ActivTrades review

Selecting the right broker is one of the most critical decisions any trader can make. This ActivTrades review will provide a comprehensive analysis, diving into this broker’s features, fees, trading platforms, and overall performance.

We’ll help you understand the strengths and weaknesses to answer the question that you ask every time you come across a new platform: Is it legit and worth my trust? 

Stay with us as we unravel everything ActivTrades has to offer. 

TL;DR

• ActivTrades is a multi-regulated broker offering a range of trading platforms and assets. 
• Strengths include fast execution speeds, custom MetaTrader add-ons, and additional insurance of up to $1 million. 
• Weaknesses include limited asset range, inconsistent customer support, and some fees. 
• Suitable for both beginners and experienced traders, particularly those interested in forex and CFD trading
• Overall rating: 4/5 based on our comprehensive evaluation 

Criteria Breakdown

Ae preset criteria is critical to see how a trading broker actually compares to others. This checklist will break down the features and what you should look out for before choosing ActivTrades. 

ActivTrades: What It’s Best Known For

A Multi-Regulated Powerhouse in the Trading World

ActivTrades is a well-rounded UK-based broker that allows for forex trading, CFD trading, and spread betting. It has a long and solid history, as it has been successfully operating since 2001, mainly serving European clients. However, it managed to expand into other markets, serving clients in Asia, Africa, South America, and the Middle East. 

This broker is governed by top-tier regulatory bodies, but it has taken matters a bit further with indemnity insurance of up to $1 million from Lloyd’s of London. As a result, many traders and investors consider it to be extremely safe and secure. 

Since trading tools are everything, ActivTrades provides its clients with MetaTrader4 and 5 with all the necessary tools needed to place and execute their orders at the best prices. Additionally, the native ActivTrader app offers more benefits. 

It’s one of the fastest brokers, with execution speed sometimes under 0.004 seconds and low trading fees that encourage every trader to give this platform a try. 

Features

Brokers and trading platforms work in the same fashion, more or less. However, there are a few features that set each one apart. In this section, I will highlight the features that make ActivTrades the trusted choice of many investors across the globe. 

Progressive Trailing Stop

ActivTrades allows investors to lock in profits, maximizing their earnings without limiting their flexibility. Although some other brokers provide standard trailing stops, ActivTrades’ dynamic and progressive trailing stops adjust according to the market conditions. 

As a result, your safety net changes to better reflect the trading environment with every order you place. This way, you can stay in the market longer without worrying about losing your investment. 

Custom MetaTrader Add-Ons

As a trader, you probably understand the importance of using a tool like MT4 and MT5. ActivTrades offers TradingView and the full MetaTrader suite to provide you with all the tools needed to place and execute your orders in a highly competitive market for the best trading opportunities. 

But that’s not all. ActivTrades offers several custom add-ons to make your life easier with more insight and control while trading. These include the SmartOrder tool, SmartTemplate and Pivot Points Indicators, and SmartPattern and Smartlines tools.

These additions enhance your charting tools, provide advanced risk management options, and offer in-depth market analysis. 

ActivTrader Platform

Because ActivTrades understands the importance and significance of a reliable trading platform, the company developed its own trading platform, ActivTrader. 

It’s a secure and scalable platform built on an IBM Cloud for low-latency access to different financial markets. Thanks to this trading platform, more than 93% of the orders are executed at the requested price with an average time of less than 0.004 seconds. 

Plus, clients love how customizable it can be, allowing traders to personalize their trading spaces and optimize their trading environments to better align with their investment goals. ActivTrader is available as a demo, so you can try it before switching from MT4 or MT5. 

Range of Tradable Assets

It’s always a positive point if you can find a broker to help you diversify your portfolio with access to different assets and financial tools. ActivTrades offers over 1,000 assets divided into seven categories. 

Whether you’re into forex, shares, indices, cryptocurrencies, ETFs, commodities, or bonds, you’ll find what you need on ActivTrades. Hundreds of trading transactions start with spreads from 0.5 pips and no requotes. These low trading fees make this platform one of the best choices for beginner investors and those on a tight budget. 

