Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of ActivTrades vs ACY Securities, 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.
When comparing ActivTrades and ACY Securities, both online brokers offer distinct features and regulatory standings. ActivTrades, founded in 2001, holds two Tier-1 licenses and one Tier-2 license, reflecting a high level of trust and reliability. It boasts a Trust Score of 81 out of 99 on ForexBrokers.com, placing it in the 'trusted' category. In contrast, ACY Securities, established a decade later in 2011, holds one Tier-1 license and no Tier-2 licenses. It has a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 75, which suggests an average risk level.
Neither ActivTrades nor ACY Securities is a publicly traded company or operates as a bank, aligning them closely in these aspects. The licenses held by these brokers are vital indicators of their regulatory standing, with Tier-1 licenses being highly trusted. While both brokers serve their clients' trading needs, ActivTrades' higher Trust Score and more extensive regulatory coverage may offer greater assurance to those prioritizing regulatory trust and stability.
| Feature |
ActivTrades
|
ACY Securities
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2001 | 2011 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
When comparing the commission and fee structures of online brokers ActivTrades and ACY Securities, both offer competitive options for traders, though they differ in key areas. ActivTrades provides a primary trading account along with professional and Islamic options, without a specific design for high-volume traders or active trader pricing. Spreads at ActivTrades are slightly better than the industry average, with the EUR/USD average spread at 0.98 pips in May 2024. The lack of account options tailored for trading professionals somewhat limits the cost-effectiveness of high-margin trading. ActivTrades boasts a four-star rating for commissions and fees and ranks #28 out of 63 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com.
On the other hand, ACY Securities accommodates a broad spectrum of traders with account types that include low-deposit, commission-based, and active trader options. The Standard account, despite having slightly higher spreads than average, only requires a $50 deposit and is commission-free, while the ProZero and Bespoke accounts offer more competitive spreads starting at 0.25 pips but require larger deposits. These commission-based accounts vary in commission rate, but those residing in Australia can enjoy even lower costs. ACY Securities impresses with a 4.5-star rating and is ranked #21 in the category, signaling its cost-effective options, particularly the ProZero account which can be especially attractive for high-volume traders.
Overall, both brokers present solid choices for varying trading needs, with ActivTrades catering more to average traders and ACY Securities offering more nuanced options that might appeal to active and higher-volume traders. The choice between them may boil down to whether lower initial deposits and more dynamic cost structures are beneficial for your trading strategy, making ACY Securities a slightly stronger contender in terms of cost-effectiveness.
| Feature |
ActivTrades
|
ACY Securities
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $50 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.98 | 1.2 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | 0.85 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | Yes |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | Yes |
| 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.
Both ActivTrades and ACY Securities cater to investors interested in forex trading, offering numerous trading options. ActivTrades provides access to 1,267 tradeable symbols, while ACY Securities offers a more extensive selection with 2,200 tradeable symbols. When it comes to forex pairs, ACY Securities again surpasses ActivTrades, featuring 66 tradeable pairs compared to ActivTrades’ 49. Both brokers also support cryptocurrency derivatives, though neither offers the ability to purchase actual cryptocurrencies.
In contrast, ActivTrades makes up some ground with rights to trade exchange-listed securities on international exchanges, which ACY Securities does not provide. Both brokers support copy trading, giving users the chance to mimic the trading strategies of successful investors. Overall, both platforms are rated 4 out of 5 stars for their investment range, with ActivTrades ranked slightly lower at #31, compared to ACY Securities ranked at #30 by ForexBrokers.com. Despite the similarities and slight differences, each broker caters well to different facets of investing, making the choice reliant on specific investment priorities.
| Feature |
ActivTrades
|
ACY Securities
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1267 | 2200 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 49 | 66 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| 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 available at ActivTrades and ACY Securities, both brokers offer free virtual demo accounts, allowing clients to practice their trading skills risk-free. Each broker has developed its own proprietary platform and also supports popular MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 platforms. Traders using either ActivTrades or ACY Securities can enjoy the flexibility of web-based platforms and Windows desktop downloads, along with the capability to engage in copy trading. However, neither broker offers services like DupliTrade or ZuluTrade.
In terms of charting tools, both ActivTrades and ACY Securities provide 15 drawing tools, while ActivTrades leads slightly with 11 columns for watch lists compared to ACY Securities' 7. Both platforms support direct trading from stock charts, a feature that enhances user convenience. In terms of overall performance, both brokers received a four-star rating for their trading platforms and tools. However, ActivTrades is ranked #30 out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com in this category, ahead of ACY Securities, which is placed at #41.
| Feature |
ActivTrades
|
ACY Securities
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 15 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 11 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
When it comes to mobile trading, both ActivTrades and ACY Securities provide reliable apps available on iPhone and Android devices. These apps feature essential trading tools including price alerts and the ability to draw trendlines on charts, and both brokers offer 30 technical studies for charting. Users can view multiple time frames and benefit from real-time quotes through customizable watchlists. However, neither platform supports syncing watchlists between the mobile app and the user's online account, a feature that some traders might miss.
