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.
Founded in 2004, Trading 212 offers investors a modern platform but is not publicly traded or a bank. It holds two Tier-1 licenses, indicating a high level of trust according to ForexBrokers.com. However, Trading 212 does not possess any Tier-2 licenses, which are also valued for their trustworthiness. The platform stands with a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 79, placing it in the average risk category. Despite its trusted credentials, potential users value this score to weigh their risk before diving into investing.
ActivTrades, in operation since 2001, similarly remains a privately held firm and not a banking institution. Like Trading 212, it holds two Tier-1 licenses, showcasing its commitment to regulatory standards. Additionally, ActivTrades has secured one Tier-2 license, further boosting its credibility. With a Trust Score of 81 from ForexBrokers.com, ActivTrades is considered a trusted broker, offering a more favorable trust profile for those seeking a more securely regulated trading experience.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2004 | 2001 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 2 |
When comparing the commission and fee structures of Trading 212 and ActivTrades, each online broker presents distinct features that cater to different trader preferences. Trading 212, which offers a CFD account with a minimum deposit requirement of 10 euros, promotes zero-commission trading. However, it includes spreads, with the EUR/USD pair having an average spread of 1.9 pips as of January 2024. This figure exceeds the industry average, resulting in Trading 212 holding a 4-star rating and ranking 43rd out of 62 brokers by ForexBrokers.com in this category.
ActivTrades, on the other hand, provides multiple account options including Individual, Professional, and Islamic Accounts, but lacks a specific account for high-volume traders or special pricing incentives. The average spread for the EUR/USD pair was 0.98 pips as of May 2024, which is more favorable compared to Trading 212. ActivTrades matches Trading 212's 4-star rating for commissions and fees. However, it is more competitively ranked at 27th out of 62 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com.
In summary, while both brokers are rated similarly with four stars for their commission and fee structures, ActivTrades edges out Trading 212 with better average spreads and a higher ranking. Traders might prefer Trading 212 for its low entry deposit, but those seeking lower spreads could find ActivTrades more appealing despite its lack of specialized accounts for active traders.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | €10 | 0 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.9 | 0.98 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.9 | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | No |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
When comparing Trading 212 and ActivTrades on the range of investments they offer, Trading 212 provides a broader selection with 8,025 tradeable symbols, vastly surpassing ActivTrades, which offers 1,267 symbols. Both platforms support forex trading as CFDs, but Trading 212 boasts a higher number of tradeable forex pairs at 146, in contrast to ActivTrades' 49. Additionally, Trading 212 offers exchange-traded securities on U.S. exchanges, allowing clients to invest in giants like Apple, a feature that ActivTrades lacks.
Both trading platforms enable clients to purchase cryptocurrency derivatives, although they do not offer the actual cryptocurrencies. Another distinction is in copy trading: ActivTrades offers this feature, whereas Trading 212 does not. Despite these differences, Trading 212 receives a higher overall rating for its range of investments, earning 5 stars and ranking 15th out of 62 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, while ActivTrades secures a 4-star rating and the 31st spot.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 8025 | 1267 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 146 | 49 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | 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.
For traders looking at Trading 212 and ActivTrades, both offer compelling trading platforms with some distinct features. Trading 212 and ActivTrades both provide free virtual demo accounts, which is a great way to practice trading. Each broker also offers a proprietary platform developed in-house and a web-based trading platform that makes it easy to trade from a browser. However, Trading 212 does not offer a Windows-based desktop platform, while ActivTrades does. Additionally, those interested in copy trading will find that ActivTrades provides this option, whereas Trading 212 does not. For those using well-known MetaTrader platforms, ActivTrades supports both MT4 and MT5, while Trading 212 does not integrate with these popular trading systems.
When it comes to charting tools, Trading 212 offers 20 drawing tools, compared to 15 available with ActivTrades. Both platforms allow direct trading from stock charts, enhancing user experience with added convenience. For watch lists, users might find ActivTrades more versatile, offering 11 columns for fields, compared to Trading 212's five. Despite these differences in features, both platforms are rated four stars for Trading Platforms and Tools. According to ForexBrokers.com, Trading 212 ranks higher at #21, compared to ActivTrades, which is ranked at #29 among 62 brokers. This suggests that while both brokers offer strong tools and features, Trading 212 has a slight edge according to this source.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | No | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 54 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 20 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 5 | 11 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
When comparing Trading 212 and ActivTrades for their mobile trading apps, both platforms offer iPhone and Android applications, catering to a wide range of users. Each app provides essential features such as stock or forex price alerts, the ability to draw trendlines on charts, and the capability to view multiple time frames including daily, weekly, and intraday options. Both apps also allow users to create watchlists with real-time quotes, ensuring traders stay updated with market movements throughout their day.
