IC Markets vs ActivTrades Which broker is better in year ?

While some of its spreads are very competitive, its commodity spreads were quite elevated during my test. I assessed that ActivTrades’ fees generally sit in the medium range. The fee is charged monthly until account activity resumes or the balance drops to zero. Deposits and withdrawals with ActivTrades are free of charge, though third-party processing fees may apply. I tested ActivTrades’ spreads on 9 May 2025 during the London open and New York open. ActivTrades doesn’t charge commissions, but its spreads vary across instruments.

• This process is performed exclusively by authorised and regulated liquidity providers.
• One downside is the broker’s “€10 inactivity fee”, which kicks in after 18 months of no trade on an account.
• ActivTrades provides a wide range of services for traders of all skill levels.
• Users on ForexFactory and TradingView value platform stability.
• Between 74-89% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs, forex, and spread betting.

No, ActivTrades is a registered broker with a positive reputation and negative balance protection, making it unlikely to be a fraud. ActivTrades complements these offices with 24/5 global customer service via phone, email, and live chat, available in multiple languages to meet the needs of traders worldwide. ActivTrades maintains a strong international presence with local offices that provide dedicated customer support in multiple regions. However, some users on ForexPeaceArmy mention concerns with account terminations under the 🇧🇸 Bahamas entity. Users on ForexFactory and TradingView value platform stability. Employees generally view ActivTrades as a supportive workplace with good benefits and learning opportunities.

How to Get Started with ActivTrades Broker

Both brokers maintain a balanced asset selection, where ActivTrades lists 1,000+ assets versus 2,000+ at IC Markets, where the depth of the equity selection remains the primary difference. Its superb technology infrastructure makes ActivTrades an ideal choice for demanding, algorithmic traders. Beginner traders can schedule one-on-one training sessions and supplement their education via interactive webinars and videos.

Features and Platforms

Independent Investor is a news and educational portal covering latest events in the world of trading and investment. However, activtrades review some people may find that the lack of copy trading and the inactivity fines are deal-breakers. There is no set minimum deposit for most regions, making it accessible for all traders.

Is ActivTrades an ECN?

The Trading Central package includes an intuitive economic calendar, the Market Buzz feature, and actionable trading signals. ActivTrades’ in-house research includes daily, weekly, and macro breakdowns of market trends. ActivTrades’ market research is both wide and diverse, combining daily, weekly, and macro breakdowns developed in-house with Trading Central content. Essentially, the broker lends the trader money so that they can open bigger positions.

An index is a basket of trading instruments that is used to gauge a market sector, stocks within an exchange or the economy of a country. Independent Investor offers an unbiased and independent broker comparison service, but we may receive compensation from the listed brokers. Yes, a £10 per month inactivity fee applies after one year of no trading, but only if the account has a balance.

The broker has also developed a versatile mobile app for trading on the go. ActivTrades offers its flagship web platform alongside the seamless TradingView and the popular MT4 and MT5. My research indicates that ActivTrades offers low spreads on share CFDs and EURUSD, average-to-high spreads on indices, and high spreads on Gold, Crude Oil, and GBPJPY. While EUR/USD and share CFD spreads are highly competitive, the broker charges relatively high spreads on popular commodities. In our Trust category assessments, we evaluate factors tied to stability and transparency, including the broker’s longevity, company size, and information transparency.

ActivTrades additionally offers all clients $1,000,000 in third-party liability insurance protection. Minimum Forex trading costs at ActivTrades are lower than IC Markets, but average fees are higher, even with the volume-based rebate program at ActivTrades. IC Markets supports demanding algorithmic traders via three third-party VPS hostings. ActivTrades offers API trading for advanced algorithmic trading solutions and maintains a dedicated institutional division. We have conducted an in-depth review of ActivTrades and IC Markets to determine which presents the better overall choice and which traders will benefit the most at either broker. MT5 and cTrader are also available, fully supporting algorithmic and copy trading.

