ActivTrades Review 2025

Pros

• ActivTrades provides narrow spreads, starting at 0.5 pips for major forex pairs, with no extra commissions. The €/£10 inactivity fee applies only after 52 weeks, so active traders are not affected.
• ActivTrades offers quick, reliable, and multilingual support through live chat, email, and phone, making it ideal for both experienced and new traders.
• Though cTrader isn’t available, MT4, MT5, TradingView, and the broker’s ActivTrader meet various trading needs. The firm's web platform is effective for beginners, offering a smooth user experience.
• ActivTrades is highly trusted with over 20 years in the industry. It is authorized by three 'green tier' bodies under DayTrading.com's Regulation & Trust Rating. For UK traders, it offers £1M in investor compensation, exceeding the £85K provided by the FSCS, in case of broker insolvency.
• ActivTrades provides an ideal setting for fast-paced strategies, such as trading, with execution speeds averaging 4ms, a 93.6% order fulfillment rate, and no limits on short-term strategies.

Cons

• There are no copy or social trading features, which is a downside for traders looking for passive investment options or to follow trades by experienced traders, especially compared to eToro and Vantage.
• The research tools are decent, featuring a growing 'Analysis' hub. However, they lack advanced technical resources like Trading Central or Autochartist to help traders identify opportunities in fast-paced markets.
• BlackBull provides access to over 26,000 markets, surpassing the varied selection of 1,000+ markets like forex, commodities, indices, and ETFs. The overall range of asset classes is limited, with no stocks available outside the US, UK, and Europe.
• ActivTrades could improve its educational offerings to compete with firms like XTB and CMC Markets. While it provides well-presented webinars, it lacks a variety of courses and quizzes for a more comprehensive and engaging learning experience.

Regulation & Trust

ActivTrades has a strong regulatory framework.

It is licensed and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in the UK, the Portuguese Securities Market Commission (CMVM) and the Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier (CSSF) in Luxembourg.

Knowing that the FCA regulates the UK entity gives me peace of mind because my funds are safe, and I’m protected from going into a negative balance.

As a UK client, I also have the added benefit of an enhanced insurance policy that covers up to £1 million, which is a huge plus if you trade high volumes.

One downside is that ActivTrades is privately owned, unlike listed companies like Plus500 and IG.

This means it doesn’t disclose any company financial information, which can make things feel less transparent.

Accounts & Banking

Trading Accounts

ActivTrades offers four main account types, each catering to different trading needs.

I started with the Individual account, which is excellent for most traders. It offers competitive spreads starting from 0.5 pips and access to a wide range of markets.

Plus, having leverage capped at 1:30 for forex and protections like negative balance protection and segregated accounts gave me confidence while trading.

For more experienced traders, the Professional account is tempting if you meet the trading volume or portfolio size requirements.

The higher leverage up to 1:400, reduced stop-out level, and a dedicated account manager make it appealing if you’re serious about trading.

If you need an account that aligns with Islamic finance principles, the Islamic account is swap-free. It provides access to markets while ensuring fees are adjusted fairly without any interest involved.

There’s also a Spread Betting account for UK traders, which lets you bet on price movements without actually owning the assets. The best part? Any profits are tax-free in the UK as there is no capital gains tax or stamp duty, which is a big win.

Opening an account with ActivTrades was straightforward, but adding social login options would make the process smoother. Also, having two-factor authentication (2FA) would make me feel more secure when accessing my account.

Demo Accounts

ActivTrades offers demo accounts for CFD trading and spread betting, which is an ideal way to practice without risking any real money.

Setting up my demo account was surprisingly quick and only took a few minutes.

Once I was in, I had £10,000 in virtual funds to trade under actual market conditions, which made the experience feel authentic.

I also appreciate the option to choose different leverage ratios, which helped me see firsthand how market movements can impact my trades.

For traders with little experience, this safe environment to test strategies and learn the platforms is invaluable.

