Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of XTB 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 just a year apart, XTB in 2002 and ActivTrades in 2001, these two online brokers offer strong regulatory credentials but differ in a few key areas. XTB, which is publicly traded, boasts a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 96, placing it in the highly trusted category. While both XTB and ActivTrades hold two Tier-1 licenses, considered highly trusted, XTB takes an edge with an additional Tier-2 license, totaling two. This contributes to its superior trust rating compared to ActivTrades, which holds one Tier-2 license and earns a Trust Score of 81, situated firmly in the trusted category.
Neither XTB nor ActivTrades operates as a bank, ensuring their focus remains on providing excellent brokerage services. While investors might find comfort in XTB's public trading status, both brokers are well-regulated, offering similar assurances in terms of safety and reliability. Despite ActivTrades not being publicly traded, its reputable licenses contribute to its credibility, though it somewhat trails XTB in trust metrics. Potential clients should weigh these aspects alongside their trading needs when choosing the right broker.
| Feature |
XTB
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2002 | 2001 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 2 |
When comparing online brokers XTB and ActivTrades, their commissions and fees differ slightly though both are tailored for diverse trading needs. XTB provides two account types: the spread-only Standard account and the commission-based Professional account, the latter being mainly available to clients classified as elected Professionals in the U.K. and Europe. The pricing at XTB aligns with industry standards, with average forex spreads on the EUR/USD around 1 pip using data from Q4 2023. However, the commission-based Professional account is being phased out, making the Standard account the more practical choice, especially for retail forex traders. XTB offers potential active trader discounts through its Lower Spread Group, providing rebates on spreads from 5% to 30% based on trading volumes, starting from 20 lots per month. XTB is rated 4.5 stars and ranked #11 out of 62 brokers by ForexBrokers.com for its commissions and fees.
ActivTrades offers a slightly better spread than the industry average, though not as competitive as the leading low-cost forex brokers. The primary account available is the Individual Account, along with options for a Professional Account and an Islamic Account (meeting Sharia compliance). While there is no specific offering for high-volume traders or active trader pricing, ActivTrades provides similar spreads across account types. Key differences for Professional Accounts lie primarily in margin requirements and leverage access. The average spread for EUR/USD was noted to be 0.98 pips as of May 2024, demonstrating slightly better pricing than typical market averages. ActivTrades earns a 4-star rating and is positioned at #28 out of 62 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com for its commissions and fees.
| Feature |
XTB
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | 0 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.00 | 0.98 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.00 | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | No |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | 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.
When comparing XTB and ActivTrades based on their range of investments, XTB stands out with an impressive 7,184 tradeable symbols, significantly more than ActivTrades' 1,267. XTB offers a broader selection of forex pairs, featuring 71 compared to ActivTrades’ 49. Both brokers allow forex trading through CFDs or spot contracts, catering to traders looking to navigate the forex market. Additionally, XTB provides access to exchange-traded securities on U.S. exchanges, enabling clients to purchase shares like Apple, while ActivTrades does not offer this option. However, both brokers support the trading of international shares, allowing clients to buy stocks such as Vodafone.
For those interested in diversified investment opportunities, XTB presents a wider range, receiving a 5-star rating and ranking #14 out of 62 brokers by ForexBrokers.com. Meanwhile, ActivTrades is rated 4 stars and ranked #31 in the same category. Both brokers offer cryptocurrency derivatives, though neither provides the ability to purchase actual cryptocurrencies directly. ActivTrades offers copy trading, an option not available with XTB, which could appeal to traders looking to mimic the strategies of seasoned investors.
| Feature |
XTB
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 7184 | 1267 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 71 | 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.
When comparing the trading platforms and tools of XTB and ActivTrades, both brokers offer a wide array of features, yet there are notable differences. Both XTB and ActivTrades provide free simulated trading through virtual demo accounts and have developed their own proprietary platforms, catering to traders looking for tailored solutions. They both offer Windows-based and web-based platforms, allowing for versatile access. However, ActivTrades stands out with support for MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, which are preferred by many traders for their advanced capabilities. In contrast, XTB does not support these platforms but ranks higher in overall trading platforms and tools by ForexBrokers.com, suggesting a more favored user experience.
