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 two reputable online brokers with distinct regulatory profiles. ActivTrades, established in 2001, holds two Tier-1 licenses, which indicates a high level of trust according to ForexBrokers.com. Additionally, they possess one Tier-2 license, classifying them as trusted. Their Trust Score is 81 out of 99, placing them in the trusted category. Although they are not publicly traded nor operate as a bank, they remain a solid choice for those seeking a reliable trading platform.
Founded in 2009, Eightcap boasts a robust regulatory framework with three Tier-1 licenses, reflecting a high level of trust. Unlike ActivTrades, Eightcap does not hold any Tier-2 licenses but still earns a superior Trust Score of 85 out of 99, placing them higher on the trust scale. Similar to ActivTrades, Eightcap is neither publicly traded nor a banking institution, yet offers a secure environment for online traders.
| Feature |
ActivTrades
|
Eightcap
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2001 | 2009 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 3 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
When comparing commissions and fees between ActivTrades and Eightcap, both brokers receive similar ratings, each earning 4 out of 5 stars. However, their fee structures differ in unique ways. ActivTrades, ranked #28 out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, primarily offers an Individual Account alongside Professional and Islamic Account options. These accounts feature industry-average spreads, with a noted average spread of 0.98 pips for EUR/USD in May 2024. The spreads are competitive but not the lowest in the market, and without distinct advantages for high-volume traders, the fees are largely dictated by the assets traded.
In contrast, Eightcap, ranked slightly higher at #26, offers two distinct account types: the commission-based Raw account and the spread-only Standard account. The Raw account lists an average spread of 0.06 pips but brings costs to approximately 0.76 pips when accounting for a $3.50 per-side commission. While Eightcap's fees are just below the industry average, they are generally higher compared to the lowest-cost forex brokers, reflecting a slightly more expensive trading environment.
Overall, both ActivTrades and Eightcap provide solid and comparable offerings in terms of commissions and fees. Traders should consider these slight differences alongside their specific trading needs and strategies to determine the best fit between these two brokers.
| Feature |
ActivTrades
|
Eightcap
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $100 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.98 | 1.0 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | 0.76 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | No |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| 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 ActivTrades and Eightcap, both brokers provide forex trading as CFDs or spot contracts, making them competitive options for those interested in currency trading. ActivTrades edges out Eightcap by offering a larger collection of 1,267 tradeable symbols compared to Eightcap's 800. However, Eightcap slightly surpasses ActivTrades in terms of tradeable forex pairs, offering 56 to ActivTrades' 49. When it comes to exchange-traded securities on U.S. exchanges, neither broker permits clients to purchase individual shares like Apple, yet ActivTrades stands out by allowing investments in international exchange-traded securities such as Vodafone shares, while Eightcap does not provide this option.
Both ActivTrades and Eightcap support copy trading, empowering traders to follow and replicate experienced investors' strategies. In the realm of cryptocurrency, neither broker allows the purchase of actual digital currencies, but both offer trading in cryptocurrency derivatives. For their range of investments, ActivTrades receives a 4-star rating, placing it 31st among 63 brokers, while Eightcap earns a 3.5-star rating, ranking 40th. This indicates that ActivTrades may provide a broader investment selection, appealing to a diverse set of trading preferences.
| Feature |
ActivTrades
|
Eightcap
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1267 | 800 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 49 | 56 |
| 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 it comes to trading platforms and tools, both ActivTrades and Eightcap offer traders comprehensive options to enhance their trading experience. ActivTrades stands out with its proprietary platform, giving users a unique option developed in-house, alongside the popular MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5) platforms also supported by Eightcap. Both brokers provide simulated or paper trading through free virtual demo accounts, a useful feature for traders seeking to practice or test strategies without financial risk. They also deliver on versatility with Windows-based desktop and browser-based trading platforms, catering to different user preferences.
ActivTrades and Eightcap both entice users with robust charting capabilities, featuring 15 drawing tools and the ability to trade directly from stock charts. However, ActivTrades edges out on watch list customization, offering 11 fields compared to Eightcap's seven. Both brokers support copy trading but lack offerings like DupliTrade and ZuluTrade. Rated equally with four stars and ranked closely by ForexBrokers.com—ActivTrades at #30 and Eightcap at #38—traders might base their choice on specific platform preferences and additional minor features offered by these two reliable brokers.
| Feature |
ActivTrades
|
Eightcap
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | No |
| 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 apps, both ActivTrades and Eightcap offer comprehensive solutions for traders on the go. Available for both iPhone and Android devices, these apps provide essential features to cater to the needs of traders. Users can benefit from stock and forex price alerts and can draw trendlines and access multiple time frames, like daily or weekly charts, on both platforms. Real-time quotes on customizable watchlists are also available, ensuring traders stay up-to-date with market changes. ActivTrades and Eightcap match stride in the number of technical studies offered, both providing 30 options for detailed chart analysis.
