Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of ActivTrades vs Eightcap, 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.
ActivTrades and Eightcap are online brokers that are not publicly traded and are not banks. ActivTrades was founded in 2001 and holds a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 80/99, which is considered trusted. Eightcap, founded in 2009, scores 87/99, also in the trusted range according to ForexBrokers.com.
Looking at regulation, Eightcap holds three Tier-1 licenses (highly trusted), while ActivTrades holds two. Both brokers have one Tier-2 license (trusted). In plain terms, both are viewed as trusted choices, with Eightcap showing a slight edge in top-tier regulatory coverage.
| Feature |
ActivTrades
|
Eightcap
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2001 | 2009 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 3 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 2 |
ActivTrades and Eightcap both offer competitive pricing, but they take different approaches to commissions and fees. ActivTrades earns 4 stars and ranks #23 out of 36 for commissions and fees. Its spreads are slightly better than the industry average, with an average EUR/USD spread of 0.98 pips in May 2024, though it does not match the cheapest forex brokers. ActivTrades offers an Individual Account, a Professional Account, and an Islamic Account, plus a demo account, but it does not have a special pricing setup for high-volume traders. Spreads are generally the same across account types, while fees can vary depending on the assets you trade and the platform you use.
Eightcap is a bit more competitive on pricing overall, earning 4.5 stars and placing #20 out of 36 in the same category. It offers two main account types: the commission-based Raw account and the spread-only Standard account. On the Raw account, Eightcap lists an average spread of 0.06 pips, and after adding the $3.50 per-side commission, the total cost is about 0.76 pips, which is just under the industry average of 0.8 pips. This makes Eightcap slightly more affordable than ActivTrades for many forex traders, although it is still not among the very lowest-cost brokers.
In short, both brokers are fairly priced, but Eightcap has the edge on total trading costs, while ActivTrades offers simple account choices and slightly above-average spreads. If low all-in trading costs are your main goal, Eightcap may be the better pick; if you want straightforward account options and decent pricing, ActivTrades remains a solid choice.
| Feature |
ActivTrades
|
Eightcap
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $100 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Spread-only account | 1.08 | 1.0 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | 0.92 | 0.76 |
| Non-wire bank transfer (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
When comparing ActivTrades and Eightcap for range of investments, ActivTrades comes out ahead overall. ActivTrades offers 1,267 tradeable symbols, compared with 803 at Eightcap, and it gives traders access to 49 forex pairs versus Eightcap’s 55. Both brokers support forex trading as CFDs, and both let clients trade cryptocurrency CFDs, but neither allows buying real, delivered cryptocurrency. Neither broker offers exchange traded securities on U.S. exchanges, such as Apple shares, so stock investing is limited in that area.
ActivTrades has the edge for more than just total market choice, since it also offers exchange traded securities on international exchanges, such as Vodafone on the London Stock Exchange, while Eightcap does not. ActivTrades also supports copy trading, which Eightcap does not. These differences help explain why ActivTrades is rated 4 out of 5 stars for range of investments and ranked #26 out of 36 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, compared with Eightcap’s 3.5 stars and #31 ranking.
| Feature |
ActivTrades
|
Eightcap
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1267 | 803 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 49 | 55 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | No |
| Copy Trading | Yes | No |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | No |
| Cryptocurrency (CFDs) | 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.
ActivTrades and Eightcap both give traders a solid mix of platform choices, including free demo accounts, Windows desktop apps, web-based trading, MetaTrader 4, and MetaTrader 5. Each also lets users trade directly from charts, making it easier to place orders while watching price action. In ForexBrokers.com’s Trading Platforms and Tools category, both brokers are rated 4 out of 5 stars, which shows they each offer a well-rounded setup for everyday trading needs.