Deposits & Withdrawals

Deposits and withdrawals are quick, convenient, and generally low-cost, though they are more limited than other brokers.

ActivTrades supports multiple currencies, including EUR, GBP, USD, and CHF. This is more flexible than platforms like eToro, which only deals in GBP or USD.

The process itself has always been straightforward. When I use a wire transfer, it takes a few days for the funds to reflect, but my debit card transactions are instant, which is convenient.

I have also tried using Skrill and Neteller, and both e-wallets made deposits immediate and withdrawals faster than bank transfers – definitely handy when I need quicker access to my funds.

Due to UK FCA regulations, crypto deposits and withdrawals aren’t allowed, which might be a drawback if you’re used to fund your account with cryptocurrencies.

Deposits are free, but I have come across small fees with certain withdrawal methods, especially some bank transfers.

Sticking to my debit card has been the easiest way for me to keep costs low while moving my money in and out.

Assets & Markets

ActivTrades offers a wide range of trading assets across global markets.

I’ve traded popular currency pairs like EUR/USD, but I can also access more exotic pairs like USD/CNH when I want to experiment.

Commodities are another area I’ve explored – gold, silver, and oil are all available, giving you plenty of ways to diversify your portfolio.

There’s also access to 19 global indices, including big names like the FTSE 100 and S&P 500, which has been an excellent way to follow market trends and take positions accordingly.

What’s great, though, is the nearly 1,000 stock CFDs available. Trading shares from giants like BP, Airbus, and Meta, spanning the US, UK, and European markets, keeps things interesting and allows you to take advantage of global opportunities.

ActivTrades also offers bonds and ETFs, which aren’t always available with other brokers we’ve tested.

While ActivTrades works well for me, it’s essential to consider your needs.

For example, if you’re big on cryptocurrencies, Eightcap might be worth checking out since it offers a broader range of digital assets.

If forex is your primary focus, CMC Markets has over 300 FX pairs, which is impressive.

BlackBull Markets offers access to more than 26,000 instruments for sheer variety, making it a good fit for traders who want a wide range of options.

Fees & Costs

One thing I really like about trading with ActivTrades is its competitive fees, especially for forex and indices.

The spread includes all the costs, which makes it easy to know exactly what you’re paying.

For EUR/USD, the spread ideally aims for around 0.5 pips, though during our tests, it usually stays closer to 1.0 pip, which is still reasonable.

Spreads on commodities and ETFs are fair, typically around 1.5 pips.

Depositing funds has been hassle-free , especially since there are no fees when using debit card or e-wallets.

Just a heads-up, though – if you use bank transfers, there might be a fee, so I tend to avoid that when possible.

Another thing to remember is the 0.3% currency conversion fee, which kicks in when your profits or losses are converted from non-base currencies.

It’s not a huge amount, but I always factor it in when trading in different markets.

Also, if you plan to stay active, you’re in the clear. But if your account has been inactive for more than 52 weeks with a positive balance, ActivTrades charges a €/£10 monthly inactivity fee.

I trade regularly, so I haven’t encountered this issue, but it’s worth noting if you ever take a long break from trading.

Some top brokers we’ve evaluated, like Interactive Brokers, do not charge an inactivity fee.

Platforms & Tools

I’ve used all four of ActivTrades’ leading platforms, and each one offers something different depending on your trading style.

While there’s no support for cTrader, which might be a dealbreaker for traders who rely on it, I’ve found plenty of value in the other platforms.

ActivTrader is unique to ActivTrades, and I enjoy using it. The Web-based interface is clean and user-friendly, and it has 16 chart types and nine timeframes to work with.

It offers over 100 technical indicators, market sentiment data, one-click trading, position tracking, and trailing stop features.

However, I miss the screeners and social elements in standalone apps like TradingView, so it’s better for more casual traders who don’t need all those extras.

