ActivTrades review
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Risk warning: CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 84% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. Branch warning last checked 2026-10-30 on activtrades.com.
Key Broker Facts
- Regulation
- FCA · CMVM · SCB · FSC · BACEN · CVM · CMA
- Minimum deposit
- No minimum (USD 250 in some jurisdictions)
- EUR/USD spread
- from 0.5 pips
- Max leverage
- 1:30 (UK/EU retail, major FX); other entities differ
- Platforms
- ActivTrader · MT4 · MT5 · TradingView
- Founded
- 2001
- Negative balance protection
- Yes
- Lot Commission
- $0 (spread only)
ActivTrades at a glance
ActivTrades has been in the market since 2001, a track record of about 25 years. In this review we cover forex, indices, commodities, shares, ETFs, bonds, and crypto CFDs and look at how the broker performs on the data we have verified: cost, safety, platforms, conditions and service.
On regulation, ActivTrades holds licences from FCA, CMVM, SCB, FSC (Mauritius), BACEN, CVM, and CMA (UAE), and at least one of them belongs to the group of regulators we classify as tier 1. That is a meaningful positive for client protection, but the protections you actually receive depend on the entity that serves your country.
On cost, spreads at ActivTrades start from 0.5 pips on major Forex pairs on a spread-based model. Actual spreads vary depending on the instrument and market conditions, so the visible price of a trade is built into the quote rather than charged separately.
For trading tools, the verified platform list for ActivTrades includes ActivTrader, MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, and TradingView.
ActivTrades serves clients across a wide range of international markets. Account availability, products and trading conditions depend on the client's country of residence and the relevant ActivTrades entity.
Overall, ActivTrades earns 4.9 out of 5 from Brokeli. Its strongest scored area is Safety and its weakest is Fees, which is a useful guide to where it leads and where you should look closer.
What our experts say about ActivTrades
Three members of the Brokeli editorial panel comment on the published data for ActivTrades. They interpret the numbers; they do not add new ones.
Spreads from 0.5 pips on EUR/USD are competitive for the majors. Actual spreads vary, and costs on exotic pairs and holding costs still need checking.
Daniel compares spreads, commissions and financing across brokers and checks every cost claim against contract specifications.
Multiple licences from FCA, CMVM, SCB, FSC (Mauritius), BACEN, CVM, and CMA (UAE) make ActivTrades one of the better-supervised options, provided you are onboarded to the right entity.
Priya reads regulator registers and legal documents, and checks which entity actually serves clients in each country.
Professional-grade terminals in the platform list (ActivTrader, MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, and TradingView) make ActivTrades workable for serious charting and automation.
Marcus tests trading terminals, mobile apps and charting tools for stability, order types and day-to-day usability.
Expert commentary is the Brokeli editorial team's interpretation of published research data. It is not investment advice and never changes a rating or toplist position.
Who is ActivTrades best for?
A regulated broker with an accessible entry point; a good place to learn with small positions.
Spreads from 0.5 pips on EUR/USD and professional platforms (ActivTrader, MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, and TradingView) suit frequent trading. Actual spreads vary with market conditions.
Support for ActivTrader, MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, and TradingView with competitive pricing makes automated strategies feasible.
A low entry point keeps the cost of starting small.
Fees & Trading Costs
All spread and commission figures are verified against published contract specifications.
Benchmark Spreads on Major Pairs
| Instrument | From | Lot Commission |
|---|---|---|
| EUR/USD | from 0.5 pips | $0 (spread only) |
Non-Trading Fees
- Inactivity fee
- May apply (see account terms)
Cost analysis
ActivTrades offers spreads starting from 0.5 pips on major Forex pairs and no separate commission on the pricing we verified. Actual spreads vary depending on the instrument and market conditions. The cost of a trade starts with the spread itself.
To make a spread starting from 0.5 pips concrete, the table below converts that minimum into dollars for three common position sizes. Actual spreads vary, so the live cost can be higher. It is an illustration of the quoted minimum spread only.
What a trade costs: EUR/USD spread example
| Trade size | Approx. spread cost (USD) |
|---|---|
| Lots: 0.01 | $0.05 |
| Lots: 0.1 | $0.50 |
| Lots: 1 | $5.00 |
Illustration only: calculated at the minimum (from) spread, using a $10 pip value per standard lot on a USD account. Actual spreads vary depending on the instrument and market conditions. Commission, swaps and slippage are not included.
An inactivity fee may apply to accounts that remain inactive for an extended period. The exact amount and conditions depend on the applicable account terms.
Spread and commission are only part of what you pay. Before you commit, review these cost points at ActivTrades:
Where trading costs usually hide
- Overnight swaps: positions held past the daily rollover pay or earn financing, and long holds can cost more than the spread.
