Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of FXCM 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.
FXCM vs ActivTrades: FXCM was founded in 1999 and is publicly traded, while ActivTrades started in 2001 and is not publicly traded. Neither broker is a bank. On the ForexBrokers.com Trust Score (where 90–99 is highly trusted and 80–89 trusted), FXCM scores 95 (highly trusted) and ActivTrades scores 80 (trusted).
Regulation also differs: FXCM holds 4 Tier-1 licenses and 2 Tier-2 licenses, compared with ActivTrades’ 2 Tier-1 and 1 Tier-2. Because Tier-1 regulators are considered highly trusted and Tier-2 trusted by ForexBrokers.com, these counts can help you gauge regulatory strength when comparing these brokers.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1999 | 2001 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 2 |
When comparing commissions and fees, FXCM comes out slightly ahead of ActivTrades for cost-conscious forex traders. FXCM’s pricing is a bit above the industry average overall, but its commission-based accounts can be competitive, with May 2024 EUR/USD spreads averaging 0.28 pips before commissions and 0.78 pips on its EU, U.K., and Australia offerings. FXCM also offers an Active Trader Rebate Program in some regions, which can lower trading costs for high-volume clients. FXCM is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranked #17 out of 36 for commissions and fees by ForexBrokers.com.
ActivTrades, by comparison, also offers pricing that is close to the industry average, but it does not have active trader discounts or a special low-cost account for heavy traders. Its main account types include Individual, Professional, and Islamic accounts, with spreads staying the same across account types. For EUR/USD, ActivTrades reported an average spread of 0.98 pips in May 2024, which is still reasonable but higher than FXCM’s commission-based pricing. ActivTrades is rated 4 out of 5 stars and ranked #23 out of 36 for commissions and fees.
In short, FXCM is the better pick for traders who want more pricing flexibility and may trade larger volumes, while ActivTrades offers straightforward pricing that is still competitive for everyday forex trading. If low fees are your main priority, FXCM has the edge overall.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | Starts from $50 | $0 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Spread-only account | 0.9 | 1.08 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | 0.8 | 0.92 |
| Non-wire bank transfer (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
FXCM and ActivTrades both give traders access to forex as CFDs or spot contracts, and both also support copy trading and cryptocurrency CFDs. Neither broker lets you buy actual delivered crypto, and neither offers exchange-traded U.S. shares as direct investments rather than CFDs. FXCM offers 440 tradeable symbols and 46 forex pairs, while ActivTrades provides a wider list with 1,267 tradeable symbols and 49 forex pairs.
When it comes to non-CFD share trading, ActivTrades has an edge because it offers exchange-traded securities on international markets, such as London-listed stocks, while FXCM does not. Based on ForexBrokers.com’s Range of Investments scoring, FXCM comes out slightly ahead with 4.5 out of 5 stars and a #21 ranking out of 36 brokers, compared with ActivTrades at 4 out of 5 stars and #26 out of 36. Overall, ActivTrades gives access to more markets, while FXCM earns a stronger rating for this category.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 440 | 1267 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 46 | 49 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | No |
| Cryptocurrency (CFDs) | 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.
FXCM and ActivTrades both give traders a strong mix of platform choices and tools, including free demo accounts, a proprietary platform, Windows desktop software, web-based trading, copy trading, MetaTrader 4, and the ability to trade directly from charts. In other words, either broker can suit traders who want to practice first, use a browser or desktop app, or follow other traders’ strategies. FXCM and ActivTrades also make it easy to switch between devices and trading styles, which is helpful for beginners and more active traders alike.
The biggest difference is that ActivTrades also supports MetaTrader 5, while FXCM does not. Still, FXCM gets the edge overall in this category, with a 5-star rating and a #4 ranking out of 36 brokers from ForexBrokers.com, compared with ActivTrades’ 4-star rating and #28 ranking. For traders comparing FXCM vs. ActivTrades for platforms and tools, FXCM stands out for its higher rating, while ActivTrades offers the added benefit of MT5.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 115 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
FXCM and ActivTrades both offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, along with price alerts, trendline drawing, and automatic saving of chart drawings. That means either broker gives traders a convenient way to follow markets and manage charts while on the move. Both apps also cover the basics well, so the choice may come down to the extra tools each platform includes.
