Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Fineco 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.
Fineco and ActivTrades are both well-established online brokers, with Fineco being founded in 1999 and ActivTrades in 2001. Fineco is publicly traded and functions as a bank, which might offer an added layer of assurance for some investors. In terms of regulatory trust, both brokers hold two Tier-1 licenses, signifying a high level of trust. However, Fineco enjoys a superior Trust Score of 94 out of 99 according to ForexBrokers.com, compared to ActivTrades' Trust Score of 81.
While both brokers offer a trusted experience, ActivTrades falls slightly behind in regulatory strength with one additional Tier-2 license. This, coupled with the company's privately held status and non-bank operation, might make it less attractive to investors prioritizing regulatory backing. In contrast, Fineco's standing as a public entity and a bank, alongside its higher Trust Score, might appeal to those seeking high transparency and security.
| Feature |
Fineco
|
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 Fineco and ActivTrades, there are several key differences to consider. Fineco does not disclose average spread data for forex and CFD trading, which limits transparency in their trading costs. However, Fineco lists a spread of 1 pip and occasionally 0.8 pips for the EUR/USD, although without specifying if these figures are averages or tied to a particular time frame. Fineco's spreads tend to be higher than typical forex broker spreads, though they tend to offer lower spreads on index CFDs. Fineco holds a 3.5-star rating and ranks 51st out of 63 brokers for commissions and fees.
In contrast, ActivTrades provides slightly better-than-average spreads, but it does not reach the low levels offered by some of the most competitive forex brokers. The broker offers an Individual Account as its main option, along with a Professional Account and an Islamic Account for Sharia-compliant trading. Although there is no specific account type for high-volume traders or active trader pricing, ActivTrades spreads are consistent across account types. ActivTrades provides detailed target spreads, although actual spreads can vary depending on market conditions. Their EUR/USD average spread for May 2024 was documented at 0.98 pips. ActivTrades has earned a 4-star rating and is ranked 28th among 63 brokers for commissions and fees.
| Feature |
Fineco
|
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 Fineco and ActivTrades on their range of investments, both brokers offer a commendable selection but cater to slightly different investment preferences. Fineco stands out by providing a substantial 9,770 tradeable symbols and 54 forex pairs. It also allows for direct investment in exchange-traded securities on both U.S. and international markets, such as Apple and Vodafone shares. On the other hand, ActivTrades features 1,267 tradeable symbols and 49 forex pairs, and it does not offer the buying of exchange-traded securities on U.S. exchanges. However, it compensates by offering copy trading services, which Fineco does not, and allows the purchase of cryptocurrency derivatives.
In terms of ratings, Fineco scores 4.5 out of 5 stars for its range of investments and ranks 16th out of 63 brokers as per ForexBrokers.com. ActivTrades, while slightly behind with a 4-star rating, holds the 31st position. Both brokers offer forex trading in the form of CFDs or spot contracts but differ in specific features and available markets, making Fineco a broader option for securities and ActivTrades a viable choice for those interested in crypto derivatives and copy trading.
| Feature |
Fineco
|
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.
Fineco and ActivTrades both offer solid platforms for traders, but they cater to slightly different needs. Fineco excels with its proprietary platform, available for Windows-based desktop and through web browsers. However, it lacks simulated trading options such as a free virtual demo account, which ActivTrades provides. Both brokers offer distinctive features, but Fineco does not support MetaTrader 4 or MetaTrader 5, while ActivTrades embraces these popular trading platforms, enhancing its appeal to MetaTrader enthusiasts. Additionally, Fineco does not support copy trading, a feature that ActivTrades offers, potentially broadening its user base among those interested in mirroring the trades of others.
ActivTrades offers a richer toolset with 15 drawing tools for charting compared to Fineco's seven. It also allows users to trade directly from stock charts, unlike Fineco. When it comes to organizing trades, ActivTrades provides 11 fields for watch lists, whereas Fineco lacks this feature. Despite these differences, both brokers are rated four stars for their trading platforms and tools. However, Fineco is ranked higher at #18 by ForexBrokers.com, compared to ActivTrades at #30, which could influence traders prioritizing platform reputation.
| Feature |
Fineco
|
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.
