Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of XM Group 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.
XM Group, founded in 2009, and ActivTrades, established in 2001, are both notable players in the online brokerage landscape, though neither is publicly traded or functions as a bank. Examining their regulatory standings, XM Group holds an edge with 4 Tier-1 licenses, recognized for the highest trust by ForexBrokers.com, while ActivTrades maintains 2 such licenses. Both brokers are on equal footing with 1 Tier-2 license each, denoting a reliable level of trust.
When considering trust scores, XM Group scores a commendable 88 out of 99, classifying it as a trusted broker according to ForexBrokers.com standards. Meanwhile, ActivTrades holds a trust score of 81, falling within the trusted category but slightly lower than XM Group. These scores reflect their regulatory licenses and overall stability, offering a snapshot of their credibility in the online trading world.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2009 | 2001 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 2 |
When comparing XM Group to ActivTrades in terms of commissions and fees, it's important to note the differences in their pricing structures and transparency. XM Group's standard account spreads are considered expensive, and they do not publicly disclose the average spreads for their commission-based XM Zero account. This lack of transparency might be a consideration for traders looking to have a clear view of their potential trading costs. XM Group scores a solid 4 out of 5 stars for commissions and fees but ranks #33 out of 62 brokers as reviewed by ForexBrokers.com.
ActivTrades presents a slightly different approach. Known for having spreads that are somewhat better than the industry average, ActivTrades still falls short of being the most cost-effective choice among low-cost forex brokers. They offer an Individual Account along with Professional and Islamic Account options, yet they do not have a specific account designed for high-volume trading or offer active trader pricing. All account types maintain the same spread, though the margin requirements differ in the Professional Account. For instance, as of May 2024, the average spread for the EUR/USD pair was reported at 0.98 pips. ActivTrades also garners a 4 out of 5-star rating, but it stands ahead of XM Group at #27 out of 62 in ForexBrokers.com's rankings for commissions and fees.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $5 | 0 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.6 | 0.98 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.8 | N/A |
| 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 XM Group and ActivTrades, both brokers provide a comprehensive array of investment options, but there are some distinctions. XM Group surpasses ActivTrades in terms of the total number of tradeable symbols, offering 1,394 compared to ActivTrades' 1,267. This includes a wide selection of forex pairs, with XM Group providing 55 pairs while ActivTrades offers 49. Both brokers facilitate forex trading through CFDs and spot contracts, but XM Group also stands out for allowing investments in exchange-traded securities on US exchanges—enabling clients to purchase shares like Apple—whereas ActivTrades does not. However, both brokers grant access to international exchanges, such as purchasing Vodafone shares. Additionally, neither platform offers the direct purchase of cryptocurrencies, though they do offer cryptocurrency derivatives.
Client features such as copy trading are available with both XM Group and ActivTrades, catering to diversified investment strategies. In terms of ratings and rankings, XM Group slightly edges ahead with a 4.5-star rating for its range of investments, ranking 23rd out of 62 brokers by ForexBrokers.com. ActivTrades, while still highly regarded with a 4-star rating, ranks 31st. Both firms provide ample opportunities for a variety of trading needs, but XM Group's broader range of investment options and inclusion of US exchange-traded securities resonates with a broader spectrum of traders.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1394 | 1267 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 55 | 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) | 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.
XM Group and ActivTrades both provide robust options for simulated trading through free virtual demo accounts, allowing traders to hone their skills without financial risk. While XM Group offers popular platforms like MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, ActivTrades enhances its offering with a proprietary platform developed in-house. Both brokers ensure availability on a variety of devices by providing Windows-based desktop and web-based trading platforms, satisfying the needs of diverse trading styles.
For traders interested in copy trading, both XM Group and ActivTrades support this feature, although they do not offer DupliTrade or ZuluTrade. Charting capabilities are comprehensive with both brokers, as they each provide 15 drawing tools and the ability to trade directly from stock charts. A notable difference lies in the customization of watch lists, where ActivTrades offers 11 columns, surpassing XM Group's 7 columns. Despite these distinctions, both brokers are rated four stars for trading platforms and tools, with ForexBrokers.com ranking them closely at #29 and #30 among 62 brokers, respectively.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | No | 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) | 30 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 15 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 11 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Both XM Group and ActivTrades offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android users, allowing traders to stay connected and manage their investments on the go. Both platforms provide essential features like stock and forex price alerts, enabling users to stay updated with the latest market movements. While they both also allow traders to create watchlists with real-time quotes, only XM Group offers watchlist symbol syncing. This feature is particularly beneficial as it syncs changes between the mobile app and the user's online account, helping maintain consistency across devices.
