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IC Markets vs ActivTrades 2025

ForexBrokers.com

Written by ForexBrokers.com

February 05, 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.

IC Markets
4.5/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: $200
  • Trust Score: 84
  • Tradeable Symbols (Total): 3583
ActivTrades
4/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: 0
  • Trust Score: 81
  • Tradeable Symbols (Total): 1267

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.

Regulation

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 IC Markets logoIC Markets
ActivTrades logoActivTrades
Year Founded info 2007 2001
Publicly Traded (Listed) info No No
Bank info No No
Tier-1 Licenses info 2 2
Tier-2 Licenses info 0 1
Tier-3 Licenses info 0 0
Tier-4 Licenses info 3 2

Fees

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 IC Markets logoIC Markets
ActivTrades logoActivTrades
Minimum Deposit info $200 0
Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard info 0.62 info 0.98 info
All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active info 0.62 info N/A
Active Trader or VIP Discounts info Yes No
ACH or SEPA Transfers info No No
PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes No
Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes Yes
Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) info Yes Yes
Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes Yes

Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.

Featured Offers


Range of investments

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 IC Markets logoIC Markets
ActivTrades logoActivTrades
Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) info Yes Yes
Tradeable Symbols (Total) info 3583 1267
Forex Pairs (Total) info 61 49
U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) info No No
Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) info Yes Yes
Social Trading / Copy Trading info Yes Yes
Cryptocurrency (Physical) info No No
Cryptocurrency (Derivative) info 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.

Trading platforms and tools

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 IC Markets logoIC Markets
ActivTrades logoActivTrades
Virtual Trading (Demo) info Yes Yes
Proprietary Platform info No Yes
Desktop Platform (Windows) info Yes Yes
Web Platform info Yes Yes
Social Trading / Copy Trading info Yes Yes
MetaTrader 4 (MT4) info Yes Yes
MetaTrader 5 (MT5) info Yes Yes
DupliTrade info No No
ZuluTrade info Yes No
Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) info 30 30
Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) info 15 15
Charting - Trade From Chart info Yes Yes
Watchlists - Total Fields info 7 11
View More

Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.

Forex trading apps

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 IC Markets logoIC Markets
ActivTrades logoActivTrades
Android App info Yes Yes
Apple iOS App info Yes Yes
Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields info Yes Yes
Watchlist Syncing info No No
Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies info 30 30
Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines info Yes Yes
Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames info Yes Yes
Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave info Yes Yes
Mobile Watchlist info Yes Yes

Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.

Market research

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 IC Markets logoIC Markets
ActivTrades logoActivTrades
Daily Market Commentary info Yes Yes
Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) info Yes Yes
Autochartist info Yes No
Trading Central (Recognia) info Yes No
Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs info Yes Yes
TipRanks info No No
Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) info No No
Economic Calendar info Yes Yes

Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.

Beginners and education

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 IC Markets logoIC Markets
ActivTrades logoActivTrades
Education (Forex or CFDs) info Yes Yes
Client Webinars info Yes Yes
Client Webinars (Archived) info Yes Yes
Videos - Beginner Trading Videos info Yes Yes
Videos - Advanced Trading Videos info Yes Yes
Investor Dictionary (Glossary) info Yes No

Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.

Winner

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.

Feature IC Markets logoIC Markets
ActivTrades logoActivTrades
Overall Rating info 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Trust Score info 84 81
Range of Investments 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Commissions & Fees 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Platform & Tools 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Research 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Mobile Trading 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Education 4/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars

FAQs

Can you trade cryptocurrency with IC Markets or ActivTrades?

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.

What funding options does each broker offer?

