Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of ActivTrades vs Xtrade, 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 2001, ActivTrades is a well-established online broker that brings a sense of security with its two Tier-1 licenses, which are highly trusted according to ForexBrokers.com. With an additional Tier-2 license, ActivTrades reinforces its credibility. The firm, not publicly traded and not a bank, holds a Trust Score of 81 out of 99, categorizing it as trusted by industry standards. This offers a reassuring level of credibility to those looking to entrust their money with a broker that has a solid regulatory foundation.
Set up in 2003, Xtrade carries a reputation bolstered by one Tier-1 license and another Tier-2 license, marking it as a broker with a respectable level of trust. Although also not publicly traded and not a bank, Xtrade holds a Trust Score of 74 out of 99, placing it in the average risk category. Clients seeking an option that balances reasonable trust with experience might find Xtrade appealing. Both brokers provide opportunities for investment, but ActivTrades edges forward slightly in terms of regulatory assurance and trust score.
| Feature |
ActivTrades
|
Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2001 | 2003 |
| 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 | 1 |
When comparing ActivTrades and Xtrade for their commissions and fees, ActivTrades generally stands out with its slightly better spreads compared to the industry average. Despite not reaching the competitive levels of the best low-cost forex brokers, ActivTrades offers a variety of account types, including an Individual Account, Professional Account, and an Islamic Account that adheres to Sharia compliance. Unlike some brokers, ActivTrades does not provide an account specifically for high-volume traders or tiered pricing for active traders. The spreads offered can vary based on the platform used and the specific assets traded, with an average spread of 0.98 pips for EUR/USD reported for May 2024.
In contrast, Xtrade does not provide detailed average spread data, making direct comparison a bit challenging. This lack of transparency might contribute to Xtrade's lower rating in the commissions and fees category. While both brokers offer varied trading environments, the fee structures at Xtrade might not be as favorable for those focusing on costs. It’s important for traders to consider spread variations, as with any broker, which can change during different trading sessions.
Overall, ActivTrades earns a commendable 4-star rating out of 5 for its commissions and fees, securing the #28 spot out of 62 brokers on ForexBrokers.com. On the other hand, Xtrade receives a rating of 2.5 stars, placing it at the bottom of the ranking in the same category at #62. This ranking emphasizes the broader cost-efficiency and pricing transparency offered by ActivTrades compared to Xtrade.
| Feature |
ActivTrades
|
Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | 0 | $250 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.98 | N/A |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | 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 considering the range of investments available with ActivTrades and Xtrade, it's clear that both platforms cater to forex traders by offering forex trading as CFDs. ActivTrades stands out with a wider selection, providing 1,267 tradeable symbols compared to Xtrade's 482. However, Xtrade takes the lead in tradeable forex pairs, offering 56 options, exceeding ActivTrades which offers 49 pairs. Neither broker allows the purchase of U.S. exchange-traded securities like Apple shares, but ActivTrades offers access to some international markets for exchange-traded securities, a feature not available with Xtrade.
For those interested in copy trading, ActivTrades rises above Xtrade, which does not support this feature. Both brokers provide the option to trade cryptocurrency derivatives, yet neither offers direct purchase of cryptocurrencies. In terms of rating, ActivTrades scores 4 stars for its range of investments, with a stronger position in the ForexBrokers.com rankings at 31st out of 62 brokers, while Xtrade follows with 3.5 stars, ranked 49th. This comparison highlights ActivTrades as the more versatile platform for those seeking a broad array of investment opportunities.
| Feature |
ActivTrades
|
Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1267 | 482 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 49 | 56 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | No |
| 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 ActivTrades and Xtrade, both brokers cater to a range of trading preferences but diverge in specific offerings. ActivTrades stands out with its proprietary platform, accompanied by support for widely recognized MetaTrader 4 and 5, providing versatility to traders. Additionally, ActivTrades offers a Windows-based desktop platform and a web-based option, as well as enhanced features like copy trading and the ability to trade directly from a chart. In contrast, Xtrade, also with a proprietary web-based platform, lacks MetaTrader support as well as a desktop application and copy trading features, potentially limiting its appeal to traders seeking those functionalities.
