Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of AvaTrade vs ActivTrades, 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.
AvaTrade and ActivTrades, two prominent online brokerage firms, come with distinct regulatory credentials. AvaTrade, established in 2006, boasts a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 94, indicating a high level of trust. This score is backed by AvaTrade's possession of four Tier-1 licenses, which are seen as highly trusted, and three Tier-2 licenses. Despite not being publicly traded or operating as a bank, AvaTrade is well-regarded for its regulatory compliance and secure trading environment.
In contrast, ActivTrades, founded in 2001, holds a Trust Score of 81 on ForexBrokers.com, marking it as trusted but slightly below AvaTrade. ActivTrades has two Tier-1 licenses and one Tier-2 license, ensuring a solid regulatory framework. Like AvaTrade, ActivTrades is neither publicly traded nor functions as a bank, but its regulatory setup provides a dependable trading option for users. Both brokers offer secure options for trading, though AvaTrade holds a slight edge in trustworthiness and the number of high-tier licenses.
| Feature |
AvaTrade
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2006 | 2001 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 3 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 2 |
When evaluating AvaTrade and ActivTrades for their commissions and fees, AvaTrade's spreads are slightly above the industry's average for entry-level accounts, at just under one pip (0.9 pips as of June 2024). However, the spreads become more competitive for professional traders, dropping to 0.6 pips on their Professional account, rivaling FP Markets. AvaTrade earns a commendable 4.5-star rating for commissions and fees and is ranked #12 out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com.
ActivTrades, on the other hand, generally offers spreads that are slightly better than the industry average, although they fall short when compared to leading low-cost brokers. Their main account types include an Individual Account option, along with Professional and Islamic Accounts. Notably, ActivTrades does not offer a specific account for high-volume traders, and spreads remain consistent across available account types. Their average spread for the EUR/USD pair stood at 0.98 pips for May 2024. ActivTrades earns a 4-star rating for their commissions and fees and is ranked #28 out of 63 brokers.
In conclusion, while both AvaTrade and ActivTrades provide competitive fees, AvaTrade edges out slightly with its lower spreads for professional traders and higher rankings in industry evaluations. ActivTrades offers a broader range of account types, including an Islamic Account, but lacks differentiation for high-volume trading, affecting its overall competitiveness in this area.
| Feature |
AvaTrade
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | $0 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.93 | 0.98 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.61 | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | 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.
When comparing AvaTrade and ActivTrades for their range of investment options, both brokers offer forex trading through CFDs and spot contracts, making them appealing for currency trading enthusiasts. AvaTrade provides its clients with a total of 1,260 tradeable symbols and 53 forex pairs, while ActivTrades offers a slightly wider selection with 1,267 symbols and 49 forex pairs. Both brokers grant access to various instruments, including cryptocurrency derivatives, and support copy trading, but neither offers actual delivered cryptocurrencies or U.S. exchange-traded securities.
Unlike AvaTrade, ActivTrades allows clients to trade securities on some international exchanges, providing more opportunities to explore diverse markets. However, neither broker supports the trading of exchange-traded securities from U.S. exchanges like Apple shares. Despite these differences, both AvaTrade and ActivTrades have been rated 4 stars for their range of investments. According to ForexBrokers.com, AvaTrade stands at rank 32, while ActivTrades is slightly ahead at rank 31 out of 63 brokers, indicating a close competition in terms of investment options.
| Feature |
AvaTrade
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1260 | 1267 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 53 | 49 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | Yes |
| 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 their trading platforms and tools, AvaTrade and ActivTrades both shine with a variety of offerings that cater to different trader needs. AvaTrade provides a comprehensive trading experience with its proprietary platform, which is available as a Windows-based download and a web-based interface. Not only reliable for everyday trading, but AvaTrade also supports popular third-party platforms MetaTrader 4 and 5, while enabling traders to engage in copy trading using DupliTrade and ZuluTrade. AvaTrade stands out particularly in reviews, earning an impressive rating of 4.5 stars from ForexBrokers.com, placing it 13th among 63 brokers in the Trading Platforms and Tools category. They also offer the chance to practice with a virtual demo account, perfect for those still honing their trading skills.
Similarly, ActivTrades offers a proprietary platform available both as a desktop download for Windows and a web-based version, ensuring flexibility and convenience. This broker also adapts to the needs of traders who enjoy using MetaTrader 4 and 5, along with providing the option for copy trading. While both brokers excel in technical analysis tools, ActivTrades slightly surpasses AvaTrade with 15 drawing tools compared to AvaTrade's 13. Watchlists are also more customizable on ActivTrades, offering 11 fields compared to 7 on AvaTrade. However, despite these advantages, ActivTrades receives a somewhat lower platform and tools rating of 4 stars from ForexBrokers.com, ranking it 30th out of 63 brokers. ActivTrades, like AvaTrade, offers a free virtual demo account, enabling traders to practice strategies without the risk of actual loss.
| Feature |
AvaTrade
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes | No |
| ZuluTrade | Yes | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 80 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 13 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 11 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Both AvaTrade and ActivTrades offer mobile trading apps that are available on iPhone and Android, providing users with convenient forex and stock price alerts. AvaTrade stands out for its ability to sync watchlist symbols between the mobile app and online account, a feature ActivTrades lacks. When it comes to technical charting capabilities, AvaTrade offers 73 technical studies compared to the 30 available through ActivTrades. Both brokers allow users to draw trendlines and view charts in multiple time frames such as daily, weekly, or intraday. However, ActivTrades has an advantage with its auto-save feature for chart drawings, which is not available with AvaTrade.