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.




announcementPlease 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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Compare

0 of 5
Overall Rating IC Markets ActivTrades
Overall Rating info 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Commissions & Fees 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Range of Investments 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Platform & Tools 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Mobile Trading 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Research 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Education 4/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Trust Score info 84 81
Winner check_circle
Review IC Markets Review ActivTrades Review
Broker Screenshots IC Markets ActivTrades
Trading Platforms Gallery (click to expand) info
Mobile Trading Gallery (click to expand) info
Research Gallery (click to expand) info
Education Gallery (click to expand) info
Regulation IC Markets ActivTrades
Trust Score info 84 81
Year Founded info 2007 2001
Publicly Traded (Listed) info No No
Bank info No No
Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). info Yes info No
Tier-1 Licenses info 2 2
Tier-2 Licenses info 0 1
Tier-3 Licenses info 0 0
Tier-4 Licenses info 3 2
Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) IC Markets ActivTrades
Australia (ASIC Authorised) info Yes No
Canada (CIRO Authorised) info No No
Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) info No No
Japan (SFC Authorised) info No No
Singapore (MAS Authorised) info No No
Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) info No No
United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) info No Yes
USA (CFTC Authorized) info No No
New Zealand (FMA Authorised) info No No
Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). info Yes info No
Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) IC Markets ActivTrades
Kenya (CMA Authorised) info No No
Israel (ISA Authorised) info No No
South Africa (FSCA Authorised) info No No
UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) info No No
India (SEBI Authorised) info No No
Jordan (JSC Authorised) info No No
Investments IC Markets ActivTrades
Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) info Yes Yes
Tradeable Symbols (Total) info 3583 1267
Forex Pairs (Total) info 61 49
U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) info No No
Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) info Yes Yes
Social Trading / Copy Trading info Yes Yes
Cryptocurrency (Physical) info No No
Cryptocurrency (Derivative) info 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 info 0.62 info 0.98 info
All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active info 0.62 info N/A
Active Trader or VIP Discounts info Yes No
Inactivity Fee info No Yes
Execution: Agency Broker info Yes No
Execution: Market Maker info Yes Yes
Funding IC Markets ActivTrades
Minimum Deposit info $200 0
PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes No
Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes Yes
Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) info Yes Yes
Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes Yes
ACH or SEPA Transfers info No No
Trading Platforms IC Markets ActivTrades
Proprietary Platform info No Yes
Desktop Platform (Windows) info Yes Yes
Web Platform info Yes Yes
Social Trading / Copy Trading info Yes Yes
MetaTrader 4 (MT4) info Yes Yes
MetaTrader 5 (MT5) info Yes Yes
cTrader info Yes No
DupliTrade info No No
ZuluTrade info Yes No
Trading Tools IC Markets ActivTrades
Virtual Trading (Demo) info Yes Yes
Alerts - Basic Fields info Yes Yes
Watchlists - Total Fields info 7 11
Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) info 30 30
Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) info 15 15
Charting - Trade From Chart info Yes Yes
Charts can be saved info Yes Yes
Mobile Trading IC Markets ActivTrades
Android App info Yes Yes
Apple iOS App info Yes Yes
Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields info Yes Yes
Mobile Watchlist info Yes Yes
Watchlist Syncing info No No
Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies info 30 30
Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines info Yes Yes
Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames info Yes Yes
Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave info Yes Yes
Mobile Economic Calendar info Yes Yes
Research IC Markets ActivTrades
Daily Market Commentary info Yes Yes
Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) info Yes Yes
Autochartist info Yes No
Trading Central (Recognia) info Yes No
TipRanks info No No
Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs info Yes Yes
Economic Calendar info Yes Yes
Education IC Markets ActivTrades
Education (Forex or CFDs) info Yes Yes
Client Webinars info Yes Yes
Client Webinars (Archived) info Yes Yes
Videos - Beginner Trading Videos info Yes Yes
Videos - Advanced Trading Videos info Yes Yes
Investor Dictionary (Glossary) info Yes No
Major Forex Pairs IC Markets ActivTrades
GBP/USD info Yes Yes
USD/JPY info Yes Yes
EUR/USD info Yes Yes
USD/CHF info Yes Yes
USD/CAD info Yes Yes
NZD/USD info Yes Yes
AUD/USD info Yes Yes
Review IC Markets Review ActivTrades Review
Overall IC Markets ActivTrades
Overall Rating info 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Commissions & Fees 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Range of Investments 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Platform & Tools 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Mobile Trading 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Research 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Education 4/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Trust Score info 84 81
Winner check_circle
Review IC Markets Review ActivTrades Review
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