ActivTrader is an intuitive Web-based platform with seamless mobile access

MT4 has been a go-to for many traders for years, and I get why. Its strong community support and automated trading features are top-notch.

I’ve used the Expert Advisors (EAs) to automate my strategies, and the various indicators and technical analysis tools make it robust. The familiarity of MT4 is also a big plus for many traders.

MT5 is a nice step up for those looking for more advanced features. I’ve found it especially useful for extra order types, the detailed economic calendar, and deeper market insights.

It also supports more asset classes and has better data feeds, which makes it feel like a natural upgrade from MT4.

Lastly, TradingView is my favorite platform for its comprehensive technical analysis tools. It has hundreds of indicators and advanced charts, and the best part is that I can execute trades directly through ActivTrades while using TradingView’s tools.

All the platforms have mobile apps, meaning you can trade and manage my accounts wherever you are.

Research

The broker’s ‘Analysis‘ section is the main source of research and provides regular reports on market trends, news, and economic events.

It breaks down complex financial data into easy-to-understand insights. This makes it much simpler to grasp market movements and make more informed decisions.

ActivTrades’ market analysis provides timely news and trading insights

The economic calendar is really useful. It highlights key events like central bank meetings and employment reports, which helps you stay on top of important happenings that could affect market volatility.

I also use the resources provided by Trading Central, which offers technical analysis and insights that help you easily spot potential trading opportunities. Meanwhile, MarketBuzz keeps you updated with breaking news and real-time market analysis.

Education

ActivTrades does a great job with its webinars to help new traders rather than relying on written content.

I’ve attended several webinars on everything from trading basics to more advanced technical analysis, and I’ve found them engaging and informative.

The sessions are led by seasoned traders, making the learning process interactive and hands-on.

ActivTrades’ educational videos cover everything from beginner basics to advanced strategies

If you miss a live session, you can always catch up by watching past webinars on its YouTube channel, which is convenient.

Unlike other brokers, ActivTrades doesn’t offer beginner courses or a glossary to help explain trading jargon. The best you get are basic FAQs.

It would be great if ActivTrades took a cue from top brokers like CMC Markets and XTB, who provide comprehensive educational content that helps new traders develop key skills in trading, risk management, and market analysis.

Customer Support

I really appreciate how responsive ActivTrade’s customer support is.

Whenever I’ve had questions or run into issues, I’ve been able to reach out through live chat, email, or phone. Even the chat widget has been helpful for quick answers.

For me, live chat has been the go-to option. It’s on the dashboard and platform, and I usually get connected to an agent within minutes.

Every time I’ve used it, the agents have been knowledgeable and quick to help me sort out any trading issues.

When I’ve emailed, it has taken a bit longer to get a response, but the replies have always been thorough. Support also follows up to ensure everything is resolved, which I value.

I’ve called phone support a couple of times when I needed urgent help, and I like that there is multilingual assistance. The callback service was also handy when I couldn’t wait on hold.

While I wish there were a more detailed FAQ section, but the live chat widget covers many essential topics, like deposits and withdrawals, so I’ve often found what I need without contacting support.

Should You Trade With ActivTrades?

ActivTrades offers a low-cost, hassle-free experience that suits both beginners and experienced traders.

I appreciate how easy it is to get comfortable with the ActivTrader platform. It’s user-friendly and didn’t overwhelm like some other platforms we’ve evaluated.

Plus, the educational webinars help you build skills, and whenever you need help, the customer support team are always there.

Whether you’re just starting out or already deep into trading, ActivTrades offers the tools and support to make the experience smooth and rewarding.

Article Sources

• ActivTrades Website
• ActiveTrades YouTube Channel
• ActiveTrades Analysis
• ActiveTrades Webinars
• ActiveTrades Economic Calendar
• ActiveTrades FAQs
• Activtrades Plc – FCA License
• Activtrades – CMVM License
• Activtrades – CSSF License

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