In terms of charting capabilities, XM Group and ActivTrades both score well, offering 30 technical studies and the ability to draw trendlines across various time frames, such as daily, weekly, or intraday. However, ActivTrades stands out with the convenience of automatically saving chart drawings, a feature XM Group lacks. Despite these differences, both brokers earn a solid four out of five stars for their mobile trading apps. According to ForexBrokers.com rankings, ActivTrades holds a slightly higher position at #19 compared to XM Group's #27 out of 62 brokers, which may reflect the more polished experience offered by ActivTrades in some areas.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | No | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When comparing the market research offerings of online brokers XM Group and ActivTrades, there are several similarities and notable differences. Both brokers provide daily market commentary and access to forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg and Reuters. They also offer sentiment-based trading tools that display the ratio of long and short positions across various currency pairs. Additionally, both firms include an economic calendar that showcases global news events impacting various economies. However, XM Group edges out ActivTrades by incorporating Trading Central’s technical analytics, a feature ActivTrades lacks. Unfortunately, neither broker offers tools from Autochartist, research from TipRanks, or contributions from Acuity Trading.
When it comes to overall research capabilities, XM Group holds a higher rating of 5 stars compared to ActivTrades' 4 stars. This distinction reflects their broader range of research tools, notably Trading Central. In the ForexBrokers.com rankings, XM Group is notably ranked 8th out of 62 brokers in the Research category, while ActivTrades sits at 30th. These evaluations highlight XM Group as a stronger choice for traders looking for comprehensive market research and analysis tools.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | 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.
Both XM Group and ActivTrades offer extensive educational resources, making them strong contenders for beginners diving into the world of forex or CFDs. Each platform provides more than 10 educational materials, including articles, videos, and archived webinars, focused on forex or CFDs. They also host online webinars each month, ensuring that users remain informed and updated. These webinars are accessible for future viewing, thanks to their searchable archives. Additionally, both brokers supply over 10 beginner-oriented videos, helping new traders understand the basics of trading. For those with more experience, each broker also offers advanced videos to further hone their skills.
Despite these similarities, XM Group edges out slightly ahead of ActivTrades in terms of reputation and ranking. XM Group is rated five stars for its educational offerings, and it impressively ranks seventh out of 62 brokers in this category according to ForexBrokers.com. In contrast, ActivTrades holds a commendable four-star rating and occupies the 38th spot in the same ranking. While neither company provides an investor dictionary, the comprehensive educational resources available from both brokers ensure beginners have ample opportunities to learn and grow. However, if rankings and peer reviews weigh heavily in your selection, XM Group holds a slightly higher standing in educational excellence.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
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) | No | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 62 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that XM Group is better than ActivTrades. XM Group finished with an overall rank of #17, while ActivTrades finished with an overall rank of #33.
XM Group is a MetaTrader-only broker that offers a strong selection of high-quality educational content and market research.
| Feature |
XM Group
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ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 88 | 81 |
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Both XM Group and ActivTrades provide the option to trade cryptocurrency derivatives, but neither offers the ability to purchase actual delivered cryptocurrencies.
Both XM Group and ActivTrades do not support ACH or SEPA transfers or PayPal for deposits and withdrawals, but they do offer Visa, Mastercard, Skrill, and bank wire options for funding accounts.
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 | XM Group | ActivTrades | |
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| Trust Score | 88 | 81 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | XM Group Review | ActivTrades Review |
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| Regulation | XM Group | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 88 | 81 | |
| Year Founded | 2009 | 2001 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 2 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 2 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | XM Group | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | 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) | No | 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) | XM Group | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | No | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | XM Group | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1394 | 1267 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 55 | 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) | 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 | XM Group | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.6 | 0.98 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.8 | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | XM Group | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $5 | 0 | |
| 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 | XM Group | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | No | 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 | XM Group | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 11 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 15 | 15 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | XM Group | 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 | 30 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | XM Group | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | XM Group | 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) | No | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | XM Group | 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 | XM Group Review | ActivTrades Review |
| Overall | XM Group | ActivTrades | |
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| Trust Score | 88 | 81 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | XM Group Review | ActivTrades Review |
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