However, there are notable differences between the two. While both provide similar features in terms of alerts and charting capabilities, Trading 212 distinguishes itself with watchlist symbol syncing, allowing seamless integration across devices, whereas ActivTrades does not offer this feature. Additionally, Trading 212 provides a more extensive charting experience with 104 technical studies compared to ActivTrades' 30. These subtle distinctions could be why Trading 212 holds a slightly higher rank at #17 compared to ActivTrades' #19 on ForexBrokers.com despite both apps earning a solid 4-star rating. Whether it's the comprehensive technical studies or the ease of sync, Trading 212 has a slight edge for those seeking a more dynamic mobile trading experience.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 104 | 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 Trading 212 and ActivTrades for market research resources, it's clear that both brokers have unique offerings suited to different types of traders. ActivTrades stands out by providing daily market commentary, which can be highly beneficial for traders looking to stay abreast of market trends and sentiments. In contrast, Trading 212 does not offer such commentary. However, both brokers provide forex news sourced from reputable agencies like Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones, ensuring that users have access to reliable and timely market information.
Neither Trading 212 nor ActivTrades offers advanced technical analysis tools from companies like Autochartist or Trading Central, limiting the depth of technical insights available through their platforms. Nevertheless, they both offer sentiment-based trading tools, which offer valuable insights into the market’s mood by showing the ratio of long to short positions. Additionally, each broker provides an economic calendar, helping traders track global economic events. Despite their similarities, ActivTrades edges ahead with a slightly higher research rating of 4 stars versus Trading 212's 3.5 stars, and it ranks #30 compared to Trading 212's #46 in the Research category by ForexBrokers.com. This indicates that for traders seeking better overall research tools, ActivTrades might be the more suitable choice.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | No | 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 comparing the educational resources available for beginners at Trading 212 and ActivTrades, both brokers offer a comprehensive suite of materials designed to cater to new traders. Each platform provides a wealth of over ten educational pieces, such as informative articles, videos, and archived webinars, focusing on forex and CFDs. Moreover, both Trading 212 and ActivTrades conduct regular online webinars and maintain a searchable archive of these sessions, which can be incredibly beneficial for continuous learning. New traders can also access a wealth of beginner-focused educational videos on both platforms, each offering more than ten instructional videos to help users grasp trading fundamentals.
In addition to beginner resources, both Trading 212 and ActivTrades have more than ten advanced educational videos targeted at experienced traders, further supporting their educational offerings. Notably, Trading 212 offers an investor dictionary with definitions of over 50 investing terms, setting it apart from ActivTrades, which lacks this feature. Despite Trading 212's dictionary advantage, ActivTrades received a higher education rating of 4 stars compared to Trading 212's 3.5 stars, possibly reflecting broader educational strengths. Interestingly, ForexBrokers.com ranks Trading 212 higher at #20 compared to ActivTrades' #38 among 62 brokers for educational resources, highlighting nuances in how educational quality and accessibility are perceived.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
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 Trading 212 is better than ActivTrades. Trading 212 finished with an overall rank of #31, while ActivTrades finished with an overall rank of #33.
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 |
|
|
| Trust Score | 79 | 81 |
| Range of Investments |
|
|
| Commissions & Fees |
|
|
| Platform & Tools |
|
|
| Research |
|
|
| Mobile Trading |
|
|
| Education |
|
|
Both Trading 212 and ActivTrades provide users with the opportunity to invest in cryptocurrency derivatives, but neither platform offers the ability to purchase actual, delivered cryptocurrencies.
Trading 212 and ActivTrades both support Visa, Mastercard, and bank wires for deposits and withdrawals, but Trading 212 uniquely offers ACH, SEPA, and PayPal options, whereas ActivTrades exclusively provides Skrill for these transactions.
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 | Trading 212 | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Commissions & Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Platform & Tools |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 79 | 81 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Trading 212 Review | ActivTrades Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Trading 212 | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trading Platforms Gallery (click to expand) |
| ||
| Mobile Trading Gallery (click to expand) |
| ||
| Research Gallery (click to expand) |
| ||
| Education Gallery (click to expand) |
|
| Regulation | Trading 212 | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 79 | 81 | |
| Year Founded | 2004 | 2001 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 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 (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). | Yes | No |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Trading 212 | 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 | Trading 212 | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 8025 | 1267 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 146 | 49 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | 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 | Trading 212 | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.9 | 0.98 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.9 | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | Yes | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Trading 212 | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | €10 | 0 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | Trading 212 | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | No | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Trading 212 | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 5 | 11 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 54 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 20 | 15 | |
| 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 Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 104 | 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 | Trading 212 | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | No | 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 | Trading 212 | 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 | Trading 212 | 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 | Trading 212 Review | ActivTrades Review |
| Overall | Trading 212 | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Commissions & Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Platform & Tools |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 79 | 81 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Trading 212 Review | ActivTrades Review |
IG
CMC Markets
FOREX.com
XTB
eToro
AvaTrade
Plus500
Pepperstone
FP Markets
Tickmill