Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of FinecoBank 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.
FinecoBank and ActivTrades are two notable online brokers offering distinct features and trust scores. Founded in 1999, FinecoBank has established itself as a publicly traded company and operates as a bank, adding an additional layer of trust given its banking status. It holds two Tier-1 licenses, which are deemed highly reliable by ForexBrokers.com, contributing to its high Trust Score of 94 out of 99. This score places FinecoBank among the highly trusted brokers, offering users a sense of security and confidence when engaging in their trading activities.
ActivTrades, founded in 2001, holds a strong position in the online trading market but is not publicly traded and does not operate as a bank. Like FinecoBank, it holds two Tier-1 licenses, indicating a high level of trust. Additionally, it possesses one Tier-2 license, which is also considered trustworthy. With a Trust Score of 81, ActivTrades is rated as trusted by ForexBrokers.com, making it a reliable choice for traders looking for a reputable broker. Both brokers provide robust regulatory standards, making them solid choices for anyone looking to trade online.
| Feature |
FinecoBank
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1999 | 2001 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | Yes | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 2 |
When comparing the commissions and fees of FinecoBank and ActivTrades, several differences emerge. FinecoBank does not disclose average spread data for forex and CFD trading, which makes it hard to evaluate its actual trading costs. The broker lists spreads of 1 pip and 0.8 pips for the EUR/USD pair, but these figures are not confirmed as average values and lack a specified date range. Despite this, Fineco appears to offer relatively lower spreads on index CFDs. On the other hand, ActivTrades has slightly better spreads than the industry average, though not the lowest among peers. FinecoBank receives a 3.5-star rating and ranks 50th among 62 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com in the Commissions and Fees category.
ActivTrades offers a comprehensive lineup of account types, including an Individual Account, Professional Account, and an Islamic Account, catering to various trading needs. Traders have the option to utilize a demo account to practice risk-free trading. While there is no specialized account for high-volume traders or discounts for active trading, the spreads at ActivTrades are relatively competitive. For instance, the average spread for the EUR/USD in May 2024 was approximately 0.98 pips. ActivTrades scores a 4-star rating and holds the 28th position in ForexBrokers.com's rankings for the Commissions and Fees category.
Overall, ActivTrades generally provides more favorable conditions in terms of spreads and has a higher ranking and star rating than FinecoBank. Both brokers charge fees that are influenced by the assets traded, but transparency remains better with ActivTrades, as they list target spreads and provide more detailed account options, giving traders a clearer sense of potential costs involved.
| Feature |
FinecoBank
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $0 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | N/A | 0.98 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | No |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | No | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
When comparing the range of investments offered by FinecoBank and ActivTrades, both brokers provide opportunities for trading in forex as CFDs, with FinecoBank providing access to 54 forex pairs and ActivTrades offering 49. FinecoBank impressively extends its catalog to 9,770 tradeable symbols, whereas ActivTrades offers 1,267. This broad array includes exchange-traded securities on U.S. and international exchanges for FinecoBank clients, allowing them to invest directly in popular stocks like Apple and Vodafone. Conversely, ActivTrades doesn't offer U.S. exchange securities but does provide access to international ones. Moreover, FinecoBank does not currently support copy trading, which is a feature available with ActivTrades.
Cryptocurrency enthusiasts might notice differences as well. Neither FinecoBank nor ActivTrades allow buying actual cryptocurrencies, yet ActivTrades offers cryptocurrency derivatives—an option not available through FinecoBank. These offerings have led to rating differences, with FinecoBank receiving 4.5 stars for its range of investments compared to ActivTrades's 4 stars. Furthermore, in a ranking of 62 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, FinecoBank is positioned at #16, showcasing its broader investment range, while ActivTrades is ranked at #31.
| Feature |
FinecoBank
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 9770 | 1267 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 54 | 49 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | No | No |
| Cryptocurrency (Derivative) | No | 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.
FinecoBank and ActivTrades offer traders various tools on their platforms, each catering to different needs. FinecoBank provides a proprietary platform unique to them, available on both desktop and web-based interfaces, but it lacks a simulated trading option, which ActivTrades offers through its free virtual demo account. ActivTrades not only matches FinecoBank by providing a proprietary platform for Windows-based and web-based trading but also offers additional features like copy trading and popular tools such as MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, which are absent in FinecoBank's offerings.
While FinecoBank and ActivTrades both receive a 4-star rating for Trading Platforms and Tools, they differ in their specific functionalities. ActivTrades has a wider selection of drawing tools for charting, totaling 15 compared to FinecoBank's 7, and allows traders to execute trades directly from stock charts, a feature FinecoBank lacks. Furthermore, ActivTrades supports comprehensive watch lists with 11 columns, while details for FinecoBank's watch lists are not specified. Despite these differences, FinecoBank slightly outperforms ActivTrades in rankings by ForexBrokers.com, placing 18th compared to ActivTrades’ 30th position out of 62 brokers in the Trading Platforms and Tools category.
| Feature |
FinecoBank
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | No | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 37 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 7 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | No | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | N/A | 11 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
FinecoBank and ActivTrades both offer mobile apps for iPhone and Android users, enabling easy access to stock and forex markets on-the-go. Both apps provide notifications for important price alerts, ensuring traders stay informed about significant market changes. However, when it comes to syncing watchlists between mobile and online platforms, neither broker offers this feature, meaning users need to manage watchlists separately on each platform. Both apps do allow viewing of multiple time frames on charts, which is a handy tool for traders needing quick insights from daily, weekly, or intraday data.