ActivTrades Trading Fees

London-based ActivTrades was established in 2001 and is regulated across multiple jurisdictions. ActivTrades’ hour-long webinars are available in 7 languages, including English, German, French, and Chinese. They cover topics pertaining to technical analysis, fundamental analysis, and risk management. These present a 360-degree view of current trading setups and utilize both technical and fundamental analysis.

This could be a problem for those who do not trade very often or who take long breaks from the markets. One downside is the broker’s “€10 inactivity fee”, which kicks in after 18 months of no trade on an account. ActivTrades offers an account type to meet the needs of each trader, from beginners just starting to seasoned experts in need of additional leverage and features. Customer service, education, and platform features have all garnered accolades for the broker.

Features of ActivTrades Broker

In addition to this, the MetaTrader platform also offers robust user security features with an additional authentication option at login or sign up. These usually offer bank accounts in several currencies with great currency exchange rates, as well as free or cheap international bank transfers. A convenient way to save on currency conversion fees is by opening a multi-currency bank account at a digital bank. Typically you won’t be able to find high leverage from regulated brokers, so you would need a broker with offshore capability like Hugoswayor IC Marketsto do this. We found that the spreads are in general tight, keeping costs low for active traders.

How does ActivTrades protect client funds?

The ActivTrades platform is a powerful and user-friendly solution for beginner, intermediate, and advanced traders alike. I appreciated the integration of market research directly on the platform, as shown below. ActivTrader is available on Windows and Mac and supports 13 languages, including English, French, Spanish, German, Arabic, Chinese, and more.

Typical Spreads and Fees

Accounts can be denominated in USD, GBP, EUR, or CHF, and mobile trading is available. The product range includes stocks, indices, commodities, CFDs, and forex, with four currency pairs available. His expertise is swing trading and day trading with a heavy emphasis on psychological and fundamental analysis. Having been a retail trader since 2013, Plamen has gained an in-depth understanding of the challenges that novice traders face today. I consider ActivTrades is an excellent choice for day traders of all experience levels, and a solid option for those looking to engage in spread betting.

This leverage allows traders to make larger trades with smaller amounts of capital. Over the years, it has built a reputation for being transparent, trustworthy, and providing robust trading conditions. The company was established in 2001 and quickly became recognized for its ability to offer a broad range of financial products. The broker is known for its commitment to high-quality service and advanced technology.

The broker ensures segregation of client funds and provides negative balance protection. However, ActivTrades does not provide free Virtual Private Server (VPS) hosting for low-latency trading. ActivTrades claims to achieve an average order execution speed of 4 milliseconds, significantly outperforming the industry average of 60 milliseconds. Live testing demonstrated that ActivTrades’ swaps are average to high compared to the industry benchmark, which is not ideal for overnight trading.

• This leverage allows traders to make larger trades with smaller amounts of capital.
• IC Markets established itself as an industry-leading broker offering one of the most competitive MT4 environments.
• While we do our utmost to ensure that all our data is up-to-date, we encourage you to verify our information with the broker directly.
• Beginner traders can schedule one-on-one training sessions and supplement their education via interactive webinars and videos.
• Overall, many traders worldwide choose AdroFX Broker to begin their journey in online trading due to its low fees, range of assets, and accessible platform.

ActivTrades Review 2025

Since its establishment in 2001, ActivTrades has successfully navigated the trading industry. In our reviews, we examine the licenses and regulations of each entity operated by a broker, allowing us to compare their different levels of protection. We strongly advise conducting thorough due diligence or consulting with our support team before proceeding. It also demonstrates a strong commitment to transparency and has issued private indemnity insurance to further protect its clients.

ActivTrades stands out as a reliable, multi-regulated broker with a future-focused vision. ActivTrades is a trustworthy, UK-based brokerage firm that specializes in online Forex trading. ActivTrades also has strong customer service and educational materials, making it a suitable broker for new traders. The size of your financial instrument portfolio, including cash deposits and financial assets, must exceed 500,000 EUR. While there are plenty of similar brokers or investment companies like ActivTrades, very few brokers are regulated and licensed under a leading regulatory authority. Most brokers offer a bunch of security features for the protection of clients’ information and their money.