While both brokers provide a virtual demo account for simulated trading, their tools for charting and watch lists differ. ActivTrades supplies 15 drawing tools and 11 watch list fields, whereas Xtrade offers 100 drawing tools but only 9 watch list fields. Both allow trading directly from charts, adding convenience. Rated at 4 stars compared to Xtrade's 3.5 stars in Trading Platforms and Tools, ActivTrades is ranked 30th out of 62 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, while Xtrade is positioned at 58th. This suggests a more refined experience with ActivTrades for users prioritizing diverse platform capabilities and comprehensive toolsets.
| Feature |
ActivTrades
|
Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | No |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | No |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | No |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | N/A |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 15 | 100 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 11 | 9 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Both ActivTrades and Xtrade offer trading apps for iPhone and Android devices, allowing you to trade on the go. However, there are significant differences in their features. ActivTrades provides stock or forex price alerts directly on their app, a feature not available with Xtrade. While both platforms lack watchlist symbol syncing between the mobile app and online accounts, ActivTrades excels in charting tools. It offers 30 technical studies and the ability to draw trendlines, view various time frames like daily or weekly, and auto-saves your chart drawings. Xtrade, on the other hand, doesn’t support these advanced charting functionalities.
When it comes to watchlists, ActivTrades enables you to create one with real-time quotes directly in their app, offering traders a timely edge. Xtrade does not have this capability. Despite these differences, both apps have been rated 4 out of 5 stars for their overall mobile trading experience. In terms of ranking by ForexBrokers.com, ActivTrades stands out with a considerably better position at #19 out of 62 brokers, while Xtrade lags behind at #53. This suggests that if mobile app features are a priority, ActivTrades might be the better choice, especially for traders who rely heavily on technical analysis and real-time data.
| Feature |
ActivTrades
|
Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | No |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | N/A |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | No |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When it comes to market research offerings, both ActivTrades and Xtrade provide daily market commentary and deliver forex news from respected sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones. Despite these similarities, ActivTrades extends an edge with its sentiment-based trading tool that offers insights into the ratio of long or short positions across various instruments. In contrast, Xtrade does not feature this tool, potentially making ActivTrades a more insightful choice for traders interested in market sentiment data.
On the other hand, neither broker offers technical analysis tools from Autochartist or Trading Central, nor do they provide research tools from Acuity Trading or TipRanks. However, both ActivTrades and Xtrade include an economic calendar to keep traders updated on global news events. When ranked for research, ActivTrades receives a commendable 4-star rating and holds the 30th position out of 62 brokers on ForexBrokers.com. Meanwhile, Xtrade is rated 3.5 stars and sits at the 52nd rank in the same category, reflecting ActivTrades' slight advantage in research capabilities.
| Feature |
ActivTrades
|
Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | No |
| 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 between ActivTrades and Xtrade, both online brokers provide a solid foundation in forex and CFDs education, offering more than ten educational pieces such as articles and videos. However, ActivTrades shines in its commitment to ongoing learning, offering monthly online webinars and a convenient archive of past sessions, making it easier for traders to revisit and reinforce their knowledge. Moreover, ActivTrades caters to both beginners and advanced traders with more than ten videos tailored to each experience level. In contrast, Xtrade falls short in these areas, providing neither webinars nor advanced videos specifically aimed at more experienced traders, although it compensates slightly with an investor dictionary comprising over 50 terms.
Overall, ActivTrades edges ahead in educational support, earning a higher four-star rating for education compared to Xtrade's 3.5 stars. Within the broader industry context, both brokers rank in the middle range for education out of 62 reviewed brokers, with ActivTrades holding the 38th position and Xtrade following at 46th. This suggests that while both brokers offer essential learning resources, prospective traders looking for comprehensive and accessible learning options may find ActivTrades a more suitable choice for advancing their trading skills.
| Feature |
ActivTrades
|
Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| 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 Xtrade. ActivTrades finished with an overall rank of #33, while Xtrade finished with an overall rank of #59.
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
|
Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 81 | 74 |
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While both ActivTrades and Xtrade do not provide the option to purchase actual delivered cryptocurrency, they each offer the capability to buy cryptocurrency derivatives.
Both ActivTrades and Xtrade provide similar options for depositing or withdrawing account funds; neither offers ACH, SEPA, or PayPal transfers, but both support Skrill, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wire 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 | Xtrade | |
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| Trust Score | 81 | 74 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | ActivTrades Review | Xtrade Review |
| Broker Screenshots | ActivTrades | Xtrade | |
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| Research Gallery (click to expand) | |||
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| Regulation | ActivTrades | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 81 | 74 | |
| Year Founded | 2001 | 2003 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | No | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | ActivTrades | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | No | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | No | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | No | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | ActivTrades | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1267 | 482 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 49 | 56 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | No | |
| 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 | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.98 | N/A | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | ActivTrades | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | 0 | $250 | |
| 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 | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | No | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | No | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | No | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | ActivTrades | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | No | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 11 | 9 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | N/A | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 15 | 100 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | No |
| Mobile Trading | ActivTrades | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | No | |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | N/A | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | No |
| Research | ActivTrades | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | ActivTrades | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | No | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | ActivTrades | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Xtrade Review |
| Overall | ActivTrades | Xtrade | |
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| Trust Score | 81 | 74 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | ActivTrades Review | Xtrade Review |
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