Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of eToro 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.
Founded in 2007, eToro stands out as a highly trusted online broker with a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 96 out of 99. This platform, available for public trading, boasts 3 Tier-1 licenses, reflecting its commitment to secure and reliable trading services. Although eToro is not a bank, its regulatory status is reinforced by an additional Tier-2 license, further consolidating its reputation in the industry.
In comparison, ActivTrades, established in 2001, holds a Trust Score of 81, positioning it as a trusted broker. While not publicly traded, ActivTrades upholds its credibility through 2 Tier-1 licenses and 1 Tier-2 license. Both brokers ensure non-banking, user-friendly experiences, yet eToro’s slightly higher regulatory standing might appeal to those prioritizing stringent oversight in their trading activities.
| Feature |
eToro
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2007 | 2001 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 3 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 2 |
When comparing eToro and ActivTrades for commissions and fees, both brokers present distinct offerings. eToro, a market-maker broker, typically features a variable spread of 1 pip on the EUR/USD pair, which is slightly above the industry average. Rather than choosing eToro for its spreads, traders often opt for its social copy trading platform. The broker offers a VIP program, the eToro Club, with five membership tiers ranging from Silver to Diamond, providing benefits like access to Trading Central, discounted fees, and dedicated account managers. For commissions and fees, eToro has a star rating of 4.5 out of 5 and is ranked #22 out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com.
ActivTrades, on the other hand, offers competitive spreads slightly better than the industry average, though they may not match the lowest-cost brokers. They provide an Individual Account, as well as Professional and Islamic Accounts. While the spreads remain the same across these account types, the Professional Account offers lower margin requirements. The spreads vary throughout trading sessions, particularly during rollover periods. With a primary focus on versatility across asset types, ActivTrades rates 4 out of 5 stars for commissions and fees and holds the #28 position in ForexBrokers.com’s ranking of 63 brokers.
Overall, eToro and ActivTrades have their unique strengths. eToro draws traders with its social trading and VIP perks, while ActivTrades appeals to those seeking relatively lower spreads and account versatility. Both platforms present valuable offerings depending on a trader’s preferences and priorities in the trading experience.
| Feature |
eToro
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $50-$10,000 | $0 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1 | 0.98 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | 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.
eToro and ActivTrades are known for their diverse offerings in the world of online trading, but they differ significantly in their range of investments. eToro boasts a vast selection with 5,461 tradeable symbols, including 55 forex pairs and offers direct access to exchange-traded securities on both U.S. and international markets. This means you can purchase popular stocks like Apple directly, alongside other assets such as forex, cryptocurrencies, and more. Unique features like copy trading and the ability to buy actual cryptocurrencies further expand its appeal. eToro’s comprehensive array has earned it a top-tier 5-star rating and a #10 rank for Range of Investments by ForexBrokers.com.
ActivTrades, while smaller in scale, still presents a strong offering with 1,267 tradeable symbols, including 49 forex pairs. Unlike eToro, it does not offer direct access to U.S. exchange-traded securities, but it does provide access to international stocks and allows trading of cryptocurrency derivatives. Like eToro, ActivTrades supports copy trading, which can enhance trading strategies for users who prefer watching and learning from other traders. With a 4-star rating and a #31 rank in the Range of Investments category by ForexBrokers.com, ActivTrades is a solid choice for those who may not need the extensive options that eToro offers.
| Feature |
eToro
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 5461 | 1267 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 55 | 49 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | Yes | 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.
Both eToro and ActivTrades provide valuable trading platforms equipped with various tools to meet the needs of modern traders. eToro shines with its proprietary, web-based platform and offers a free virtual demo account for novices to practice trading. It is particularly popular for its copy trading feature, making it easy for users to mirror the trades of experienced investors. Although eToro does not support MetaTrader 4 or 5, it compensates with a comprehensive set of 161 drawing tools for charting and maintains an easy-to-use interface with six columns for watch lists. Despite lacking a desktop platform, eToro stands out with a high rating of 4.5 stars and an impressive ranking of 8th out of 63 brokers for its trading platforms and tools.
On the other hand, ActivTrades caters to traders who prefer a traditional desktop experience, offering proprietary tools alongside well-known platforms like MetaTrader 4 and 5. This broker also provides a web-based platform and a free virtual demo account, supporting diverse trading experiences. ActivTrades allows trading directly from a stock chart and utilizes 11 columns for its watch lists, albeit with fewer drawing tools (15) than eToro. Its overall rating for trading platforms and tools is 4 stars, with a ranking of 30th out of 63 brokers. While both brokers have unique advantages, eToro is tailored for social trading enthusiasts, while ActivTrades appeals to those looking for an enhanced desktop and charting experience.
| Feature |
eToro
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | No | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 104 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 161 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | No | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 6 | 11 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
When it comes to choosing a mobile trading app, both eToro and ActivTrades offer strong options for users with iPhone and Android devices. Both platforms provide essential features like stock and forex price alerts, and the ability to view multiple time frames on a chart. However, eToro gives users the advantage of having their watchlists sync between the mobile app and online account, allowing for seamless transitions and updates no matter where you are. In contrast, ActivTrades does not support this feature. eToro also boasts a significantly larger selection of technical studies with 104 options available for charting, compared to ActivTrades' 30.