When delving deeper into charting features, ActivTrades stands out with 30 technical studies available, compared to FinecoBank's six. ActivTrades also allows drawing trendlines and automatically saves these drawings, unlike FinecoBank. Furthermore, ActivTrades offers real-time quotes within watchlists, a feature not provided by FinecoBank. Despite these differences, both apps have achieved a solid rating of four out of five stars for mobile trading. However, ActivTrades ranks significantly higher at #19 compared to FinecoBank’s #42 in ForexBrokers.com's 62-broker evaluation for mobile trading apps.
| Feature |
FinecoBank
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 6 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | No | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | No | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlist | No | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When comparing the market research offerings of FinecoBank and ActivTrades, several key differences and similarities arise. Both brokers provide forex news from renowned sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, ensuring traders have access to top-tier information. They also offer comprehensive economic calendars to keep users informed of global financial events. However, when it comes to daily market commentary, ActivTrades stands out by providing this valuable insight, while FinecoBank does not offer the same service. Additionally, ActivTrades gives its clients a sentiment-based trading tool that showcases the ratio of long or short positions across various currency pairs, a feature FinecoBank lacks.
In terms of third-party research tools, neither FinecoBank nor ActivTrades offers tools from companies like Autochartist, Trading Central, or Acuity Trading. Furthermore, market research from TipRanks is not available with either broker. Despite these limitations, both brokers hold a rating of 4 stars for research capabilities. In a ranking of 62 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, FinecoBank is positioned at #33, slightly trailing behind ActivTrades, which holds the #30 spot. This suggests that although both brokers provide a solid foundation for market research, ActivTrades may offer slight advantages in some areas.
| Feature |
FinecoBank
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | No | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | No | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When comparing the educational resources offered by FinecoBank and ActivTrades for those new to online trading, several differences emerge. FinecoBank provides a wealth of beginner-focused videos to help newcomers understand trading concepts, as well as an extensive investor dictionary with essential investing terms. Additionally, their regular webinars offer an opportunity for learning, although they don't maintain a searchable archive of these sessions for later viewing. On the other hand, while FinecoBank covers basic education well, it falls short in delivering extensive material on forex or CFDs and lacks advanced educational videos aimed at experienced traders.
ActivTrades, in contrast, offers a more diverse range of educational content for both beginners and seasoned traders alike, with a significant focus on forex and CFDs. Their collection includes both beginner and advanced videos, ensuring a comprehensive learning experience as you progress. ActivTrades also goes a step further by providing a searchable archive of recorded webinars, allowing users to revisit sessions at their convenience. However, they do not offer an investing dictionary. Despite these divergences, both brokers have garnered similar ratings for education, earning 4 stars out of 5, yet ActivTrades is ranked slightly higher by ForexBrokers.com in the education category.
| Feature |
FinecoBank
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | No | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | No | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | No | Yes |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 62 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that FinecoBank is better than ActivTrades. FinecoBank finished with an overall rank of #25, while ActivTrades finished with an overall rank of #33.
FinecoBank is a trusted multi-asset broker offering forex and CFDs across its brands regulated in the U.K. and Italy. However, unless you visit a physical branch as a citizen of the EU – or you are a resident of Italy or the U.K. – you will not be permitted to open an online account with FinecoBank.
| Feature |
FinecoBank
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ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 94 | 81 |
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FinecoBank does not offer the ability to buy actual cryptocurrency or cryptocurrency derivatives, while ActivTrades does not provide actual cryptocurrency purchases but does allow for trading in cryptocurrency derivatives.
FinecoBank supports ACH, SEPA transfers, and bank wires for deposits and withdrawals but does not support PayPal, Skrill, or card payments, whereas ActivTrades facilitates deposits and withdrawals via Skrill, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wires but lacks ACH or SEPA transfer options and does not support 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 | FinecoBank | ActivTrades | |
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| Trust Score | 94 | 81 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | FinecoBank Review | ActivTrades Review |
| Broker Screenshots | FinecoBank | ActivTrades | |
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| Regulation | FinecoBank | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 94 | 81 | |
| Year Founded | 1999 | 2001 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 2 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 2 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | FinecoBank | 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) | FinecoBank | 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 | FinecoBank | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 9770 | 1267 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 54 | 49 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | No | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (Derivative) | No | 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 | FinecoBank | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | N/A | 0.98 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | Yes | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | No | Yes |
| Funding | FinecoBank | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $0 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | No | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | FinecoBank | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | FinecoBank | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | No | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | No | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | N/A | 11 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 37 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 7 | 15 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | No | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | FinecoBank | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | No | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 6 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | FinecoBank | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | No | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | No | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | FinecoBank | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | No | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | No | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | No | Yes | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | FinecoBank | 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 | FinecoBank Review | ActivTrades Review |
| Overall | FinecoBank | ActivTrades | |
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| Trust Score | 94 | 81 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | FinecoBank Review | ActivTrades Review |
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