Pros 

After talking about the features of ActivTrades, it’s time to highlight what makes it unique. Here are some of the platform’s advantages.

Solid Regulatory Oversight 

This is probably every investor and trader’s number one concern—is my money safe?

The following top-tier regulators oversee and regulate ActivTrades in several jurisdictions. 

• FCA or Financial Conduct Authority in the UK. 
• SCB or Securities Commission of The Bahamas in The Bahamas. 
• BACEN or Banco Central do Brasil in Brazil. 
• CVM or Comissão de Valores Mobiliários in Brazil. 
• CMVM or Comissão do Mercado de Valores Mobiliários in Portugal. 

In addition to all these regulatory bodies, traders are protected from negative balances and offered indemnity insurance up to $1 million from Lloyd’s of London. In some cases, ActivTrades can offer an additional $1 million to cover certain losses on all client funds that exceed $10,000. 

ActivTrades keeps investment funds separate from company capital with reputable financial institutions. PwC also regularly audits the company and is MiFID compliant to secure operations in European markets. 

Fast Execution Speeds 

According to ActivTrades, orders are executed at an average of less than 0.004 seconds. This can help you minimize slippage which happens when the price at which your trade is executed differs from the price you intended. 

The quicker the trade is processed, the more likely you’ll get the expected price. This high speed also allows you to capitalize on price movements to maximize your profit and capture brief windows of opportunity. 

If you’re interested in strategies like high-frequency trading, fast execution becomes critical. Delays can severely impact your profitability, as a small lag can lead to missed opportunities or unfavorable prices.

Finally, this fast execution speed enhances risk management by ensuring that stop-loss orders and other protective measures are triggered promptly. Moreover, you’ll have more control over your trades, which eventually increases your confidence and allows you to improve your trading skills. 

Innovative Trading Tools

ActivTrades offers MetaTrader4 and MetaTrader5 with all their charting and analytic tools to help traders place and execute successful orders. But, many other brokers and trading platforms offer these tools. So, what makes ActivTrades special?

This broker incorporates TradingView for a comprehensive analysis of the market to allow you to better understand the trading environment and adjust your strategy accordingly. 

Moreover, it offers several add-ons, exclusive to ActivTrades’ clients for more order types to better reflect the changing market conditions. Price indicators and other smart charting tools provide reliable insight for better-informed decisions in a highly competitive market. 

Multiple Account Types

With ActivTrades, you have access to Professional or Individual account types. Individual accounts are better for day traders, with leverage up to 1:200 if you operate under the SCB. This account type offers access to different tradable assets with spreads from 0.5 pips. 

Professional accounts work best for expert traders, with leverage up to 1:400 and a close-out level of up to 30%. With this account, you’ll have a dedicated account manager and you can access the exclusive cashback program. ActivTrades states that more than 93% of orders placed are executed at the requested price, isn’t this impressive?

But you’ll have to apply for a Pro account, and a representative will study your application to see if you’re eligible for one. 

There’s no minimum deposit required unless you’re based in China or Brazil. In this case, you’ll have to pay a minimum of $500. Demo accounts are also available for free, allowing you to practice your trading skills until you’re confident enough to use real money. 

Moreover, ActivTrades offers swap-free accounts for those who want to trade according to Islamic laws. These accounts don’t charge interest or rollover commission, without affecting your experience as a trader. 

Competitive Spreads 

Thanks to the competitive spreads, the cost of entering and exiting the market is lower when you choose ActivTrades as your broker. Such competitive spreads lower the trading costs, encouraging those with limited capital to enter the market without worrying about their funds being depleted. Moreover, they enable traders to capture more profits from price movements. 

Additionally, brokers who offer competitive spreads like ActivTrades are suitable for those interested in increased market liquidity and short-term trading. Seasoned traders aren’t left ignored, as they can also reduce their costs over time. So, if these sound like your investment goals, you know ActivTrades has you covered. 

Cons  

Despite many good features, there are a few points to consider before choosing ActivTrades. 