For traders interested in real-time market monitoring, both applications allow the creation of watchlists with live quotes. AvaTrade's mobile app is highly rated, receiving 4.5 stars, and is ranked 13th by ForexBrokers.com in the Mobile Trading Apps category. In comparison, ActivTrades' app holds a 4-star rating and ranks 19th. Overall, AvaTrade's app offers more advanced charting tools and seamless account synchronization, making it a preferred choice for mobile trading enthusiasts.
| Feature |
AvaTrade
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 73 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | No | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When comparing AvaTrade and ActivTrades in terms of market research offerings, both brokers display strengths and some overlaps. AvaTrade provides comprehensive forex news sourced from top-tier providers like Bloomberg and Reuters, ensuring up-to-date information for traders. It also offers a sentiment-based trading tool that highlights market trends by showing the ratio of long and short positions across various instruments. Additionally, AvaTrade features Technical Analytics from Trading Central and a detailed economic calendar that monitors global news events. However, ActivTrades stands out with its daily market commentary, catering to traders seeking regular insight into market developments. Similar to AvaTrade, ActivTrades also delivers high-quality forex news from leading sources and a sentiment-based trading tool, alongside an economic calendar.
While neither broker offers research tools from companies like Autochartist, TipRanks, or Acuity Trading, both are rated 4 out of 5 stars for research. Nevertheless, ActivTrades holds a slight edge in ForexBrokers.com's ranking, placed at #30 compared to AvaTrade's #34 out of 63 assessed brokers. This nuanced view enables traders to select the broker that best accommodates their individual research needs, whether they prioritize daily market commentaries or diverse research tools.
| Feature |
AvaTrade
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | No | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | No |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When it comes to educational resources for beginners, both AvaTrade and ActivTrades offer a comprehensive array of materials to help new traders. Each platform provides more than 10 educational pieces focused on forex and CFDs, ensuring newcomers have access to essential learning tools. Both brokers host monthly webinars to engage their clients and have searchable archives of past sessions, allowing traders to catch up on any missed insights. Furthermore, they each deliver over 10 beginner videos, easing novices into the intricacies of trading.
Despite the similarities in basic educational offerings, some key differences might sway a beginner's choice. AvaTrade goes a step further by offering an investor dictionary with definitions for more than 50 trading terms, a resource not available at ActivTrades. This commitment to easing traders into the complex world of forex and CFDs might explain AvaTrade's higher ranking at #2 in ForexBrokers.com's education category, compared to ActivTrades' position at #38. Nonetheless, both platforms enjoy a solid 4-star rating for their educational offerings, signifying a commendable standard of support for beginners in the trading experience.
| Feature |
AvaTrade
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 63 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that AvaTrade is better than ActivTrades. AvaTrade finished with an overall rank of #13, while ActivTrades finished with an overall rank of #33.
AvaTrade is a trusted global brand best known for offering an extensive selection of trading platforms for forex and CFD traders, as well as exceptional educational content that helped it nab Best in Class honors for Beginners in the ForexBrokers.com 2025 Annual Awards.
| Feature |
AvaTrade
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ActivTrades
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| Trust Score | 94 | 81 |
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Both AvaTrade and ActivTrades provide the option to buy cryptocurrency derivatives but do not offer the ability to purchase actual delivered cryptocurrency.
In comparing online brokers AvaTrade and ActivTrades, both do not support ACH or SEPA transfers but provide bank wire and Visa or Mastercard options for deposits and withdrawals; however, AvaTrade uniquely offers PayPal as an option, while both brokers support Skrill.
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.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | AvaTrade | ActivTrades | |
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| Trust Score | 94 | 81 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | AvaTrade Review | ActivTrades Review |
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| Regulation | AvaTrade | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 94 | 81 | |
| Year Founded | 2006 | 2001 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 2 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 3 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 1 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 2 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | AvaTrade | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | No | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | No | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | AvaTrade | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | AvaTrade | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1260 | 1267 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 53 | 49 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | Yes | |
| 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 | AvaTrade | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.93 | 0.98 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.61 | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | AvaTrade | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | $0 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | AvaTrade | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes | No | |
| ZuluTrade | Yes | No |
| Trading Tools | AvaTrade | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 11 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 80 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 13 | 15 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | AvaTrade | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 73 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | AvaTrade | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | No | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | AvaTrade | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | AvaTrade | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | AvaTrade Review | ActivTrades Review |
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| Trust Score | 94 | 81 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | AvaTrade Review | ActivTrades Review |
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