Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of FP Markets 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.
FP Markets and ActivTrades are both prominent online brokers with a strong presence in the trading world. Founded in 2005, FP Markets holds two Tier-1 licenses and one Tier-2 license, reflecting its solid regulatory backing. While not publicly traded or a bank, FP Markets boasts a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 89 out of 99, classifying it as a trusted broker according to industry standards.
Established in 2001, ActivTrades also holds two Tier-1 licenses and one Tier-2 license, indicating a reliable regulatory structure. Like FP Markets, ActivTrades is neither publicly traded nor a bank. It holds a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 81, placing it within the trusted category, though slightly lower than FP Markets. Both brokers provide trustworthy services, but FP Markets carries a slightly higher trust rating among traders.
| Feature |
FP Markets
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2005 | 2001 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 2 |
FP Markets is the lower-cost pick for forex traders who want tight spreads and a clear commission structure. Its Raw ECN account averaged 0.1 pips on EUR/USD as of October 2023 (about 0.8 pips all-in after the $6 per round-turn, per standard lot commission), while the Standard account averaged 1.1 pips. You can use these prices on MetaTrader or cTrader. By contrast, ActivTrades’ pricing is solid but not the cheapest: its average EUR/USD spread was 0.98 pips in May 2024, with no separate active-trader discounts. Bottom line on ratings and ranks: FP Markets earns 5/5 stars and ranks #6 of 63 for Commissions and Fees, while ActivTrades earns 4/5 stars and ranks #29 of 63.
Equities and share CFDs at FP Markets use the Iress suite with Direct Market Access and full depth of book. The ViewPoint tiers in Australia require higher minimum deposits (AUD 1,000 Standard; AUD 25,000 Platinum; AUD 50,000 Premier) and you’ll need either the Premier tier or at least AUD 150 in monthly commissions to avoid platform and data fees. The Iress Investor account waives monthly fees but limits features like streaming quotes and advanced charting.
ActivTrades keeps things simple with one main Individual Account, plus Professional and Islamic options; spreads are the same across these accounts, and the Professional label mainly changes margin/leverage. Actual spreads vary by asset and market conditions (they can widen around rollover), and costs will depend on what you trade and the platform you choose. In short, cost-focused forex traders and scalpers may prefer FP Markets’ Raw ECN pricing, while everyday traders who value a straightforward setup may find ActivTrades’ fees acceptable.
| Feature |
FP Markets
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 AUD | $0 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.2 | 0.98 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.7 | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | 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.
FP Markets vs ActivTrades: For sheer variety, FP Markets lists about 10,000 tradeable instruments, far more than ActivTrades’ 1,267. In forex, FP Markets offers 71 currency pairs while ActivTrades has 49. Both brokers support forex trading and CFDs, offer copy trading, and let you trade crypto via derivatives; neither lets you buy actual coins.
If you want real shares, neither broker gives access to U.S.-listed stocks, but ActivTrades does let you buy exchange-traded shares on some international markets, whereas FP Markets does not. Based on ForexBrokers.com’s Range of Investments scores, FP Markets earns 4.5/5 stars and ranks 19th of 63 brokers, while ActivTrades scores 4/5 stars and ranks 32nd. In short, FP Markets is better for overall market variety and more forex pairs, while ActivTrades suits traders who want real international shares alongside CFDs, copy trading, and crypto derivatives.
| Feature |
FP Markets
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 10000 | 1267 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 71 | 49 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | Yes |
| 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.
Comparing FP Markets and ActivTrades for trading platforms and tools, both brokers check the key boxes: free demo (paper) accounts, proprietary platforms alongside MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5), Windows desktop software, and web-based trading. Each supports copy trading and lets you place orders directly from charts. Neither integrates DupliTrade or ZuluTrade. This means traders can test strategies risk-free, pick between in-house and MetaTrader suites, and access platforms from desktop or browser with similar core functionality.
For charting and customization, FP Markets offers 17 drawing tools, while ActivTrades provides 15. Watch lists tilt the other way: FP Markets has 7 fields versus ActivTrades’ 11, which may appeal to traders who track more data at a glance. Both earn 4 out of 5 stars for Trading Platforms and Tools, though FP Markets ranks higher in the category (#23 of 63) than ActivTrades (#32 of 63) on ForexBrokers.com. In short, choose FP Markets if you want a few more charting tools, or ActivTrades if you prefer richer watch list fields—either way, you’ll get strong platform choice and paper trading to practice first.
| Feature |
FP Markets
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes |
| 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) [DELETED] | 17 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 11 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Both FP Markets and ActivTrades offer mobile trading applications compatible with iPhone and Android devices, making it easy for traders to stay connected on the go. Users of either platform can expect to receive real-time stock and forex price alerts, facilitating timely investment decisions. Both apps also allow users to draw trendlines and view stock or forex charts using multiple time frames, whether daily, weekly, or intraday. Additionally, drawings on charts are automatically saved, and traders can create and manage watchlists with real-time quotes. While neither app provides watchlist symbol syncing between the mobile app and online account, each delivers a comprehensive trading experience in its own right.
