IC Markets vs ActivTrades 2025
In this head to head comparison of IC Markets vs ActivTrades, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
In this head to head comparison of IC 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.
Established in 2007, IC Markets is a noteworthy online broker with a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 84, placing it in the trusted category. It operates privately and is not a bank. IC Markets is backed by two Tier-1 licenses, signaling its strong regulatory standing in the financial landscape.
ActivTrades, founded in 2001, joins IC Markets as a trusted broker, boasting a Trust Score of 81. Like IC Markets, ActivTrades is a private company and not a banking institution. It holds two Tier-1 licenses as well as an additional Tier-2 license, which enhances its credibility and compliance in the market.
Feature |
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Year Founded | 2007 | 2001 |
Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
Bank | No | No |
Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 2 |
Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
Tier-4 Licenses | 3 | 2 |
IC Markets stands out as a top choice for competitive trading costs due to its low effective spreads and minimal deposit requirements for commission-based accounts. This has earned it Best in Class recognition in the Commissions & Fees category for 2024. With three account types—Standard, Raw Spread, and cTrader Raw Spread—traders can opt for either commission-free trading with the Standard account or a lower spread with commission in the other two. The cTrader-linked account not only offers slightly lower commissions compared to the MetaTrader accounts, but also lists an attractive effective spread at just 0.62 pips for EUR/USD. With discounts available for those trading over 100 standard lots per month, IC Markets receives an impressive 5-star rating and ranks 5th out of 62 brokers for commissions and fees.
In comparison, ActivTrades offers moderate ease of access with its main Individual Account, alongside Professional and Islamic Accounts. While lacking a dedicated high-volume trader pricing plan, ActivTrades does provide spreads slightly better than the industry average but still not on par with leading low-cost forex brokers. A unique feature of ActivTrades is its consistent spread offerings, irrespective of account type, but with an average spread of 0.98 pips for EUR/USD as of May 2024, it lags behind some competitors. For its efforts, ActivTrades garners a 4-star rating and ranks 27th out of 62 brokers in the commissions and fees category, indicating decent value but slightly higher costs compared to IC Markets.
Feature |
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|
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Minimum Deposit | $200 | 0 |
Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.62 | 0.98 |
All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.62 | 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.
When it comes to the variety of investment options, IC Markets and ActivTrades both cater to forex traders and beyond. IC Markets provides an impressive 3,583 tradeable symbols with 61 forex pairs, offering a broad platform for seasoned traders. Meanwhile, ActivTrades presents 1,267 symbols and 49 forex pairs, appealing to those who might prefer a more curated selection. Both brokers extend access to international exchanges, allowing investors to explore global opportunities in companies like Vodafone. It's important to note that neither broker supports trading U.S. exchange-listed stocks like Apple.
Both IC Markets and ActivTrades offer the benefits of copy trading and the option to trade cryptocurrency derivatives, but not the actual cryptocurrencies. For those considering broker ratings, IC Markets scores 4.5 stars and ranks 25th out of 62 brokers in terms of range of investments, reflecting its wide array of trading options. ActivTrades, on the other hand, is rated with 4 stars and ranks 31st, making each a solid choice depending on the specific trading needs and preferences of investors.
Feature |
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Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 3583 | 1267 |
Forex Pairs (Total) | 61 | 49 |
U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No |
Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | 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.
Both IC Markets and ActivTrades provide traders with the opportunity to engage in simulated trading through free virtual demo accounts, catering to both beginners and seasoned traders looking to test strategies. While IC Markets offers popular third-party platforms like MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, ActivTrades extends its offerings with a proprietary platform, giving users additional options for a unique trading experience. Both brokers support a Windows-based desktop platform and a web-based browser option, ensuring versatile access for users. Copy trading enthusiasts will find IC Markets accommodating with ZuluTrade, unlike ActivTrades, which does not offer this feature.
Users interested in technical analysis will find that both brokers offer 15 drawing tools, although specific counts for technical indicators remain unspecified in the provided details. IC Markets and ActivTrades both enable direct trading from stock charts, enhancing user efficiency. When it comes to monitoring markets, IC Markets provides seven columns for watch lists, while ActivTrades offers eleven, potentially aiding users who prefer more detailed data presentation. Ratings for trading platforms and tools are identical at four stars, although IC Markets ranks higher at #17 compared to ActivTrades at #29 according to ForexBrokers.com, hinting at subtle differences in overall user satisfaction.
Feature |
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Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
Proprietary Platform | No | 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 | Yes | No |
Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 30 |
Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 15 | 15 |
Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 11 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
When looking at mobile trading applications, both IC Markets and ActivTrades provide comprehensive options for iPhone and Android users. They offer essential features for traders, such as stock and forex price alerts, and the capability to draw trendlines on charts. Both apps provide a selection of 30 technical studies for analyzing charts and allow for viewing multiple time frames, such as daily, weekly, or intraday. Furthermore, each app supports creating watchlists with real-time quotes, although neither offers syncing of watchlists between the mobile app and the online account, which may require manual updates by users.