While both platforms have earned a solid four-star rating for their mobile trading apps, key differences are worth noting. Eightcap offers the added benefit of watchlist symbol syncing, allowing seamless updates between the mobile app and a client's online account, a feature ActivTrades does not provide. Despite this advantage, ActivTrades holds a higher ranking in the Mobile Trading Apps category by ForexBrokers.com, placed at 19th out of 63 brokers compared to Eightcap's 38th place. This ranking distinction highlights ActivTrades as a slightly more favored choice among the trading community.
| Feature |
ActivTrades
|
Eightcap
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | Yes |
| 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.
When it comes to market research, both ActivTrades and Eightcap provide daily market commentary, keeping traders informed about the latest happenings. ActivTrades goes the extra mile by offering forex news sourced from top-tier platforms such as Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones. In contrast, Eightcap does not provide such top-level news sources. Both brokers offer sentiment-based trading tools, which help traders see the ratio of long or short positions across various instruments, enhancing their market understanding.
Both ActivTrades and Eightcap provide an economic calendar feature, helping traders stay updated on important global events. However, neither of the brokers utilizes popular technical analysis tools from Autochartist or Trading Central, nor do they provide market insights from TipRanks or Acuity Trading. According to ForexBrokers.com, ActivTrades is rated 4 stars for research and ranks 30th out of 63 brokers, while Eightcap is rated 3.5 stars and ranks 39th. These ratings indicate that ActivTrades is slightly ahead in offering broader research resources.
| Feature |
ActivTrades
|
Eightcap
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 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 available to beginners, both ActivTrades and Eightcap provide a solid foundation with a range of materials including articles, videos, and archived webinars focused on forex and CFD education. ActivTrades stands out by offering regular online educational webinars monthly, a feature not available with Eightcap. Both brokers maintain searchable archives of their past webinars, making it easy for beginners to access and learn at their own pace. ActivTrades is notable for its comprehensive collection of beginner educational videos, as well as providing content for more advanced traders, something Eightcap lacks, offering no advanced videos.
ActivTrades is rated higher overall for its educational offerings with 4 out of 5 stars compared to Eightcap's 3.5 stars. Furthermore, Eightcap provides a valuable investor dictionary that comes in handy for those new to trading, a feature not available with ActivTrades. In rankings by ForexBrokers.com, ActivTrades is placed slightly higher at #38 out of 63 brokers in the Education category, while Eightcap follows closely at #40. This indicates that while both brokers cater to beginner traders, ActivTrades may offer a broader range of educational tools, especially for those looking to progress to advanced levels of trading.
| Feature |
ActivTrades
|
Eightcap
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | No | Yes |
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 #33, while Eightcap finished with an overall rank of #38.
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 | 81 | 85 |
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Both ActivTrades and Eightcap provide the option to trade cryptocurrency derivatives, but neither platform supports the purchase of actual (delivered) cryptocurrency.
When comparing online brokers ActivTrades and Eightcap regarding deposit and withdrawal options, neither offers ACH or SEPA transfers, but while Eightcap supports PayPal, ActivTrades does not; both brokers, however, provide the convenience of using Skrill, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wires for transactions.
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 | 81 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | ActivTrades Review | Eightcap Review |
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| Regulation | ActivTrades | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 81 | 85 | |
| Year Founded | 2001 | 2009 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | No | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 3 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | ActivTrades | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | No | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | No | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | ActivTrades | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1267 | 800 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 49 | 56 | |
| 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 | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.98 | 1.0 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | 0.76 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | ActivTrades | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $100 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| 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 | ActivTrades | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | No | |
| 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 | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | Yes | |
| 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 | Yes |
| Research | ActivTrades | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | ActivTrades | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | No | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | ActivTrades | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Eightcap Review |
| Overall | ActivTrades | Eightcap | |
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| Trust Score | 81 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | ActivTrades Review | Eightcap Review |
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