In terms of technical studies, FP Markets relies on the MetaTrader default setup, whereas ActivTrades offers 30 different technical studies for charting. Both platforms share the same four-star rating for mobile trading apps and are closely ranked, with FP Markets placing 18th and ActivTrades 19th out of 63 brokers reviewed by ForexBrokers.com. These ratings and features demonstrate that both FP Markets and ActivTrades offer reliable and efficient mobile trading solutions suitable for traders seeking flexibility and access to essential trading tools.
| Feature |
FP Markets
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | MetaTrader (Default) | 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.
FP Markets and ActivTrades both cover the essentials for trading research. Each broker delivers daily market commentary and streams forex news from leading sources such as Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones. You also get a sentiment tool that shows long vs. short positioning and an economic calendar with upcoming events. Neither broker includes TipRanks or research from Acuity Trading/Signal Centre.
The biggest difference is in third‑party analysis tools: FP Markets offers Autochartist and Trading Central, while ActivTrades does not. Despite both earning 4 stars for Research, FP Markets holds a higher category ranking (#25 of 63) than ActivTrades (#31 of 63) on ForexBrokers.com, which may matter if you want more built-in technical and fundamental research options.
| Feature |
FP Markets
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | 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 providing educational resources for forex and CFDs, both FP Markets and ActivTrades excel in equipping beginners with essential knowledge. Each broker offers over 10 educational pieces, including articles, videos, and archived webinars, focusing on forex and CFD trading. New traders can benefit from monthly online webinars hosted by both platforms, which are ideal for deepening their understanding of market trends and trading strategies. Recorded sessions are available in a searchable archive, allowing learners to revisit past webinars at their convenience.
For those starting their trading journey, FP Markets and ActivTrades each provide at least 10 beginner-oriented educational videos. Additionally, they cater to seasoned traders with over 10 advanced videos to refine their skills. While both brokers rank closely in educational offerings with a 4-star rating, FP Markets stands out slightly by providing an investor dictionary with over 50 key investing terms, a feature not offered by ActivTrades. Ultimately, FP Markets ranks higher in the education category on ForexBrokers.com, coming in at #23 out of 63 brokers, compared to ActivTrades' #38 ranking.
| Feature |
FP Markets
|
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 FP Markets is better than ActivTrades. FP Markets finished with an overall rank of #19, while ActivTrades finished with an overall rank of #33.
FP Markets shines as a low-cost broker for trading forex and CFDs – as long as you use the MetaTrader platform. The Iress platform suite offers well over 9,000 tradeable symbols, but it’s mostly a share trading platform – and is generally a much pricier option.
| Feature |
FP Markets
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ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 89 | 81 |
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Both FP Markets and ActivTrades do not offer the option to buy actual delivered cryptocurrency, but they do provide the ability to trade cryptocurrency derivatives, allowing investors to speculate on price movements without owning the physical asset.
Comparing FP Markets and ActivTrades, both brokers lack ACH and SEPA transfer options, support Visa, Mastercard, and bank wires, but FP Markets uniquely offers PayPal, while both provide Skrill services for deposits and withdrawals.
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 | FP Markets | ActivTrades | |
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| Trust Score | 89 | 81 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | FP Markets Review | ActivTrades Review |
| Broker Screenshots | FP Markets | ActivTrades | |
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| Regulation | FP Markets | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 89 | 81 | |
| Year Founded | 2005 | 2001 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | ||
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 2 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 2 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | FP Markets | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | ||
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | ||
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | No | ||
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | No | ||
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | |||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | No | ||
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | ||
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | FP Markets | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | ||
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | No | ||
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | ||
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | FP Markets | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 10000 | 1267 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 71 | 49 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | Yes | |
| 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 | FP Markets | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.2 | 0.98 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.7 | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | Yes | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | FP Markets | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 AUD | $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 | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | FP Markets | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| 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 | Yes | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | FP Markets | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 11 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) [DELETED] | 17 | 15 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | FP Markets | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | MetaTrader (Default) | 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 | FP Markets | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | FP Markets | 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 | FP Markets | 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 | FP Markets Review | ActivTrades Review |
| Overall | FP Markets | ActivTrades | |
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| Trust Score | 89 | 81 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | FP Markets Review | ActivTrades Review |
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