Despite some missing features like drawing trendlines, eToro's mobile app earns a higher user rating of 4.5 stars out of 5, surpassing ActivTrades, which holds a 4-star rating. Moreover, eToro is ranked #10 out of 63 brokers for mobile trading apps in ForexBrokers.com's list, while ActivTrades is positioned at #19. While both platforms enable the creation of watchlists with real-time quotes, ActivTrades' app has the added advantage of auto-saving chart drawings, providing a more convenient experience for users who focus on technical analyses. Overall, both apps cater well to mobile traders, but eToro's syncing capability and extensive technical studies may appeal more to those who prioritize data versatility and connectivity.
| Feature |
eToro
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 104 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | No | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | No | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
Both eToro and ActivTrades provide traders with daily market commentary and access to an economic calendar that helps keep users informed of global news events. However, they differ in the range of market research tools and sources available to their users. For example, eToro offers forex news from in-house sources but lacks top-tier news feeds from outlets like Bloomberg or Reuters, whereas ActivTrades delivers news coverage from such well-regarded agencies. When it comes to technical analysis, eToro stands out by leveraging Trading Central's tools, offering users detailed technical insights, whereas ActivTrades does not provide these features. Additionally, eToro provides access to TipRanks market research, a service absent in ActivTrades' offerings.
Both brokers include sentiment-based trading tools for gauging market activity, yet their approach to research leads to different consumer experiences. ActivTrades, despite lacking some of the sophisticated tools eToro provides, remains a solid option for those seeking a more traditional news source for their forex updates. In terms of research quality, eToro edges out slightly ahead as evidenced by its 4.5-star research rating and its #13 research ranking by ForexBrokers.com, compared to ActivTrades' 4-star rating and #30 ranking. Therefore, traders focused on receiving comprehensive research and market insights might lean towards eToro for its broader array of resources, while those prioritizing forex news from industry-leading sources might consider ActivTrades a suitable choice.
| Feature |
eToro
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | No |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | Yes | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When comparing educational resources for beginners between eToro and ActivTrades, both online brokers offer a wide array of learning tools. eToro and ActivTrades each provide more than 10 educational materials focused on forex and CFDs, including articles, videos, and archived webinars. They also host at least one educational webinar monthly and maintain a searchable archive of past webinars. Both brokers cater to beginners and experienced traders alike, featuring more than 10 videos tailored to each audience.
Where eToro holds a distinct advantage is in offering a comprehensive investor dictionary with over 50 investment term definitions, a feature that ActivTrades does not provide. This additional resource might be why eToro receives a slightly higher educational rating of 4.5 stars compared to ActivTrades' 4 stars. Ranking-wise, eToro stands at an impressive 5th place in the education category among 63 brokers evaluated by ForexBrokers.com, while ActivTrades is positioned at 38th. Overall, eToro slightly edges out ActivTrades in terms of educational offerings that cater to beginners.
| Feature |
eToro
|
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 eToro is better than ActivTrades. eToro finished with an overall rank of #9, while ActivTrades finished with an overall rank of #33.
eToro is a winner for its easy-to-use copy-trading platform, where traders can copy the trades of experienced investors – or receive exclusive perks for sharing their own trading strategies.
| Feature |
eToro
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ActivTrades
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|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 96 | 81 |
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eToro provides users the option to purchase both actual cryptocurrencies and cryptocurrency derivatives, while ActivTrades offers access solely to cryptocurrency derivatives.
When comparing online brokers eToro and ActivTrades, eToro offers more diverse banking options including ACH/SEPA transfers and PayPal in addition to common mediums like Skrill, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wires, whereas ActivTrades supports Skrill, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wires but does not accommodate ACH/SEPA transfers or 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 | eToro | ActivTrades | |
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| Trust Score | 96 | 81 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | eToro Review | ActivTrades Review |
| Broker Screenshots | eToro | ActivTrades | |
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| Regulation | eToro | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 96 | 81 | |
| Year Founded | 2007 | 2001 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 3 | 2 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 2 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | eToro | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| 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). | Yes | No |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | eToro | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | eToro | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 5461 | 1267 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 55 | 49 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | Yes | 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 | eToro | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1 | 0.98 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | eToro | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $50-$10,000 | $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 | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | eToro | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | No | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | eToro | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 6 | 11 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 104 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 161 | 15 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | No | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | eToro | 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 | 104 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | No | Yes |
| Research | eToro | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | Yes | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | eToro | 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 | eToro | 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 | eToro Review | ActivTrades Review |
| Overall | eToro | ActivTrades | |
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| Trust Score | 96 | 81 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | eToro Review | ActivTrades Review |
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