Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of ActivTrades vs VT Markets, 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.
ActivTrades, established in 2001, and VT Markets, founded in 2016, are both well-regarded online brokers, though they differ significantly in regulatory strength and trustworthiness according to ForexBrokers.com. Neither company is publicly traded or operates as a bank. ActivTrades holds two Tier-1 licenses, which are highly trusted, and one Tier-2 license, earning it a trust score of 81, placing it in the 'trusted' category. In contrast, VT Markets has one Tier-1 license and one Tier-2 license, with a lower trust score of 70, indicating an average risk broker.
When deciding between these brokers, potential users should note the difference in their regulatory standings and trust scores. ActivTrades' long-standing presence since 2001 and higher regulatory ranking may appeal to those seeking a slightly more trusted environment, while VT Markets, with its average risk rating, might attract users comfortable with a moderate level of trust in exchange for potentially different offerings or services. Overall, understanding these distinctions can help investors make informed decisions that align with their risk tolerance and trading preferences.
| Feature |
ActivTrades
|
VT Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2001 | 2016 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 0 |
When considering online brokers for trading, ActivTrades and VT Markets offer distinct commission and fee structures that cater to various trading styles. ActivTrades provides several account options, including an Individual Account, Professional Account, and Islamic Account for Sharia compliance. Although its spreads are slightly better than the industry average, they don’t match the most competitive forex brokers. The average spread for the EUR/USD was reported at 0.98 pips in May 2024. The commissions and fees at ActivTrades largely depend on the assets you trade, without a specific account catering to high-volume traders or offering active trader pricing. ForexBrokers.com rates ActivTrades 4 out of 5 stars, ranking it #27 out of 62 brokers in their commissions and fees category.
VT Markets, on the other hand, offers the Raw ECN and Standard STP accounts, appealing to different trading preferences. The Standard STP account is commission-free but typically has higher spreads, averaging 1.2 pips on the EUR/USD. In contrast, the Raw ECN account provides more competitive spreads, with an effective spread of 0.83 pips in September 2021—standard for the industry. Both account types require a minimum deposit of $100. VT Markets receives a higher rating from ForexBrokers.com with 4.5 stars and ranks #20 in the commissions and fees category among 62 brokers.
To sum up, ActivTrades offers a solid trading environment with its average industry spreads and multiple account types, while VT Markets provides a more cost-effective solution through its Raw ECN account for traders seeking lower spreads. Ultimately, the choice between ActivTrades and VT Markets may hinge on specific trading needs and preferences regarding account type and cost structure. Each broker holds a reputable position, with ActivTrades awarded a 4-star rating and VT Markets a slightly higher 4.5-star rating, reflecting their competitive standing in the market.
| Feature |
ActivTrades
|
VT Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | 0 | $100 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.98 | 1.2 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | 0.8 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | No |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | 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 comparing ActivTrades and VT Markets for their investment offerings, both brokers allow forex trading via CFDs or spot contracts. ActivTrades leads in the number of tradeable symbols, offering 1267 compared to VT Markets' 1000, and boasts a slightly wider variety of forex pairs, with 49 options against VT Markets' 39. While neither broker provides access to U.S. exchange-traded securities like Apple shares, they both enable trading of international securities such as Vodafone. For those interested in crypto trading, both platforms offer cryptocurrency derivatives but not the actual digital currencies themselves.
ActivTrades and VT Markets also support copy trading, catering to investors who prefer to follow successful traders. In terms of overall range of investments, ActivTrades earns a slightly higher rating of 4 stars compared to VT Markets' 3.5 stars. According to ForexBrokers.com, ActivTrades is ranked 31st out of 62 brokers for investment range, whereas VT Markets is positioned at 39th. These rankings highlight the broader selection available with ActivTrades, making it a more versatile choice for investors seeking varied tradeable options.
| Feature |
ActivTrades
|
VT Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1267 | 1000 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 49 | 39 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | 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.
When it comes to trading platforms and tools, both ActivTrades and VT Markets offer a variety of features to support traders of all levels. Each broker provides simulated trading options through free virtual demo accounts, allowing users to practice without any financial risk. While ActivTrades offers a proprietary platform developed in-house, VT Markets does not but still supports popular platforms like MetaTrader 4 and 5. Both brokers also provide web-based and Windows-based desktop platforms, making trading accessible from nearly any device.