- Currency conversion: funding or withdrawing in a currency other than your account currency often carries a markup.
- Withdrawal and payment fees: some methods are free, others carry a flat fee or intermediary bank charges.
- Inactivity fees: some brokers charge accounts that stay idle for a long period.
- Platform and data fees: market data, VPS hosting and premium tools can be billed separately.
Spreads from 0.5 pips on EUR/USD put ActivTrades in the competitive band for major pairs. Actual spreads vary with the instrument and the hour, so test the pairs you trade.
Always compare on the same pair, the same size and the same hours. A cheap quote at a quiet hour tells you little about ActivTrades in the London and New York overlap.
Safety, Trust & Regulation
Brokeli verifies regulatory status directly against government financial registry databases.
Top-tier (Tier-1) financial watchdog
Recognized regional regulatory authority
Recognized regional regulatory authority
Recognized regional regulatory authority
Recognized regional regulatory authority
Recognized regional regulatory authority
Recognized regional regulatory authority
Client Fund Safety Protections
- Negative Balance Protection: Ensures retail accounts cannot lose more capital than deposited during violent market gaps.
Regulation in detail
ActivTrades is a multi-regulated financial services group with offices in the UK, Portugal, Italy, Bulgaria, the Bahamas, Mauritius, Brazil and the UAE. The Group operates through entities regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in the UK, the Portuguese Securities Market Commission (CMVM), the Securities Commission of the Bahamas (SCB), the Financial Services Commission (FSC) in Mauritius, the Central Bank of Brazil (BACEN), the Brazilian Securities and Exchange Commission (CVM), and the UAE Capital Market Authority (CMA). Its European operations also have offices in Italy and Bulgaria, with the relevant local registrations. Products, services and regulatory protections vary depending on the entity and jurisdiction. The Brazilian business and the UAE Category 5 licensed entity do not offer the same services as the Group's CFD brokerage operations.
Legal entities and licences
| Legal entity | Country | Regulator | Licence no. | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ActivTrades PLC | United Kingdom | FCA | 434413 | Sep 16, 2026 |
| ActivTrades Europe SA | Portugal | CMVM | not published | — |
| ActivTrades (Bahamas) | Bahamas | SCB | not published | — |
| ActivTrades (Mauritius) | Mauritius | FSC (Mauritius) | not published | — |
| ActivTrades (Brazil) | Brazil | BACEN | not published | — |
| ActivTrades (Brazil) | Brazil | CVM | not published | — |
| ActivTrades (UAE) | United Arab Emirates | CMA (UAE) | not published | — |
Which entity opens your account depends on where you live, and that decides your regulator, leverage limits, compensation scheme and dispute process. Two clients of ActivTrades in different countries can have quite different protection.
The licences include FCA, which belong to the group of regulators we treat as tier 1: public registers, enforceable client-money rules and an active enforcement record.
Our regulation tier score for ActivTrades is 5 on a 5-point scale, taken from the verified licence data.
Negative balance protection is published as available for ActivTrades. This means a retail account should not lose more than the deposited funds when a gap move overshoots your margin.
Whether client funds are covered by a statutory compensation scheme depends on the entity and the regulator. Ask ActivTrades which scheme, if any, applies to your account and read its limits.
How to verify the licence yourself
- Open the regulator's official public register, not a link from an ad or chat.
- Search by the legal entity name and licence number shown in the table above.
- Check that the entity serving your country is the one named on the account agreement.
- Compare the website domain on the register with the domain you are about to fund.
Licences from FCA, CMVM, SCB, FSC (Mauritius), BACEN, CVM, and CMA (UAE) give ActivTrades a wide supervisory footprint. The thing to confirm is the entity on your own contract: the protection follows that entity, not the logo on the site.
A simple test: can you find the exact legal entity name from the agreement on the regulator's own register? If not, stop and ask the broker.
Trading Platforms & Tools
Supported platforms and execution environments at ActivTrades:
- ActivTrader
- ✓ Available
- MetaTrader 4 (MT4)
- ✓ Available
- MetaTrader 5 (MT5)
- ✓ Available
- TradingView
- ✓ Available
Platforms in detail
ActivTrades offers ActivTrader, MetaTrader 4 (MT4), MetaTrader 5 (MT5) and TradingView integration.
ActivTrades supports MetaTrader, the most widely used retail terminal. That gives you a huge library of indicators and Expert Advisors, plus easy moving between brokers that use the same platform.
Whatever the main terminal, test the mobile app and the web terminal with a demo or a small live account before relying on them: order entry, charts, alerts and risk tools vary a lot between apps.
Platform guide
ActivTrader is the ActivTrades web and mobile terminal. Charting, order entry and account tools run in the browser, so a standard session needs no install.