Limited Asset Range

Let’s get this clear—ActivTrades does offer a good range of tradable assets and financial instruments. However, it’s less diverse than what other top brokers offer. 

If you’re using MT5 or ActivTrader, you’ll have access to more than 1,000 assets, with a smaller selection available to MT4 users. So, what does this mean for you as a broker?

Since this is a global platform, more traders would be interested in diversifying their portfolios to limit their risk. This is not always accessible in ActivTrades. So, it’s more of a point for improvement rather than a disadvantage in my opinion. 

Commissions and Fees

All fees are built into spreads, so they differ according to what you’re trading. But there’s no commission charged. As a result, some traders might get confused about how much they’ll have to pay. For example, the EUR/USD spread has a fee of 0.9 pip but goes up to 1.5 with EUR/CHF. 

Professional accounts have a lower margin requirement than individual accounts. But, the commission you pay will depend mainly on the type of assets you’re trading and the volume of your trades. CFD fees are slightly above the market average. 

Although ActivTrades doesn’t charge a withdrawal fee, it charges some conversion currency fees. This depends on the market prices, so some investors might be unsure of what they’ll eventually have to pay. 

Mixed Customer Support Reviews 

When trading, having a reliable customer support department to answer all your queries and help you in emergencies is everything. Unfortunately, many traders had mixed reviews regarding how ActivTrades supports its clients. 

Support is available 24/5, which means that you won’t get the help you need on the weekends. Waiting a few days to get a response could mark your end as a trader. Moreover, some clients reported receiving inconsistent help that left them confused after reaching a representative. 

Educational Resources Could Be Better Organized  

ActivTrades offers good educational resources, including articles, videos, and webinars. However, these articles are a bit disorganized and could use some refresh. 

Moreover, there are no interactive courses to help teach beginner traders how to navigate the trading world. 

Criteria Evaluation

It’s time to break down our evaluation criteria to give an honest opinion of how ActivTrades performs. 

Regulation and Trust: 4.5/5 

ActivTrades is regulated by top-tier bodies in various jurisdictions. Knowing that your money is safe guarantees your peace of mind, as it offers protection against negative balances and special insurance to cover all your losses at no additional cost. 

Moreover, clients’ funds are separate from the company’s capital and everything is audited regularly to eliminate the risk of fraud.

Trading Platforms: 4/5

In addition to the industry standard MT4 and MT5 platforms, ActivTrades takes things up a notch by incorporating TradingView, which provides in-depth analysis of the market and tons of data to help you make better decisions as a trader. 

Moreover, there are unique add-ons to allow you to adapt to changing market conditions with advanced charting and order options. 

ActivTrader is the broker’s in-house trading platform, designed specifically to meet the needs of clients. It offers more complex order types and grants access to trailing stops and hedging transactions in a smooth and user-friendly experience. 

Traders also have access to a user-friendly mobile platform that allows them to trade on the go. It’s easy to use and provides access to all the website features. 

Financial Instruments: 3.5/5  

ActivTrades offers a rather satisfactory selection of tradable assets. With over 1,000 assets, traders can build a diversified portfolio. However, compared to other top-rated multi-asset brokers, this selection is a bit limited. 

High-volume traders interested in the Professional account might find themselves better off with another broker that offers a more comprehensive asset selection.

Fees and Commissions: 4/5

Let’s start with the good. ActivTrades doesn’t charge an inactivity fee if you don’t use your account for a while. This is great news for those who like to take trading breaks. Moreover, there’s no withdrawal or deposit commission, although currency conversion rates apply. 

CFD trading fees aren’t extremely high, but they’re higher than the industry average. The platform doesn’t charge a commission, but the fees are included in the spreads, so they highly depend on the assets you’re trading. 

Some investors prefer to have a standard flat fee charged, regardless of their trading volume. If you’re one of them, you know ActivTrades might disappoint you. 

Customer Support: 3.5/5 

This is another area of improvement for ActivTrades, as many clients were disappointed that they could only gain access to live chat support 24/5. However, you can send an email or request a callback, and they promise to get back to you as soon as possible. This can take a few days. 