For traders interested in charting capabilities, VT Markets leads with 30 drawing tools compared to ActivTrades' 15 tools. However, ActivTrades offers 11 columns for watch lists, greater than VT Markets' 7 columns, allowing for more detailed monitoring of market data. Both brokers support copy trading, enabling users to mimic successful trading strategies. Despite these differences, each broker receives a competitive rating of 4 out of 5 stars for their trading platforms and tools. According to ForexBrokers.com rankings, ActivTrades holds a slightly higher position at #29, as opposed to VT Markets at #47, out of 62 brokers in the Trading Platforms and Tools category.
| Feature |
ActivTrades
|
VT Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | No |
| 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) | 30 | 15 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 15 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 11 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
When comparing the mobile trading apps of ActivTrades and VT Markets, both platforms offer feature-rich experiences for iPhone and Android users. Users can get stock or forex price alerts directly to their mobile devices, ensuring they never miss an important market moment. Both apps include a suite of 30 technical studies for chart analysis and provide the ability to draw trendlines and view charts in multiple time frames. While both platforms allow the creation of personalized watchlists with real-time quotes, neither offers watchlist symbol syncing, which means alterations on mobile devices won't automatically reflect in the online account.
However, ActivTrades stands out slightly over VT Markets by auto-saving chart drawings, a feature VT Markets lacks. Despite both apps receiving a solid rating of four stars for their functionality and usability, there's a difference in industry ranking according to ForexBrokers.com. ActivTrades is ranked higher at #19 out of 62 brokers, whereas VT Markets is placed at #44. This suggests that while both apps provide valuable tools for traders, ActivTrades may offer a slightly enhanced overall experience in the mobile trading app category.
| Feature |
ActivTrades
|
VT Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | No |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When looking at market research capabilities, both ActivTrades and VT Markets offer daily market commentary and provide forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones. Both brokers also offer sentiment-based trading tools, allowing traders to gauge market sentiments through long and short position ratios. Additionally, they both provide an economic calendar to keep traders informed about upcoming global news events, making them reliable choices for staying up-to-date with the financial world.
However, ActivTrades and VT Markets diverge in certain areas. While VT Markets does have technical analysis tools from Trading Central, ActivTrades lacks these resources. Despite this, ActivTrades holds a slight advantage with a 4-star research rating compared to VT Markets' 3.5-star rating. Moreover, ActivTrades ranks #30 out of 62 brokers in the research category on ForexBrokers.com, ahead of VT Markets, which ranks #36. As a result, while both platforms offer quality research resources, ActivTrades appears to deliver a marginally stronger offering in this area.
| Feature |
ActivTrades
|
VT Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | Yes |
| 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 ActivTrades and VT Markets, both online brokers offer a variety of materials such as articles, videos, and webinars on forex and CFDs. Beginners will find a wealth of resources with both brokers offering at least ten educational videos tailored for novice traders. However, ActivTrades stands out by hosting monthly online webinars and providing an archive of previous sessions for continued learning. In contrast, VT Markets lacks regular webinars and does not offer an archive, which might be a downside for those who benefit from real-time interactive learning experiences.
Additionally, ActivTrades supports advanced traders with specialized video content, while VT Markets does not have a similar offering, which could make a difference for those seeking to elevate their trading knowledge beyond the basics. On the other hand, VT Markets includes an investor dictionary with definitions of over 50 terms, offering handy assistance for those needing to understand trading jargon. In terms of educational resource ratings, ActivTrades is rated four out of five stars, slightly higher than VT Markets' 3.5-star rating. Furthermore, ForexBrokers.com ranks ActivTrades at 38th and VT Markets at 55th out of 62 brokers in their education category, underscoring a slight edge for ActivTrades in providing educational support.
| Feature |
ActivTrades
|
VT Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 VT Markets. ActivTrades finished with an overall rank of #33, while VT Markets finished with an overall rank of #45.
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
|
VT Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 81 | 70 |
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Both ActivTrades and VT Markets provide options for trading cryptocurrency derivatives, yet neither platform offers the ability to purchase actual delivered cryptocurrency.
Both ActivTrades and VT Markets provide Skrill, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wire options for depositing or withdrawing funds, yet neither supports ACH, SEPA transfers, nor PayPal 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.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | ActivTrades | VT Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 81 | 70 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | ActivTrades Review | VT Markets Review |
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| Regulation | ActivTrades | VT Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 81 | 70 | |
| Year Founded | 2001 | 2016 | |
| 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 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 0 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | ActivTrades | VT Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| 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 | No | |
| 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 | VT Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | No | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | ActivTrades | VT Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1267 | 1000 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 49 | 39 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | 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 | ActivTrades | VT Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.98 | 1.2 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | 0.8 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | ActivTrades | VT Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | 0 | $100 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | ActivTrades | VT Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | No | |
| 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 | ActivTrades | VT Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 11 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 15 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 15 | 30 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | ActivTrades | VT Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | No | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | ActivTrades | VT Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | ActivTrades | VT Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | VT Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | VT Markets Review |
| Overall | ActivTrades | VT Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 81 | 70 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | ActivTrades Review | VT Markets Review |
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