MetaTrader 4 is the long-standing retail standard for forex: fast charting, one-click trading and the largest library of Expert Advisors and custom indicators.
MetaTrader 5 adds more timeframes, an economic calendar, market depth and support for more asset classes. Its scripts are not compatible with MT4.
TradingView integration lets you chart on TradingView and route orders to an ActivTrades account. Availability depends on the entity.
MetaTrader is the safe choice for most traders because the support ecosystem is enormous. The trade-off is a dated interface, so test the mobile app before committing.
Check that the platform exports your trade history. Good records matter for tax, and not every broker makes it easy.
Markets and Products
ActivTrades offers CFDs across several asset classes, including Forex, indices, commodities, shares, ETFs, bonds and cryptocurrencies. Product availability depends on the relevant entity and applicable regulations.
If you want to own shares or ETFs outright for the long term, look for a broker that offers real asset ownership and compare custody and dealing costs, not only CFD spreads.
A forex and CFD range suits active, risk-aware trading. If your goal is long-term investing, a derivative-only offer is rarely the efficient route, so be honest about your time horizon.
Risk warning: CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 84% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. Branch warning last checked 2026-10-30 on activtrades.com.
Account Types & Conditions
Multiple account structures tailored to different trading strategies and volume levels.
Account types are not published in the research snapshot for this broker yet.
Choosing the right account
No individual account types are listed in the snapshot for ActivTrades. Available accounts, and their conditions, can differ by country.
ActivTrades generally has no minimum initial deposit requirement, although a minimum of USD 250 applies in certain jurisdictions. A practical balance for risk management is still higher than zero.
The snapshot does not confirm swap-free accounts at ActivTrades. If you need one for religious or other reasons, ask the broker and get the terms in writing.
Choose the account by how you trade: a spread-only account is simpler for occasional trades, while a raw-spread account with commission usually becomes cheaper as volume rises.
A spread-only account is the easiest to understand and budget for. If you trade often, ask whether a lower-cost account type exists at ActivTrades.
Account Opening
Opening an account with ActivTrades follows the standard regulated-broker process: you choose an entity, verify your identity and complete a short assessment of your trading knowledge before trading is enabled.
Typical account opening steps
- Choose the legal entity or region that matches your country of residence.
- Create a profile with your email, phone number and tax residency.
- Complete the suitability or appropriateness questionnaire honestly.
- Upload a government ID and a recent proof of address.
- Accept the account agreement, risk disclosure and order execution policy after reading them.
- Fund the account and place a small test trade before sizing up.
For clients in the UK and EU, regulation requires an appropriateness assessment for complex products such as CFDs. Answer honestly: an inaccurate answer can limit your access or leave you with products that do not fit your experience.
Take your time with the risk questionnaire. It is not a hurdle to pass but a check that the account type fits you, and brokers can refuse an application that does not.
Deposit & Withdrawal Methods
Processing speed and payment gateways supported:
Payment methods, fees and processing times are not published in the research snapshot for this broker yet.
Funding and withdrawals in practice
Reminder: ActivTrades generally has no minimum initial deposit, although a minimum of USD 250 applies in certain jurisdictions. Payment methods may have their own minimums on top.
Deposit options, speeds and fees can vary by country and by legal entity at ActivTrades. The table above shows the methods we have on record; the points below show how to avoid the usual surprises.
Funding checklist
- Fund with the method you can also withdraw to; most brokers send money back the way it came in.
- Check the cut-off times and the first-withdrawal verification rules before you deposit.
- Test a small withdrawal early so you know the real speed and cost.
- Use accounts in your own name only; third-party payments are routinely rejected.
The first withdrawal is the real test of a broker. Make a small one early, with the same method you used to deposit.
Leverage and Risk Controls
For UK and EU retail clients, leverage on major Forex pairs is generally limited to 1:30. Conditions for other jurisdictions and professional clients may differ.
The leverage figure recorded for ActivTrades in our data is 1:30 (UK/EU retail, major FX); other entities differ. This is the headline maximum; the limit that applies to you may be lower.
Leverage magnifies gains and losses equally. Position size, stop-loss placement and margin close-out rules matter more than the leverage ratio itself.
Regulated leverage limits can feel restrictive, but they are there because most retail losses come from oversized positions. Treat the cap as a seat belt, not a handicap.
Order Execution
Execution quality is how close your fill is to the price you saw, and how reliably an order goes through when markets are busy. The snapshot gives us pricing; the points below explain what to test in live use.
What to watch in order execution
- Spreads widen around news releases, at the daily rollover and in thin markets.
- Slippage can work for or against you; fast markets make it more likely.
- Read the order execution policy for how requotes, partial fills and stop orders are handled.