FXCM has the edge in mobile trading apps overall. Its app includes watchlist symbol syncing, so changes made on mobile and online stay aligned, while ActivTrades does not offer this feature. FXCM also provides more chart studies, with 59 technical indicators compared with ActivTrades’ 30. These differences help explain FXCM’s higher mobile app rating of 4.5 out of 5 and its stronger ForexBrokers.com ranking of #16 out of 36, versus ActivTrades at 4 stars and #21 out of 36.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 59 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
FXCM and ActivTrades both give traders useful market research tools, including daily market commentary, news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, a sentiment tool showing long and short positioning, and an economic calendar for tracking global events. Neither broker offers Autochartist or Acuity Trading research tools, so in those areas they are tied.
Where FXCM pulls ahead is in its extra research coverage: it includes Trading Central tools and TipRanks market research, while ActivTrades does not. This wider research offering helps explain FXCM’s stronger Research score of 4.5 out of 5 and its #11 ranking out of 36 brokers, compared with ActivTrades’ 4 out of 5 score and #28 ranking.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central | Yes | No |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | Yes | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
FXCM and ActivTrades both give beginners plenty to work with when it comes to learning how to trade. Each broker offers more than 10 forex or CFD education pieces, runs educational client webinars at least once a month, and provides at least 10 beginner videos as well as 10 advanced videos. That means new traders can find basic lessons to get started, while more experienced users can still access content that goes deeper into trading topics.
Where FXCM stands out is in overall education quality and recognition. FXCM is rated 4.5 out of 5 for Education and ranks #13 out of 36 brokers in this category, while ActivTrades is rated 4 out of 5 and ranks #32 out of 36. For beginners looking for a broker with stronger educational support, FXCM has the edge, although ActivTrades still offers a solid range of learning materials and regular webinars.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 63 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that FXCM is better than ActivTrades. FXCM finished with an overall rank of #10, while ActivTrades finished with an overall rank of #28.
For traders who appreciate advanced trading tools and quality market research, FXCM is a winner, especially for algorithmic trading. Its range of tradeable markets is fairly narrow, however, and the pricing at FXCM is just average.
| Feature |
FXCM
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ActivTrades
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| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 95 | 80 |
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FXCM vs ActivTrades: neither broker lets you buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrency, but both provide access to trading cryptocurrency CFDs.
Online broker FXCM provides more deposit and withdrawal options than ActivTrades—supporting ACH/SEPA, PayPal, Skrill, and bank wires—while ActivTrades offers Skrill and bank wires only and does not support ACH/SEPA or PayPal; Visa/Mastercard availability is not specified for either broker.
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 | FXCM | ActivTrades | |
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| Trust Score | 95 | 80 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | FXCM Review | ActivTrades Review |
| Broker Screenshots | FXCM | ActivTrades | |
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| Regulation | FXCM | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 95 | 80 | |
| Year Founded | 1999 | 2001 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | ||
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 2 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 2 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | FXCM | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (FSA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | No | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | 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 |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | FXCM | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | ||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No |
| Investments | FXCM | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 440 | 1267 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 46 | 49 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (CFDs) | 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 | FXCM | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Spread-only account | 0.9 | 1.08 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | 0.8 | 0.92 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | FXCM | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | Starts from $50 | $0 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | FXCM | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | FXCM | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 115 | 30 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | FXCM | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 59 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | FXCM | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | Yes | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | FXCM | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | FXCM | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| Review | FXCM Review | ActivTrades Review |
| Overall | FXCM | ActivTrades | |
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| Trust Score | 95 | 80 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | FXCM Review | ActivTrades Review |
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