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 |
FXCM and ActivTrades both offer pricing that is fairly close to the industry average, but FXCM comes out slightly ahead for commissions and fees overall. FXCM’s standard account spreads were around 0.78 pips for EUR/USD in May 2024 for its EU, U.K., and Australia entities, while its commission-based accounts averaged 0.28 pips before commissions. It also offers Active Trader rebates in some regions, which can lower costs for high-volume traders, although the best rates depend on account type, monthly volume, and where you live. FXCM is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars and is ranked #17 out of 36 brokers for Commissions and Fees by ForexBrokers.com.
ActivTrades also keeps costs in the middle range, with spreads that are slightly better than average but not among the lowest in the market. The broker has a simple account setup, with no special pricing plan for active traders, and spreads are generally similar across account types. For EUR/USD, ActivTrades’ average spread was 0.98 pips in May 2024, which is a bit higher than FXCM’s main market offerings. ActivTrades is rated 4 out of 5 stars and is ranked #22 out of 36 brokers for Commissions and Fees by ForexBrokers.com.
In plain terms, FXCM is the better pick if your main goal is lower forex trading costs, especially if you qualify for rebates or use its commission-based pricing. ActivTrades is still reasonable, but it does not offer the same active trader discounts and its average EUR/USD spread was higher in the data provided. If cost matters most, FXCM has the edge; if you want a simpler account structure, ActivTrades may still be a solid choice.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | Starts from $50 | $0 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.9 | 1.08 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.8 | 0.92 |
| 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.
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 wide choice of platforms and tools, including free demo accounts, a proprietary platform, Windows desktop software, web trading, copy trading, and MetaTrader 4. Both also let users trade directly from charts, which can make placing orders faster and easier. For traders who want a familiar setup with several ways to access the market, either broker covers the basics well.
The main difference is that ActivTrades also offers MetaTrader 5, while FXCM does not. That extra platform may appeal to traders who want more options for charting and trading features. FXCM still stands out in the rankings, with a 5-star rating and a #4 spot out of 36 brokers for Trading Platforms and Tools, compared with ActivTrades at 4 stars and #27. Overall, FXCM appears stronger in this category, 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 daily market commentary, forex news from major sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, a sentiment tool showing long and short positioning, and an economic calendar for key global events. Neither broker includes Autochartist or Acuity Trading tools, but FXCM goes a step further with Trading Central research and TipRanks market insights, which gives it more built-in analysis options for traders who want extra guidance.
When it comes to overall market research, FXCM has the edge. It is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #11 out of 36 brokers in ForexBrokers.com's Research category, while ActivTrades is rated 4 stars and ranks #27. For traders comparing these two brokers, both cover the core research basics well, but FXCM offers a wider range of extra tools and a stronger research score.
| 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 of educational content, with each broker offering at least 10 forex or CFD learning pieces, monthly client webinars, and more than 10 beginner and 10 advanced videos. That means new traders can find a solid mix of articles, videos, and live sessions at either firm when they are trying to learn the basics or build on what they already know.
That said, FXCM has the edge in education overall. It is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars for Education and ranks #13 out of 36 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while ActivTrades is rated 4 stars and ranks #30. For beginners who want a broker with stronger educational support, FXCM appears to be the better choice, although ActivTrades still offers a good range of learning tools.
| 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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|---|---|---|
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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) - Standard account | 0.9 | 1.08 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 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 | 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 | 80 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | FXCM Review | ActivTrades Review |
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