Place a few small market orders in a fast market and compare the fill with the quote. A pattern of one-way slippage deserves a question to support.
Customer Support and Education
Support quality is hard to capture in a single number, so we describe how to test it for ActivTrades yourself. It matters most when something goes wrong, such as a rejected withdrawal or a platform error.
How we recommend testing support
- Ask a pre-sales question and note how long the first useful answer takes.
- Ask about the legal entity and licence you will be onboarded to.
- Ask for the written fee schedule, including withdrawal and inactivity charges.
- Check which languages and channels are available when markets are open.
Also look at what ActivTrades gives new clients: demo access, tutorials, market analysis and webinars. Good education shows a broker that expects clients to stay and improve, not just click.
Keep chat transcripts and emails. If a dispute ever reaches the regulator or an ombudsman, written evidence settles the question quickly.
Country Availability
ActivTrades serves clients across a wide range of international markets. Account availability, products and trading conditions depend on the client's country of residence and the relevant ActivTrades entity.
Availability can differ by product and entity inside one country, and brokers update their lists. Use the table as a guide, then confirm in the sign-up form.
Wide country coverage lowers the risk that you can't use ActivTrades after moving. It does not mean identical terms everywhere, so read the entity details for your region.
Brokeli Score & Category Breakdown: ActivTrades
Category scores calculated from verified research snapshot metrics:
Bottom line
ActivTrades comes out as a strong option with a Brokeli score of 4.9 out of 5. It earns that through verified data, not marketing, though the best account for you still depends on your country and trading style.
The category that holds ActivTrades back is Fees. If that matters for the way you trade, weigh it first.
Its best category is Safety, so if that is your priority, ActivTrades deserves a place on the shortlist.
Next steps: compare ActivTrades with two similar brokers, confirm the legal entity for your country, and test with a small amount before scaling up.
How we reviewed ActivTrades
This review draws on 10 verified data points from 1 sources. Latest data check: Oct 30, 2026.
- Every metric comes from an official source such as the broker's own legal pages, fee schedules or a regulator register, and keeps its source link.
- Draft or unverified research is never shown: this page only uses a published, fact-checked snapshot.
- Ratings come from fixed methodology weights; affiliate relationships never change a score or position.
- Where the snapshot does not contain a value, we say so instead of filling the gap with an estimate.
Reader reviews: ActivTrades
First-hand experiences from Brokeli members. They are moderated and never change our research score.
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Frequently Asked Questions About ActivTrades
Is ActivTrades regulated, and by whom?
Yes. ActivTrades is a multi-regulated group with entities regulated by the FCA (UK), CMVM (Portugal), SCB (Bahamas), FSC (Mauritius), BACEN and CVM (Brazil) and CMA (UAE). Protections depend on the entity that serves you, so confirm it on the regulator's register.
Which ActivTrades entity will serve my account?
It depends on your country of residence. The legal entities in our data are listed in the Safety section above; your account agreement names the one that applies to you.
Does ActivTrades offer negative balance protection?
Yes, the published data confirms negative balance protection for retail accounts at ActivTrades, subject to the terms of the entity you join.
Which trading platforms does ActivTrades offer?
ActivTrades offers ActivTrader, MetaTrader 4 (MT4), MetaTrader 5 (MT5) and TradingView integration.
Is ActivTrades available in my country?
ActivTrades serves clients across a wide range of international markets. Account availability, products and trading conditions depend on the client's country of residence and the relevant ActivTrades entity. Confirm eligibility in the sign-up form.
How much does a standard lot of EUR/USD cost at ActivTrades?
At spreads starting from 0.5 pips, a standard lot (100,000 units) costs from roughly 5 dollars in spread on a USD account. Actual spreads vary depending on the instrument and market conditions. Commission, swaps and slippage come on top.
Does ActivTrades charge an inactivity fee?
An inactivity fee may apply to accounts at ActivTrades that remain inactive for an extended period. The exact amount and conditions depend on the applicable account terms.
Is ActivTrades good for beginners?
It looks like a good fit: regulated, with an accessible entry point. Start small and use a demo account first.
Does ActivTrades have swap-free (Islamic) accounts?
The snapshot does not confirm a swap-free account at ActivTrades. Ask the broker directly and get the terms in writing.
How do I withdraw money from ActivTrades?
Withdraw through your client area, usually back to the method you used to deposit. Check speed and fees for each method, and expect identity verification before the first withdrawal.
How long does it take to open an account with ActivTrades?
It depends mostly on identity verification. Have a government ID and a recent proof of address ready; most delays come from unclear scans or mismatched names.
Does ActivTrades pay Brokeli, and does that affect the review?
Brokeli may earn a commission if you open an account through a link, but affiliate relationships never change a score, a comparison or a toplist position.
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