Where ActivTrades stands out is its own in-house platform and copy trading, two tools Eightcap does not offer. Eightcap does not have a proprietary platform, but it still covers the essentials with MT4, MT5, desktop, and browser access. Based on ForexBrokers.com’s ranking of 36 brokers, ActivTrades placed #28 in this category, while Eightcap came in at #34, giving ActivTrades a slight edge for traders who want more built-in platform options and social trading features.
| Feature |
ActivTrades
|
Eightcap
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | No |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | No |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 100 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
ActivTrades and Eightcap both give traders mobile apps for iPhone and Android, along with price alerts, trendline drawing, and auto-saving chart drawings. Each broker is also rated 4 out of 5 stars for mobile trading apps, so both offer a solid experience for trading on the go. The main difference is that Eightcap lets watchlists sync between the mobile app and online account, while ActivTrades does not.
When it comes to chart tools, Eightcap has the edge with 100 technical studies in its mobile app, compared with 30 at ActivTrades. That wider selection may matter more for traders who rely on chart analysis. Even so, ActivTrades ranks higher overall in ForexBrokers.com’s mobile trading apps category, placing #21 out of 36 brokers, while Eightcap ranks #34.
| Feature |
ActivTrades
|
Eightcap
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | No | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 100 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
ActivTrades and Eightcap both give traders useful market research features, including daily market commentary, a sentiment tool that shows long and short positioning, and an economic calendar for upcoming global events. Neither broker offers Autochartist, Trading Central, or TipRanks, so the main research difference comes down to the extra sources each one does provide.
ActivTrades stands out with forex news from top-tier providers such as Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones, while Eightcap does not offer this type of coverage. Eightcap does, however, include Acuity Trading tools such as Signal Centre, which ActivTrades does not. Overall, ActivTrades scores higher for research at 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #28 out of 36 brokers, compared with Eightcap’s 3.5 stars and #35 ranking.
| Feature |
ActivTrades
|
Eightcap
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central | No | No |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | Yes |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
For beginners looking for trading education, ActivTrades has the edge over Eightcap. ActivTrades offers forex and CFDs learning materials, holds at least one online educational webinar each month, and provides 10+ beginner videos as well as 10+ advanced videos for more experienced traders. That makes it a stronger choice for users who want both entry-level help and more in-depth lessons. It is rated 4 stars for Education and ranks #32 out of 36 brokers in the ForexBrokers.com Education category.
Eightcap also gives new traders a useful starting point, with 10+ beginner educational videos and forex or CFDs education materials available. However, it does not offer monthly educational webinars and does not appear to match ActivTrades on advanced video content. Eightcap is rated 3.5 stars for Education and ranks #33 out of 36, placing it just behind ActivTrades overall for educational support.
| Feature |
ActivTrades
|
Eightcap
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | 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 Eightcap. ActivTrades finished with an overall rank of #28, while Eightcap finished with an overall rank of #30.
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
|
Eightcap
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 80 | 87 |
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ActivTrades vs Eightcap: neither broker lets you buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrencies, but both offer cryptocurrency CFDs (not the underlying coins).
Comparing online brokers ActivTrades vs Eightcap for deposit and withdrawal methods: neither supports ACH or SEPA transfers, both offer Skrill and bank wire funding, and only Eightcap supports PayPal.
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 | ActivTrades | Eightcap | |
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| Trust Score | 80 | 87 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | ActivTrades Review | Eightcap Review |
| Broker Screenshots | ActivTrades | Eightcap | |
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| Regulation | ActivTrades | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 80 | 87 | |
| Year Founded | 2001 | 2009 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | ||
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 3 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 2 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | ActivTrades | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (FSA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | No | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | No | ||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | No | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | ActivTrades | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | ||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | No | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or CMA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No |
| Investments | ActivTrades | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1267 | 803 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 49 | 55 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (CFDs) | 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 | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Spread-only account | 1.08 | 1.0 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | 0.92 | 0.76 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Agency | No | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | ActivTrades | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $100 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | ActivTrades | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | No | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | No | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | ActivTrades | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 100 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | ActivTrades | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 100 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | ActivTrades | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | ActivTrades | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | ActivTrades | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| Review | ActivTrades Review | Eightcap Review |
| Overall | ActivTrades | Eightcap | |
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| Trust Score | 80 | 87 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | ActivTrades Review | Eightcap Review |
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