In terms of user experience, both IC Markets and ActivTrades mobile apps are rated four out of five stars. They also share the feature of auto-saving drawings on stock and forex charts, making technical analysis more accessible for users. From a competitive standpoint, ActivTrades holds a slightly higher ranking at number 19 on ForexBrokers.com's evaluation out of 62 brokers, compared to IC Markets, which is ranked at number 22. This slight difference in ranking might make ActivTrades a more attractive option for traders focused on mobile trading, although both platforms offer similar functionality and ease of use.
Feature |
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|
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Android App | Yes | Yes |
Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
Watchlist Syncing | No | No |
Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 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.
When comparing IC Markets with ActivTrades, both online brokers offer solid market research features. Each provides daily market commentary and access to forex news from renowned sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, keeping traders informed about significant financial updates. However, IC Markets stands out by offering additional tools for technical and fundamental analysis, such as those from Autochartist and Trading Central, which are not available with ActivTrades. Both platforms include sentiment-based trading tools offering insights into market positions, as well as comprehensive economic calendars tracking worldwide economic events.
Despite these differences, IC Markets and ActivTrades each receive a high rating of four stars for their research offerings. However, IC Markets ranks slightly higher at 22nd place compared to ActivTrades at 30th among 62 brokers listed by ForexBrokers.com. This ranking highlights IC Markets' enhanced feature set, giving traders a slight edge in research capabilities overall. Whether you choose IC Markets or ActivTrades, both brokers provide quality resources to support informed trading decisions, each with unique strengths in their research tools.
Feature |
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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 educational resources for beginners, both IC Markets and ActivTrades provide a solid foundation with their offerings on forex and CFD education. Each broker provides at least 10 varied educational materials covering essential topics such as articles, videos, and archived webinars. Both companies also host regular educational webinars monthly, which are accessible in an easy-to-use archive for those who may have missed them. This ensures that learners can engage with their content on their schedule.
Moving beyond foundational materials, both IC Markets and ActivTrades cater to both newcomers and seasoned traders by offering comprehensive video libraries. Each broker includes at least 10 specific videos aimed at beginners, as well as advanced videos for more experienced traders. However, when it comes to additional resources, IC Markets stands out with its investor dictionary offering definitions for a wide array of investing terms, something that ActivTrades does not provide. Both brokers hold a commendable four-star education rating, but IC Markets is ranked higher at 16th among 62 brokers, compared to ActivTrades’ 38th position, reflecting a slight edge in their educational offerings.
Feature |
|
|
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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 62 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that IC Markets is better than ActivTrades. IC Markets finished with an overall rank of #20, while ActivTrades finished with an overall rank of #33.
IC Markets’ competitive pricing and scalable execution make it an excellent option for algorithmic traders. Though it supports an impressive range of third-party tools and plugins, IC Markets’ research and education offerings are not as impressive as those offered by industry leaders.
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Overall Rating |
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Trust Score | 84 | 81 |
Range of Investments |
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Platform & Tools |
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Research |
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Education |
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Both IC Markets and ActivTrades do not offer the option to purchase actual, delivered cryptocurrencies, but they do provide the capability to trade cryptocurrency derivatives.
When comparing online brokers IC Markets and ActivTrades in terms of fund deposit and withdrawal options, IC Markets supports PayPal, Skrill, Visa/Mastercard, and bank wires, whereas ActivTrades offers Skrill, Visa/Mastercard, and bank wires, but does not support ACH, SEPA transfers, or PayPal for 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 5Overall Rating | IC Markets | ActivTrades | |
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Research |
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Trust Score | 84 | 81 | |
Winner | check_circle | ||
Review | IC Markets Review | ActivTrades Review |
Broker Screenshots | IC Markets | ActivTrades | |
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Trading Platforms Gallery (click to expand) | |||
Mobile Trading Gallery (click to expand) | |||
Research Gallery (click to expand) | |||
Education Gallery (click to expand) |
Regulation | IC Markets | ActivTrades | |
---|---|---|---|
Trust Score | 84 | 81 | |
Year Founded | 2007 | 2001 | |
Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
Bank | No | 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 | 3 | 2 |
Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | IC Markets | 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) | No | 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) | IC Markets | 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 | IC Markets | ActivTrades | |
---|---|---|---|
Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 3583 | 1267 | |
Forex Pairs (Total) | 61 | 49 | |
U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No | |
Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | 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 | IC Markets | ActivTrades | |
---|---|---|---|
Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.62 | 0.98 | |
All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.62 | N/A | |
Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No | |
Inactivity Fee | No | Yes | |
Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | No | |
Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
Funding | IC Markets | ActivTrades | |
---|---|---|---|
Minimum Deposit | $200 | 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 | IC Markets | ActivTrades | |
---|---|---|---|
Proprietary Platform | No | 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 | Yes | No |
Trading Tools | IC 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) | 15 | 15 | |
Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
Mobile Trading | IC 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 | 30 | 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 | IC 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 | IC 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 | IC 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 | IC Markets Review | ActivTrades Review |
Overall | IC Markets | ActivTrades | |
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Overall Rating |
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Commissions & Fees |
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Range of Investments |
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Platform & Tools |
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Mobile Trading |
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Research |
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Education |
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Trust Score | 84 | 81 | |
Winner | check_circle | ||
Review | IC Markets Review | ActivTrades Review |