While XTB does not offer copy trading, ActivTrades provides this feature, appealing to those interested in replicating successful strategies of other traders. Additionally, XTB offers a greater number of drawing tools (32 compared to ActivTrades' 15), enhancing the charting functionality for technical analysis enthusiasts. Both brokers allow trading directly from stock charts, but ActivTrades edges out with more watch list fields (11 compared to XTB's 8), giving users more flexibility in monitoring market activity. Overall, XTB leads with a 4.5-star rating from ForexBrokers.com in trading platforms and tools, compared to ActivTrades' 4-star rating, reflecting XTB's generally higher satisfaction level in this category.
| Feature |
XTB
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | 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) | 39 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 32 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 8 | 11 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Both XTB and ActivTrades offer iPhone and Android apps, ensuring that users can access their trading accounts on the go regardless of their device preference. Each app provides useful features like stock or forex price alerts and the ability to view multiple time frames on charts. However, neither XTB nor ActivTrades syncs watchlist symbols between the mobile app and a client’s online account. For those keen on chart analysis, XTB stands out with 39 technical studies, compared to ActivTrades' 30, also allowing for drawing trendlines and saving these drawings automatically.
When it comes to user ratings and industry rankings, XTB's mobile app edges ahead with a rating of 4.5 stars out of five, compared to ActivTrades' four stars. This higher rating is mirrored by its ranking—8th out of 62 brokers on ForexBrokers.com for mobile trading apps, with ActivTrades positioned at 19th. Both brokers' apps allow traders to create watchlists with real-time quotes, enhancing the trading experience with timely updates and insights.
| Feature |
XTB
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 39 | 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.
In comparing XTB and ActivTrades for market research, both brokers offer daily market commentary and provide forex news sourced from top-tier outlets like Bloomberg and Reuters. They each deliver sentiment-based trading tools that show long and short positions across various instruments, ensuring traders can make informed decisions. Additionally, both XTB and ActivTrades include an economic calendar that tracks global news events, serving as a valuable resource for anticipating market movements.
However, neither broker utilizes technical analysis or fundamental research tools from companies like Autochartist or Trading Central, and both lack offerings from Acuity Trading's Signal Centre or market insights from TipRanks. Despite these shared limitations, XTB stands out with a higher research rating of 5 stars compared to ActivTrades' 4 stars, and it ranks 7th out of 62 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, while ActivTrades is positioned at 30th. This indicates a stronger overall research capability for XTB, making it a preferred choice for traders seeking comprehensive market insights.
| Feature |
XTB
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | 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 educational resources for beginners provided by XTB and ActivTrades, both platforms offer a wealth of content designed to help new traders understand forex and CFDs. XTB and ActivTrades each provide a minimum of 10 educational pieces, including articles, videos, and archived webinars, all focused on forex and CFDs. Moreover, both brokers hold regular online educational webinars every month and maintain searchable archives of past webinars, making it easy for beginners to access valuable learning material at their convenience.
Both XTB and ActivTrades exceed expectations by offering a wide range of video content tailored for both beginners and experienced traders. This includes at least 10 beginner-focused videos on trading topics. However, XTB holds a slight edge, receiving a 5-star rating for education compared to ActivTrades' 4-star rating. Additionally, XTB ranks 11th out of 62 brokers in the Education category on ForexBrokers.com, ahead of ActivTrades, which ranks 38th. Neither broker provides an investor dictionary, but XTB's higher educational ranking suggests it may offer slightly more comprehensive learning opportunities for new traders.
| Feature |
XTB
|
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 XTB is better than ActivTrades. XTB finished with an overall rank of #7, while ActivTrades finished with an overall rank of #33.
As a trusted multi-asset broker, XTB offers outstanding customer service, a wide variety of forex and CFDs, and an excellent overall trading experience. Its xStation 5 trading platform is well-designed and packed with innovative features, and XTB’s offers comprehensive educational content and market research.
| Feature |
XTB
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ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 96 | 81 |
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Both XTB and ActivTrades do not offer the ability to buy actual delivered cryptocurrency, but they both provide the option to trade cryptocurrency derivatives.
When comparing online brokers XTB and ActivTrades, both platforms provide fund transfer options via Skrill, Visa or Mastercard, and bank wires, yet only XTB supports PayPal transactions while neither offers ACH or SEPA transfers.
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 | XTB | ActivTrades | |
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| Trust Score | 96 | 81 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | XTB Review | ActivTrades Review |
| Broker Screenshots | XTB | ActivTrades | |
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| Regulation | XTB | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 96 | 81 | |
| Year Founded | 2002 | 2001 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 2 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 2 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | XTB | 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) | XTB | 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 | XTB | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 7184 | 1267 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 71 | 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 | XTB | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.00 | 0.98 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.00 | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | XTB | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | 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 | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | XTB | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | 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 | XTB | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 8 | 11 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 39 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 32 | 15 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | XTB | 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 | 39 | 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 | XTB | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | 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 | XTB | 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 | XTB | 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 | XTB Review | ActivTrades Review |
| Overall | XTB | ActivTrades | |
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| Trust Score | 96 | 81 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | XTB Review | ActivTrades Review |
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