Despite their similarities, there are some differences worth noting. ActivTrades holds a slight edge in the ranking by ForexBrokers.com, securing the 19th spot out of 63 brokers, whereas ACY Securities is placed at 40th. Additionally, both platforms are equally rated with 4 out of 5 stars for their mobile trading apps. Ultimately, both apps deliver solid performance, but ActivTrades might appeal to those who prioritize industry rankings when choosing a broker. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced trader, both apps are designed to keep you informed and ready to act on trading opportunities on the go.
| Feature |
ActivTrades
|
ACY Securities
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
ActivTrades and ACY Securities both provide daily market commentary to keep traders informed about financial market trends. However, ActivTrades takes a step further in offering forex news from top-notch sources such as Bloomberg and Reuters, which is not available with ACY Securities. While neither broker provides research tools from popular companies like Autochartist or Trading Central, ActivTrades does supply a sentiment-based trading tool to help traders assess market positioning, a feature ACY Securities lacks.
Both brokers offer economic calendars to help traders track important global events, but their overall market research ratings differ. ActivTrades holds a higher rating of 4 stars compared to ACY Securities’ 3.5 stars. According to ForexBrokers.com, ActivTrades is ranked 30th out of 63 brokers in terms of research offerings, while ACY Securities is positioned at 45th. This analysis points to ActivTrades as the broker with slightly superior research capabilities for investors seeking comprehensive market insights.
| Feature |
ActivTrades
|
ACY Securities
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| 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 offerings for beginners provided by ActivTrades and ACY Securities, both online brokers demonstrate a solid commitment to educating newcomers in the world of forex and CFDs. ActivTrades and ACY Securities each provide a substantial collection of over ten educational resources, such as articles and videos, focusing on forex and CFDs. Additionally, both brokers host at least one live webinar per month, which allows beginners to engage and learn in real-time. They also maintain a searchable archive of these webinars, offering a valuable resource for later reference.
ActivTrades takes a slight edge over ACY Securities in the realm of advanced trading education. It delivers over ten advanced educational videos tailored for experienced traders, while ACY Securities lacks this specific resource. However, neither broker offers an investor dictionary with investing term definitions. With ActivTrades receiving a slightly higher education rating of 4 out of 5 stars compared to ACY Securities' 3.5 stars, it ranks 38th out of 63 brokers whereas ACY Securities is positioned at 43rd in ForexBrokers.com's education category. Despite their differences, both brokers provide beginners with ample educational opportunities to get started with trading.
| Feature |
ActivTrades
|
ACY Securities
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | No | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 63 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that ActivTrades is better than ACY Securities. ActivTrades finished with an overall rank of #33, while ACY Securities finished with an overall rank of #41.
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
|
ACY Securities
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
|
| Trust Score | 81 | 75 |
| Range of Investments |
|
|
| Commissions & Fees |
|
|
| Platforms & Tools |
|
|
| Research |
|
|
| Mobile Trading |
|
|
| Education |
|
|
Both ActivTrades and ACY Securities do not provide the option to purchase actual (delivered) cryptocurrencies, but they do offer the ability to trade cryptocurrency derivatives.
ActivTrades and ACY Securities both support Visa/Mastercard, Skrill, and bank wire transactions for funding and withdrawing account funds, but differ in that ACY Securities additionally offers ACH and SEPA transfers, whereas neither broker provides PayPal as a payment option.
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.
Select Brokers
↓×Compare
0 of 5| Overall Rating | ActivTrades | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Commissions & Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Platforms & Tools |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 81 | 75 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | ActivTrades Review | ACY Securities Review |
| Broker Screenshots | ActivTrades | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trading Platforms Gallery (click to expand) |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading Gallery (click to expand) |
|
| |
| Research Gallery (click to expand) |
|
| |
| Education Gallery (click to expand) |
|
|
| Regulation | ActivTrades | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 81 | 75 | |
| Year Founded | 2001 | 2011 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | No | No | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | ActivTrades | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| 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 | No |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | ActivTrades | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | No | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | No | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | ActivTrades | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1267 | 2200 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 49 | 66 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| 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 | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.98 | 1.2 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | 0.85 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | No |
| Funding | ActivTrades | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $50 | |
| 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 | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | ActivTrades | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | ActivTrades | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 11 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 15 | 15 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | ActivTrades | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | No |
| Research | ActivTrades | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | ActivTrades | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | No | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | ActivTrades | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | ACY Securities Review |
| Overall | ActivTrades | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Commissions & Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Platforms & Tools |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 81 | 75 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | ActivTrades Review | ACY Securities Review |
IG
CMC Markets
FOREX.com
XTB
eToro
AvaTrade
Plus500
Pepperstone
FP Markets
Tickmill