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, established in 1999, and ActivTrades, founded in 2001, are both prominent online brokers. A noteworthy distinction lies in their market presence and trustworthiness. FXCM is publicly traded, enhancing transparency and investor confidence, while ActivTrades remains privately owned. Neither firm operates as a bank. When evaluating trust indicators, FXCM takes the lead with an impressive Trust Score of 95 out of 99, categorizing it as highly trusted according to ForexBrokers.com. This score is supported by FXCM's possession of four Tier-1 licenses and two Tier-2 licenses, marking it as a highly compliant brokerage.
In comparison, ActivTrades holds a Trust Score of 81, which still considers it a trusted entity. It carries two Tier-1 licenses and one Tier-2 license, indicating a strong adherence to regulatory standards, albeit at a slightly lower level than FXCM. Overall, both brokers demonstrate considerable reliability, but FXCM edges ahead with its broader regulatory footprint and higher trust rating. Potential traders may find these distinctions beneficial when deciding between the two for their trading activities.
| 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 |
FXCM and ActivTrades both earn 4 out of 5 stars for commissions and fees, but they take different paths to pricing. FXCM is ranked #25 of 63 brokers for this category, while ActivTrades is ranked #29 of 63. FXCM’s overall pricing is slightly higher than the industry average, yet it offers multiple ways to pay less if you trade more. ActivTrades is slightly better than the industry average on spreads, but it does not offer special rates for high-volume traders.
For FXCM, average EUR/USD spreads in May 2024 were 0.78 pips for its EU, U.K., and Australia entities, and 1.38 pips for its St. Vincent and the Grenadines entity. Its commission-based account posted a 0.28-pip core spread, with an effective cost near 0.74 pips once commissions are counted. FXCM also runs an Active Trader Rebate Program (not available in the U.K. or EU) that pays $5–$25 per million traded for clients doing at least $10 million in monthly volume. In the U.K., high-volume traders can still qualify for lower commissions (for example, $2.50 per side with a $25,000 balance and $50 million in monthly volume). As with most forex brokers, spreads can widen during rollover or in fast markets.
ActivTrades keeps things simple with one main account (Individual), plus Professional and Islamic options; spreads are the same across account types and there’s no active-trader pricing. The broker reported an average EUR/USD spread of 0.98 pips in May 2024. Costs depend on the assets and platform you use, and spreads can widen during rollover. In a head-to-head on EUR/USD, FXCM’s EU/U.K./Australia standard spread of 0.78 pips and its commission-based effective cost around 0.74 pips can be cheaper than ActivTrades’ 0.98 pips—though FXCM’s SVG entity is pricier.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | Starts from $50 | $0 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.9 | 0.98 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.8 | N/A |
| Non-wire bank transfer | 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.
Comparing FXCM vs ActivTrades for range of investments, ActivTrades offers a wider selection overall with 1,267 tradeable symbols versus FXCM’s 440. Both brokers support forex trading (CFD or spot), with ActivTrades listing 49 forex pairs and FXCM offering 46. Each supports copy trading and crypto CFDs, but neither lets you buy actual cryptocurrencies.
For exchange-traded securities, FXCM does not offer U.S. or international shares, while ActivTrades provides access to international stocks (not U.S.). Based on ForexBrokers.com’s ratings for Range of Investments, FXCM scores 3.5/5 stars and ranks 48th out of 63 brokers, whereas ActivTrades earns 4/5 stars and ranks 32nd. In short, traders seeking a larger symbol list or international share dealing may prefer ActivTrades, while FXCM covers key markets with forex, indices, commodities, and crypto CFDs.
| 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 vs ActivTrades: both brokers check the core boxes for everyday trading. Each offers a free demo account for paper trading, a proprietary platform, a Windows desktop download, and a web-based platform. You’ll also find copy trading, MetaTrader 4 (MT4) support, and the ability to place trades directly from charts on both FXCM and ActivTrades.
The main split is MetaTrader 5 (MT5): ActivTrades offers MT5, while FXCM does not. Based on ForexBrokers.com’s 2024 testing, FXCM earns 5 stars for Trading Platforms and Tools and ranks #6 out of 63 brokers, whereas ActivTrades earns 4 stars and ranks #32. If you want MT5, look at ActivTrades; if top-rated platform tools matter most, FXCM is the stronger pick.
| 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 auto‑save for chart drawings. A key difference is watchlist syncing: FXCM syncs your watchlists between the app and your online account, while ActivTrades does not, which can matter if you switch devices or trade on desktop and mobile.
For charting, FXCM provides 59 technical studies compared with ActivTrades’ 30, giving FXCM more options for technical analysis on the go. In independent evaluations, FXCM’s mobile apps earn 4.5 out of 5 stars and are ranked #16 out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com; ActivTrades earns 4 out of 5 stars and is ranked #19. In short, choose FXCM if you want deeper chart tools and synced watchlists, while ActivTrades covers the core features many traders need.
| 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 cover the essentials for market research: daily market commentary, forex news from top-tier outlets like Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones, sentiment tools that display long/short ratios, and an economic calendar to track upcoming events.
FXCM pulls ahead with added research from Trading Central and TipRanks, while ActivTrades lacks these extras. Neither broker offers Autochartist or tools from Acuity Trading. These differences show up in the scores: FXCM earns 4.5/5 stars for research and ranks #11 of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, whereas ActivTrades earns 4/5 stars and ranks #31. Choose FXCM if you want more third-party research built in; pick ActivTrades if core news, commentary, and sentiment tools are enough.
| 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 deliver beginner-friendly forex and CFD education, offering at least 10 learning pieces such as articles, videos, and archived webinars. Each broker runs ongoing client webinars at least once a month, and both provide 10+ beginner videos that explain essential trading concepts in plain language, with 10+ advanced videos available when you’re ready to level up. If you’re just starting, you’ll find structured video lessons and regular live sessions with either broker to help you learn the basics and build confidence.
Where they differ is in independent ratings for education quality. According to ForexBrokers.com, FXCM scores 4.5 out of 5 for Education and ranks #14 out of 63 brokers, while ActivTrades scores 4 out of 5 and ranks #38 out of 63. Put simply, both are good choices for beginner education, but FXCM edges ahead in third-party rankings, making it a slightly better pick if top-rated educational depth and guidance are your priority.
| 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 #15, while ActivTrades finished with an overall rank of #33.
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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| Trust Score | 95 | 81 |
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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 | 81 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | FXCM Review | ActivTrades Review |
| Broker Screenshots | FXCM | ActivTrades | |
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| Regulation | FXCM | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 95 | 81 | |
| 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 SCA 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) - Standard account | 0.9 | 0.98 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.8 | N/A | |
| 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 | 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 Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | FXCM Review | ActivTrades Review |
| Overall | FXCM | ActivTrades | |
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| Trust Score | 95 | 81 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | FXCM Review | ActivTrades Review |
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