least once a month, which can be helpful for beginners who want live guidance and the chance to learn from questions asked in real time.
In terms of overall education quality, ActivTrades is rated slightly higher at 4 stars compared with Trading 212’s 3.5 stars. However, Trading 212 ranks better in the ForexBrokers.com education category, placing #20 out of 36 brokers, while ActivTrades sits at #30. For beginners choosing between the two, Trading 212 may appeal if you want a stronger category ranking, but ActivTrades may be the better pick if live webinars and a slightly higher education rating matter more to you.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | No | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 63 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that Trading 212 is better than ActivTrades. Trading 212 finished with an overall rank of #25, while ActivTrades finished with an overall rank of #28.
Best known for its mobile trading app, Trading 212 offers an easy-to-use trading platform suite for CFD and share trading, as well as a large variety of forex pairs. However, despite its well-designed platform and wide range of symbols, its lack of advanced trading tools and flat research offerings hamper Trading 212’s bid to be considered a top broker.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 82 | 80 |
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Trading 212 vs ActivTrades: Trading 212 supports buying real (delivered) cryptocurrencies and crypto CFDs, whereas ActivTrades offers crypto CFDs only and does not provide access to real cryptocurrencies.
Comparing deposit and withdrawal options, Trading 212 supports ACH/SEPA and bank wires but not PayPal or Skrill, while ActivTrades offers bank wires and Skrill but not ACH/SEPA or PayPal (Visa/Mastercard availability not specified for either).
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 | Trading 212 | ActivTrades | |
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| Trust Score | 82 | 80 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Trading 212 Review | ActivTrades Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Trading 212 | ActivTrades | |
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| Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Regulation | Trading 212 | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 82 | 80 | |
| Year Founded | 2004 | 2001 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | ||
| Tier-1 Licenses | 3 | 2 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 2 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Trading 212 | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (FSA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | No | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | 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 |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Trading 212 | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | ||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | No | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No |
| Investments | Trading 212 | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 13000 | 1267 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 180 | 49 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | Yes | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (CFDs) | 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 | Trading 212 | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 2.7 | 1.08 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 2.7 | 0.92 | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | Yes | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Trading 212 | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | €1 | $0 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | Trading 212 | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | No | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | No | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Trading 212 | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 102 | 30 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Trading 212 | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 104 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Trading 212 | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | No | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Trading 212 | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | No | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Trading 212 | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | Trading 212 Review | ActivTrades Review |
| Overall | Trading 212 | ActivTrades | |
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| Trust Score | 82 | 80 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Trading 212 Review | ActivTrades Review |
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