Is it the best customer support? No. Can you handle an emergency yourself? Unfortunately, yes. 

Community Reviews and Expert Recommendations

Now, let’s put my opinion aside. It’s always a good idea to know what the trading community has to say about any broker. So, is ActivTrades trustworthy?

Many users praised ActivTrades’ user-friendly interface and easy payment methods. One TrustPilot user said,” ActivTrades have different payment methods ranging from bank wire transfer, card method, Electronic wallets and lots more. This payment method works for both deposits and withdrawals and makes the trading experience of the beginner very smooth.”

Another user raved about the personalized help they received from their dedicated account manager on Forex Peace Army,” All my trades I make ONLY with the help of my expert advisor. Analyzing its log files, I can easily evaluate how accurately orders are executed and with what spread trades are closed. And I am quite satisfied with these indicators.”

But it’s not all rainbows and butterflies, as some clients had some negative reviews to share. One user on TradingView wrote,” Unfortunately the service is not reliable: blank screens & no updated data at critical point in time. Also missing is a comprehensive set of assets (eg US indices are missing). All in all, I acknowledge that this partnership is right at the beginning but improvements need to take place soon.”

Experts share similar opinions, as they explain that ActivTrades is a good broker, but it definitely needs some work. It’s a hit for some and a miss for others, depending on your account type and the assets you’re interested in. 

Overall, although it’s a highly regulated broker, it can work on improving its asset offering, customer support, and educational resources to be more accessible to beginner and expert traders. 

Price

Another big question usually arises when you’re choosing a broker—how much does it cost?

ActivTrades doesn’t have a minimum deposit unless you’re in Brazil or China. It offers competitive spreads starting at 0.5 pips, and there’s no inactivity fee. However, beware of those currency conversion fees as they will affect your withdrawals. 

Alternatives to ActivTrades 

So, what if ActivTrades doesn’t work for you? Don’t worry because there are multiple options out there that might. 

FP Markets

FP Markets is a low-cost broker for forex and CFDs with over 10,000 tradable symbols. However, its educational content and the mobile app could use some improvement. Our FP Markets review will tell you all. 

Forex.com US

Traders looking for a reliable broker should look no further. Forex.com offers good execution on multiple assets, specifically for US clients with performance analytics and proprietary research. Nevertheless, there’s no account protection or guaranteed stop-loss orders. Read this comprehensive forex.com review to learn more about this trading platform. 

Remember to visit these links based on your location: 

• Forex.com UK
• Forex.com Canada
• Forex.com ROW
• Forex.com LatAm
• Forex.com MENA

XM

XM offers 24/7 support to beginner and expert traders with access to over 1000 tradable assets. However, its leverage risk and inactivity fees can turn off some investors. You can learn more about this broker by reading this in-depth XM review. 

eToro

eToro is a user-friendly trading platform offering social trading features. It also grants access to multiple assets with the ability to transfer cryptocurrency holdings off the platform. However, trading fees for some asset classes can be higher than the market average. Check our eToro review for more information. 

Final Thoughts

We’ve come to the end of our journey with ActivTrades, it’s a complete platform with some gray areas that could be easily improved for a better experience. 

What’s the verdict?

We’d say ActivTrades is a solid broker. It’s regulated by top-tier bodies and offers a comprehensive set of assets, although many clients hope for more alternatives. 

It offers MT4 and MT5 with additional add-ons as the cherry on top. The tight spreads and fast execution speed are other points to praise. The Lloyd’s of London insurance is a cool advantage that you’ll only appreciate when needed. 

This broker could definitely work on its educational resources and customer support. So, it’s not perfect, but definitely a top contender.

At the end of the day, choosing your broker should be based on an in-depth analysis of its features. If you’re interested in fast execution times and innovative charting tools – ActivTrades will do the trick.

Visit TopBrokers for more information and easy-to-use tools that compare all the major players on the market! You’ll find the latest reviews about different brokers and trading platforms, and you can compare them to ActivTrades to see how they perform. 

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