Both Fineco and ActivTrades cater to mobile traders with apps available for iPhone and Android devices. They support essential features like stock and forex price alerts and allow users to view different time frames on charts. Although both apps enable significant trading functionalities, ActivTrades takes a step ahead with a more advanced charting experience, providing 30 technical studies compared to Fineco's 6. Furthermore, ActivTrades allows users to draw trendlines and save these drawings automatically, a feature absent in the Fineco app.
While Fineco and ActivTrades do not offer watchlist syncing between devices, ActivTrades enhances user experience by providing real-time quotes in watchlists. Both apps receive a solid four-star rating for mobile trading, but ActivTrades holds a higher ranking at #19 compared to Fineco's #42 in the Mobile Trading Apps category as evaluated by ForexBrokers.com. Whether you're looking for more sophisticated charting tools or real-time watchlist capabilities, ActivTrades appears to cater better to these needs among mobile traders.
| Feature |
Fineco
|
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 features provided by Fineco and ActivTrades, several differences and similarities emerge. ActivTrades stands out by offering daily market commentary and a sentiment-based trading tool that displays the ratio of long or short positions across currency pairs and other instruments. This feature provides ActivTrades users with insights that could influence trading decisions. In contrast, Fineco does not provide either of these offerings. Both brokers deliver forex news from major sources like Bloomberg and Reuters and include an economic calendar to keep traders informed of global financial events. However, neither Fineco nor ActivTrades offer technical analysis tools from companies like Autochartist or Trading Central, and they do not provide market research from TipRanks or tools from Acuity Trading.
In terms of research ratings, both brokers score 4 out of 5 stars. Despite their equal ratings, ForexBrokers.com ranks ActivTrades slightly higher at 30th place while Fineco is positioned at 33rd among 63 brokers. This ranking might suggest that, although close in performance, ActivTrades may have a slight edge over Fineco in the research category. Ultimately, the choice between the two will depend on individual preferences, particularly in the context of the features that each trader values most in their trading strategy.
| Feature |
Fineco
|
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 Fineco and ActivTrades for educational resources aimed at beginners, both online brokers offer unique advantages. Fineco provides a series of online educational webinars monthly and features a broad selection of beginner-focused trading videos. Additionally, Fineco includes an investor dictionary with definitions for over 50 investing terms, which can be a helpful resource for those new to trading. However, Fineco lacks a wide range of forex or CFDs-specific educational content and doesn't provide a searchable archive of recorded webinars, potentially limiting learning opportunities in these specific areas.
ActivTrades, on the other hand, excels in offering forex and CFDs education, with over 10 educational pieces such as articles and videos dedicated to these subjects. Like Fineco, ActivTrades conducts monthly educational webinars and has a comprehensive library of beginner videos. Furthermore, ActivTrades goes a step further with advanced trading videos and offers a searchable archive of past webinars, enhancing accessibility to learning materials. While ActivTrades lacks an investor dictionary, it still holds a commendable 4-star rating for education, comparable to Fineco's rating. Ultimately, ActivTrades ranks higher in the educational category, coming in at #38 compared to Fineco's #49 among 63 brokers. Both brokers have strengths, but ActivTrades presents a more extensive array of advanced educational content for beginners to explore as they evolve as traders.
| Feature |
Fineco
|
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 63 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that Fineco is better than ActivTrades. Fineco 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 |
Fineco
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ActivTrades
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| Trust Score | 94 | 81 |
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While Fineco does not provide options for purchasing actual delivered cryptocurrencies or cryptocurrency derivatives, ActivTrades stands out by offering the ability to trade in cryptocurrency derivatives, though neither platform allows buying actual cryptocurrencies.
When choosing between online brokers Fineco and ActivTrades, Fineco supports ACH and SEPA transfers as well as bank wires for depositing or withdrawing funds, while ActivTrades also supports bank wires but not ACH or SEPA transfers, instead offering Skrill and credit card options such as Visa and Mastercard, with both platforms not supporting PayPal 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 | Fineco | ActivTrades | |
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| Trust Score | 94 | 81 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Fineco Review | ActivTrades Review |
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| Regulation | Fineco | 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) | Fineco | 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) | Fineco | 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 | Fineco | 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 | Fineco | 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 | Fineco | 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 | Fineco | 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 | Fineco | 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 | Fineco | 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 | Fineco | 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 | Fineco | 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 | Fineco | 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 | Fineco Review | ActivTrades Review |
| Overall | Fineco | ActivTrades | |
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| Trust Score | 94 | 81 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Fineco Review | ActivTrades Review |
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